Oakley Prizm lenses revolutionized eyewear, and now Prizm Snow lenses are changing the game on the mountain. And leading this charge is the new Oakley Prizm Snow Sapphire Iridium lens!
Keep reading for our full Prizm Snow Sapphire lens review as we take this lens out on the mountain for a day. Plus everything to know before you buy this lens!
Table of Contents
What is Oakley Prizm Snow Sapphire Lens?
Oakley Prizm Snow Sapphire is a part of the contrast-enhancing Prizm Snow Lens family. These lenses are built using the same great Oakley Prizm lens technology found in Oakley sunglasses.
And with a 13% Visual light transmission (VLT), this lens is perfect for partially cloudy and sunny days. But we’ve found also this is a great all-around lens that works in just about every condition.
Prizm Sapphire Snow Features
- Enhanced contrast to highlight terrain, hazards and the smallest details on the mountain
- Improved visibility to easily spot different snow contours and conditions
- 13% Visual Light Transmission (VLT) that works well in a variety of light conditions
- Rose lens base color gives a warm appearance to your environment
- Plutonite lens material blocks 100% of UVA, UVB and UVC rays and, harmful blue light up to 400nm
Keep reading for our full Oakley Prizm Sapphire Snow review, plus our favorite Oakley goggles featuring this lens.
What color is Prizm Sapphire Snow?
From the outside Prizm Sapphire Snow appears to be a light blue color with an iridium (mirrored) finish. This Iridium coating means other skiers and snowboarders won’t be able to see your eyes through the lens.
But thanks to the rose base lens color, looking through this lens has a warm pink color despite its blue exterior. This means even in low light conditions you’ll have a warm optimized experience.
You can see what this rose base lens looks like in the image below.
Prizm Sapphire vs. Prizm Sapphire Snow
If you’re familiar with the popular Oakley Prizm Sapphire lens found in your favorite Oakley frame, you may be wondering about the differences between the standard and snow versions.
Both lenses have a similar blue tint that definitely stands up, but there are definitely some key differences.
First, the standard Prizm Sapphire lens uses a grey base tint, while the snow version uses a rose base tint that provides a warmer appearance.
Second, the Prizm Snow Sapphire lens is slightly lighter at 13% VLT than its sunglasses brother which has a 12% tint.
Overall, if you’re a fan of the original Prizm Sapphire you’ll also enjoy Prizm Snow Sapphire. But you can check out the quick reference table below for the side-by-side comparison.
| Prizm Sapphire | Prizm Snow Sapphire | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Lens Color | Grey | Rose |
| Visual Light Transmission | 12% | 13% |
| Polarized Available | Yes | No |
| Contrast Enhancing Technology | Yes | Yes |
Prizm Snow Sapphire Lens Review
Our Gear and Conditions
We reviewed a pair of Oakley Flight Deck goggles with a Prizm Snow Sapphire lens. We won’t cover too much on the Flight Deck here but this is consistently one of our favorite goggles.
For our review, we took this lens out on a sunny mountain day in the North East and were impressed! While we didn’t get a chance to try them in full overcast conditions, we could definitely see how they performed overall.
Impression and Review
The first thing you notice about this lens is the awesome color. We got so many compliments on how cool the blue Sapphire lens looks shining in the sun.
But what’s most important is how it performs. And luckily decades of color science research by Oakley have made this a revolutionary lens!
While we weren’t taking this lens off any big jumps, the rose base tint provided fantastic color and contrast-enhancing that definitely saved us from a few ice patches.
We also found that Prizm Snow Sapphire did an awesome job of blocking out glare and light even in very bright conditions.
Are They Worth It – Our Recommendation?
Yes, we’d recommend Oakley Snow Sapphire as this is one of the best performing Prizm Snow lenses.
And the minute we took off our goggles for a run, we instantly noticed how much of a huge difference Prizm Snow Sapphire made, especially for the glare.
Whether you’re an amateur or professional skier, Prizm Snow Sapphire will definitely be a welcomed addition to your gear.
Top Oakley Prizm Snow Sapphire Goggles
Now that we’ve covered everything to know about Prizm Snow Sapphire, we’ve gathered the top Oakley Goggles with this lens.
For more information be sure to check out the Best Oakley Ski and Snow Goggles.
Flight Deck
The Oakley Flight Deck (Product Link) features a large frameless lens design for maximum peripheral vision. Plus with Oakley Ridgelock technology, you can easily swap your lenses for a variety of lens conditions. And the flexible O Matter frame material conforms to your face for the perfect fit.
Flight Deck Highlights
- Large frameless lens design available with Prizm lenses
- Small frame notches provide compatibility with your prescription eyewear
- Wide 5mm strap provides maximum comfort for all-day wear
Read more in our Oakley Flight Deck review.
Line Miner
With its cylindrical design, the Oakley Line Miner (Product Link) hugs your face to maximize your field of vision downward and side-to-side. And its wide strap provides all-day comfort without digging into your head.
Line Miner Highlights
- Low profile frame design with a large lens for maximum peripheral vision
- Triple-layer face foam that wicks away moisture when you’re sweating
- O Matter chassis that conforms to your face even in the freezing cold
Read more in our complete Oakley Line Miner review.
Fall Line
With a large size, the Oakley Fall Line goggle (Product Link) is engineered to fit most face sizes and be compatible with most snow helmets. Plus since this goggle features Ridgelock technology you can easily swap lenses for varying mountain conditions.
Fall Line Highlights
- Large frameless fit available with a variety of Prizm lenses for optimum contrast
- Designed to be compatible with most prescription eyewear and helmets
- F3 anti-fog coating to keep your lenses clean and clear during every run
Read more in our complete Fall Line review here.
Flight Tracker
The Oakley Flight Tracker (Product Link) features a traditional goggle design that’s available in small, medium and large sizes for every face. Plus these goggles are designed to integrate with almost every helmet design.
Flight Tracker Highlights
- Oversized full-rim toric design with a large field of vision
- Wide strap for all-day comfort on the mountain
- Impact resistant Plutonite lenses with UV protection
Flight Path
Designed specifically for Super G and downhill skiing, the Oakley Flight Path (Product Link) features a large lens for visibility at all angles. And the Ridgelock EV lens design in the Flight Path allows for increased upward visibility while skiing downhill.
Flight Path Highlights
- Large lens with increased upward visibility for downhill and Super G skiing
- Increased brow foam and wide adjustable strap for maximum all-day comfort and a secure fit
- Lightweight and durable O Matter frame that conforms to your face
Where to Buy Oakley Prizm Snow Sapphire Goggles?
Your first stop to buy Oakley Prizm Snow Sapphire goggles and lenses is likely Oakley’s website or a local retailer. But if you’ve never tried on Oakley goggles, it’s probably best to head to your local ski/snow store before you buy.
Once you’ve found the Oakley goggles you want, you may want to wait if you’re looking to save. That’s because, with only a few minutes of work or a little patience, you can usually save 30%+ off the $150+ retail prices – here’s how.
First, if you’re willing to wait for an Oakley sale, you’ll usually find most goggles with big discounts. Check out our guide to Oakley’s complete sale schedule to find out when you can save next.
But if you don’t want to wait, you’re not out of luck.
You can often purchase goggles and eyewear for 25% off+ retail prices through aftermarket sites like our Oakley Forum Exchange or eBay. Learn more ways to save in our guide to Never Pay Retail for Oakleys Again.
Looking for More?
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