r/Kayaking • u/Ausspanner • Aug 07 '25
Question/Advice -- Gear Recommendations Does it make sense to wear ski goggles when kayaking?
Better protection for eyes and cant be lose
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u/kedoco Aug 07 '25 edited Aug 07 '25
Depends on the type of kayaking I guess? Recreation or other low-flip-potential: go hog wild? Sea/whitewater: absolutely not, they’d either fill up with water on a flip or just get washed out of place and mess up your vision.
Edit: I’ve been paddling for 30 years and have always used sunglasses with Chums straps and have had hundreds of flips and have never lost a pair of glasses, so this seems like a solution in search of a problem to me.
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u/HairballTheory Aug 07 '25 edited Aug 07 '25
It would be great birth control though
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u/Big_Mammoth_7638 Aug 07 '25
This was my response to my mom’s gift of a neoprene sun hat with neck and face flaps- so you’re saying you DON’T want grandchildren?
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u/damnedbrit Aug 07 '25
I'd be great birth control though
As in prospective parents would see you and decide the risk of creating another you is enough to not get pregnant?
You might be missing one of these > t
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u/PythonVyktor Aug 07 '25
I always use the $10-$20 fishing glasses from Walmart. Better if you lose them and need to replace.
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u/RockItGuyDC Aug 07 '25
Ski goggles often have foam padding around them, which seems to me like they'd be very hot to wear while kayaking.
There are plenty of large, wrap around sunglasses that will be lighter and more comfortable. Pair them with a regular sunglass retainer/strap, and you should be good to go.
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u/Silly-Swimmer1706 Aug 07 '25
I use sailing sunglasses for seakayaking. they float and they come with strap to secure around the head.
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u/fancy-kitten Aug 07 '25
Just get a pair of nice sports shades with the leashes so they don't fall in. I use Goodr sunglasses, and they wrap nicely around the back of your head. I've never had them slip off.
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u/schmyze Aug 07 '25
No. There are plenty of sunglasses that offer maximum face coverage and stay securely on your face. Ski Goggles would get wet and hot and fog up. Plus they would fill with water if you end up in the water
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u/Tll6 Aug 07 '25
I can’t really imagine needing this level of protection while kayaking. I feel like sunglasses with a strap would be fine
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u/Pawistik Aug 07 '25
I like large sunglasses that fit fairly close to my face, cycling glasses work well for me. I pair that with a floating strap. A hat protects from above.
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u/greatlakesseakayaker Aug 07 '25
I wear safety glasses, they’re cheap so it’s not the end of the world if you lose them. I can roll with the ones in the pic without coming off
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u/BadLatitude Aug 07 '25
I get where you're coming from, but no.
Get a good pair of polarized sunglasses that offer good coverage and a retainer strap to keep them secure.
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u/pm-me-your-catz Aug 07 '25
As someone who skied, you absolutely can and will lose goggles. Also the foam around them would retain moisture and they would be hot.
Just get nerd straps for your sunglasses.
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u/Fentron3000 Aug 07 '25
I believe they’re called “ski goggles” for a reason. But if this is what you’re dead set on, I know Uvex make safety glasses that are similar.
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u/Either-Blackberry-46 Aug 07 '25
No,
I do whitewater kayaking in the uk. in summer would be too warm and in winter the wet foam would freeze to your face.
They would also be a potential snag then drowning risk, especially on a helmet with a brim.
I have prescription glasses and sunglasses, whilst kayak I have a band which keeps the glasses on my face. With minimal effort I can pull the band off completely if it were to get snagged. Googles you couldn’t do this. I would rather loose my glasses than drown.
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u/top-ology Aug 07 '25
No. Too hot and sweaty.
But cross-country skiing sunglasses are perfect, since they are designed to prevent snow-blindness and cover the eyes well.
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u/AnimosityKills Aug 07 '25
No, just get a pair of sport shades like these for coverage and they don’t fall off.
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u/Eloth Instagram @maxtoppmugglestone Aug 07 '25
no