Pack-Friendly Ski Goggle Case
Goggles are essential gear for most backcountry ski tours, but packing them is not so simple. Big hard cases are just that, big and bulky. And a simple goggle bag offers limited protection when goggle are in your backpack.
Our favorite low-profile ski goggle case for ski touring use is the Niner from Tailgate Industries in Bend, Oregon.
The Niner is a low-profile, semi-hardshell ski goggle case that offers the protection of a hard case without the bulk. The fleece-lined design features a rigid face (made of 100% recycled plastic) and a soft pocket with overlapping fabrics to secure and protect your goggles when not in use. The case is curved to match the shape of your goggles and is easy to use. The result is excellent ski goggle protection when in use and a slim, low-profile case that stows easily in your pack when empty.
I have multiple seasons using the Niner goggle case now, and it’s the perfect solution to protecting goggles in your backcountry ski pack. The case takes up no more room than the goggles themselves, but it offers full lens protection and fits nicely into the top lid of a backpack. The case is even slim enough to fit in a jacket pocket when empty. It’s a great concept and an excellent way to get hard case ski goggle protection without the bulk of a boxy case.
The Niner case comes in different sizes to match all goggles shapes and styles. Tailgate even makes a moto-specific goggle case.
Tailgate also makes the Gondom – a soft goggle cover that fits over goggles while they are on a helmet. Although not as backcountry-skier-specific as the Niner, the Gondom is ideal for protecting your goggles if you leave them on your helmet for your resort setup.
Tailgate Niner Ski Goggle Case – $35
Tailgate Gondom Ski Goggle Cover – $22
Check out www.tlg8.com for all the beta.
