The Zeal Optics SPPX Transcend GPS enabled snow goggle with spherical polarized and photochromic lens is, at $400, no small investment for a pair of snow goggles. That being said, these are one of the most advanced snow goggles money can buy.
The Zeal Optics SPPX Transcend GPS enabled snow goggle with spherical polarized and photochromic lens packs loads of features and real convenience – you can track your time, location, current and maximum/minimum temperature, altitude, and speed without having to open any pockets, pull off any gloves, or wear an awkward watch over your clothes.
You can get features that meet or exceed those of the Zeal Optics SPPX with a GPS unit, but having the display right in your goggle is very cool and convenient. All of the data isn’t just at your fingertips; it’s unobtrusively right in front of you when you need it. For safety reasons, the data is displayed out of your normal field of vision. Seeing the data is as easy as glancing down. It doesn’t strain your vision or become a distraction.
The goggles are quite large, and may not fit smaller heads or prescription glasses. They are quite durable and have a battery that lasts up to 8 hours. The software isn’t very powerful, however, which some users might expect from a pair of goggles at this price. The software allows you to upload data to the official Zeal Optics website but not to other applications. The software itself also doesn’t have the features of, for example, Garmin’s training software. You can’t seem to be able to delete parts of a route or switch from metric to imperial units. There are many additions that could be made to make the software feel more mature.
Besides weak software, the snow goggle is a premium goggle in almost every other way. It’s a huge leap forward from GPS watches or other units that you’d have to stop and drop everything just to sneak a look at. The controls are easy to use through gloves with nice, big buttons that are intuitive and make it a breeze to change settings. If you have the money, ski with GPS devices, and are looking for a high-tech alternative, the Zeal Optics SPPX Transcend GPS enabled snow goggle with spherical polarized and photochromic lens is the goggle for you.