Oakley Airwave 1.5 Snow Goggles

The airwave 1.5 snow goggles were designed by optics specialists oakley to create a completely unique alpine experience; the gadget – it really is – combines a built-in, heads-up display (HUD) and integrates Wi-Fi, GPS and mFI bluetooth along with a series of onboard sensors.

I do  feel a Google groove coming on, since the goggles offer users access to a full range of information, transmitted directly to the eyes through oakley’s high-performance lenses, offering both comfort and protection. The UD delivers widescreen graphics by using innovative prism technology; integrated in the goggle is a device called ‘MOD live’ – an augmented display, perceived as a 14-inch screen that appears to be five feet away.

The HUD is designed for an unobtrusive view, and semi-flush lens geometry ensures wide peripheral vision. No way around this one: it’s really cool, like in a video game. The GPS feature accurately measures how fast you are moving down the slope, tracking the distance, height and airtime of your jumps with analytic software.Frankly, I’m actually wondering how one could keep up with all that info while risking one’s life down the slope.

As if that wasn’t enough, the built-in Bluetooth allows users to view incoming calls and text messages, and lets you locate and track friends that have the oakley airwave goggle or the downloadable smartphone app. Had enough? I sure did, but there’s more. Users can actually access music players such as spotify or pandora, as well as control their phone’s playlists on the slopes – all with up-to six hours of on-mountain battery use.

Oakley did put some useful technology into this project, like quick changing lenses, F3 anti-fog technology and a dual-vented lens design to keep vision clear. Better yet, HI yellow iridium and VR50 pink iridium filter out 100 percent of harmful UV rays.