Recon-Zeal’s Transcend Shows Us The Future of Goggles

We’ve had our eye on Canadian-based Recon Instruments for a while now, especially when they announced that they would collaborate with Zeal Optics to enter the winter sports goggle market with a revolutionary product estimated for the end of this year. We are absolutely blown away by what they have come up with. Not only does the Recon-Zeal Transcend goggle completely transform the reason we cover our eyes while we ride, it ushers in a completely new era in snowboarding technology.

Let’s get down to the facts.

Features

• World’s only fully-capable GPS goggle.
• Real-time speed, latitude/longitude, altitude, vertical distance traveled, total distance traveled feedback.
• Chronograph/stopwatch mode for timing runs, clock, and run counter.
• Temperature sensor
• Accelerometer
• Gyroscope
• 3-Dimensional lens
• USB-capable
• $399 for SPX version, $499 for SPPX

How does the goggle display all this info?

This is the part we love. The lens has a built-in micro-LCD display that sits right below your right eye (yes, serious black ops stuff). When you put the goggle on all the information is displayed in a user-friendly dashboard that appears to hang six-feet in front of you. Glove-friendly buttons on the outside of the lens help you navigate the full-color display and user menus. One menu will show you stuff like your current speed and altitude, another one will show you your fastest run alongside a few other stats, and somewhere along the way you can punch a button to drop a location marker you can view later on a map.

Transcend's Built-In Micro-LCD Display

The Lens

There are currently two models for this line of goggles. The Transcend SPPX is fitted with a polarized photochromic lens. That’s right, this lens will get darker or brighter adaptively depending on sunlight conditions. The brighter it is, the higher the rate of activation of the photochromic pigment and the darker the lens will get. In low-light situations the lens becomes much clearer as the pigment remains deactivated. The Transcend SPX comes fitted with your standard high-end polarized lens without all the fancy photochromic features.

Software

Recon Instruments developed a special program for this product that you comes with the goggles. Using the Recon HQ application, you can plug the goggle into your system and upload all your data. The software will pull-up actual maps of the resort you just rode, layout all your tracks on it, and give you all your stats. You can connect to the Recon Instruments website and share your info with an online community that’s becoming increasingly popular. Recon has also talked about the possibility of a software development community for more apps that can potentially be accessed directly from the goggles.

Recon HQ Application

This is one product we definitely cannot wait to get our hands on for the 2010-2011 riding season. Products like these can definitely help a rider get the most out of the relatively short-lived action on the slopes. Besides, who doesn’t want to feel like a commando while shredding some pow?

Check out the official product page here.

5 Snowboarding Gifts for Beginners

So what do you buy someone who’s just starting out as a snowboarder or even someone who’s been doing it for a bit now? This list will help clear some of that confusion and your doubts.

1. Tailsaver: We wrote about this back in October so it’s only natural that we include this item in the list. Tailsaver is a simple tailbone /butt protector which is made from ridiculously (their words, not mine) lightweight EVA foam. The good thing about it is that you won’t even notice or feel it when you put it on. It’s perfect for both parks and all mountain riding, especially if you’re just starting out. As the picture below shows, it’s rather hassle free. It’s available to North American, EU, and Australian folks and you can buy your Tailsaver from here.

Tailsaver

2. Snowboarding Goggles: Any beginner will love a pair of good goggles, that are comfortable and wont fog up. If you’re friend wears a helmet, make sure the goggle frames are not too big, otherwise they wont fit comfortable with the helmet on. And if you’re friend snowboards at night (check whether the local snow resort has night riding), make sure you buy goggles with relatively clear lens plates. Oakley and Anon goggles are well known for their quality and fog-free lenses.

Snowboarding Goggles

3. Snowboard lock: There’s nothing worse than having to worry about your board getting stolen and worse yet, finding out that your board was stolen. Buy your friend a board lock, and they’ll thank you forever. It’s inexpensive, but you’d be surprised how many riders just don’t bother to buy one. Any brand will do as they all work in the same way.

Snowboard Lock

4. Snowboarding Pocket Tool: On-snow binding adjustments and screw tightening are a fact of life for any rider. If it’s not for your own gear, it’s usually for your buddies. Pocket tools are small to carry and will prove pretty damn useful on the slopes when emergency calls. I know I’ve experienced this myself, and to be honest with you, it’s annoying have to go to the snowboard/ski tool station every time. Most pocket tools virtually identical, so just buy the brand that your friend associates with the most.

Pocket Tool

5. Wrist guards: Boy are these amazing! If it weren’t for the pair I bought myself when I first started out, I don’t think I’d even be able to write this post. Wrist guards are simply the most important set of protective gear any rider can buy. Plus the confidence boost you get from not having to worry about wrist injuries will come a long way in making you a better rider. Your friend will love you for these! I personally own a pair of the Dakine wrist guards shown in the picture below, and I recommend the same pair as your gift choice.

Dakine Wrist Guards

So that’s the list and trust me when I say this: any of these will make a good gift for a friend just starting out in the sport. They’re inexpensive (well maybe except for the goggles) and they’re very useful products that most riders don’t think about getting at first. If you have any questions or gift suggestions, just let us know.