Ski goggles and snowboard goggles can help protect your eyes from these on-mountain hazards, making your outing a lot more enjoyable. Goggles are a cornerstone piece of gear in any skier and snowboarder's kit. The best goggles help you see clearly, fit comfortably, look good, and last for several seasons if cared for properly.
At high altitudes, the air is thinner and filters less ultraviolet (UV) rays. The sun's reflection on snow is brighter and more intense. Wind can make your eyes tear and blur your vision. Ice particles can get into your eyes, as well as twigs and branches when you're dropping through the trees.
Key Considerations for Selecting Ski/Snowboard Goggles
With a dizzying array of new goggles to choose from, we've narrowed it down to the essential characteristics that you should take into account when making your eyewear choice. These include lens quality, ventilation, breathability, comfort, ease of changing lenses, durability, and style. How important each metric is to you depends on your preferences and the intended use.
Lens Quality and Optical Accuracy
Lens quality and optical accuracy are the most important performance-based aspects for most skiers and riders. The quality of your goggle lens directly impacts your safety and ability to enjoy riding in marginal lighting conditions. Companies have recognized this as one of the most important aspects of goggles, and they now offer high-quality lenses across many price points.
From the most expensive models like the Smith 4D Mag and Anon M4 to the more budget-friendly options like the Anon Helix 2.0 or Smith Squad ChromaPop, today's lenses provide a crisp, clear view with little to no distortion while also protecting the eyes from bright sunlight and UV rays. Beyond that, today's goggles enhance the contrast in low light conditions, which increases skiers' and riders' safety because of the added definition on the snow surface.
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Lens Shapes
Lenses are usually either flat or spherical. REI lists this information in the product specs on REI.com.
- Cylindrical lenses: Cylindrical-lensed goggles are priced lower and work fine, but the flatness can cause more glare and slightly reduces peripheral vision.
- Spherical lenses: Curved spherical lenses give better peripheral vision, less distortion and less glare, but the cost is higher. The larger the lens, the better your peripheral vision becomes. This lens, too, curves across your eyes and face, but it also curves vertically.
- Toric lenses: Newer to the market are toric lenses, which curve both horizontally and vertically like spherical lenses. The vertical curvature, however, is more subtle than the horizontal one.
Visible Light Transmission (VLT) and Lens Color
Your lens color serves to filter and emphasize the colors in your vision. The amount of light that reaches your eyes through the lenses is called the visible light transmission (VLT). Visible light transmission - measured as a percentage - is affected by factors such as the color, thickness, coatings and material of the lenses. You can typically find a goggle’s VLT in the products specs.
Lighter lens tints have a higher VLT because more light passes through the lens. Yellow, gold, amber or rose-colored lenses all offer increased VLT and make good choices on cloudy, socked-in days. Darker tints have lower VLT because less light passes through the lens. Brown, black, gray and lenses all offer reduced VLT and thus excel on bluebird days. Clear lenses are appropriate for night skiing.
Additional Lens Features
Virtually all goggles sold today offer 100% UV protection from all three types of ultraviolet rays-UVA, UVB and UVC. Remember, even when it's cloudy, UV rays are bouncing off of the snow. (And yes, you can still get sunburned in winter. Read our article that busts myths about winter).
- Interchangeable lenses: These let you easily swap out different colored lenses to suit changing light conditions. Many goggles with interchangeable lenses include two lenses for bright-light and low-light conditions.
- Polarized lenses: A polarizing filter's primary function is to reduce glare from sunlight on snow or water.
- Photochromic lenses: Snow goggles with these lenses automatically change tint level according to conditions and UV intensity. The more sun and UV rays, the darker the lenses become. If it's snowing or overcast the lens stays lighter. Indoors, they always stay light no matter the light intensity.
- Mirrored lenses: Mirrored lenses have a partial or full lens coating on the outside of the outer lens. This reflects more light and thus allows in less light (by between 10% and 50%) than non-mirrored lenses.
- Digital display: Some styles offer advanced technology that may pair with GPS and Bluetooth to display navigation, performance and smartphone information within the goggles in real time.
Ski / Snowboard Goggles Ventilation
When warm air from your body heat meets cold air from the outside temperature, condensation can form and your vision is compromised. Goggles use a variety of approaches to avoid fogging.
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- Double-layered lenses are found on virtually all goggles since they do not fog as fast as single-layered lenses. Sealed properly, they create a thermal barrier (like storm windows) that is more resistant to fogging.
- Anti-fog coatings are integrated into virtually all mid-level to high-end goggle lenses to help deter fogging. Anti-fog products can be used on lower-end goggles without a coating or on old goggles that are starting to fog.
- Vents: The top, sides and bottom of goggles are the keys to help control fogging. Wider vents generally create better ventilating airflow than smaller venting holes. The trade-off? Your face may get cold, particularly in extreme climates.
- Fans: A few high-end goggles include small, battery-operated fans to help disperse moisture. Fans with different settings can be adjusted for standing in a lift line, riding the gondola or going down the slope.
Frames and Fit
Make sure to get goggles that fit your face. The fit should be snug (not tight) and comfortable. Some models are best suited for smaller or larger faces; you can often find frames in small, medium, large or XL sizes. Women's and kids' sizes may be available, too.
Other fit considerations:
- Low bridge fit: Skiers and snowboarders with higher cheekbones or lower nose bridges might consider goggles in a low bridge fit, which are designed to create a more customized fit. Brands like Smith add extra foam padding and adjust a goggle's frame shape to create a better seal and prevent gaps where wind or snow can get inside. Smith and others offer a range of models in low bridge fit.
- Helmet compatibility: Most snow goggles are designed to work with ski or snowboard helmets, but it's still important to try goggles together with your helmet to ensure a comfortable and flush fit. There should be no space between the top of your goggles and the helmet. Make sure the helmet fits snugly against the goggles-without hindering your vision or pushing down on the goggles. Many brands design their goggles to pair seamlessly their own helmet models, so check their pairing recommendations too.
- Strap adjustments: Most goggles have a single, sliding clip to make adjustments. Others may have an open/close buckle with sliding clips on each side for adjustments.
- Padding: This keeps the goggle from pinching your face. Foam should be thick enough to cushion your face but not be so thick that it promotes fogging. High-end goggles may use two or three layers of thin padding to enhance venting.
- Eyewear compatible snow goggles: If you wear prescription glasses, look for goggles designed to fit over your glasses, also referred to as OTG (over the glasses) styles. These googles have space to accommodate glasses while avoiding pressure on your face from the temples and nosepiece. (Tip: You can use an anti-fog treatment on your eyeglasses to help keep them clear under the goggles.)
Top Ski Goggle Picks
Your choice of ski goggles will depend on your budget, the climate, and how often you plan to use them. Fortunately, this review includes options for the casual skier and the 100-day-a-year veteran, across various price points.
Here's a summary of some of the top ski goggle picks:
- Smith I/O Mag ChromaPop: Best Overall Ski Goggle.
- Goodr Snow G: Best Budget Ski Goggle.
- Anon M6 MFI: Best Interchangeable-Lens System.
- Glade Adapt 2: Best Goggle with a Photochromic Lens.
- Smith 4D Mag: Best for Maximum Field of View.
- Julbo Launcher: Most Ventilated for Backcountry Skiing.
| Goggle Model | Lens Quality | Comfort | Ventilation and Breathability | Ease of Changing Lenses | Durability | Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith 4D Mag | 9.0 | 9.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 7.0 |
| Glade Adapt 2 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 |
| Smith Squad ChromaPop | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 |
| Anon M4 Toric | 9.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 9.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| Julbo Cyrius | 9.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 |
Some, like the Smith Squad ChromaPop, Glade Adapt 2, or the Giro Roam, are low-cost options that meet or exceed the basic needs of a goggle. At the same time, models like the top choice Smith 4D Mag, feature toric lenses and high-quality optics in all conditions and come at a premium price.
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Top-tier ski goggles are best suited for committed skiers and riders who don't mind spending the extra money for an enhanced visual experience. Entry-level models such as the Smith Blazer and Wildhorn Roca fit the needs of fair-weather skiers, who find themselves out less than 10 days a year. They provide adequate weather and UV protection but lack optical enhancements and a low-light lens for storm skiing.
The Smith 4D Mag is a standout pair of goggles that delivers top-notch performance across the board. Smith, with over 50 years of eyewear expertise, has poured its know-how into this model. The 4D Mag upholds Smith's legacy of innovation with a distinctive curved bottom lens edge that expands your field of vision-a feature you won't find elsewhere. It boasts premium optics, a flexible frame, and a medium fit that suits most skiers and riders. Plus, it's got style and toughness to spare.
The Glade Adapt 2 offers great value with its impressive lens tech, top optical quality, and superb ventilation. Its six lens options adapt to all weather-sunny or stormy-and rival premium brands at a lower price. The lens adjusts quickly, enhancing color and snow contrast. It resists fogging well, even on tough climbs. With vents everywhere and a strong anti-fog coating, it ensures clear vision.
The Smith Squad ChromaPop offers strong performance at a budget-friendly price. It includes two quality lenses-one ChromaPop for bright light and a yellow one for low light-outshining pricier options. The cylindrical lenses deliver crisp, clear mountain views. Well-ventilated, it works for resort or backcountry use. With a comfy medium-to-large fit, it suits most faces and pairs well with helmets.
The Anon M4 Toric goggle is outstanding, and the performance scores reflect that. This model is best suited for individuals with a larger facial structure. We recommend considering this model if you have a rather large mug or find goggles to fit a little small on you. The M4 has the most effortless lens-swapping capabilities, featuring secure magnetic attachments that allow the lenses to be interchanged in seconds. Along with the extra lens, Anon ships these goggles with a face covering with magnets inside, allowing them to snap into and stay in place quickly. The lenses are built to last, and their quality leaves nothing to be desired.
The Julbo Cyrius is a true one-lens wonder. This model is offered in seven different photochromatic lenses. The largest split is category 0 to category 4, which is approximately 8% to 83% VLT. We used these goggles in every condition, from bluebird to snowglobe-like blizzards, and we always had the right lens. Julbo offers the widest photochromatic range with fast transition times not influenced by temperature. The lens also effectively enhances the snow surface's color, contrast, and definition.
Our eyewear is a foundational component to allow us to perform our best in all kinds of lighting conditions.