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Heading downhill in a big pair of ski goggles isn’t just important for protecting your eyes from wind and snow — modern lens technology is incredible, and can help with everything from enhancing contrast to reducing glare to adjusting tint based on changing light conditions. From low-light lenses that increase your ability to see bumps and snow variability, to darker lenses that prevent eye strain on bright days, skiing without goggles is a nonstarter for me.
And a quality pair of ski goggles shouldn’t be taken for granted. I wore one pair recently that fogged up so badly I couldn’t wear them, and was forced to finish the day sans goggles. To prevent this from happening to you on your next ski trip, we tested a range of ski goggles both at resorts and in the backcountry. These are our favorite pairs, with top performers for a variety of face shapes, light conditions, and intended uses, so everyone can see where they’re going.
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We’ve used these super lightweight goggles for both day and night skiing this season, and have been impressed with how well they integrate with our Smith helmets for both fit and ventilation. While the fit will be different for each person, the straps are easy to adjust, and we’ve experienced no issues with either drafts or fogging.
They are lightweight and breathable, and Smith’s magnetic lens-swapping system makes switching between bluebird lenses and your cloud-cover options super easy. Smith’s ChromaPop lenses are designed to enhance color contrast, so even if the clouds come in while you’re wearing your darker tinted lenses, you’ll have decent contrast visibility for bumps and dips. The wide strap has silicon strips to help it stay in place on your helmet, and we’ve found these to fit smaller faces really well.
The Details: Small frame | Spherical lens | 2 lenses included
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The combination of lens colors, light transmission levels, and durable materials make these versatile and long-lasting.
We’ve been wearing these goggles consistently for the past four years, giving them dozens of test runs both at resorts and in the backcountry. Similar to our top-rated Smith I/O Mag, the Smith Squad lenses are built with ChromaPop technology that helps enhance contrast in variable light conditions and comes in a wide range of lens visible light transmission (VLT) levels, so you can pick the color that matches the conditions you encounter most often.
The rimless design allows for a wide field of view (even for smaller faces), and they integrate well with Smith helmets, though we’ve noticed gaps when paired with other helmet brands. These have a fairly standard lens-swapping system, but just make sure all sides of the lens are secured in the frame before dropping in.
The Details: Small frame | Cylindrical lens | 2 lenses included
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These goggles impressed us right off the bat, though that’s no surprise from this reliable, high-quality eyewear company. These have integrated well with different helmets, and we’ve encountered few gaps or drafts. They stay in place well and don’t slide down our nose or forehead, and the generous lens size allows for excellent peripheral vision.
The foam padding conforms well to our faces as well and doesn’t create uncomfortable pressure during long days on the hill, and they are easy to adjust while wearing. The Line Miner Pro uses Oakley’s anti-fog coating to prevent moisture buildup, and we have enjoyed plenty of days with excellent visibility in varying light conditions. Finally, Oakley’s Switchlock technology is secure and fast for swapping lenses, but it did take us a few tries to get used to popping the lenses out and putting new ones in.
The Details: Medium or large frame | Cylindrical lens | 2 lenses included
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Dragon’s new “infrared” lenses were designed with sunny days in mind, and they definitely came through for us. We wore these on brilliantly bluebird days on the East Coast and never felt any eye strain or sensitivity to light. The goggles are lower profile, which we found helpful for peripheral vision, and the magnetic lens-swapping system was fast and easy as long as they’re fully clicked into place.
The three layers of multi-density foam is comfortable for long days, and the wide strap stayed in place well on our helmets, though we recommend wearing these a little tighter, as they had a tendency to slide down our noses. The venting along the frames is well-placed and helps maintain lens clarity — just make sure to store them in a warm, dry place or they may fog up.
The Details: Medium frame | Cylindrical lens | 2 lenses included
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We used these goggles in a variety of light and weather conditions from Vermont to Tahoe to British Columbia. The frames have a wonderfully wide field of view, with excellent peripheral vision. We felt confident moving fast in variable conditions in everything from bright light to full cloud cover, and consider these to have some of the best scope of vision we’ve ever experienced. And while everyone’s face shape is different, we were able to wear these with glasses underneath without too much adjusting.
The frames are flexible and well-cushioned, and the anti-fog technology was dependable (the two panes help regulate the temperature of the goggles). When they did collect moisture during lodge breaks, we were able to wipe them clean quickly with a microfiber cloth without causing future fogging or other issues.
The Details: Medium frame | Cylindrical lens | 1 lens included
Others We Liked
We tested plenty of ski goggles this season, which means there were a few pairs worthy of mention, but didn’t make the top list. The goggles below performed well and can be a good option for some skiers and snowboarders.
Anon M4S Cylindrical Snow Goggles: We loved the versatility of the lenses and frames, and found them to work well for a range of face shapes. However, these scratched easier than others we tested, and have a small mark on the lens from the second time we used them.
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Smith 4D Mag: The 4D Mag Goggles have a generously curved lens that opens up downward visibility and eliminates blind spots at our feet, which helps us see clearly without straining our neck. Our main gripe with these goggles was that they were hard to keep in place on our helmet, and some people did find the lens shape created a bit of a “wave” effect when looking up and down.
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Tips for Buying Ski Goggles
Look for anti-fog lenses
Fogging goggles are the bane of my existence, and these days, most goggles (including everything on our list) come with some type of anti-fog treatment or material. Fogged lenses occur when warm or damp air hits your lenses, causing visible condensation and making it hard (or impossible) to see.
Anti-fog treatments or coatings help create a barrier between the warm air and the surface of the lenses, which prevents condensation buildup. Some goggles are built with multiple panes that regulate the microclimate and temperature of the goggles, reducing buildup even further. With that in mind, even anti-fog lenses fail sometimes, so I recommend keeping a microfiber cloth in your pocket to wipe them down after taking an indoor break.
Consider polarized lenses
While polarized lenses aren’t a make-or-break for snow sports, they do help reduce glare off the snow (or ice). Polarized lenses can help minimize eye strain and also help you get a better sense of the depth of field and differentiate between shapes and obstacles even better. Another option is to buy a few sets of lenses, as most of the higher-end goggle options offer plenty of colors, light transmission levels, and polarization options that can be easily swapped out depending on the day and light conditions.
Make sure you get the right fit and adjust them properly
Ski goggle models come in different sizes, and occasionally brands will offer different sizes within particular models. We recommend trying on different styles, as some will fit better for larger faces, some for more narrow faces, and some will fit higher or lower-volume noses better.
Overall, your ski goggles should fit snugly (but not uncomfortably tight) against your face, so there are no gaps where air or moisture can get in. You also want to be sure to have minimal space between the top of your goggles and your helmet, and when you turn your head, the frames shouldn’t obstruct your field of vision. All goggles on our list come with a wide, adjustable elastic strap that you can tighten or loosen for precise tension.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How often should I replace ski goggles?
While there isn’t a true time limit on a pair of goggles, we recommend considering replacements when the lenses are scratched in a way that impacts your field of vision, when the foam degrades or compresses in a way that allows gaps or airflow, or when the anti-fog treatment begins to fail. Most high-quality pairs of ski goggles should last you at least three or four seasons of moderate use. I’ve worn my favorite pair for four years, and while I test plenty of new pairs, the ones I’ve used season after season continue to perform well in a range of conditions.
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Can I wear glasses with ski goggles?
This depends on your face shape and how big your glasses are. Some goggles are made to be worn with prescription eyewear and can fit glasses comfortably underneath without pinching or gapping. If you wear glasses while skiing, we recommend trying on your goggles and glasses beforehand, as it’s not a guaranteed fit. It’s helpful to have a lower-profile pair of glasses for this purpose, as it will be easier to fit underneath more pairs of goggles.
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What color lens is best for ski goggles?
The best color lens for ski goggles depends on the weather and light conditions. Some models have a dozen different lens options, including photochromic and polarized technology. Photochromic lenses adjust to changing light, which are great for variable conditions. We like yellow-tinted lenses for low-light or socked-in days, and darker lenses for bluebird days. Look on the retailer or manufacturer site for the VLT percentage. A higher VLT allows more light to pass through, making those lenses better suited for low-light conditions. Lower VLT will be best for sunny days. You can always purchase more colors separately and swap them out depending on weather.
Why Trust Travel + Leisure
Maggie Slepian is a Montana-based writer and editor with a decade of professional gear-testing experience in the outdoor world. She is an avid backpacker, bikepacker, and skier, hitting the local mountain at least three times a week during the winter and traveling around the state to explore other areas. To compile this list, she evaluated T+L’s testing insights as well as her own experiences with a range of goggle brands and models.
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