John Beye Testing the Sweet Protection Clockwork MAX RIG Reflect Goggles Deep in the Tetons | Photo Mountain Weekly News
Aside from their skis and snowboards, there’s a select collection of gear every athlete should have dialed in to achieve optimum downhill performance in the mountains. While a wide range of snow pants and jackets can do the trick, having reliable goggles is an absolute necessity. Enter Sweet Protection, a relatively new goggle brand that, after field testing, seems to be doing nearly everything right. It’s hard to ski if you can’t see, and the Sweet Protection Clockwork MAX RIG Reflect Goggles prove to shine in a variety of conditions.
First Impressions
Upon unboxing, I was immediately struck by the sleek design and expansive field of vision offered by Sweet Protection’s Clockwork MAX RIG Reflect. The black strap, black frame, and Bixbite lens creates a simple and stylish look – perfect for those who prefer their gear to complement their riding rather than demand attention.
Field Testing
I had the opportunity to test the Sweet Protection Clockwork MAX RIG Reflect Goggles over several days, during and after the storm of the year in Jackson Hole. I spent day one storm skiing at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and day two touring in Grand Teton National Park. This gave me a chance to test the goggles in a wide range of conditions—and they did not disappoint.
On day one, I wore them with my standard Giro helmet at JHMR, and they fit perfectly, with no slippage. The goggles sat snugly on my face, and as expected, the larger field of vision offered by the MAX model, compared to the standard Clockwork, was striking. The Bixbite lens is designed for cloudy to partly cloudy conditions, and it delivered as promised while skiing through falling snow at JHMR. Sweet Protection claims their lenses enhance contrast in low-light conditions with “minimum color distortion” and “reduced eye fatigue,” and the Bixbite lens proved to be one of the best optics I’ve used on a low-light storm day.
Once the storm, and avalanche conditions, settled I brought these Sweet Protection Goggles into Grand Teton National Park for a ski mountaineering day in the alpine. The morning was overcast to cloudy during our skin, rappel into The Chinstrap, and through the first pitch of the descent. Having tested the goggles previously, I was confident in their performance in overcast conditions and was thankful to have them in tow. As we descended further and the clouds parted and the sun peeked through, I was impressed by how well the goggles adapted to the changing conditions. While a darker lens would have been ideal for full sun, the Bixbite lens handled the partly sunny conditions excellently—especially considering it’s marketed as a low-light lens. Further, the Clockwork MAX RIG’s fit seamlessly with my Black Diamond skimo helmet – highlighting their versatility for any day’s objective.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Impressive field of view
- Comfortable, secure fit with a variety of helmets
- Well-ventilated design
- Excellent low light performance with the Bixbite lens
Cons
- The interchangeable lens system could be improved
- Expensive
Overall Impression
Despite being relatively new to the market, Sweet Protection has made a strong entrance with their line of goggles. The Sweet Protection Clockwork MAX RIG Reflect Goggles ($220.00) impressed me with its fit and field of view, and I have no doubt that the other lenses in their lineup perform just as well across different conditions. While the interchangeable lens system could use some refinement, the snug fit of the lens within the frame contributes to their performance on the downhill —and at the end of the day, that’s what goggles are for.
Related Ski & Snowboard Goggles We Have Tested
