The Best Ski Goggles For The Ski Season

Whether you are hitting the slopes for the first time or are a well-seasoned, snow-loving expert, you should know the importance of your ski goggles. They should be able to keep your face warm in the coldest of descents, give you a wide range of vision, allow you to breathe easily, prevent lens fog-related crashes, and keep you looking stylish in front of your friends! 

Here, we will break down all the things you need to know before heading to your local outdoor retailer and give you some insight into some of the best ski goggles you can currently find on the market. Also, we will talk about some of the best features that will take your ski goggles game to the next level. So, let’s get started!

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The Best Ski Goggles

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Smith 4D Mag Ski Goggle

The Smith 4D Mag goggles are arguably the best ski goggles on the market. The 4D Mag has a redesigned frame provides a 25% larger field of view than the I/O MAG. This is thanks to a curve at the bottom of the goggles that allows for vision below the eye line. The design feature offers a notably increased field of view over other ski goggles.

Integration with the Smith helmets is flawless. The products are designed to work with superior ventilation, so your goggles never fog up despite the conditions. This is in addition to leading class optics that increase your ability to see in snowy conditions thanks to Cromapop technology.

Smith has also updated its magnet quick change with releases outside the goggles. This update makes changing lenses and cleaning them on the mountain a breeze. The only downside with these is the small lip curvature on the bottom of the lens, which can catch a dusting of powder after a full day, and the price point.

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OutdoorMaster Ultra XL

Outdoor Master has been a hit on e-commerce sites like Amazon as they offer affordable ski goggles with a lot of value. Since their introduction, they’ve continued to improve and produce reliable goggles for an affordable price. We’re pleasantly surprised with the quality and performance of Ultra XL. They look pretty sharp, similar to Oakley’s, which is three times the price but certainly not three times the quality.

They’re a great pair for recreational skiers or snowboarders and come close to far more expensive goggles. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better value with a name brand where you’re paying for the name.

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Anon M4 Toric

If you’re looking for some of the highest quality ski goggles on the market, look no further than the Anon M4 Toric. They are highly comfortable, and the magnetic lens system is straightforward. Changing your lens for varying light conditions is so simple without removing the goggles from your face. They come with two lenses – either Toric or cylindrical, depending on your style preference – and can be worn comfortably with or without a helmet.

The SONAR lenses by Zeiss provide fantastic optical clarity with a massive field of vision and no distortion. The Anon M4 goggles also come with a unique magnetic face mask integration, or MFI, that allows you to snap on an added layer of protection quickly and efficiently when the weather requires it. Overall, few ski goggles can compare to the simplistic perfection of the Anon M4 Toric. If we had to list a downside, it would only be that they are better suited for those with larger facial structures. 

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MessyWeekend Achton XEp

We were just introduced to MessyWeekend, a new company based in Denmark, but they offer some of the best ski goggles on the market. They offered to send us a pair of their latest photochromic goggles. Not ones to pass up on testing out new gear, we said yes and were surprised by these goggles. They have some excellent style that looks great on the mountain, and the optics perform very well.

They’ve become some of our favorite goggles for a typical day on the hill as photochromic tech plays out well on the hill. Especially on partly cloudy days or transitioning between shades and sunshine. Convenience and style are the two standout features of these goggles. In the sunny weather, the royal blue color looks sharp and stands out.

There are a few downsides to the goggles. The first is the relatively high price tag. The second would be just photochromic lenses in general. Low-light performance with the lenses is outstanding; however, it is bested by dedicated low-light lenses like the Smith 4D or Anon M4s. Finally, the field of view is good and hardly hinders riding or skiing, but it should be noted the Smiths are notably better.

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Giro Blok

Giro ski goggles have been around for years, solidifying and perfecting their products. The Giro Blok ski goggles are just one line of many that have made it through. These classically designed goggles give you more bang for your buck with their expansion view technology, three-layer foam fit, and extraordinary ventilation without the price tag of similar competitors.

They also feature all the important bells and whistles that snow sport lovers expect, such as an anti-fog coating, micro-fleece facing, and Zeiss cylindrical lenses. Overall, these ski goggles can take you from beginner to pro without having to upgrade your goggles in the process. We love them for their tremendous value. You get a lot for a price that won’t break the bank.

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 Spy Legacy Goggle

Their trademarked Happy Lens sets the Spy Legacy ski goggles apart from the pack. This is not just a name. Instead, it is claimed that by blocking out UV rays and short-wave blue light while simultaneously only allowing long-wave blue light through, these lenses will put you in a better mood.

This may be due to the impressive clarity of the optics or because when you strap these on, you are probably already in your happy place on the slopes. Either way, the lenses are the only reason to buy these ski goggles. All the other features, such as the moisture-wicking dri-force fleece, anti-fog coating, and quick change lens system, are fantastic but still take a backseat to the perfection of the Happy Lens. These are among some of our favorite distortion-free ski goggles on this list!

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Smith Squad ChromaPop

The Smith Squad Chromapop ski goggles stand out for several reasons. First, the fit falls in a more universal category for medium to large facial structures. This means they are likelier to fit a broader range of people regardless of stature. Also, the style is classic, referring to the 1980s ski resort movie look while possessing just enough modern flair to keep them relevant.

The lens, strap, and frame colors seem almost endless, guaranteeing these goggles will fit perfectly into the environment in which you will be using them. Finally, the ventilation and fog resistance will keep you at the top of your game, whether on the bunny slopes at a resort or roughing it in the backcountry. 

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Julbo Skydome REACTIV Goggles

If ventilation is one of the most essential features you want out of your next pair of ski goggles, you should check out Julbo Skydome. These goggles are unique in their ability to extend up to a centimeter away from the frame while still attached, giving you maximum airflow.

They also feature a photochromic lens that will adjust in varying light conditions, giving you optimal eye protection with no effort. Where the Julbo Skydome ski goggles falter is their ability to attach various lenses. While it is not completely necessary with photochromic lenses, sometimes they don’t give you the complete UV protection or clarity you would like. 

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Electric EG3.5

The Electric EG3.5 ski goggles are chock full of style. The large, frameless lenses make you look like you just returned from the moon and decided to test your legs on the mountain. They come with two lenses for varying light conditions, which are interchanged using their simplistic press-release system.

They are also great for those with small to medium facial structures, which seem to be forgotten by many top ski goggles brands. Also, their TPU frame allows them to conform comfortably to your facial features, fitting snugly while maintaining breathability. However, this immense amount of style comes with some subtle flaws. The goggles’ contrast and enhanced visual definition leave more to be desired, but it’s still an overall good and stylish ski goggle. 

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Dragon NFX2 Goggles

The Dragon NFX2 goggles are another to feature a unique and easy-to-use lens change system. In fact, the only other goggles that can compete with the Dragon’s lever system are the Anon M4 Toric ski goggles. These come standard with two high-quality lenses for bright and low light and are interchanged by pushing a lever on the side.

From there, the lenses pop out, so you can swap for the changing light conditions and pop back in with the same easy pull of the lever, never removing the goggles from your face! The lenses are spherical in design, cutting out glare and increasing your field of vision, and the frame is stylish and low profile. 

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Smith Project Goggle

The Smith’s Project ski goggles have been a crowd-pleaser since their inception. The reasoning is mostly based on the value you will get from your purchase. While these goggles are extremely affordable, they pack in fantastic features that even some of the most expensive goggles have difficulty competing with.

Their Fog-X inner lens ensures your vision line never gets blurred, no matter your external conditions. The compression-molded hypoallergenic face foam ensures an exact fit that will keep you comfortable all day. Their cylindrical dual-lens with airflow ventilation provide an amazing view of your surroundings every time. Simply put, if you understand value means more than just the price tag, these goggles are the best fit for you!

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What to Consider When Buying Ski Goggles?

The primary purpose of your ski goggles is to protect your eyes, right? That’s why it’s so important to focus on optical considerations above all else. 

First and foremost – lens tint. The goal here is to get the perfect blend of color definition, contrast, depth perception, and eye fatigue protection – all with the perfect visual light transmission, or VLT, for your usual brightness conditions. 

How do you choose the right tint to give you a perfect mixture of all these variables? It’s actually easier than it sounds. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Amber, Yellow & Gold tints – these filter out blue light, making them great for low light or foggy conditions. 
• Dark Brown, Copper, Grey, & Dark Green tints – Perfect for bright light conditions, set your eyes at ease while providing well-needed contrasts in your surroundings. 
• Clear lenses – These are best used at night or during sunset. With the highest VLT, they allow the most amount of light to make it to your eyes. 
• Photochromic – these lenses are by far one of the best options because they automatically adjust to the amount of light in the environment, giving you the best visibility in all scenarios. 

All this doesn’t mean that you will have to buy multiple sets of goggles to adjust for all the different times of the day. Luckily, most ski goggle manufacturers provide at least two lenses for low and bright light conditions that can be interchanged on the same frame.

The next thing all the best ski goggles have is some form of fog resistance. Imagine going down your biggest mountain to date and suddenly losing sight of the upcoming trees due to fog. No, thank you! That’s why you should always look for ski goggles that announce some form of fog protection to keep you and the other skiers safe.

Lastly, ventilation. Of course, you want your goggles to stay snug on your face to prevent fresh powder from getting into your eyes, but it is also equally as important to have the appropriate amount of airflow through the goggles to prevent moisture build-up and that dreaded fog!

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What Features to Look for in Ski Goggles?

There are many features that take standard ski goggles from good to excellent. Some of them are necessary, while others are just downright awesome! Here are some of our favorites.

• UV Protection – Just because your goggles are tinted doesn’t mean they completely protect against UV rays. Always look for goggles that feature 100% UVA & UVB protection. 
• Scratch Resistant Coating – This will help keep your line of sight clear and increase the longevity of your ski goggles. 
• Helmet Compatibility – If you’re hitting the slopes, you’re probably wearing some form of protective headgear. Make sure your ski goggles fit over the top of it. 
• Interchangeable Lenses – Super important for those low light days are lenses than can adapt or be changed for the weather.

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