18th January 2025 | Alf Alderson – Gear & Equipment Editor
We focus on eyewear in our fourth Gear Review of the winter, with emphasis on Jamie Nichols Signature XE2 Goggles by Messy Weekend. NEW
MESSY WEEKEND JAMIE NICHOLS SIGNATURE XE2 GOGGLES £120 www.messyweekend.com
There’s a limited run of 300 of these Jamie Nichols signature goggles, released on December 5th, so get in quick while they’re still available!
Messy Weekend have worked closely with the Halifax-born two-times Olympian snowboarder to develop the goggles, which along with a silver mirror lens with 19% visible light transfer (VLT) also come with a second yellow lens with a VLT of 82% – perfect for overcast conditions.
Changing lenses is quick and easy thanks to ten small but powerful magnets holding them in place on the frame – you’ll probably need to take your gloves off to do it, but just pop out one lens, drop the replacement onto the frame where the magnets hold it securely in place and you’re good to go.
The lenses have a cylindrical shape and are essentially frameless, providing an excellent 210° field of vision, and the combination of improved contrast, better colour definition, reduced glare and improved depth perception from the XE2 ensures good vision in pretty much any weather conditions.
You also get an anti-fog and anti-scratch coating with 100% UV400 protection and triple layered foam for a very comfortable fit on most ski helmets, whilst the XE2 has an over- the-glasses fit so you can wear them with specs.
The signature model also features Jamie’s signature on the lens and goggles strap, and a nice Yorkshire rose embroidered onto the strap along with a signature hard box, pouch and stickers.
VERDICT: Versatile, great-looking goggles for any conditions with some nice exclusive touches – especially if (like me and Jamie) you’re from Yorkshire!
Messy Weekend Jamie Nichols Signature XE2 Goggles £120 (Jamie’s signature is featured on the strap in lower image) – Photos © Messyweekend
Messy Weekend Jamie Nichols Signature XE2 Goggles £120 – Photos © messyweekend
VALLON VENTURE SUNGLASSES £90 – www.vallon.com
Vallon’s Ventures have a timeless classic style that will suit most people, although they’re apparently best suited to a ‘wide face’.
They feature a flexible and super lightweight frame paired with polarized lenses with 100 per cent UV protection and rubber nose pads for a secure fit (making them ideal for skiing and other outdoor activities), whilst sport hinges provide added durability.
They come in a variety of frame colours and lens options, as follows:
Black frame: Grey lens tint – 9% VLT
Brown: Brown tint – 12% VLT
Sage: Green tint – 12% VLT
Black-Blue: Grey tint – Blue mirror – 14% VLT
Brown-Orange: Brown tint – Orange mirror – 16% VLT
So there should be a combination there to suit most folks. And you also get a sturdy waterproof storage bag for them.
VERDICT: Stylish, traditional sunnies with a good range of frame and lens options.
Vallon Venture Sunglasses £90 – image © Vallon
ADIDAS TERREX XPERIOR LIGHT FLEECE HOODED JACKET £85 – www.adidas.co.uk
Designed as a mid-layer, and made with over 90% recycled polyester, this hoodie comes with an interior waffle backing which provides a nice combination of warmth and wicking. This, along with the full-length zip and hood allows for effective temperature regulation, and added to the slim fit makes it a great item for layering up with.
Elasticated cuffs and hem help keep things in place, and two generously-sized zippered handwarmer pockets are useful for carrying bits and pieces like lip balm, sun cream and goggle wipe.
VERDICT: A plain but effective design makes this a fine mid-layer.
Adidas Terrex Xperior Light Fleece Hooded Jacket £85 – image © Adidas
SMARTWOOL ACTIVE MESH HOODIE £94.99 – www.smartwool.co.uk
The Active Mesh Hoodie incorporates three performance fabrics in one to give you the warmth and softness of Merino wool with the quick drying time of recycled polyester plus the softness and cooling properties of TENCEL™ Lyocell fibre.
On top of that you get mesh ventilation at the sleeves, back and hood for excellent breathability.
Combine all this with the hoodie’s relaxed, comfortable fit and you’ve got a great mid-layer for more strenuous days on the mountain, whilst thoughtful extras such as offset shoulder and side seams and a drop tail scooped hem further add to the comfort factor.
VERDICT: Extremely comfortable mid-layer that’s well suited to more strenuous activities such as ski touring and mountaineering.
Men’s Smartwool Active Mesh Hoodie £94.99 – image © Smartwool
100% SNOWCRAFT GOGGLES £195 – www.100percent.com
These OTG-compatible, super cool looking goggles from 100 % come with two lenses – a black/HiPER® silver mirror with a visible light transfer (VLT) of 8% and a HiPER® pink/turquoise mirror lens with a VLT of 41%, so you’re covered for all conditions.
It took me a couple of practice attempts to change the lens quickly and smoothly (but then I’m a renowned klutz) so it’s probably worth doing it once or twice at home before you use the goggles on the mountain.
The ’HiPER®’ in case you were wondering refers to the Snowcraft’s contrasting lens technology, which filters out non-essential colour wavelengths and enhances the ones needed for optimal detail.
The lenses are shatter-resistant, so should survive all your wipeouts.
They feature high altitude lens technology which alleviates lens distortion by releasing pressure at higher altitudes, have hydro and oleophobic coatings to keep them smudge, scratch, and moisture free and feature ‘dual panes’ to help maintain a clear surface by regulating the temperature of the space between two lenses.
I found the Snowcraft to be extremely comfortable thanks to a combination of a very flexible frame featuring multi-layer face foam with moisture wicking micro-fleece, whilst providing excellent peripheral vision both vertically and horizontally, and the 45mm wide strap easily kept things in place thanks to a generous amount of slip-resistant grippers.
VERDICT: Great looking, very comfortable albeit pricey goggles which will work in most light conditions.
100% Snowcraft Goggles £195 – image © 100percent
GOGGLESOC PRO LENS COVER £14 – www.gogglesoc.com
It’s remarkable that it took until the last few years for the ski industry to come up with such a simple yet obvious means of protecting your goggle lenses, which are so easy to scratch and so expensive to replace.
The new Gogglesoc Pro is an upgraded version of the regular Gogglesoc, featuring a ‘specially engineered’ elastic for better grip.
They’re made from recycled plastic bottles, and are compatible with goggles of every make, shape and design.
Given the negligible price a Gogglesoc makes a sensible investment to ensure no more scratched goggle lenses.
VERDICT: A simple, effective and not-too-costly means of keeping your goggle lenses in tip-top condition.
Gogglesoc Pro Lens Cover £14 – image © Gogglesoc
More Gear Reviews for 2024/25:
PlanetSKI Gear Review #1 Winter 2024/25
PlanetSKI Gear Review #2 Winter 2024/25
PlanetSKI Gear Review #3 Winter 2024/25
Christmas Gift Guide 2024
Headline compilation image ©PlanetSKI
