Words: Josh Ruggles

A new optic company has entered the snow industry, submitting their bid as the one of the most innovative goggles on the market. And with their debut this season, they are positioning themselves to be a serious contender in the industry.

Dye Optics is well known for their high-end paintball masks, making some riders unsure whether to spring on the new goggles. But with the help of top riders like, Bjorn Leines and Aaron Biitner, the company's image is rapidly gaining momentum.

"I'm super pleased with them. For their first year, they have some really technical product," Leines said.

Dye's product offering consists of two models: the T1 D.T.S. and the T1 Insight. The two models are essentially the same goggle — the Insight, simply comes with an additional storm lens.

The Dye T1 with the polarized lens | CHECK OUT THE FULL GALLERY

By manufacturing their goggles in-house, Dye has complete control of their product and works heavily with their riders to create the final product, said Leines.

"With other companies that I've worked with, they didn't really listen to what their riders wanted. With Dye, they want feedback from their team and keep us connected to the in-house design team," Leines said.

We decided to test Leines' and Dye's claims and took the T1 to the steep and deep of Snowbird Utah.

After two feet of new snow in two days, the conditions for testing goggles were the best they could be. Every turn resulted in a face shot and falling meant swimming.

The harsh wind froze anything that was wet. And after watching others struggle with their lenses; wiping fog and fighting ice build up, it became obvious how to define a good pair of goggles.

Good optics should be a balanced blend of form and function. Goggles should be something that receives compliments on the lift, while also fighting even the harshest of conditions. They let you focus on your riding, not fog.

At first glance, the T1 is stylish and aggressive. The layout is a clean looking spherical shape, with vents punched through every possible area of the frame.  Dye is calling this 360 degree venting, made to allow airflow throughout the entire lens — keeping the lenses from trapping moisture and fogging.

When wearing the goggle, the spherical design of the lens keeps the frame from blocking your peripheral vision, making the field-of-view noticeably larger and less obstructed.

On the mountain, the T1 performed extremely well. There was never a time when they needed wiping, scraping or lens swapping.

This is most likely due to their combination of 360 degree venting and 4-D, a process that coats both sides of the lens with protective anti-scratch and anti-fog compounds.

In the case of exchanging lenses, its quick-clips make it effortless, which is a good option for the riders that keep a spare lens with them.

When it comes to allowing a rider to focus on snowboarding while grabbing people's attention, Dye has done just that.

The T1 currently retails from $130 to $220, depending on the color-way and lens. Dye is also in the research and development stages of their line of sunglasses and should be releasing them in the coming months.

For more on Dye check out their website at dyesnow.com