Few things can take away from a day of downhill skiing quite like foggy goggles. Although many models feature an anti-fog inner coating, entrepreneur Dave McCulloch wasn't pleased with their performance. This prompted him to take a thin-film heating element invented by Jack Cornelius, and incorporate it into his F-BOM ski goggles.
First of all, other heated goggles do already exist. The majority of these, however, utilize either a small built-in fan, or a wire element that runs around the outside of the lens.
By contrast, the F-BOMs' Klair system incorporates Cornelius' transparent film-type element, which is sandwiched between two conventional polycarbonate lenses. Powered by two integrated lithium-ion batteries, that element heats the inner of the two lenses to just above the dew point, so water droplets won't condense on it.
The goggles can be used in one of two modes. In Active mode, the element stays on continuously, constantly keeping fog from forming. Depending on conditions, the batteries reportedly should be able to keep that up for approximately seven hours. In order to extend that battery life, however, Boost mode can be used. In that setting, the element just comes on for about 10 minutes, when the side-mounted power/mode button is pressed.
All the electronics are weatherproofed, and the batteries can be charged via USB. Additionally, the lenses are replaceable, have a scratch-resistant coating, and block 100 percent of UVA, UVB and UVC rays. The weight of a complete set of F-BOMs is 122 grams (4.3 oz).
McCulloch and his Oregon-based Abominable Labs team are currently raising production funds for the goggles, on Kickstarter. A pledge of US$195 will get you a pair, when and if they're ready to go. The planned retail price is $249.
More information is available in the pitch video below.
Sources: Kickstarter, Abominable Labs
