Shred Simplify+ Review

The Shred Optics Simplify+ goggle is a large frame goggle that offers an expansive field of vision in a good-looking frame. This goggle stands out for its superior optics, color accuracy, lens changing system, and overall style.

Performance Comparison

Lens Quality

The Simplify+ uses a wide cylindrical lens outfitted with the company's tech like SHREDWIDE, and SHRED CONTRAST BOOSTING LENS (CBL). Shredwide refers to the frame and lens shaping to provide an expanded view. This model gave us more peripheral vision than other models featuring some type of expansion view technology. It offers one of the biggest fields of view in our review fleet. Keep in mind it is one of the larger frames in the review. Nevertheless, expanding the peripheral vision can help keep you safer on the hill as you are more aware of your surroundings, especially when carving, learning, or riding in the terrain park.

We tested the CBL Plasma Mirror and CBL Sky Mirror lenses. Both were incredibly versatile across different lighting conditions and were optically correct. The tint on both lenses had very limited shifting that was easy to adapt to. The Plasma Mirror had a touch of red shift when viewing lighter or earth-toned colors. The Contrast Boosting Lens is a reason why each lens could be used in a variety of conditions. It highlighted the nuances in the terrain and snow quite well. We find this an important feature as it helps minimize surprises and helps us ride to our highest level. We also found that colors were also enhanced but never over-saturated. It felt almost like living in HD.

Comfort

The Simplify+ is a large framed goggle that doesn't feel overwhelming on your face. Our testers did notice that it feels like a larger footprint overall but it remains comfortable. Testers with medium-sized facial structures enjoyed this model as much as those with larger facial structures. We feel it is best suited for that medium to large range, as people with smaller heads and facial structures found it to be a bit large when coupled with a helmet.

The Simplify+ uses a triple-layered foam to provide a very comfortable ride. The next-to-skin layer is a soft fleece that remained itch-free and pleasant on our skin. This is followed by a medium-density foam to contour to your facial features and move moisture away from your goggle. A higher density foam connects to the frame to provide support, stability, and a more durable foam to frame interface.

The broad strap is 50mm wide and is coated with two silicone beads to keep the strap securely in place when in use. The strap provides a wide range of adjustability to fit varying helmet and head sizes.

Venatilation and Breathability

The Simplify+ takes a rather traditional approach to ventilation supplemented with a unique pressure-based approach. It has a full-length top vent along with four small vents on the bottom of the frame. This collectively provides a moderate amount of ventilation. Shred has even gone so far as to treat the foam on the frame vents with NoClog, and hydrophobic treatment that is intended to resist snow or water buildup to prevent fogging. The lenses also employ Shred's NoDistortion feature. This is a semi-permeable valve to equalize the pressure between the inside and outside lens with the barometric pressure. This is intended to prevent optical distortion that may arise from the imbalance when gaining elevation. Shred states that this system can also help keep moisture out of the lenses which may help to prevent fog from forming between the lenses. It is hard to evaluate the efficacy of this feature, but it is a unique innovation that could help with fogging. The lenses also have an anti-fog coating that should prevent fogging in most situations.

Ease of Changing Lenses

The technique to effectively use the Shred 1-2-3 Replacement System is a bit challenging at first. It takes a bit more force than one would expect but that's a testament to the lens security as well. It still takes a moderate amount of time and effort. After some practice, we could change lenses in just under a minute. It's easier than the traditional system because you do not have to line up or fiddle with multiple small notches. It is a bit more challenging and takes longer than the magnetized lens-changing systems. Swapping lenses requires that you touch the lens at multiple steps through the process which technically makes it harder to change the lens than systems that require less handling. In the end, it's not that difficult and helps keep the cost of these goggles down.

Durability

This is a rigid goggle made from quality plastics and lens materials. Like most high-quality goggles, this goggle should last you years as long as you take care of the product and are careful to avoid scratching the lenses.

Style

The Simplify+ is offered in 7 different colorways with specific lens combinations associated with each. Of course, style is subjective, but this goggle has consistently been rated as one of the people's favorites when we have asked friends and other shredders. Its large frame is the main deterrent for those with whom it didn't resonate. It resembles the Oakley Airbrake from 10 years ago that took the freestyle and freeride scene by storm but with a new school approach and reduced size.

Value

This goggle presents a good value in the goggle marketplace because of the excellent optical quality and well-rounded performance at a mid-range price.

Conclusion

The Simplify+ is a very optically correct goggle that helps increase contrast, definition, vibrancy, and detail while maintaining color accuracy. Its wide lens and thinly framed design help maximize the field of vision. It comes with a bonus lens and each is surprisingly versatile and can be changed using an easier system than the standard lens change. This model is great for avid skiers and riders with medium to large facial structures looking for quality lenses and enhanced peripheral vision.