Ski shops near Westport carry a wide variety of goggles designed for skiing and snowboarding. People experienced in these sports understand how necessary a good pair of goggles can be, but if you are new to these activities, you may be wondering why you need goggles before hitting the powder.

Reduce Glare

When skiing and snowboarding, having good visibility is essential for your safety. Ski goggles are available with a wide a variety of specialized lenses that can help reduce the glare coming off of the snow. This makes it easier for you to see and adds comfort by preventing the need for you to squint against the harsh light, particularly on sunny days.

Increase Contrast

Another factor that contributes to visibility when you’re skiing or snowboarding is contrast. When you’re on the slopes, the terrain can blend together into a field of white. Wearing colored lenses, however, can add contrast to your view and make bumps and dips stand out more. Amber and rose-colored lenses are ideal for hazy or cloudy days, while brown lenses add more contrast in dimly-lit weather conditions and reduce light in sunny weather.

Protect Your Eyes

Goggles are an essential part of skiing or snowboarding gear to protect your eyes from the elements and injury. These sports expose your eyes to prolonged periods of harsh wind and bright sunlight. Unlike sunglasses, goggles seal your eyes from the cold air, and many goggles come with lenses that block UV light. Goggles protect your eyes from airborne snow and debris and shield them from hazards such as tree limbs and fallen branches. Ski goggles also stay securely on your head at times when sunglasses would fly off. Skiing and snowboarding are sports that require precaution to help keep you safe, and when you can’t see well, you are more likely to injure yourself. Snowboard shops carry ski goggles for different conditions to help you stay safe on the slopes.

If you are looking for snowboarding gear or ski wear in Ridgefield to prepare for a trip to the slopes, learning the essential elements of a perfect ski outfit will help you stay warm, confident, and comfortable.

Be sure to consider function when building you ski outfit. Your bottom layer should include warm socks, long underwear or tights, and a thermal top to conserve your body heat. Add a second long-sleeved top to stay warmer, preferably one with a turtleneck collar. A ski jacket, ski pants, and waterproof gloves are necessary for keeping wind and moisture from penetrating your clothing. Complete your outfit with a pair of ski goggles to protect your eyes from wind, sun, and debris.

The founders of Ski & Sport of Westport have been providing people with skiing and snowboarding gear for over 38 years. We have locations in Ridgefield and Westport, and supply high-quality equipment and accessories for skiing, snowboarding, and BMX riding. We carry top of the line products from designer brands to meet your outdoor sporting needs.

Taking your kids skiing can be a fun and rewarding experience that encourages them to live a healthy, active lifestyle. About to stop by the ski shop for some kids-sized ski gear in Ridgefield ? Read this Q&A segment to make sure you’re fully prepared for your skiing trip and can relax and enjoy watching your little ones out on the bunny slopes.

Q: Are there any child-specific tips for ski clothes that I should know?

A: When purchasing kids’ ski gear, the main thing is to keep your child warm and dry. Your local ski shop will likely have many child-specific options available. Keep an eye out for breathable moisture-wicking materials, such as merino wool, for base layers, and avoid dressing your kids in cotton. Remember that the little things can go a long way when you’re up on the mountain—consider buying your child a neck gaiter to protect and warm the face, and carry an extra pair of mittens with you, as his or her first pair will likely get wet quickly.

Q: I don’t wear a helmet when I ski. Does my child need one?

A: While many adults choose to go without helmets, children should always wear them. Not only will a helmet protect your child from injury, it will also provide more warmth than a hat. Think your child will throw a fit about having to wearing a helmet? Try to give him or her some incentive to wear it. For example, you can allow the child to decorate the helmet with stickers so that he or she is proud to wear it (only if you own the helmet, of course!).

Q: I’d love to take my kids skiing, but isn’t skiing with children expensive?

A: Fortunately, many ski lodges and resorts make skiing with children an affordable experience. Lots of resorts allow children under the age of 6 to ski for free. Adult lift tickets often include free kids’ passes, as well. Finally, junior skiers can often get season passes at discounted rates, meaning your child can keep practicing all season long.

Snowboarding, like many other winter sports, requires a specific set of gear to be practiced properly. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, the appropriate snowboarding gear will protect you and keep you warm. Keep reading for tips on choosing snowboarding gear near Westport.

Base Layers

Layering is important when dressing for a snowboarding trip as it ensures that you will be warm enough on the mountain but can peel some clothing off once your blood starts flowing. It’s critical to wear the right base layers because these stay in contact with your skin throughout the whole snowboarding experience. That’s why it’s best to choose moisture-wicking materials to keep your skin dry and comfortable. Start with thin moisture-wicking socks, tight-fitting long-underwear bottoms, and a snug long-sleeved long-underwear top.

Layers for Extra Warmth

Top your base layers off with additional clothing for extra warmth and comfort. Wear thick wool or synthetic socks over the thin ones, a thick fleece or warm sweater over your top, and, if it’s extremely cold, sweatpants over the long-underwear bottoms. Don’t forget to protect your ears and head with a beanie or torque made from a warm material such as polyester or fleece.

Outerwear

Your outerwear should be water resistant to prevent you from getting soggy in the snow. A water-resistant ski or snowboarding jacket and ski or snowboarding pants are recommended for the best experience. However, you can also try wearing a good winter jacket and normal snow pants, if necessary. Protect your hands from low temperatures and moisture with ski or snowboarding gloves, and keep your feet dry and warm with snowboard boots. You’ll need to protect your eyes, too—goggles are your best bet, but sunglasses can work in a pinch.

The Snowboard

Ready to get going? The last piece of snowboarding gear you’ll need is a snowboard with bindings. You can almost always rent a board if you’re at a popular destination. However, if you’re planning on making snowboarding your primary hobby, it’s not a bad idea to look at snowboards for sale and purchase one that’s a good fit for you.

Whether you purchase or rent your ski clothing in Ridgefield , you should make sure that you’re picking out the best ski clothing for your needs. Your ski boots, ski jacket, and snow pants should be comfortable, warm, durable, and should offer a wide range of motion. Your ski boots in particular must fit you perfectly in order to protect you from injury and ensure that you remain safe and comfortable while skiing.

Watch this video for some great tips on how to pick out the right ski clothing at your local ski shop. Ski shop owner Will Hurley gives his advice on the most important features for ski jackets, snow pants, ski boots, and other ski gear.

At Ski and Sport of Westport, we offer a variety of ski services that will make your ski vacation more convenient and enjoyable. Our ski shop in Westport has been family owned and operated for over 30 years, and we’re proud to provide amazing customer service to each and every customer. Our commitment to quality and detail in everything we do makes us the best ski shop in the area.

We offer high-quality ski gear and ski rentals, as well as affordable ski clothing and skis for sale. Our incredibly knowledgeable staff can assist you in picking out the best ski gear for your level, budget, and needs. We also offer personal shopping services for those who want to have their ski gear ready for them when they arrive.

Our qualified ski shop technicians can perform ski gear repairs to ensure your safety and comfort on the slopes. We also provide ski boot and ski clothing customization. Our staff offers customized shell stretching for ski jackets and ski boot modifications that will make your boots the most comfortable ones that you’ve ever worn.

When you begin looking for a ski jacket near Westport , you’ll quickly discover that you have hundreds of options to choose from. There are a few key qualities that you should look for in order to ensure that you find the best ski clothing for your needs. Here are some great tips for choosing the perfect ski jacket at a ski shop near you.

Understand What Types of Ski Jackets are Available

Ski jackets are available in five different major styles: shell, insulated, technical, softshell, and three-in-one. Shell ski jackets are incredibly popular due to their versatility. They are waterproof, breathable, and typically constructed to allow for layering underneath the jacket. Insulated jackets have a light outer shell and a thick layer of built-in insulation. If you’re skiing in very cold conditions, an insulated ski jacket is a must. Technical shell ski jackets are lightweight, breathable, and minimalistic. They rarely have extra features. Softshell ski jackets are made of soft, stretch fabric, and are less water resistant and have fewer features than hardshell jackets. Three-in-one jackets have an outer shell with a removable inner insulation.

Investigate Each Jacket’s Features

The features that each ski jacket offers will vary considerably from jacket to jacket. Common features include venting, pockets, a hood, a powder skirt, cuffs, waterproof zippers, and a lining. Some ski jackets have a RECCO reflector sewn into the jacket. A RECCO reflector works with the RECCO transponders used by ski resorts and search and rescue operations.

Determine What Fit You Want Your Ski Jacket to Have

Much like other ski clothing, ski jackets are available in several different fits. You want a jacket that is comfortable and flattering, but that also provides a wide range of motion. Trim fit ski jackets fit close to the body and are tighter and more restrictive than other styles. Athletic fit jackets are slightly wider and more flexible than trim fit, but are still relatively snug. Expedition fit and relaxed fit jackets provide better range of motion and allow more room for layering under the jacket.

In order to make the most of your next ski or snowboard experience, you should visit a ski and snowboard shop to pick up the proper ski wear. Ski & Sport of Westport offers a wide range of unique ski and snowboard gear in Ridgefield, CT , and can outfit you for your trip.

When you ski or snowboard, you will need to wear ski jackets, ski pants, ski helmets, and ski goggles. We carry all of these items, and outside of providing our customers with functional ski wear, we also make sure they look good by providing them with fashionable clothing. We work with high-end apparel lines like Bogner, Kjus, Descente, and more to make sure you have access to stylish designs before you hit the slopes. When you come to Ski & Sport of Westport, we will show you the large selection of ski wear available at our ski and snowboard shop and help you pick out the perfect ski wear for you and your loved ones.

When you hit the slopes this winter, you need to bring more than just your skis or your snowboard. You also need to come equipped with the latest ski and snowboarding gear from Bogner. The right ski gear found near Ridgefield, will keep you warm when you’re skiing or snowboarding and help you look fashionable while you’re doing it. Check out some of the ski wear Bogner offers.

Ski Jackets

While all of the ski gear that you wear will ultimately be important, your ski jacket is going to be one of the first things that people notice. So why not invest in a high quality Bogner jacket that will wow other skiers and snowboarders? From the Bogner Fire + Ice collection to the Bogner Sport Ski jackets, there is no shortage of options from Bogner. You will love the look of their jackets.

Ski Pants

Traditionally, many skiers and snowboarders have turned to boring black ski pants when they step outside in the winter. Those days are over thanks to the colorful designs available from Bogner. Whether you want bright red ski pants, ski pants designed to look like denim jeans, or some other style, you will get the chance to make a statement with Bogner ski pants.

Layers

Anyone who skis or snowboards regularly will tell you that layers are essential when it comes to ski and snowboarding gear. For that reason, Bogner has created a full line of tops to serve as first and second layers. When you put them on, you will feel warm and stylish as you make your way out to the slopes.

Accessories

Once you have a complete ski wear outfit picked out, it’s time to accessorize . From ski gloves and mittens to knit hats and furry hoods, Bogner has the ski accessories you need to finish off your look. Bogner is all about making you feel your best when you ski or snowboard, and you will love the way their ski and snowboarding gear looks on you.