Fogging
Even while hiking, I’ve had minimal fogging issues with the WM1. The only time the goggle fogged was if I pulled my neckwarmer over my nose and breathed heavily, but the condensation would usually clear quickly. If it didn’t, I could easily pop the lens off and let it evaporate.
[Editor’s Note: For those that typically ski with glasses under their goggles and are interested in prescription inserts, check out SportRx, which makes inserts for many popular goggle frames. We haven’t tested them yet, but are planning to review them in the near future and will post an update when we do]
Optics
Like the M1 and M2, each pair of WM1s comes with a bright and low light lens, but which bright and low light lenses you get depend on the frame’s colorway. The Mint frame color of the WM1 comes with the Blue Cobalt bluebird lens and the Blue Lagoon lens for low light conditions. I’ve been able to test the WM1 in pretty much every light condition, and between the those two lenses, was almost always happy with their performance.
Anon describes the Blue Cobalt as a lens with a “dark grey base with multi-layer blue tint that reduces eye fatigue on super bright glacier days.” It happens to be the darkest lens Anon makes, and they’re definitely right to say that Blue Cobalt would be a go-to lens for really bright days on a glacier. It provides plenty of protection on very sunny days while maintaining good contrast and depth perception.
Anon does have more versatile bright light lenses, like the Red Solex, that come with other frame colors of the WM1. And while skiing in afternoon shadows or on partly cloudy days, I often wished I had one available, as the Blue Cobalt seemed a little too dark in those conditions.
(For thoughts on other lens options available from Anon, including the Red Solex, see the Optics section of Will Brown’s M2 review)
As mentioned above, I also tested the Blue Lagoon low light lens which Anon describes as a “high contrast Yellow base lens tint with a multi-layer Blue Mirror” that “ enhances color definition and increases depth perception in varying levels of low light conditions.” Will Brown reports that Blue Lagoon is his favorite low light lens to date, and that it offers accurate color transmission and impressive contrast and detail on storm days. I completely agree with Will’s assessment.
I found that the Blue Lagoon, while great for storm riding, was often a bit too light for use on partly cloudy days (while the Blue Cobalt lens was a bit too dark). I really enjoy having the Blue Lagoon for use in low visibility though, and opting for a more versatile bright light lens like the Red Solex would probably solve this dilemma.
Spare Lenses
Anon’s spare lenses don’t run cheap. Additional lenses for the Smith I/OS average around $65. Currently additional non-mirrored lenses for the M1 are $79.95 and mirrored lenses are $89.95. Anon hasn’t released prices for spare lenses for the WM1 yet, but it’s safe to assume they will be in the same price range.
For the most part, I found the Blue Cobalt and Blue Lagoon lenses included with my pair of WM1’s to work well pretty much every day, so even with that lens pairing buying a third lens probably isn’t necessary. And if you opted with another frame color that’s coupled with a more versatile bright light lens like the Red Solex (instead of the super dark Blue Cobalt) and the trusty Blue Lagoon, I think a third lens would be unnecessary.
Bottom Line
Over the last few months, I have been extremely happy with the WM1’s performance and easy interchangeable lens system — it wins out over any other goggle I’ve tested in terms of speed and simplicity. The WM1’s fit and size should appeal to women who like the Smith I/OS, but also to those who prefer a goggle with a larger fit, though not as large as that of the M1 or Smith I/O.
If you’re looking for a high performance goggle that has no problem keeping up with quickly changing weather conditions, absolutely check out the WM1.
are the WM1 goggles compatible with prescription eye glasses?