10 Best Ski Goggles of 2023 | Oakley, Smith & more

Glade Optics is a fearsome up-and-comer in the outdoor eyewear industry. After the first few preseason storms, I took Glade’s Challenger Goggle out for some laps in the Mount Baker backcountry.

I came away impressed with how it walks the line between value and on-slope performance. So when the lifts finally started spinning in December, I was more than excited to take their premium MagFlight model out for a spin.

The MagFlight is everything we liked about the Challenger, with a subjectively more stylish aesthetic and a practical magnetic lens swap system. Below we’ll take a closer look at the MagFlight piece by piece and see how well it really stacks up against the best goggles we’ve tried.

Glade Optics is a Breckenridge-based goggle company that aims for the sweet spot between a low price tag and high value. This season we’ve received a few models to put through our testing process, starting with their award-winning Challenger Goggle.

In our initial overview, we’ll be pitting the Challenger against top-performers to see if this accessible alternative can hold its own against Oakley, Smith, and other industry titans.

We’ll be updating the guide as we spend more time getting to know Glade Optics while winter ramps up, but in the meantime here are the tech specs and preseason impressions.

The Anon M4 Toric is one of the top-performing ski goggles across multiple categories. We recently had the chance to put it through our intense vetting process from the resort to the backcountry. The bottom line is that the M4 Toric is an exceptionally well-made product.

With unmatched lens change technology and very competitive quality of vision, it’s a can’t miss for skiers looking for the most versatile product on the market with a huge field of view.

The Fall Line XL is the best Oakley ski goggles out there. They have a cylindrical shape that provides just a bit bigger field of view. With the RidgeLock system to swap out lenses that have as good a quality as any other in the market.

For reference, the XL stands for Extra Large while the XM stands for Extra Medium. We tested the XLs for comfort, lens quality and durability. This pair also has some aesthetic qualities that make it stand out just a bit.

Our experience points to this Fall Line model as a versatile option that has proven to do well on the front end and backside of any mountain or resort.

The Ryidar LinkLens Pro is currently one of the better Bluetooth ski goggles. The LinkLens specifically make it easier to answer calls and listen to music without needing to fish a phone up with cold hands.

Bluetooth helmets have been bringing tunes to the mountain for a while now, but smart goggles for skiing have been a hit and miss thing for the most part.

Instead of earphones that can fall out, helmet makers like Sweet Protection and POC have audio compatible or built-in systems. But whereas buttons on helmet audio devices can be difficult to control–causing you to pull out the phone–the LinkLens has buttons on the underside of the frame. These buttons work, keeping the phone from the perils of falling into a snow void under the lift.

Despite the form factor issues the LinkLens has, the concept proves to be quite workable and will make happy quite a few resort skiers.

For the last few years, I’ve rocked a Smith I/O in my personal kit. So I was beyond thrilled when I had the opportunity to try their new Mag version of the notoriously finicky I/O lens change system. It’s hard to pin down the Smith Mag I/O’s best use because they’re such a well-rounded option. For those in the market for a heavy-hitter ski goggle that isn’t egregiously oversized, the Smith Mag I/O is as good as it gets.

Oakley is a titan of the technical and outdoor eyewear market. And the Flight Deck is a classic in the winter sports world. In many ways, it’s the standard-bearer for spherical ski goggles. The wide field of view allows you to keep an eye on multiple moving targets while riding crowded resort slopes.

You’ll see the Flight Deck on every slope from the small and soggy slopes of my home “mountain” in the Cuyahoga Valley to gate-accessed backcountry zones west of the Continental Divide. They’re an industry mainstay, so we had to buy a pair to test out. We can confirm that the hype is real. Oakley and the Flight Deck deserve every ounce of the renown they’ve garnered over the better part of the last decade.

The Fall Line XM goggles by Oakley incorporate a premium lens quality with a reduced size that presents an appealing piece of equipment. Certainly, this model does not have two lenses, but its high-end quality excuses this missing feature. So, what is so great about these goggled we could not pass them? For starters, they have got an ‘O Matter Chassis’ – a flexible kind of frame that contours your face and moves with it when needed. Most importantly, it stays on no matter how insane the weather gets. The rigid exoskeleton is responsible for getting rid of distortion and ensures the right fit of the lens. The HDO lens technology further improves the lens by maximizing the impact resistance and the clarity of the picture from every angle. What’s more, these goggles sit closer to your face than the majority of other goggles in this guide. When taking into consideration the quick and easy interchangeable lens system, this specimen wins at all fronts.

If you thought there aren’t goggles that provide you with a flawless peripheral vision that is not distorted by any outside factors, the Portal RLS snow goggles will prove you otherwise. They offer skiers a piece of equipment that has a wide array of features they didn’t know they need. For instance, this pair incorporates a lens swap system called ‘Rail Lock System’ (RLS) that uses the dual system. It is composed of vertical rails that enable the lenses to be changed via the use of magnets. It also supplies the lenses with an Automatic+ RB color of the lens that aids in adjusting the tint from pale rose color to the darker rose color depending on the light conditions. Even the harshest weather conditions won’t scare you away from skiing in the mountains due to the built-in Permashield Hardcoat that protects the lenses from scratches and a triple-layer face foam that provides additional padding for wind- and fog-free fit.

You might be wondering – what is with this Happy Lens name? It is named this way due to the lens technology that reduces the tiredness of the eyes, intensifies the contrast of the color, and protects from the damaging UV rays. No more cruising the mountains with the fear of stumbling upon obstacles – the Happy Lens goggles won’t let that happen. You will also be able to easily transition from bluebird to blackbird with the help of the Quick Draw system that facilitates the easy lens change. The quick transition is also backed by the flexible silicone strap that fixates your goggles on your helmet. Make use of the heavy snowfalls with the equipment that turns the seemingly unfortunate circumstances into fun adventures with the comfort of an integrated Isotrop face foam and Scoop venting.

The brand that managed to build itself a great reputation on the market of ski equipment issued a pair of snow goggles we couldn’t ignore. Tempted by Smith’s claims of the goggles being exceptionally great at fog-preventing, UV-rays obstructing and OTG-friendly, we gave them a try. And they didn’t disappoint. We soon discovered them to feature a never-heard-before Carbonic-X lens type that is known to have a small number of surface points, meaning that the sun rays and a limited view do not pose an issue to the wearer. Rather, when paired with the Tapered Lens Technology, the gear fixes the visual distortion and enables the light to go straight to your eyeballs. The other technology named Porex Filter ensures the equalization of the air pressure that occurs within the sealed lens in order to reduce to the minimum the optical deformation. And as if this was not enough, Smith incorporated a floating foam membrane that alleviates the pressure put on temples during skiing or snowboarding. Essentially, every measure was taken to facilitate the best possible vision with close to zero limitations.

Ski goggles with retro vibes and an almost limitless vision field that enables you to see every single detail had to make it to our guide. This pair features a frame design that the majority of ski lovers will become fond of. We’re talking about the Expansion View Frame – a trustworthy technology that was developed in the Scotts Valley of California. You can pair it with a helmet or a snow hat without feeling restricted in any way, which is always a plus. Giro is known for creating goggles that have an anti-fog coating that comes especially in handy during warm and humid days when your desire to venture out in the harsh weather. This is not an obstacle for this pair of ski goggles. You will be able to accomplish your outside activity plan with no limitations from the gear side. Not only will your visibility be at its highest, but you will also feel your comfiest with the built-in triple face foam that softly touches your skin.

Skiing has an incredibly high financial barrier of entry. Between the boots, the skis, the bindings, and outerwear- the last thing you need is to spend a few hundred dollars on a pair of goggles.

Like it or not, having a dependable pair of goggles is an essential component of your kit, necessary not only for your enjoyment but also for your safety. Thankfully, Outdoor Master with their Pro Classic goggle offers an alternative to high-cost models from brands such as Smith or Oakley.

These futuristic-looking ski goggles will blow your mind just like they did with ours’. It’s true that they’re on the expensive side, but this is completely justified by the abundance of features they possess. From the optically correct lens system to the unidirectional airflow system and an armored venting, these Dragon X2 goggles are perfection. You are quite frankly getting snow equipment with the comfort-instilling Tri-Foam technology, hypoallergenic Polartech microfleece, and a superb anti-fog coating. Powered by the Polyurethane frame that comes with two lenses, you won’t have trouble changing them. The lens change system is designed to help you quicken the process by pushing levers at both of the goggles’ sides up for the release of the lens. It is just as accurate in practice as it is in theory. Besides, it can be done without taking off the goggles. We hope you are stunned now.

This premium set of goggles for the price of a semi-premium model is a case you’d want to stick around, so read on. This time around goggles incorporate not just an ordinary Zeiss lens, but a VIVID Zeiss lens. What does that mean? Well, this is an innovative lens technology that was developed by the Giro company in collaboration with Zeiss to revolutionize the way we have known ski goggle lens this far. The VIVID mechanism improves our perception of snow and our surroundings by enhancing the definition and contrast of the picture. Tired eyes and zero confidence are quite literally no longer in the picture when wearing the Axis ski goggles. The technology has the power to manipulate the light by enhancing the blue light while also blocking the damaging UV rays at the same time. When combined with the anti-fog coating and a magnetic-assisted lens change system, your eyes are given the possibility to focus strictly on the ride.

You won’t regret acquiring a pair of Lagopus X4 ski goggles if low cost and relatively high quality are your main priorities. This piece of gear makes a great companion for snow sports lovers who tend to spend more than half a day out in the snow. Featuring an anti-fog coating, anti-wind protection, and a barrier from the sun’s harmful rays in the form of 100% UVA protection, your eyes will be kept safe at every point in your trip. Have you ever heard of the expression ‘best value for money’? This is that case. Zionor managed to create a pair of ski goggles that not only has a 180-degrees panoramic view but is also as durable as ever. Rest assured it will last you at least a few years of seasonal skiing and snowboarding as it is equipped with the Enhanced Durability Technology that is responsible for the big statement we just made.

Designed with the intention of providing all the glass wearers with the pair of well-fitting ski goggles, Bolle has nailed it. Precision and style are the perfect words for the description of the Z5 model. Developed with an unclouded vision and utmost comfort in mind, it features the Over-The-Glasses technology paired with the fresh design. Flow-Tech mechanism greatly backs up this fact – it is integrated into the item for providing you with the protection against cold winds. No speed is unreachable for you when wearing these goggles. You can also benefit from the two anti-scratch lenses that come with this gear and the possibility to choose your preferred color. Even though they are not interchangeable, you are free to choose the appropriate to your case lense aimed at either low or bright light.

Having joined efforts with Carl Zeiss, POC released a pair of professional ski goggles that allow the wearers to observe every little obstacle in front of them. What’s unique to these goggles? Unlike their counterparts, the Retina Clarity model features a lens coating that is mirrored in regard to the varying weather conditions. You are, therefore, guaranteed to have the suitable for every time of the day lens that is also scratch- and fog-proof. For the standard price of $150, you receive a piece of accessory whose field of vision puts the competition to the Smith’s I/O goggles that are $100 more. We found its PU frame along with the triple-layered face foam to be of the highest quality. These details supply you with the supplementary comfort and snug fit that is so much needed during the cold snowy days. Basically, if you want to purchase a pair of ski goggles that won’t cost a fortune but has the same high-end features of costly alternatives, this is your best choice.

Specifically built for athletes, the Anon Helix 2.0 ski goggles are expected to have long durability and low weight. Choose your game – snowboarding, skiing or mountaineering – and be certain that this model is going to last you throughout many seasons of executing your preferred activity. As for the features, you will be pleasantly surprised by the number of essential and not-so-essential details these goggles encompass. They fit well over glasses without restricting your peripheral vision and incorporate the anti-fog coating that ensures maximum visibility in warm and humid conditions. The crystal clear picture is further fostered by the cylindrical design that uses the de-centered injected technology. This technology lessens the profile of the frame thus facilitating a non-distorted vision. The superior venting mechanism, additionally, contributes to the full-perimeter airflow that supplies you with the optimum level of comfort and warmth.

You might have noticed the unusual name these Zeal goggles have, and our review is here to settle your wondering. Apart from serving a snow sports purpose, the Optics HD camera goggles have a built-in camera that allows you to shoot your own pictures while sliding down the slopes. Cool, huh? The integrated into the goggles camera has a resolution of 1080p and 8mp, which is not comparable to DSLR cameras but is quite an advanced feature anyway. Chances are you won’t be bringing your big camera to your ski trip, and GoPros can get expensive. This is where this Zeal innovation comes in handy. Equipped with 100% UVA protection and microfleece and foam paddings, this equipment will assist you well in your snow-accompanied strivings. Pick your favorite helmet from your last biking or motocross adventure, put the goggles on, and capture every moment along the icy way.

In their ever-expanding quest to provide a complete base-level kit for an everyday price, Wildhorn Outfitters has rounded out their collection with several pairs of very serviceable goggles to keep you looking good and seeing well on the slopes.

Emulating classic frameless goggles from across the industry, the Roca is a spherical, frameless goggle with a wild field of vision, albeit with a limited feature set. We’ve had the chance to spend some time with the full complement of their very practical kit, with mixed sentiments.

Below we’ll take a comprehensive look at the Roca goggles and compare them to some of our favorite top-performers.

OutdoorMaster has indeed found its niche in snowsport optics- their goggles come with a competitive feature set and technical specifications comparable to our favorite goggles. Their packaging is impressive, as are the many accessories included in a single goggle order.

But of all this begs the question: How well do they really do on the slopes? We hunkered down with a pair of their Ultra XL goggles for some long days of hard skiing and came away with the following conclusion. The Ultra XL goggles perform just about as well as you’d expect them to for their price.

Below, we’ll dig a little deeper into the technical details and performance specifics that shaped our impression of the Ultra XL- we’ll also discuss who will get the most out of a pair and a range of alternatives.