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. Hop on any chairlift at any ski resort in North America, and you’re almost guaranteed to see Smith snow goggles. While there’s a lot of competition in the ski goggle space, Smith is a dominant force for good reason.
Smith, with over 50 years of eyewear expertise, has evolved from a simple one-man operation into one of the largest snowsport-oriented optics companies in the world. Today, Smith Optics manufactures and sells eyewear, helmets, goggles, and even some apparel. Smith filled a small gap in their lineup with the new-for-2022 Proxy. This goggle slides in under the popular Skyline with its framed look, spherical lens shape, and medium fit, and at $150, it really stood out during testing as providing a lot of bang for your buck.
If you’re shopping for snow goggles, there’s a very good chance Smith will be one of your options. The brand offers 22 ski goggles, each with several sizes, lens colors, and styles. Don’t want a gaper gap? Smith helmets and goggles work together seamlessly. Generally, the best way to ensure your helmet and goggles work well together is to buy them from the same brand.
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. 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. Some, like the Smith Squad ChromaPop, 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. 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.
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Key Considerations When Choosing Smith Goggles
Our eyewear is a foundational component to allow us to perform our best in all kinds of lighting conditions. These lens technologies are all intended to do roughly the same thing: increase contrast, enhance definition, and generally make you see the world around you more clearly, especially in challenging light conditions.
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 to the more budget-friendly options like the 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. Lenses come in various shapes, like cylindrical, spherical, and toric.
Premium goggles feature proprietary optical enhancement technology to improve the visual experience. Based on our visual assessments the Smith 4D Mag are optically the best goggles in this review. The Giro Contour and Smith 4D Mag offered true color accuracy and enhancements which provided an excellent visual experience.
When it comes to lenses, you generally get what you pay for. The higher-performance lenses are all slightly different, but each provides a clear and large field of view, enhances contrast, and resists fogging and scratching better than the more budget-friendly competition. Some lenses even adapt to your current light conditions by adjusting tint for varying environments, whether you're skiing in the midday sun or pre-sunset dusk. These photochromic lenses are convenient, as you rarely have to change the lens.
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Many high-quality lenses exist in this review; The Smith 4D mag (Left) and Oakley Flight Deck (right) are two top performers.
Comfort
The comfort of your goggles greatly influences the quality of your day, they can either seamlessly blend into your experience or contribute to headaches. Several factors come into play here: goggle shape and size in relation to the wearer's facial size, structure, and nose shape. A goggle's frame material and flexibility, padding material, and strap comfort are also important considerations when making your goggle selection.
Additional Features
One of the most overlooked parts of snow goggles is the case or sock. You’re investing hundreds of dollars into good optics, and a good case will protect them, whether bouncing around in the back of a car or stuffed in a backpack. Smith’s top-tier I/O family of goggles comes with some of the best cases I’ve tested. Its mid-tier goggles also come with a good case. Its entry-level goggles come only with a sock. While serviceable, the sock offers only minimal protection.
Smith Goggle Models: A Detailed Look
Below, find every model. After testing several pairs of Smith’s goggles head-to-head, I believe that all the models Smith manufactures are capable of giving skiers and snowboarders a good experience.
Smith 4D Mag
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.
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The Smith’s top-tier 4D Mag line offers incredible peripheral vision and great lenses. They have an excellent lens interchange system, solid frames, and various straps for both style and function. They also have a superb hard case that will protect them for many years of riding.
Pros:
- Easy lens-swapping
- Fantastic optics
- Comfortable and stylish
- Frame flexes and conforms to face shape
Cons:
- Expensive
- Heavy for ski touring
- Distorted vision in the lower lens
Specifications:
- Number of Included Lenses: 2
- Tested Lens: Chromapop Sun Red Mirror, Chromapop Storm
- Lens Shape: Spherical
- Frame Size: Medium
- Layers of Foam: Triple layer
While the 4D Mag suits a broad range of face sizes, those with larger faces might prefer other options. The lens's curve slightly distorts the lower field of view, which might annoy some-though it didn't bother us. Most strikingly, these goggles come with a hefty price tag. Still, our testers agree this innovative, top-performing model is unmatched for resort performance. “It's pricey, but the clarity and fit are phenomenal,” said our lead tester. If you prioritize ventilation and sleek styling, the Julbo Cyrius, a close runner-up, might be worth a look. The Smith Mag 4D is a comfortable, optically enhanced goggle that can easily change lenses.
Smith MAG Goggle Comparison: 4D vs. IO vs. Squad
Smith Squad ChromaPop
For many riders, the sweet spot will be the Squad line of goggles. Here, you get excellent fit, peripheral vision, and comfort with top-tier lenses for between $75 and $155. Among Smith’s goggles, my favorite option is the Squad. While not the most expensive, the Squad hits a sweet spot on these. I don’t change lenses frequently, so I don’t often need the fast-change ability of the magnetic interchange.
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. “I love how light and packable they are,” said one reviewer. With a comfy medium-to-large fit, it suits most faces and pairs well with helmets.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Sturdy
- Two lenses included
- Lightweight
Cons:
- More difficult lens change
Specifications:
- Number of Included Lenses: 2
- Tested Lens: Chromapop Sun, Yellow
- Lens Shape: Cylindrical
- Frame Size: Medium/Large
- Layers of Foam: 2-layer Dri-Wix
The ChromaPop lens on the Squad boosts color accurately but struggles in low light, requiring a lens swap-tricky without magnets, though manageable with practice. This is typical for its price, and the savings offset the hassle. For top value, the Squad shines. “I've been rocking the same pair of these for almost a decade. That's a pretty great value considering their already low price,” a member of our staff boasted.
Smith Proxy
Despite having a pretty comprehensive snow goggle collection, Smith filled a small gap in their lineup with the new-for-2022 Proxy. This goggle slides in under the popular Skyline with its framed look, spherical lens shape, and medium fit, and at $150, it really stood out during testing as providing a lot of bang for your buck. As long as the slightly lower-profile shape and single lens aren’t deterrents for you, the Proxy hits a real sweet spot in the resort market by combining high-end optics, comfort, and field of vision at a reasonable cost.
From my very first run with Smith’s Proxy Goggle, it was clear the design punches above its price tag in all-around performance. Unlike many mid-range and high-end ski goggles, the Smith Proxy only includes a single lens for your $150 (or $170 should you opt for one of the photochromic variations). The good news, however, is that you have a total of seven lens tint options, and they’re all ChromaPop designs, which have impressed us across the board with their optical quality. The lens tech does a really great job giving an HD-like view of your surroundings, highlighting small bumps even in challenging conditions (although don’t expect any miracles in a whiteout).
Pros:
- The Proxy delivers top-notch optics and impressive field of vision at a budget-friendly $150 price.
- Fog resistance is great thanks to a fairly complete venting design, moisture-wicking foam, and Smiths’ Fog-X treatment to prevent moisture buildup.
- Very comfortable even on long days with soft, three-layer foam and enough flex in the frame to mold nicely to your face.
- Smith didn't make any concessions in quality: everything from the ChromaPop lens to the frame and strap have a very solid and confidence-inspiring feel.
Cons:
- Only comes with one lens, and the lens-change system is fairly basic with a tear-away design that requires force and leaves smudges.
- Sun Black lens (12% VLT) was limiting during storms and when dipping into dense trees, and I’d recommend a more well-rounded option like the Storm Rose Flash for season-long use.
Alternative Goggle Models
While Smith is a dominant player in the ski goggle market, other brands offer excellent alternatives. Here’s a brief look at some competitors:
- Anon M4 Toric: Best for individuals with a larger facial structure, featuring effortless lens-swapping capabilities and durable lenses.
- Julbo Cyrius: A true one-lens wonder with the widest photochromatic range, suitable for any condition.
- Glade Adapt 2: Offers great value with impressive lens tech, top optical quality, and superb ventilation at a lower price.
- Giro Roam: A budget-friendly option for riders looking for basic functionality.
Comparison Table
Here's a comparison of the Smith Proxy with other models:
| Goggle | Price | Size | Lenses | Shape | Style | OTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith Proxy | $150-$170 | Medium | 1 | Spherical | Framed | No |
| Smith Skyline | $180-$200 | Medium | 1 | Spherical | Frameless | No |
| Smith Squad | $120 | Medium | 1 | Cylindrical | Framed | No |
| Oakley Fall Line XM | $166-$206 | Medium | 1 | Cylindrical | Frameless | Yes |
| Giro Balance | $140 | Medium | 1 | Spherical | Framed | No |