SportRX Ski Goggle Prescription Inserts: An Honest Review
As someone who needs prescription lenses but recently got into skiing, I was excited to try SportRX's ski goggle prescription inserts. The promise of crisp, clear vision on the slopes without the hassle of contacts sounded perfect. Unfortunately, my experience didn't quite live up to my expectations.
The Setup
The ordering process through SportRX was straightforward. You select your goggle model, submit your prescription, and they create custom inserts that clip into your existing goggles. The build quality seemed solid, and the inserts fit my goggles without any issues.
The Problem: Fishbowl Effect
Here's where things went sideways for me. Once I got out on the mountain, I noticed a significant "fishbowl effect" - that distorted, warped vision you get around the edges of lenses. For those unfamiliar, imagine looking through a glass bottle or aquarium. The center vision was fine, but peripheral vision felt off and slightly disorienting.
This isn't just an annoyance - it's a genuine safety concern when you're carving down a mountain and need full situational awareness. I found myself constantly readjusting and second-guessing what I was seeing in my peripheral vision.
My Verdict
I wanted to love these inserts, but the fishbowl effect was a dealbreaker for me. Your mileage may vary - I've heard from others who've had great experiences with prescription goggle inserts, so this could be specific to my prescription or eye shape.
After this experience, I've decided to try the contacts route for skiing, and will update with another post once I've had a chance to get some contacts to try.
I will say that SportRX is working with me to try and get to the bottom of this issue, and I'll update this post if anything gets resolved on that front!
Pros
- Easy ordering process
- Good build quality
- Works with existing goggles
Cons
- Noticeable fishbowl/distortion effect (for me)
- Reduced peripheral vision quality
- Not cheap for something that didn't work out
Rating: 2.5/5 - Great concept, but the optical distortion was too much for my needs.
