Buying a pair of the best snow goggles, whether you’re snowboarding or skiing, will really elevate your experience when you’re on the mountains. Goggles are going to keep that pesky sun out of your eyes, protect you from debris and wind, keep you warm, and of course, allow you to rock that sleek look you’re aiming for when you’re riding with your friends. As opposed to other snow gear in the market with “new” models consistently coming out, snow goggles have certain models that really dominate when it comes to proven quality year after year. First let’s get into what you should keep in mind shopping for the best snow goggles for you.
Choosing the Best Snow Goggles
As always with shopping for anything, how much money you have at hand to invest (and these are investments in our opinion, they’ll last you years) will direct you in a certain direction. Our snow goggles under $50 guide helped those looking for budget-friendly goggles without much bells-and-whistles for an affordable price, however we did include quite a broad range below in our picks, or even our goggles under $100 or under $200 goggles articles may help as well.
We highly recommend interchangeable goggles. They come in a bit more expensive; however, the pros for these have been proven time and time again. For one, they help you adapt to certain lighting conditions (any of you ride at night?) to get a custom feel for your vision depending on the sun’s mood that day. Many of these brands offer 10+ different types of lenses to give you a custom choice (some may buy them all to make sure they’re covered for everything). You can also upgrade the lens later on to a more advanced technology if you feel like it (we’re thinking of polarized lenses here).
What kind of lens are you going to need? If you aren’t able to purchase multiple lenses to swap in and out (that’s assuming you grab an interchangeable model), look into lens visible light transmission (VLT) and attempt to foresee which lighting conditions you’ll mostly be in when you ride. We really like this goggle lens guide to help you out with understanding the percentages and corresponding lighting conditions.
Extra goggle features will also dictate the worthiness a model justifies its price-point. Want some ventilation in there? Perhaps an extra foam layer for comfort? Other “extras” in terms of features we’ve seen in popular snow goggles include a built-in fan into the goggle, special lens technology that adapts to the light you’re in, magnetic or aright technology for swapping lenses instead of plastic locks, and more.
The look of your snow gear is always something to keep in mind (for some, at least). Do you already have your snow helmet and snowboard and want to keep it matching? Does a certain pair’s overall design pop out to you? Luckily, many of these popular goggles offer not only different colored lenses (which may not suit your look if it doesn’t adapt to the lighting), but different frames and straps as well.
The Top 10 Best Snowboard and Ski Goggles
The following is our roundup of the top 10 best snow goggles in the market today. We’ll be updating this each year to make sure you’ve got the best of the best before you hit the mountains that winter season. Ladies, don’t forget we do have a best women’s snow goggles guide if you wanted a more confined list for you.
Oakley Flight Deck Prizm
See pricing\reviews | Read our Oakley Flight Deck review
To start off our guide, we want to go with our top pick for the best snow goggles out right now — the Oakley Flight Deck Prizm. These are a middle-priced, comfortable pair of goggles that have way too many high user reviews to ignore; the reputation in terms of longevity since their release has steadily increased as well. In terms of build, they secure nicely to your face and have anti fog lenses that will keep them from fogging up as you’re boarding or skiing. They also have a flexible face plate (triple layer), which gives them a snug fit and protect you from and wind as you’re flying down the slopes. What stands out most here however is Oakley’s Prizm lens technology — on top of the lens protection, this gives us more control over light transmission to ultimately maximize the contrast of your vision. The technology allows your lens to adapt to the light as opposed to requiring you to flip out different lenses at different times of the day. The “High Definition Optics” (HDO) combines this with ANSI eye-wear testing standards to ensure confidence it’s all legit. On top of the special tech, these goggles have a beautiful design and come in quite a few different frame and lens combinations to appease your particular style. We highly recommend the Oakley Flight Deck Prizm due to the advanced technology and surprisingly affordable price (for some) considering the quality of these. Oakley never disappoints.
Smith I/O MAG
Up next have one of our favorite goggles ever, the Smith I/O MAG (I/O standing for interchangeable). These snow goggles have that super easy lens replacement system allowing you to switch out the lenses in between rides. The various lenses they have available (for pretty cheap and the box comes with a few of them — they even have polarized lenses for a few more bucks) are pretty versatile and can ultimately fit all types of sunlight. The lenses also have a built-in filter that allows them to adjust well to high altitude as well as anti fog technology to keep them from fogging up like some goggles tend to do while you’re riding.
This flexible pair of goggles adjusts well to fit on most helmets or to simply fit around your head and face giving them a comfortable fit for any rider. The strap is made of a silicone material that grips your head well to keep them in place. The price is on par with other goggles of this quality and you wont be disappointed with these goggles. The Smith I/O MAG are by far some of the best goggles for snow sports, especially if you’re more confident in swapping out lenses instead of relying on special technology to trust that’ll adapt to the lighting you’re in.
Dragon NFX2
Read reviews\price | Read our Dragon NFX2 review
The Dragon NFX2 are also a pretty famous choice when looking for a new pair of the best snow goggles. They first and foremost provide excellent UV protection and have some slick anti-fog lenses that prevent the lenses from fogging up giving you a clear view of you surroundings. The fleece lining is hypoallergenic, which will prevent any irritation to your face when wearing them for long session out the mountain. They have an adjustable silicone strap, which will grip your helmet or hat well keeping them in place as you move.
Their patented frameless design of these lenses give you maximum line of sight and allow you to see around you even in your peripheral vision. Lastly, the “Swiftlock Lens Change System” is rivaled to others (such as the I/O by Smith), so you’ll be good to go in terms of swapping lenses on the fly. The price on the NFX lenses is relatively lower than our previous picks as well, so you can stock up if you plan on needing different lenses throughout the day or wanted to save some money compared to the others. In our opinion, the Dragon NFX2 are some of the best snowboard and ski goggles you can find for this price and offer that sweet aesthetic dragon logo we’ve all come to love.
Anon M3
See pricing\reviews | Read our Anon M3 review
The Anon M3 by Burton are some of the best goggles for snowboarding if you’re into high-end snow gear. The highlights of this one includes excellent ventilation, no-slip silicone strap as well as an anti fog face fleece, which helps prevent them from fogging up in nearly all conditions. The triple layer face foam gives them a comfortable fit that will adjust well to your face and fit well with or without a helmet and the cylindrical lenses contour to the frames well for a nice field-of-vision.
They’ve also got something called ‘Magna-Tech Quick Lens Change Technology’, which is their version of a lens swapping system with a catch — it’s magnetic and doesn’t require pesky little plastic locks. It’s also OTG (over-the-glasses) in case you want to wear your specs while you ride. The box also comes with a storage case and microfiber goggle bag. The price is definitely higher than most out there but you’re getting what you pay for — if you have the extra cash to invest, you certainly won’t be let down if you choose the Anon M3 for your next pair of snow goggles.
Bolle Mojo
Check pricing\reviews | Read our Bolle Mojo review
If you’re looking for the best snowboard and ski goggles that are highly reviewed, have proven years of longevity, and a super cheap price tag without many bells and whistles to jack it up, cue the Bolle Mojo goggles. Considering this one has thousands of user reviews to give us confidence in our purchase, we couldn’t ignore this pair even though it isn’t “the best” in terms of advanced technology. They have an excellent seal and comfortable fit, anti-fog inner lenses (double-vented polycarbonate) prevent the build up of water molecules, and a solid ventilation system that is built-in to allow a little airflow to protect you from the elements while avoiding ice build up.
The only thing you may have trouble with is finding a pair that’ll suit your particular lighting needs. The popular vermilion lens (the orange one) is good for 37% visible light transmission (VLT), while the clear lens gives us 82% VLT. If you can pick the best lens for your own needs, you can’t go wrong when choosing the Bolle Mojo, which are one of the more reasonable prices set of snow goggles you’ll find in the market.
Electric EG3
Read reviews\price | Read our Electric EG3 review
This next set of goggles is a contender for many rider’s favorite pair in this review. Their sleek design and mirrored look are one of the most fashionable pairs available to a lot of riders we’ve spoken to. Firstly, the lenses have great anti-scratch technology, which makes them incredibly durable and long-lasting. They’re easily interchangeable to allow you to switch them out if you prefer different shades for different conditions. They give you great peripheral vision and they’re incredibly light which will make you feel like you aren’t even wearing goggles when you have them on. They’re considered a ‘oversized goggle’, which many love since it’ll give you more vision (many like the look as well).
The EG3 goggle‘s lens swapping system they have in this is titled ‘press seal technology’, which entails you have an airtight lens without wiggle or annoying hassle when taking them in and out. With 100% UV protection and super anti-fog plus spherical injected polycarbonate lenses, surely many will call this one luxurious. These goggles are somewhat pricier but they’re easily worth it for their slick design and incredible performance when it comes to advanced features. If you are serious about your gear, the Electric EG3 are the best snowboard and ski goggles you want to choose out of this roundup.
Giro Balance
Check prices\reviews | Read our Giro Balance review
The Giro Balance goggles are some of the best goggles for snow sports that give us just that — a nice balance of quality, price, and sleek features to up our game in the mountains. The well-built lenses give you an optically correct view and won’t contour the earth around you like some goggles can. The “expansion view” frame design helps with peripheral vision (this is another new trend with goggles since many prefer to see as much as they possibly can) — they’re not over-sized like some of the high-end goggles but they’ll get the job done considering the price, too. The lens has an anti-fog coating that keep them clear and clean even in the harshest of conditions and they have an easily adjustable strap that will make them fit well and secure to any helmet well (especially if you already have a Giro helmet).
The soft padding on the Balance goggle’s frame (triple face foam) makes them comfortable to wear for long hours without much pain after extended use. They have a very modern look and are available in multiple styles to give you some options. These goggles are on the lower end of the pricing spectrum for a great budget-friendly pick and whether you’re a beginner or a pro, you won’t be let down when choosing the Giro Balance snow goggles, a big favorite of ours.
Oakley Airbrake Prizm
See reviews\price | Read our Oakley Airbrake Review
That reputable Oakley design always makes you look good. The Airbrake Prizm goggles are another pair of the best snow goggles out there in our opinion and riders of any style will find that these match with whatever you wear. Coming in as another high-end pair of goggles here, you’re definitely getting one of the most technically sound pairs out right now. You have a dual-vented lens (anti-fog coating), a switch-lock lens tech for easy swapping (not airtight or magnetic like a few we’ve seen already), as well as a particularly nifty strap (‘Rigid O Matter’) that forms well with most helmets.
The frame is rigid but flexes well to fit over a helmet or securely to your head without a helmet. As we’ve seen in their previous pair listed, the “Prizm” technology is what ups this price (for a reason) — awesome light transmission control for enhanced visibility. The Airbrakes are slightly pricier than other comparable lenses but with their efficient and durable design you won’t need to replace them each season and they will quickly prove their value. You can’t go wrong when choosing this pair of Oakley Airbrake Prizm.
Dragon X2
View pricing\reviews | Read our Dragon X2 review
The X2 goggles are another Dragon masterpiece that are some of the most comfortable snow goggles on the market. They fit so well and secure excellently to your face allowing you to wear them for long sessions at a time. Their anti-fog dual lenses will prevent fog regardless of where you were them whether it out in a blizzard or on the clearest of days. Their dynamic design allows them to adapt to any rider and they are without a doubt some of the best snow goggles you’ll find available.
They have a micro fleece, anti-inflammatory lining, which will help prevent irritation when wearing them for the entire day on the mountain while you binge-ride. Just like the NFX2, you have their Swiftlock Lens Change System to swap lenses, injection molded polycarbonate lenses, and some super anti-fog on top of it all. This technologically advanced set of goggles will allow you to think more about which trick you want to pull next and less about your comfort. When choosing the Dragon X2 goggles you’re choosing comfort and high performance if your cash flow allows, although it doesn’t really stand out as unique compared to the top 10 in here.
Smith Knowledge Turbo Fan
See prices\reviews | Read our Knowledge Turbo Fan review
Last but certainly not least, we have another Smith snow goggle here with a unique little feature many don’t have. The most noticeable highlight of this is the ‘turbo fan’ label — that’s right, there’s a literal fan inside of these to help anti-fog. These classic goggles will provide you with crystal clear vision when tearing it up out on the mountain. The dual lens design has excellent anti-fog technology built-in to keep your line of sight clear as you ride. They have an extra wide silicone strap, which will help to secure them and keep them in place throughout the day.
They have a floating foam membrane, which reduces pressure on your temples and keeps you comfortable avoiding any head pain which you might find from more rigid design. They come with a great micro-fiber cleaning cloth, which allows you to wipe them down after use. The price of the Smith Knowledge Turbo Fan is reasonable for a pair of lenses of such high quality making these some of the best goggles for both snowboarders and skiers, finishing our guide off strong.
