A number of issues can put a damper on a stunning day on the mountain: nasty climate, dangerous layering, a confidence-crushing wipeout—however for those who pack the very best pair of ski goggles, snow blindness doesn’t must be considered one of them. For anybody who’s been fortunate sufficient to not expertise it, snow blindness—technically known as ultraviolet (UV) keratitis—occurs when your corneas are uncovered to an excessive amount of ultraviolet gentle, which displays off snow. It may trigger eye ache and may have an effect on your imaginative and prescient for hours afterwards—to not point out that it’s a severe security hazard whenever you’re on the slopes.
Good goggles can stop snow blindness, shield a big portion of your face from chilly and wind, and allow you to see higher in shiny situations. Dangerous ones fog up and deform your imaginative and prescient. However with so many choices on the market (and many difficult technical specs to decode), searching for the correct pair generally is a ache. So we did the analysis for you and put a bunch of goggles to the check on the mountain. Store our winners under.
Our high picks
- Greatest Total: Smith I/O Magazine
- Greatest Photochromic: Glade Adapt 2
- Greatest Cylindrical: Oakley Line Miner Professional M Snow Goggles
- Greatest Price range Decide: Flylow Carry out Photochromic
- Smartest Design: Anon M4 Toric MFI
- Greatest Lens Change System: Zeal Lookout
- Greatest Toric: Poc Vitrea
On this article
What to search for when searching for ski and snowboard goggles
There are three lens shapes: cylindrical, spherical, and toric.
- Cylindrical lenses are typically inexpensive, however might have extra points with glare and distortion.
- Spherical lenses present higher peripheral imaginative and prescient and a extra correct area of view with much less glare. Normally, there’s additionally extra space between these lenses and your face, which can assist stop fogging.
- Toric lenses are the least widespread, and so they’re a mixture of cylindrical and spherical lenses. These present essentially the most optically correct area of view and minimal distortion.
However some lens shapes will really feel higher in your face then others, so attempting on goggles before you purchase them is at all times a great transfer.
You’ll additionally wish to resolve between interchangeable lenses or photochromic ones. Interchangeable lenses are tinted to permit for various quantities of VLT (seen gentle transmission). That is the share of sunshine that passes by means of the lenses. The next VLT means extra gentle passes by means of—these lenses are nice for overcast days, whenever you’re snowboarding in flat gentle. Decrease VLT lenses have a darker tint and can present higher visibility on sunny days.
Photochromic lenses regulate to all gentle situations, so that you don’t must swap lenses (they’ll work equally properly on bluebird days and in falling snow). Which sort you select comes down to non-public choice. Photochromic lenses may be extra handy, however power you to stay with one VLT vary. With interchangeable lenses, you possibly can construct a set of types which have particular VLT ranges for the situations you sometimes ski or snowboard in.
One last item to notice: VLT doesn’t impression UV safety—all of your lenses ought to present that.
How your goggles match together with your helmet is extra essential than you may assume. You don’t need any gaping between the highest of the goggles and the underside of the helmet, for security causes and to keep away from the dreaded “gaper hole” that new skiers typically sport. When each items don’t match collectively properly, you may additionally discover air flow points that’ll trigger your goggles to fog up (not good).
Most ski goggle manufacturers additionally make ski helmets, and their merchandise ought to match accurately collectively. However you possibly can at all times go to a ski store to get recommendation from the professionals and take a look at some choices on in individual.
Some goggles solely are available one measurement, whereas others supply small, medium, and enormous suits. In case you discover that almost all pairs slip and slide down your nostril, search for goggles which can be designed particularly for low bridges or low profiles. If you should put on eyewear underneath your goggles, search for body notches that’ll permit the arms to take a seat behind them comfortably. You can even search for OTG goggles, which may be worn “over the glasses.”
Extra options of high-quality goggles embrace anti-fog coating, impression resistance (which means they’ll stand up to crashes and take up and safely unfold out the power introduced on by impression), and silicone grippers alongside the strap to assist them keep in place in your helmet.
Meet the tester
I’m Kristin Canning, a journalist and kit tester based mostly exterior Denver. I discovered to snowboard two years in the past, and I completely like it. Final season, I purchased my first Ikon Cross and logged about 20 days within the mountains, and my aim for this yr is to get nearer to 30 (I’ve racked up seven days up to now, so I’m properly on my manner). I’m a resort snowboarder, and I wish to enterprise into the backcountry within the subsequent few years.
Having examined gear for a dwelling for over a decade, I’m aware of what makes an merchandise high-quality, and I’m notably targeted on gear that matches ladies properly and is as snug and flattering as it’s technically sound. I’ve gotten to attempt the very best items manufacturers have to supply, so when one thing stands out, you possibly can belief that I’ve seen—and tried on—loads of choices to check it to.
Store the very best ski goggles
Greatest Total: Smith I/O Magazine
Execs
- Spherical lenses present nice visibility
- Flattering match
- Simple-to-adjust strap
Cons
I fell in love with these goggles the second I put them on. The spherical lens form makes it simple to see downhill and peripherally, and helps stop glare (there aren’t any flat surfaces that may catch the sunshine). They’re additionally made with Smith’s ChromaPop lens know-how, which suggests they supply enhanced colour, readability, and definition—a majorly essential function when the snow and the sky are related shades.
The frameless goggles include two lens choices for shiny and low gentle situations, and you’ll simply swap them out by pushing the tabs on either side behind the strap. I appreciated the ample padding and the way they sat comfortably towards my face and stayed in place; I didn’t have to regulate them in any respect. In reality, I virtually forgot I used to be sporting them.
The I/O Mags will work with all helmets, however they’re most appropriate with Smith ones (I wore them with a Smith helmet and didn’t have any points with fogging). Additionally they get Smith’s highest stage of anti-fog coating, so blurry lenses shouldn’t even be a chance. You will get the I/O Mags in tons of enjoyable colours and strap patterns too. Goggles can typically look a bit ridiculous, however these made me really feel cool.
Authentic picture by SELF author Kristin Canning
Lens form: Spherical | Variety of lenses included: 2 | Sizes: 3 | Low bridge match accessible: Sure
Greatest Photochromic: Glade Adapt 2
Execs
- Lenses regulate to lighting
- Snug, safe match
- Nice worth
Cons
- Cylindrical lens form can create some distortion
These goggles have photochromic lenses, which means they regulate to the extent of sunshine they’re uncovered to, so that you don’t have to alter out your lenses for various situations. That is helpful for a variety of causes. Mild situations can change mid-run, and albeit, I don’t love carrying round an additional lens or taking the time to swap them out if I don’t must. I felt safer sporting these goggles than any others on this listing for that motive alone—I knew that I might at all times have the very best visibility potential all through my day.
These supplied a large visual view, felt snug, and didn’t fog, both. They pair finest with Glade helmets, however I wore them with one other model and didn’t have any airflow points.
Authentic picture by SELF author Kristin Canning
Lens form: Cylindrical | Variety of lenses included: 1 | Sizes: 2 | Low bridge match accessible: Sure
Greatest Cylindrical: Oakley Line Miner Professional M Snow Goggles
Execs
- Snug to put on with glasses
- Low distortion for cylindrical lenses
Cons
- Strap adjustment wasn’t intuitive
- Costly
The Line Miner Execs make the most of single layer lenses, which assist lower distortion and refraction, making them much less more likely to have the visible downsides of cylindrical goggles. They arrive with two magnetic lens choices (a shiny and low gentle lens) as properly, and you’ll swap them out with simply two clicks of the tabs on either side behind the headstrap. One other cool function: Small notches on the edges of the body permit so that you can comfortably put on prescription glasses beneath the goggles.
Lens form: Cylindrical | Variety of lenses included: 2 | Sizes: 2 | Low bridge match accessible: Sure
Greatest Price range Decide: Flylow Carry out Photochromic
Execs
- Nice value level for goggles
- Photochromic lenses
- Safe match
- Temple notches assist you to put on glasses with them
Cons
I used to be extremely impressed with these goggles. I’m new to the photochromic lens world, and I used to be a bit skeptical that they’d change rapidly sufficient or dramatically sufficient to really work in all situations. The day I examined them was sunny, however large clouds have been commonly passing by means of and darkening the sky. I might see properly, and felt shielded from the too-bright snow, the entire day. These goggles additionally match fantastically. I wore them with a Smith helmet and didn’t have any gaper hole or fogging.
Authentic picture by SELF author Kristin Canning
Lens form: Cylindrical | Variety of lenses included: 1 | Sizes: 1 | Low bridge match accessible: No
Smartest Design: Anon M4 Toric MFI
Execs
- Toric lens form
- Simple lens swap
- Snug match
- Body notches permit for compatibility with eyeglasses
- Comes with protecting exhausting case for further lens
Cons
These goggles are considered one of few choices in the marketplace that makes use of toric lenses, which imply they’re a combo of cylindrical and spherical in form. Toric goggles present essentially the most optically correct view, with a large, non-distorted visual view. The Anon M4 Torics include two lens choices and the Magna-Tech fast lens change system is extremely intuitive. You may swap out the magnetic lenses by merely pulling them off the body and snapping new ones in place—this method makes it simple to alter your lenses with out getting finger smudges throughout them.
One other massive bonus: These goggles include MFI (magnetic facemask integration), or a face masks that magnetically attaches to the underside of the goggles to cowl your complete face. I sometimes put on a buff after I snowboard, however my nostril at all times peeks out on the high and will get windburnt in consequence. This goggle/face masks combo, which has a breathable vent close to the mouth, is really a sport changer for staying heat.
Lens form: Toric | Variety of lenses included: 2 | Sizes: 1 | Low bridge match accessible: Sure
Greatest Lens-Change System: Zeal Lookout
Execs
- Can swap lenses on the mountain simply
- Obtainable in prescription
- Good downhill view
Cons
- Restricted sizing and match choices
These goggles are light-weight with a low profile and cozy match. Their standout function is the Rail Lock System, which lets you swap lenses by simply pushing the lens up and sliding it out of the rails alongside the edges of the body. That is one thing I might do even with gloves on.
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