Shane McConkey Signature Series Crowbar goggles review

OAKLEY SHANE MCCONKEY SIGNATURE SERIES CROWBAR GOGGLE

First Impression: When I was handed the Shane McConkey Signature Crowbar series goggles for testing I couldn’t tell if my heart stopped or sped up. As a skier that grew up amidst the free skiing revolution and idolizing skiers like Shane McConkey and then watch him fall off the planet in a skiing accident I couldn’t help feel the emotions well up. In the days of pro model everythings I knew that these goggles would have me looking through different eyes. It was a true honor to wear these goggles.

Fit: The first thing I noticed is how soft and supple the goggles feel. I was riding a snowmobile, hiking and skiing in the goggles and have to say the straps adjusted easily every time as I went from helmet to hat to head. Adding to the comfort was the lack of a buckle on the strap that often annoys me if I am not wearing a helmet. The triple fleece face foam cushioned my face against the 60 miles per hour snowmobile ride up to CS Irwin snow cat ski area.

Construction: The O-matter chassis has a conforming shape and the strap outriggers help the helmet fit either with or without a helmet. The Plutonite lens material provides 100% protection against UVA, UVB, UVC and harmful blue light and has increased in size for better peripheral vision.

Performance: And that they did. I took the Oakley Shane McConkey Goggles up to the CS Irwin snow cat skiing area for product testing. After snowmobiling up to 12,000 feet in the McConkey Crowbars my eyes were safely secure behind the Black Iridium lenses. It was snowing hard and due to the high winds we were forced to hike in our goggles, how perfect? Ive never been able to keep my goggles from fogging, the Crowbars stayed virtually fog free during the hike through the woods. I even had to take on and off different layers finding that the straps on the goggles were adjusted easily. The all fabric straps are more comfortable and less cumbersome than straps with the often annoying metal or plastic clasp that breaks the strap in two for putting on over a helmet. I wore the goggles with and without a helmet. As we approached Scarp Ridge at 12,100 feet the wind was raging and it was absolutely dumping. It was the kind of day that you depended on your equipment for survival. We booted up dog leg chute and topped out in the crumholtz trees not daring to mess with any of our stuff. The other two people I was with had given up on their goggles and were squinting into the blinding snow while my eyes were calm and comfortable in the Crowbars.

Style: The SM Crowbar graphics are everything you’d expect from a McConkey product-subtle and styled. Shane was never known for his outrageous fashion statements like other pros but he was known for doing it just plain right. The blueish, greenish, brownish almost urban camo sounds awful but if you look close you’ll find that it is total class. The unique art is actually inspired by metalwork created by Shane’s wife Sherry. On the front of the goggles is the classic Oakley -O- embossed in metal.

Overall Impression: Like the Jerry AK Launchers and the K2 Coombas, these goggles will represent one of skiing’s most cherished contributors to the sport. These will only come out on the special days; the days when skiing is life. RIP Shane. (Oakley is providing 10% of the proceeds from this goggle to Shane’s wife and daughter.)

Retail: $195.00

Colors: McConkey/Grey Polarized

Location: Irwin Lodge, West of Crested Butte, CO

Weather Conditions: Blowing snow, winter blizzard like conditions

READ THE PUBLISHED ARTICLE IN THE Mountain Weekly News

December 12, 2010 | Categories: Product Reviews, Published, Winter 2010-11 | Tags: backcountry skiing, goggles, oakley, product test, rando racing, winter storms | Leave A Comment »