Goggle Review: 2012/2013 Zeal Optics Voyager

So metal, so mirrored, it must be Metal Mirror.

Optical Clarity: The Voyager gets high marks here. It doesn't have as much haloing as the Slate and I didn't notice any warping.

Lens Tints: The Blue Bird Mirror has a visible light transmission of 28% making it a good choice for cloudy days and flat light in general. It has a reddish-purple base tint. Metal Mirror is darker (not sure on VLT, maybe 15%) and great on sunny days. It has a subtle brown base and high-polish mirror for, well, any time you don't want your eyes to betray you. Finally, all Voyagers come with a Sky Blue Mirror lens that transmits 80% of light for extra stormy days and night riding. It's damn near clear with the slightest smoke tint and mirror.

Blue Bird Mirror (on goggle), Sky Blue Mirror (solo). Check Zeal for even more.

Lens Changing: Held in place by six tabs and the frame on the nose, the lens is as easy to take out as it is to replace and you know exactly what you're doing. 

Peripheral Vision: Good horizontally, but not as good vertically. You may feel like a caveman with a giant nose and brow.

Fit: Medium to Small. I'd prefer something bigger, but I wear an XL helmet.

Comfort: Good. Cushy foam, good ventilation, no face sweating, no fogging.

Helmet Compatibility: Great. The strap had room left over even on my XL lid and it has the silicone stripes to keep it in place.

Look: I got the CS (Core Snow) Division Black colorway which has a black and white striped nose frame, black lens tabs and a black and white pattern strap with two old-school panther and spiderweb logo patches. Nothing over-the-top, but I like the classic look. 

Bottom Line: Better for medium to small face sizes the Voyager boasts quick lens changing and good optics in a range of tints, though peripheral vision could be better. Not that different from my everyday Oakley Crowbars.

Similar Goggles: Oakley Crowbar

Goggle Review: 2013 Zeal Optics Slate

Zeal Optics are reinventing themselves. It's time to relearn anything you thought you knew. Now owned by high-end, independent sunglass maker Maui Jim (third in sales behind Luxotica brands Ray-Ban and Oakley) the brand was rebuilt by snowboard industry vet and new Director of Marketing, Joe Prebich (who came over from Oakley). This is a good time for me to get familiar with Zeal because I didn't know anything about them in the first place. They sent me a couple pairs of goggles from the new 2013 line to demo and return. Here's my take on the Slate.

Zeal Slate with Phoenix Mirror lens

First the lenses, the Phoenix Mirror is rated at 28% visible light transmission. I got a day to test them that started out partly cloudy and then cleared up. These lenses are not for your sunny days. They performed much better in the cloudier conditions. One reason is that they show some haloing when looking at brighter lights (brighter reflections around the actual light). The tint is neutral to brown/orange with a gradient to the bottom of the lens that shifts subtly to a gray/green. I'm not a fan of the gradient, but if that's what you like it, go for it. You don't find it in many lenses, so just be aware.  I didn't test these goggles in a real deep or rainy day, just some sprinkles, but they never did fog. Most goggles have that figured out by now, thankfully. Changing the lenses was easy, too. I popped it out and put it back in first try, no problem. What more do you want? Now check out these frames:

Separate foam liner for cheap replacement

That's right, in a stroke of genius Zeal made the inner foam liner detachable from the rest of the frame. Now, when you wear out the foam, all you have to do is replace a $20 part and you're back in action. The final pricing for that isn't set just yet, but it'll be cheaper than the frames, that's for sure (MSRP of $149). Now if they could make the upper foam as easy to replace, they'd have me for life.

How about the looks? I got the black frames with white strap. Black logo and name hits adorn the strap, along with a reversible leather and plaid snap-on piece of flair. They've got a half dozen colorways, all classic looks, nothing flashy. They worked great with my huge helmet and even have strap to spare. Like most new goggles they have the rubberized strap to keep it stuck to your bucket. I'd say these goggles are for a medium-sized face. My XL noggin would like something a little huskier.

Goggles are all about personal preference. If you like a lens with gradient, check these out. If you need a giant, flashy fishbowl, look elsewhere. That said, peripheral vision, optics and comfort are all good. Nothing to really blow you away, but with the replaceable foam liner, they might be your go-to frame for years to come.

Also, lookout for Zeal's techy Z3 and Ion goggles with heads-up display and built-in video respectively. Finally, some serious Jetsons tech in a goggle!