Gear reviews | Uvex Snowstrike VT

I've been testing the new ones from Uvex since mid-December (2014) and I'm absolutely delighted. Anyone who knows me as a tester knows that I always have something to complain about and very rarely give top marks. And the Snowstrike VT promises a lot, but also delivers a lot.

First impression

The first impression is no different to any other pair of goggles. Only at second glance do you notice the small electronics on the right-hand side of the glasses. Super small, inconspicuous and insignificant in terms of weight. You don't have to be a tech freak to operate the glasses. A small button at the bottom of the electronics allows you to make all the settings. Double-click to change the color (clear, blue, red and purple). Simply click to switch the goggles from light to dark or press for a few seconds and the automatic system is activated, which then switches between light and dark in just 0.1 seconds depending on the light conditions.

Practical test

I tested the goggles in all imaginable conditions in Japan: from the heaviest snowfall to icy cold or super wet sticky snowfall, through to warm, spring-like and very bright sunshine. Officially, the glasses are rated S1 to S3 (on a scale of S0 to S4, with S0 being clear lenses and S4 being lenses for very strong sunshine), which I can understand. I am VERY sensitive to light and would like a stronger tint in sunny weather.
The battery is supposed to last 30 hours and is then charged via USB for five hours. So far I have not been able to find out if there is a low battery warning. An occasional flickering of the tint would certainly be helpful if, for example, there are still five hours left.
Now to the other key data (original text from Uvex supplemented by my impression).

gear reviews

presented by

Mark Virgin

Cortina, Japan

Patrick Fux, powdermania.com

Supravision®: The ultimate anti-fog coating

And for twice as long as the standard stipulates. 60 seconds of fog-free protection instead of the prescribed 30 seconds increases safety and ensures a clear view in poor conditions.
During the entire test period of over 35 days of skiing, I only had three days on which I had to replace the goggles with the spare goggles after half a day and these days were so extreme that everyone in the team needed more than one pair of goggles. Therefore 100% satisfied!

Direct Frame Ventilation: Always the best view thanks to sophisticated ventilation

The Uvex climate expertise ensures permanent, draught-free ventilation. For permanently fog-free vision and unclouded skiing enjoyment.
Well, draught-free is a bit of an exaggeration, in brisk crosswinds and temperatures below minus 10 degrees it can sometimes get very cool and airy in the goggles. However, for 98% of the time I used them, everything was fine.

Variotronic: Automatic or manual - the perfect lens for every light situation

Your wish is your change command: manual or automatic. 4 modes: clear, blue, red, violet. For any weather. For those who always have everything in view and have no time: Window tinting in 1/10 of a second.
Admittedly, this is a cool thing; only in the "great outdoors" is the automatic system rarely willing to switch over. In sunny weather, the goggles always stay on dark, unless you enter a darker room such as the gondola station or a restaurant; this doesn't really improve the skiing day, but it's still a nice gimmick. In bad weather, I usually preferred the manual version, as the automatic system often switches to dark even when visibility is poor and I was able to achieve better results by manually switching to light. At the limit, there can also be a disco effect where the glasses switch between light and dark several times per second. Not too bad but not an advantage either.

Mikko Suormala

Hakuba, Japan

Patrick Fux, powdermania.com

Conclusion

The bomb! After some initial skepticism, I'm a big fan of the goggles and don't want to give them up. When my ski buddies reach into their backpacks to switch from the orange storm goggles to the tinted version for the third time on the same day, I just press a button and everything is as it should be. Here in Japan, we often have fog and snow at the top of the mountain and sunny conditions down in the valley, so this "Chameleon" is just right.

Advantages & disadvantages

+ The right color and tint in "any" weather
+ Almost fog-free without exception
+ Super battery life
+ Good fit
+ Technology with battery without significant additional weight
+ Easy charging via USB

- Proudly 400 euros expensive
- Somewhat cool and airy when strong and cold wind comes from the side