Zeal Optics Lookout Goggles x Haa Aani Alliance

Ski Gear With a Purpose

Devan Dowd

Looking for a new pair of ski goggles that will unlock the beauty of the mountains while protecting our lands? This season, I’ve been lucky enough to rock the limited edition Zeal Optics x Haa Aani Alliance Lookout Goggles. And man, do we have a story for you! 

The Zeal Optics Lookout Ski & Snowboard Goggles have united Zeal’s patented Rail Lock System & award-winning Observation Deck Technology (ODT) in a revolutionary goggle that elevates both your vision and your experience on the mountain. The dual sliding rail system guides, slides, and locks your lenses into place, simply and securely, while the ODT frame’s pantoscopic tilt and low profile expand your vertical field of view by 20%. This means you can truly see every inch of the line below you (and if you’re me, quickly avoid unintentional moguls)! 

A few key technical components of these rad goggles include: photochromic lens options, 100% UV Protection, perma-shield hardcoat, dual strap adjustment, helmet compatibility, over-the-glass readiness, upper lower venting, triple-layer face foam, no-slip-grip, impact resistant frame, cylindrical polycarbonate lens, prescription insert compatibility, and high-density lens technology! Needless to say, any Zeal Optics goggles will be best-in-class, especially the Lookout model!

 

Before we talk about my favorite aspects of these goggles, I would be remiss if I did not spend a moment talking about the greater mission behind this Zeal Optics x Haa Aani Alliance collab. The Haa Aani Alliance consists of partnerships with the big name brands of Zeal Optics, Weston, Smartwool, Pret and Mountain FLOW Eco-Wax, where the sales of this gear go towards protecting free-flowing rivers & salmon spawning grounds. With the partnership of Tlingit artist Crystal Worl of Trickster Company, this unique collection of snowsports gear donates proceeds of each sale to benefit three non-profit organizations: Yukon Salmon, Wild Salmon Center and the North Atlantic Salmon Fund. 

The central aim of the project is to protect the uninterrupted flow of rivers & vital salmon spawning grounds that are essential for the preservation of both human communities and the ecosystem, in alignment with the principles of Haa Aani and the Salmon Way of Life. For the Tlingit of Southeast Alaska, culture revolves around the land & its resources. They believe that when you take care of the land and its inhabitants, the land, in turn, takes care of you. Specifically, the Salmon Way of Life focused on utilizing salmon respectfully & sustainably. By protecting the salmon and its habitat, the salmon provide people with sustenance in return.

Crystal Worl’s art, which is featured in this collection, captures her excitement to bring attention to Indigenous values and knowledge around this way of life! 

 

“There is much to learn from the salmon, and time is running short. I have big hopes and dreams for what my art and storytelling can do to make true change.” – Crystal Worl

 

I strongly encourage you to take a moment to learn more about this incredible initiative, these principles, and take time to reflect on how you can truly help take care of the land we all are so lucky to inhabit.

 

With that, transitioning back to the more technical components of the Zeal Optics Lookout Goggles, here are a few of my favorite features:

1. 1. Show Stopping Designs That Make For A Solid Conversation Starter: Thanks to Tlingit artist Crystal Worl’s eye-popping color pattern, I was able to receive numerous compliments on the lifts, in line, and coming down runs for the fun color pattern of the Lookout Goggles. Paying tribute to the belief that our environment is circular and our watersheds begin in the mountains, the Lookout Goggles help tell the story of The Salmon Way of Life. Given the unique story behind these goggles, I absolutely loved the pop of color that acted as a conversation starter for the mission behind the Haa Aani Alliance (in addition to making it very easy for my ski buddies of the day to find me as we navigated the slopes). 
   2. Lenses That Are Ready For Any Condition:  Given mountain terrains and conditions change quite quickly out here in Colorado, I really enjoyed how quick & easy it was to switch the Lookout Lenses. So within 60 seconds, I would be able to pop out the Polarized Alchemy lenses (which bring out every contour of the mountain in nearly every condition) and exchange those for the Persimmon Sky Blue Lenses, which came in clutch on a mother-daughter birthday trip when one day was a full-on blizzard, and the next a perfect blue bird day! Even my friends noticed (and were slightly envious) of this feature as they spent 10+ minutes complaining while they had to painfully switch lenses to allow for visibility on the blizzard day. 

• Goggles On A Mission: Not only do these goggles go above &  beyond in their technical components, they go above & beyond in making an impact on wildlife, the community, and the environment! Thanks to the Haa Aani Alliance, Zeal has donated $5 of every pair of goggles sold to support three non-profits focused on protecting the uninterrupted flow of rivers & vital salmon spawning grounds that are both essential for the preservation of human communities & the ecosystem. So as someone who really wants the gear I wear to both keep me safe on my adventures & contribute to saving the planet, the Zeal Optics x Haa Aani Alliance are a no brainer.

 

Although these lens do have everclear anti-fog technology, I did notice on really cold days, when you had a gaiter tucked underneath your goggles to prevent any skin contact with the cold, there would be some occasional fogging as you were coming down the mountain. Again, this is not too uncommon, and by simply pulling the gaiter out from the goggles and having it rest on the bridge of your nose the fogginess quickly cleared. 

 

So, if you have been in the market for a universal pair of ski goggles, that fluidly adjust to any mountain condition thanks to patented Rail Lock System & Observation Deck Technology, and also acknowledge the skier & boarder’s responsibility to ensure that everything downstream from us thrives as we enjoy our ability to slay pow, look no further than the Zeal Optics x Haa Aani Lookout goggles! Wishing you happy trails & a long spring ski season & make sure you #getupandgo chase your own adventures of the day!

Devan Dowd

Growing up in Massachusetts, Devan has been an athlete all her life. Starting at the age of 4 as a competitive gymnast, she learned quickly the joy that comes from hard work, determination, and a jammed packed schedule. Eventually, gymnastics led to competitive lacrosse, which resulted in her growing some wings and heading to the PNW to pursue a DI College Lacrosse opportunity at the University of Oregon.

 

On the single off-day each week, she quickly learned to see Mother Earth as her playground and wanted to use every second of free time to find chase AOTDs (Adventures of the Days). These AOTDs were the inspiration for her blog Dabbling in Traveling & youtube channel. 

 

From waterfalls, to snow covered mountains, to sand dune hikes – one thing was certain, something always went awry on these AOTDs. But hey, memories were always made! Not only was UO an incredible college experience, Oregon sparked her love for the outdoors & traveling across the country for games helped introduce her to Colorado in 2014. Staring up at the Flatirons on CU Boulder’s campus, she knew one day she would call Colorado home! 

 

After returning to the east coast upon graduation, Devan’s heart never stopped longing to live in Colorado one day. But luckily the pandemic brought a newfound acceptance for remote work and in Nov. 2021 her dream came true!

 

By day, Devan is a Product Manager at Capital One. By afternoon, she is a personal trainer, coaching group Crossfit classes at Axistence Athletics (the best Adventure gym you will ever find!). By evening, she pours her heart into nonprofit work, specifically focused on driving sustainable change in Haiti through the Brace for Impact 46 organization (Fun fact – she has been traveling to Haiti since 2015, accumulating 7 trips and 7 months of living down there!). 

 

Brace for Impact works in Northern Haiti to provide sustainable, multifaceted approaches to support child development, education, medical care, job development, and implementation of clean water & sanitation across the community, which touches 40,000 people each day! (Want to learn more? Check out their website www.braceforimpact46.com )

 

As her friends would tell you (despite trying), Devan does not slow down and is always trying to fit AOTDs into each open moment. Whether it be hiking, paddleboarding, road-biking, running, Crossfitting, weight-lifting, snowboarding or simply exploring different parts of CO with her favorite furry friend Bailey & her husband Jeremy, it’s safe to say Devan has found her “Home” here in Colorado!

 

Fun fact – Devan had reconstructive hip surgery in 2016 (actually called a Periacetabular Osteotomy… but that’s a tongue twister). After a 22 month recovery period, she proved doctors wrong, returned to play her senior of lacrosse continues to use this experience as motivation to encourage everyone she interacts with to truly treat movement as a gift and to never take it for granted. With that being said, to keep her body active, she needs to make sure her gear can support her so she can remain #PAOStrong!

 

Devan is excited to join the Engearment team!