Are the Ignite Heated Goggles Worth It?

I'm tired of fighting the fog when I want to simply focus on thrill of the ride of fresh powder. 

First, let's talk about where we came from and how we got to where we are now. 

The History of Snowmobiling Goggles

I'm not talking about last year's models or your first pair of snow goggles. I'm talking about the very first goggles. For the Eskimos of the Arctic, snow blindness is a very real possibility that they have adapted to combat. Snow blindness is a very painful condition that is caused by too much exposure to UV rays without the correct protection. 

They first mainly used caribou antlers to make goggles for eye protection. This limited the amount of UV rays directly hitting their eyes.  Sometimes these goggles were also made from driftwood (especially spruce), bone, walrus ivory, or in some cases seashore grass. Anything to reduce the glare of the bright sun reflected off of the snow. 

As time went on, these crude goggles were adapted to fit the needs of sportsmen. 

Bob Smith

Fast forward and you'll learn about Bob Smith (1934-2012). Smith was a very big name in the world of goggles as the inventor of the double-lens powder goggle. He served in the military and while overseas in Germany he developed a love for skiing. He had a pair of goggles, but they always fogged up and he couldn't see. He figured out the principle of the fogging-resistant insulated double-lens goggle, with foam-screened ventilation ports to screen out powder. Smith will continue to go down in history for his work in fog resistant eye protection. 

What he discovered was how to use two lenses with a gap in between for air to insulate the two lenses to keep them from fogging up. This worked much better than just one lens but of course still needed work. 

Later it was developed to a spherical shape to fit the contour of one's face. This created volume between the face and the cold outside weather thus facilitating airflow and decreasing fog. "Decreasing" being the main word here. 

509 Inc Takes it Another Step Further

509 Inc has incorporated heated lens elements that are used by military aircraft to create their new Ignite series of goggles. By utilizing an indium tin oxide layer on the inside lens, the science of fogging does not apply anymore.

The goggles come with a rechargeable lightweight 7.4v, 2200mAh, lithium-ion power pack that is attached to the side of the goggle strap.

The user of the Ignite Goggles can run the heat as needed (it takes about 2 minutes to fully defog), or just run it all the time, in which case you can expect the battery to last 4-5 hours.

The Ignite Goggles—available in 509’s uber-popular X5 Sinister model and the newbie Kingpin—are both available at Precision Boats. We carry a huge selection because we know that riders like to create their own style and colorful presence on the mountain. 

What Do Ignite Heated Goggles Cost?

Let's get down to the nitty gritty. Depending on your preferred style and color options, you're looking anywhere between $130-$250 for a set of Ignite Heated Goggles.

Is it worth it?

I can burn through 4 sets of goggles on a long day. I have a buddy who carries 3 pairs and usually uses them all. A set of non heated goggles is still a 3 digit game (if you buy quality). So would you rather spend $200 and never have to change your goggles during the day or spend $500 and be wiping snow and changing goggles every couple hours? 

Being able to see completely while out on the hill also means a safer ride for you and your sled. If you can't see well, then you could easily run over something that could leave your sled out of commission for the rest of the day or even worse, you could get grotesquely injured. Anything that leaves your day open for disaster should be avoided. 

I'm not trying to tell you what to do. If you'd rather buy 3 or 4 sets of regular goggles and carry them around all day, then that's fine. But logically, spending a little more on heated goggles that will keep fog at bay and instantly melt the snow off of your lens sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me. 

Ready to Check Out the Ignite Goggles?

Shop Ignite goggles sold by Precision Boats in Idaho Falls today.  See the biggest selection in town that you can pick up, try on, look through and test. Don't live around here? Don't worry, we have an online shop here! 

We can answer any questions you have about heated goggles to make sure you get the pair that is best for you.

Are they worth it? 

Yes.

See you in hell, fog.