Powster Asteroid Goggle | Photo Mike Feng Mountain Weekly News
The Asteroid Goggles by Powster is a durable resort Goggle with with a SPXTRA™ lens and magnetic quick-change system. The Goggles come with 2 lenses, an orange 53% VLT low light lens and an option to select one of 9 different colors ranging from 6% VLT (cosmic silver) to 79% VLT (phantom pink).
The packaging includes a hard case (150g), a cloth case (22g), spare lens (71g), spare lens case (84g), and the goggles (202g). Make no mistake, these goggles and carry methods are heavy. Bringing the goggles and cloth case total 222g, nearly half a pound! The weight and the bulk turn me off from bringing these goggles on the big ski-mountaineering days, unless I need to do some weight training on the skin track.
Neither the hard case nor the cloth case allow you to carry the spare lens without risk of scratching your lenses, although you could stack the lenses together and store them in a single case. The stacked lenses fit both the hard case and the soft case snugly; the risk of scratching a lens upon removal still stands.
Construction
The lens is constructed with 2 layers, an insulation layer and an anti-fog film resulting in excellent anti-fog capabilities. It’s held onto the goggles with 10 powerful magnets, allowing the lens to snap into place as soon as you place the lens near the face. Removal of the lens is easy as well, you press on the side of the goggle, marked by an arrow, and pull to remove the lens.
The fit on goggles is very personal, but the goggles are large, and fit well on my large, Asian face. It does not leave a gap on the nose-bridge like many other goggles do; for those of you with a flatter nose bridge, these goggles should do well on your face. In terms of helmet compatibility, these only fit on standard (i.e. big) ski helmets, such as the Smith Mission MIPs. Due to the size, the goggles do not fit well for users who prefer to wear the goggles underneath the helmet. Additionally, the goggles do not fit well (on top of or under) ultralight ski mountaineering or climbing helmets, such as the Petzl Sirocco (dual rated for skiing and mountaineering) or Black Diamond Vapor (rated for climbing).
Testing
I tested the Cosmic Silver lens at 6% VLT in the Colorado Front range and the visibility exceeded my expectations for the price range. The lens was developed in partnership with Zeiss, who are known for their superb lens technology. I’ve worn these on a couple bluebird days, skiing during the early afternoon between 1pm to 5pm, testing them out above treeline and so deep into trees that I was walking over deadfall.
In every type of terrain, the visibility was amazing, on par with my Smith ChromaPop lenses. I was especially surprised that I was able to see clearly with the 6% VLT lens in the trees at dusk. I did not get an opportunity to try out the lens on an overcast day. Like many other goggles, the bulkiness prevents me from seeing my chest while wearing the goggles. This means that I struggle to unzip my chest pocket, or unbuckle my chest strap for my backpack when I have large gloves on and have poor sensitivity on my fingers.
The lens appears to be quite durable as well. During one of my test days, I was bushwhacking through some deadfall and broke some branches with my helmet as I skied past. Surprisingly, the goggles came home without a scratch.
Powster Asteroid Goggle Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Durable resort goggle with SPXTRAâ„¢ lens
- Excellent anti-fog capabilities with 10 powerful magnets
- Superb visibility in various terrains
Cons:
- Heavy goggles and carry methods
- No convenient storage for spare lens
- Fit may not be suitable for all helmet types
Overall Impression
So who are the Powster Asteroid Goggles ($124.00) for? These goggles are for those who like to ride at the resort and those who are focused on the downhill without worrying about weight and bulk. The lens quality is superb for the price, $152.00 at the time of this review, and are as good as lenses that are in the $300 range.
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