Vision on the mountain is much more than a 20/20 score at the doctors office.
Vision on the mountain is reliant on the equipment you have on your face during a whiteout blizzard or when the sun is blistering down at your retinas.
No matter what the budget is, your personal style, or eyesight levels, here are ten ski goggle recommendations for the winter season.
What Should You Look For in Ski Goggles?
A fresh pair of goggles with a new lens is somewhat similar to a newborn baby or a pet, maybe not close to as important but it's something to be taken care of very carefully. Ski goggles are an investment due to price but if used with the proper precautions they can be well worth the money.
It's important to evaluate a ski goggle first by comfort, if you're not comfortable with your goggles that's an immediate problem.
Make sure to physically try on goggles in a store or borrow a friend's size preference, tightness, and how they fit with your helmet as well.
Next step would be to compare the cost and durability of your prospective goggles. If you're going to spend more you want to make sure they are going to last more than just a season. Cheaper goggles are cheap for a reason but super expensive goggles don't necessarily guarantee a long lasting lifetime. Knowing your budget and ski style there should be a happy medium of price and durability in your ski goggles.
Lastly should come the style of the goggles.
If your goggles are broken, don't fit, or cost you your life savings then it doesn't really matter how cool they look.
When it comes to style, most companies have a wide range of color options but knowing your eyes can be helpful.
Do you like darker tints, lighter tints polarized?
There are options within options, so make sure to keep your personal preferences in mind rather than going after the mainstream choice.
The 10 Best Ski Goggles Today
Here are our favorite ski goggles today.
When you think eyewear, you think Oakley. Oakley has been at the forefront of the goggle business for a while and this model is one of their best.
The Oakley Fall Line is a frameless goggle with quality triple layer foam suited for maximum vision and comfort. This pair of goggles sits at $225.
Smith Optics is also a top tier brand in today's outdoor eyewear space.
The I/O Mag is incorporated with Smith’s ChromaPop™ lens tech which increases the sharpness of every object you might run into on the mountain. Listed at $305, this model is available in 19 different colorways with some being a bit cheaper than $305.
The Giro Contour has a wide range of pricing of $134 to $270, depending on the lens color preferred. Giro uses their technology to limit the flat light difficulties and emphasize the contrast between snow texture and other outside factors.
This toric shaped lens provides a good bang for your buck option..
The Dragon NFX MAG OTD is on sale with a bonus lens for $196. This goggle is a perfect median of good for stormy conditions and sunny conditions.
What separates this model from Dragon is its magnetic lens replacement system that maximizes efficiency at the mountain.
With armored venting and good helmet compatibility it's the NFX MAG OTGis at the top of the game.
Frameless and magnetic is the name of the game for the ANON M5. This lowbridged fitted goggle with a flat toric shape has improved technology for anti fogging in 2024. Listed at a price point of $300 this is the top tier model for ANON which includes a bonus lens and facemask that magnetically attaches to the nose bridge.
For the prescription glasses crowd out there, this is a unique model from Scott that is the perfect fit for you.
Widely regarded as the best goggle for wearing glasses underneath, the OTG AMP Pro has excellent three-layer foam and an extra wide, no slip strap to go with it.
This goggle has a more rounded look and is going for a very reasonable price of $140.
The Glade Adapt 2 is an extremely versatile and affordable pair of ski goggles. Listed at $149, this model from Glade has an impressive lens that changes tint as the conditions change thanks to the REVEAL™ photochromic lens technology. A very durable and innovative pair of goggles is perfect for anyone and everyone.
If you are interested in the Smith Optics brand but are looking for a reduced price from the I/O model then the Squad is a perfect fit for you, physically and figuratively.
The price point of the Smith Squad ranges from just $72 to $155 and has a wide variety of lens colorways.
This goggle has sharp optics and is equipped with anti-fog technology within its semi framed design, exemplifying balling on a budget.
The Oakley Target ski goggle is another very affordable model from one of the top of the line companies. For just $88 dollars this is a good fit for anybody not ready to quite invest the extra dough but still get a quality pair of ski goggles. \\This model has quality foam for all day comfort, frame notches at the temples for compatibility with prescriptions and a frame that works hand in hand with Oakley helmets.
Ranging from $108 to $180 on the Smith Optics website, the Skyline model is similar to the Squad in terms of the cost to quality ratio. These are frameless goggles with a rounded Carbonic-x lens, Chromapop to enhance visible contrast and anti-fog mechanism. The Skyline model is comfortable and performative.
The Bottom Line: Ski Goggles
Ski goggles are a tricky business to maneuver but when you find a pair you love, it opens up your vision and ability on the mountain tremendously.
Remember to compare and contrast different styles, price levels, comfort, and durability in the buying process before making a final decision.
Lucky for you, there's no nowhere to go wrong on this list.
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