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Best Ski Goggles

Updated March 2023
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Oakley Flight Deck Prizm
Oakley
Flight Deck Prizm
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Feature-Packed
Bottom Line

Classic style meets the latest and greatest lens tech.

Pros

Prizm lenses make all colors pop just a bit more. We love how they allowed us to see snow conditions far better than before. Anti-fog tech is built into the lens so it can't accidentally be wiped away. The frameless design gives a bigger field of view.

Cons

Some users don't like how big they feel when on.

Best Bang for the Buck
Smith Range
Smith
Range
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Trusted Brand
Bottom Line

High-quality lenses and a comfortable fit make these stand out.

Pros

Lenses are vented to keep goggles from fogging up too much. The cylindrical shape allows for a wider range of visuals. Comes in a wide variety of colored lenses for various snow conditions.

Cons

Frame shape might leave a small gap between goggles and the helmet.

Scott Shield Amplifier
Scott
Shield Amplifier
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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

A comfortable pick that will work well for years to come.

Pros

Designed to make it easier for users to change lenses on the fly. The 3-tiered face foam kept us comfortable while also ventilating the lens enough to keep it from fogging up. The lens shows every little bump or ice patch, regardless of weather conditions.

Cons

Some users felt that it fit a little large for smaller faces.

Oakley Line Miner Prizm
Oakley
Line Miner Prizm
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Trusted Brand
Bottom Line

The large variety of colorways and lens combinations make this a standout.

Pros

Has a wider fit which expands the amount that you can see on either side of you. Has removable foam inserts that help make the goggles warmer and glasses-compatible. Prizm lens technology helps make everything look crystal clear. Comes with cover.

Cons

Only comes with a single lens, which is disappointing at this price point.

POC Orb Clarity
POC
Orb Clarity
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Most Versatile
Bottom Line

Orb design makes these stand out from other goggles on the market.

Pros

The spherical lens provides a large field of view. Has a "mirror" coating which helps bring clarity to nuances in the snow conditions. The lenses are very easy to change without scratching them up. The foam around the frame feels comfortable.

Cons

They do feel a bit bigger than most other goggles.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

30
Models
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191
Consumers
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Buying guide for Best ski goggles

Before you hit those powdery white slopes, you're going to need all the right gear. A good pair of ski goggles is just important as a warm jacket and a set of skis.

With so many different types of ski goggles on the market, how do you pick the best ones? It can be a challenge trying to figure out what you need from your ski goggles, and determining which pairs offer good value for money, particularly if you're a first-time buyer.

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Ski goggles with photochromic lenses automatically get lighter or darker, depending on the ambient lighting, which is a great option for variable conditions.

Types of ski goggles

Let's look at the two main varieties of ski goggles, as defined by lens type.

Cylindrical lens ski goggles

Cylindrical lens ski goggles are curved on the horizontal axis, but are flat vertically.

Pros:

  • Cylindrical lens ski goggles tend to be cheaper than their spherical lens counterparts.

  • Since the lenses are flexible and easy to remove from the frame, it's easy to replace them should they get damaged, or you need a different tint.

  • Some people prefer the lower profile look of cylindrical lens ski goggles.

Cons:

  • Due to the way cylindrical lenses bend, you can get some distortion to your vision, especially on the peripherals.

  • You tend to get more glare and fogging with cylindrical lenses.

Spherical lens ski goggles

Spherical lens ski goggles are curved vertically, as well as horizontally.

Pros:

  • Due to the vertical curve of spherical lenses, you can see further up and down without moving your neck.

  • The increased surface area of spherical lens goggles means that they're less likely to fog up.

  • You get clear, distortion-free vision with spherical lens goggles.

  • Spherical lenses were specially designed to help reduce glare.

Cons:

  • Spherical lens goggles tend to be more expensive than those with cylindrical lenses.

  • Some people don't like the rounded "bubble" appearance of spherical lenses.

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Did you know?
Ski goggles have a layer of foam that sits between the frame and your face. This should fit snugly, without any gaps or pressure points.
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Features to consider when selecting ski goggles

Frame size

It's important you get the correct frame size for your face.

  • Extra-small frames are generally suited to young children.

  • Small frames are generally suited to kids and women with smaller-than-average faces.

  • Small/medium frames are generally suited to teenagers, most women, and men with smaller-than-average faces.

  • Medium frames are generally suited to most men, as well as women who prefer a larger frame size.

  • Medium/large frames are generally suited to men with larger faces.

  • Large goggle frames are generally suited to people who simply like the oversized goggle look.

Lens tint

Lens tint refers to how dark the lenses of your ski goggles are, or how much light they let through, which is referred to as visible light transmission (VLT). Ski goggles are given a category between 0 and 4 according to lens tint.

  • Category 0 = 80 to 100% VLT: Lenses transparent or slightly tinted; suitable for nighttime wear.

  • Category 1 = 46 to 79% VLT: Lenses slightly tinted; suitable for flat light or dull overcast days.

  • Category 2 = 18 to 45% VLT: Lenses moderately tinted; suitable for sunny or bright overcast days.

  • Category 3 = 8 to 17% VLT: Lenses darkly tinted; suitable for use in bright light.

  • Category 4 = 3 to 7% VLT: Lenses very darkly tinted; suitable for very bright conditions, for instance at higher altitudes, or where light reflects strongly.

Single vs. double lenses

Single lenses are where you have just one layer of lens.

Double lenses have two layers of lens with a small gap in between, a bit like double glazing. Double lenses create their own thermal barrier, which ultimately helps to prevent or reduce fogging.

All but the most basic modern ski goggles tend to have double lenses.

"While frame color might not impact performance, most ski goggles come in a range of colors, so you may as well choose one you like."
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Cost of ski goggles

Now that you know more about ski goggles, you might want to find out how much you should expect to pay for them.

Here's what you'll get for your money:

Inexpensive

Basic ski goggles cost between roughly $10 and $25. These tend to have cylindrical lenses, and they are single-lensed rather than double-lensed. They might do the trick if you just want to try out skiing for a day or two, but we recommend spending a little more if you regularly partake in winter sports.

Mid-range

These ski goggles are priced somewhere in the region of $25 to $50. They usually have double spherical lenses and a range of anti-fogging features.

High-end

Ski goggles in this range generally cost around $100 to $250. For this price, you should expect excellent goggles with a huge range of features that make them perfect for serious skiers.

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Expert Tip
There's no single lens tint that works best in all lighting and weather, so some ski goggles have interchangeable lenses that can easily be switched, depending on the conditions.
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Tips

  • You can find ski goggles designed to fit over glasses, which most find a much more affordable solution than buying goggles with prescription lenses.

  • Look for goggles with polarized lenses, as these cut glare much more effectively than standard mirrored lenses.

  • To help protect your ski goggles from damage, when you place them down, only do so with the lens side facing upward, so it's not touching any hard surfaces.

  • Always let your ski goggles dry naturally before you put them away.

  • When cleaning your ski goggles, only do so using a soft cloth — the kind designed for cleaning glasses.

  • Wider goggle straps tend to be easier to adjust, and are more effective at keeping your ski goggles securely.

  • If you keep moving, you'll create more airflow through your goggles, and this will help to reduce fogging.

  • Make sure your lenses have 100% UVA and UVB protection to protect your eyes from the sun's rays, which are stronger at higher altitudes.

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Check that your chosen ski goggles are compatible with whatever helmet or hat you wear. Ideally, there should be no gap between goggles and headgear, nor should your headgear cover the goggles' venting holes.

FAQ

Q. How do I know if my ski goggles fit correctly?

A. It's important that your ski goggles fit correctly. They should fit comfortably, without pinching or pressure. Look out for the following common signs that your ski goggles are a bad fit.

  • If you experience pinching on the bridge of your nose, this can mean you simply need to adjust the strap so the goggles fit higher on your face, but if that doesn't work you may need a smaller fit or a different bridge contour.
  • If you have a gap at the bridge of your nose, you may either need to secure your goggles lower, or you may need a wider fit.
  • If your goggles pinch at the temple and loosening the strap doesn't help, you'll need a larger size.
  • If you experience pressure on the outer eye socket, your ski goggles are too small.

Q. What kind of anti-fogging features are available?

A. Few things are more annoying while enjoying winter sports than your goggles constantly fogging. The good news is that most modern goggles have a range of features designed to reduce fogging, including hydrophilic chemical treatments (AKA anti-fog coatings), double lenses, wide vents, fans, and spherical lenses.

Q. Why do I need ski goggles?

A. Some people wonder why they need ski goggles at all — wouldn't sunglasses do? Well, like sunglasses, ski goggles are designed to protect your eyes from UV rays, but they have other functions, too. Since they're sealed all the way around, they stop snow from getting in behind them, plus they're specially tinted to give you the best possible contrast and vision in adverse conditions. They have a range of anti-fogging features and give you better peripheral vision than sunglasses would.

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