Whenever you hit the snowy mountain slopes to go skiing or snowboarding, you need to make sure you have a high-quality pair of ski goggles to protect your eyes and improve your vision.
Not only this, but you want to make sure your ski goggles have interchangeable lenses, suitable for a variety of weather and lighting conditions. Optics featuring anti-fog and contrast clarity are ideal too. Not to mention lens quality, UV protection, ventilation, and comfortability; all features that also need to be considered.
Ultimately, you want a pair of ski goggles that are functional, protective, and stylish.
And though the price of a perfect snow season can seem astronomically high, luckily, we’ve carved out a list of brands offering the best ski goggles, some available for modest prices too. Choosing the right set of eyewear doesn’t have to be just technical either. There are so many styles listed, available in all sorts of chromatic colours, you’re guaranteed to find the perfect pair for you.
Snowboard and Ski Goggles FAQs
Are photochromic ski goggles worth it?
Photochromic ski goggles are extremely important when choosing winter eyewear to prevent eye strain by reducing the impact of the sun. The photochromic lens is highly versatile as they adapt to your outdoor surroundings and light conditions. By changing the light intensity with photochromic technology, it provides you with optimal vision, whether it's bright and sunny or gloomy and cloudy.
What ski goggles are the best for night skiing?
For skiing at night, yellow or clear goggles are the most suitable as they allow for 99% visible light to come through, allowing you to see detail and contrast, even in the darkest of lighting. Clear coloured goggles will let the most light in. However, yellow goggles or goggles lightly tinted yellow will allow you to see contrast.
What colour lens is best for ski goggles?
It depends on what the light conditions are. Blue, green, and violet ski goggles are preferable for higher light conditions, specifically blue lenses as they'll reduce glare while you ski or ride. However, yellow, gold, amber, green, or rose coloured lenses all offer increased visible light transmission, perfect for cloudy grey days. Although, darker tints have a lower visible light transmission as less light passes through.
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Oakley
One area Oakley excellent is in ski and snowboard goggles, with a range tailored to enhance performance and offer maximum light protection.
The Oakley Flight Deck XM goggles, offer prizm snow torch iridium lenses with a matte black strap. They have been designed for seamless compatibility, giving you the flexibility to wear these with any ski helmet you choose. They benefit from Oakley’s Ridgelock Technology, which makes lens changes quick and effortless while still allowing a complete seal to prevent light or snow seeping in.
SPY+
Ever since its launch in 1994 in San Diego, Spy+ has been producing the finest winter sports lenses, thanks to their world-renowned Happy Lens Tech. Happy Lens Tech is the only patented therapeutic lens on the market enhancing colour & contrast and scientifically engineered to boost mood and alertness.
The SPY+ Monolith goggles have cylindrical lenses and crystal clear, distortion free optics that will improve clarity while providing an optimal viewing experience. Compatible with most helmets and with scoop ventilation, they will keep you cool and fog-free.
Check out SPY+'s Legacy range as well. The Legacy Snow model has a wide peripheral view, modelling a cool style with an interchangeable lens and a streamlined frame venting creating a no-fog experience.
Sungod
If you're looking for a sleek traditional design, check out their Vanguards range. Finished with a Sungod grip lock silicon back strap, Vanguards are made to feel exceptionally soft and durable. Vanguards will also last a lifetime as they feature a triple-layer scratch resistance, made for you to endure the most extreme conditions no matter how fast you're going.
Electric
Electric have a pair of goggles suitable for every occasion, and their Kleveland collection in particular comprises some of the most striking ski goggles we've seen in recent years. Available in a fetching pink chrome colour, they rock performance dual lenses and are made with an anti-fog coating.Maximum airflow is achieved by way of frame vents, which allows hot air to move up and out while keeping your eyes from watering.
Smith
Smith snow optics are now some of the best on the market, known especially for their Smith 4d mag and Smith IO Mag eyewear that provides you with a perfect birdseye view as their signature chromapop lens increases your field of vision by 25%.
If you're looking for a crystal clear lens, check out the Smith Fuel V.1 google, as they offer anti-fog technology keeping your vision intact. They also are impact-resistant and feature plush foam so that they'll sit comfortably on your face.
Burton
Ever since Jack Burton Carpenter launched the business out of a Vermont barn in 1977, Burton has delivered top-of-line ski gear. However, Burton is not only committed to serving its customers but they're dedicated to sustaining the planet too. They believe it's a necessity to preserve the environments they enjoy while producing the best products for skiers and snowboarders.
For premium optics, try their Men's Anon M4 Goggles. Made with cylindrical lenses, they promise to reduce peripheral distortion and increase your field of vision. They also benefit from MFI technology (Magnetic Face Mask Integration), which uses a magnetic connection to seal your face mask to your goggles without obstructing ventilation.
Atomic
Tested and developed by the very best pro athletes, Atomic is creating some of the world's best ski and snowboard goggles featuring the latest HD technology to improve your field of view.
Some models feature the Quick Click lens changing system letting you change your look and protection level in a flash. Our top pick, however, would be the new range of Atomic Four Qs, which sport a retro cylindrical lens shape that includes Fusion Double Lens to provide you with a wide field of vision.
Sweet Protection
Their lenses and goggles are the very best as they make safety a priority with their developed technology that enhances contrast, ensures minimal colour distortion, and reduces eye strain.
Many of their pairs feature special RIG technology - Retina Illumination Grading - made to enhance the contrasts on the slopes when skiing or riding. Make sure you check out these top-tier Nordic designs.
Giro
Giro offers technology guaranteed to improve your performance on the slopes. Their expansive view technology secures a wide field of view, while the thermoformed lenses team up with anti-fog coating for a clear, optimal sight.
Giro goggles are an absolute must-have this season as their finely crafted interior has been specially designed to accommodate prescription frames, while also promising increased air volume inside.
Shredoptics
The Simplfy+ offer a wide field of vision in their sleek, almost frameless cylindrical lens design. They feature a Contrast Boosting Lens and Nodistortion technology to enhance contrast and image definition, while an innovative lens change system lets you swap between "sun and cloud" and "snow and overcast" lenses in a jiffy.
Uvex
Chimi
They have ski goggles available in a wide range of colours, lens shapes, and sizes, with select models having the option of receiving a special Zeiss Sonar lens technology. This technology promises to enhance contrast, highlights, and colours in all lighting and weather conditions while keeping your vision distortion-free.
Whether you're facing a sunny day on the slopes or you're attacking the coldest and steepest regions, Chimi has it all.
Zeal
Believing it's their responsibility to create elicit change, Zeal Optics are creating some of the most impressive sustainable specs. That mantra is embodied in the Beacon goggles - the first goggle to debut Observation Deck Technology, crafted with a tilted cylindrical lens that allows you to have 20/20 vision. With a medium fit, suitable for all light conditions, these optics have a photochromic and polarised lens option while offering 100% UV protection.
Dragon
Guaranteed to keep harsh glare & reflections to a minimum & protect your eyes from UV rays, Dragon's range of ski and snowboard goggles are highly functioning and protective. Dragon inserts advanced PXV with a Panotech lens that takes visibility and peripheral vision to the next level, while also promising expanded sightlines.
Salomon
Salomon offers high-quality ski and snowboard goggles that makes use of some of the latest technologies in the industry. Believing that price shouldn't factor into having access to great equipment, Salomon is for skiers who are looking to invest in the best snow gear without breaking the bank.
What makes Salomon stand out is their Over the Glass solution, which allows you to wear your goggles over your eyeglasses, all the while drastically reducing fog by improving airflow. Combine this with photochromic lenses providing a maximum field of vision and a comfy silicone beaded strap to on, and you have yourself a truly capable and trustworthy brand.
Dirty Dog
Dirty Dog frames are made from TPU, a Thermoplastic polyurethane known for its strength, durability, and elasticity. Aside from being extremely functional, these goggles are stylish and will last you a lifetime.
Volcom
Embraced by both amateurs and snowboarding pros, Volcom has sponsored famous athletes including, Ozzie Wright and Ryan Burch.
If you're after goggles that ensure a super-wide peripheral view and super quick lens change, why not try the Magna model? They are one of the most technological advanced oversized pairs around, and feature a magnetic lens change system and a bonus low light lens. The lens shape curves both horizontally and vertically to allow for optimal peripheral visibility too.
POC
POC goggles are some of the best-constructed winter optics for the most affordable prices out there. With a flat, cylindrical lens shape, the POC Iris X Goggles 2019 offer a dual hybrid lens, with the outer layer featuring an optical grade polycarbonate for perfect clarity and an interior lens made from cellulose propionate with an anti-fog finish. Fitting a medium to large face, The POC Iris X provides comfort with its triple-layered face foam.
Anon
If you're looking for the full spectrum of lens tints, lens shape, frame designs, and fog eliminating technology, look no further than Anon. Their collection of goggles feature a Perceive lens, providing high-contrast and defining clarity, making them suitable for all light conditions while offering a magnetic lens change system too.
Quiksilver
Quiksilver represents a community of snowboard enthusiasts who are after the best designs to endure all types of weather conditions. Offering a wide range of men's ski goggles, Quiksilver designs come in all different shapes, sizes, and colours.
Built with a low-profile cylindrical lens, The Men's QSRC Snowboard/Ski Goggles, give you a distortion-free performance while also offering anti-fog coating. Made with Colour Luxe lens technology too, your eyes will be able to focus accurately without the dangers of straining.
Bogner
With Bogner adding a dash of panache to ski wear, their goggle collection is no different. The Fire+Ice Capsule pair, for example, offer clear vision and contrast, and guarantee the lenses are "unbreakable". Made to offer a soft, comfortable fit on the face thanks to the use of foam materials, they also feature rubber straps to ensure a secure fit on a helmet.
Scott
With a large collection to choose from, you're sure to find the goggles that you're searching for at Scott, as they categorise their eyewear products according to technology, face fit, and weather condition. Scott has 45 years of accumulated experience, spent developing the very best in goggles technology.
If you're on the hunt for clear terrain reading goggles with the best visuals, try the Scott Vapers. These optics block harmful rays while providing an obstruction-free field of vision with its semi-rimless design. They also offers 100% UV protection with impressive Amplifier Lens Technology that enhances contrast & clarity.