SPY Doom Goggle With Happy Lens

SPY Doom Goggle

Style: Heritage Blue

Stated Features:

• Available with the SPY Happy Lens
• Built from flexible polyurethane
• Lock Steady quick change lens system
• Anti-fog 5.5-base ARC spherical dual-lens with anti-scratch protection
• Free premium bonus lens
• Triple-layer Isotron face foam with moisture-wicking Dri-Force fleece
• Silicone-ribbed strap
• 100% UV protection
• Helmet compatible with the most popular helmets on the planet.

Lenses used: Happy Bronze W/ Dark Blue Spectra, Happy Persimmon W/ Silver Mirror

MSRP: $220 (with two Happy Lenses)

Test Locations: Grand Targhee, Teton Pass, & Togwotee Pass, WY

Days Tested: 15

Intro

At Blister, we are big fans of Anon’s magnetic lens system found in their M1, M2, and M3 goggles. So after reviewing the Anon M3, I didn’t expect myself to be reaching for any other goggle anytime soon.

However, the SPY Doom’s Happy Lens changed all that, and I’ve found myself opting for it over the M3 on several occasions. Why? Because of the incredibly versatile Happy Bronze W/ Dark Blue Spectra lens, and SPY’s clever Lock Steady lens swap system.

Fit and Helmet Compatibility

The Doom is just a little taller and has a slightly wider field of view than the Smith I/O. I can’t actually feel the height difference when the goggles are on my face, but with a helmet, the Doom feels just a little taller.

The Doom is a little uncomfortable wearing my (pretty large) glasses underneath, but my glasses fit beneath the Doom better than they do behind the I/O.

If you’re looking for a slightly smaller goggle, SPY offers the Bravo, with the same lens retention system.

So far, I’ve used the Doom goggle with a Smith Gauge helmet, the Giro Zone MIPS, and the Giro Range MIPS. The goggles integrate well with all those helmets, and have a neutral enough shape that I’d expect them to mesh well with most helmets on the market. The curved top does a good job of snugging up to the helmet and preventing a gaper gap. Of course, if you’re really worried about helmet integration, it’s worth taking your lid in to a shop and trying some goggles on.

Lens Retention System

The Doom features what SPY calls their “Lock Steady” lens retention system, which they demonstrate in the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypq398OReeU

While I was disappointed to find that my Dooms didn’t make the funky noises from that video, I was impressed by the fact that they really do swap out very easily. Now, to be very clear, they’re not as easy to swap out as the Anon M series lenses. But they are the only non-magnetic lens swap system I’ve used that actually does allow you to change lenses without taking the goggles off your face. And since I typically wear my goggles under my helmet, that’s a must.

Initially, I found myself fumbling around a bit, trying to line up the edge of the lens without the tab (skier’s left side of the lens) with the frame, but it just took a couple tries before I got it figured out. It’s not as dead-easy to change lenses as the M3’s, so I don’t find myself pulling the lens out to take pictures like I do with the M3, but it is easy enough to swap out lenses on the chairlift—without smudging the lens or taking the goggles off your face.

So far I haven’t had any issues with the lens coming out of the frame, even on one crash that broke my helmet.

Optics

Initially I wasn’t exceptionally interested in the Doom, since I thought I’d found my holy grail in the Anon M3. However, since SIA I’ve been using a pair of SPY Frazier sunglasses, with the Happy Bronze Polar W/ Blue Spectra. After a week or two of touring in the Frazier, with the Happy Lens I was very impressed.

According to SPY, the Happy Lens blocks shortwave blue light while letting long wave blue light through. I’m no expert on the light ray / happiness relationship, but what I did find, is that the Happy Bronze Polar W/ Blue Spectra lens did a better job than any other lens I’ve used at upping contrast and details (and transitioning between light and shaded areas) while still keeping my eyes comfortable in direct sunlight. They make everything look less “Instagramy” than the Smith Chromapop lenses I’ve used, and do a better job of transitioning from light to shadow.

I was so impressed by the Happy Lens in the Frazier sunglasses that I wanted to try it in my ski goggles, so I went with the Happy Bronze W/ Dark Blue Spectra lens in the Doom, which feels very similar to, but is just a tiny bit darker than the Happy Bronze Polar W/ Blue Spectra that I was using in the sunglasses.

I was immediately impressed. While it’s easier to swap lenses in the Anon M3, I found that with the Happy Lens I wanted to swap lenses less. It’s more versatile than any other single lens I’ve used, and so I’ve found myself reaching for it on everything but the grayest of days.

In heavy fog and falling snow, I’ve used the Happy Persimmon W/ Silver Mirror lens, and it has impressed me as well. Especially in the evening as the light turns increasingly flat, I’ve found that putting in the Happy Persimmon lens makes it feel like the clock has turned back an hour or so. Contrast is increased, and everything takes a warmer tint. I’ve also found that it’s less fatiguing to my eyes than the Red Ice low light lens I used with the M3’s

[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]

Pricing

At $220 with two Happy Lenses, the Doom is cheaper than the Anon M2 ($240), the Anon M3 ($260), and the Smith I/O with a polarized lens ($240). And given the versatility of the particular Happy Lenses I used (there is less need to buy a bunch of extra lenses, since these work across a broad light range) that’s a great value.

Bottom Line

While Anon’s “M” series still takes the cake for the easiest lens swap in the industry, there is definitely something to be said for not having to swap lenses as often, and that’s what the SPY Doom google with their Happy Lenses delivers. On top of that, the Bravo is reasonably priced, and the lens retention system is the only non-magnetic option we’ve found that still allows you to change lenses with the goggles on your face.