The 5 Best Ski and Snowboard Goggles for All Types of Snow Slayers

Protect your eyes, enhance your vision, and most importantly, complete your shredding outfit.

Mother Nature is unpredictable, especially on the slopes. Mornings can start sunny and beautiful, but afternoons can turn dark and stormy before you know it. Wearing a pair of quality snow goggles is a crucial part of your skiing and snowboarding setup, as they can completely make or break your day.

Goggle technology is ever-changing. Frames are becoming wider. Lenses are becoming bigger, clearer, more durable, and better-curved to improve your visual field and minimize glare. Quick-change systems are pretty universal, allowing you to swap lenses to adjust to changing conditions. And with uphill or hard-charging endeavors in mind, fog resistance, and ample venting are more important than ever before.

What to Consider

A solid pair of goggles is one of the most vital parts of your ski or snowboard setup. If ever there were a time when the saying “You really don’t know what you’re missing until you try something better” hits home, that time is now. And once you upgrade to a new pair, you’ll wonder why it took so long to make the leap. That’s because the latest technology will change how you see the mountain in all conditions — bright or overcast, windy or calm. When choosing the right pair of goggles, we prioritize fit and shape, lens technology, lens-change system, and quantity of lenses included, and then choose the lens tint and color that fits our climate best.

FIT AND SHAPE

Oversized goggles cover your entire face and offer the widest field of view. Smaller options feel less bulky, but that also means a smaller field of view, which can make it hard to see your inferior and peripheral fields without turning your head. Additionally, lenses are offered in two main shapes: spherical and cylindrical. Both lenses curve horizontally, from left to right, across your face. The main difference is that spherical (or toric) lenses also curve vertically, from top to bottom, while cylindrical lenses do not curve from top to bottom — they are flat. Spherical lenses offer better overall vision and reduced glare, but this comes with an obvious increase in price.

LENS TECHNOLOGY

The highest-quality lenses make the backdrop look like you’re watching a high-definition television, rather than distorting, clouding, or coloring the scenery like your hand-me-down pair from the early ’90s. They should also have some form of fog resistance, in addition to a level of breathability in the frame and padding, to keep your lenses from fogging up and ruining your day.

LENS QUANTITY AND CHANGE SYSTEM

Many high-end goggles come with two lenses — one for sunny days and one for cloudy days. The latest and greatest goggles feature quick-change lens systems (often magnetic) that allow you to swap from one lens to the other in the blink of an eye. Some are so convenient, you could swap them on the chairlift. More affordable goggles should allow you to change lenses, but they can be tricky to manage without some practice, especially with cold fingers and falling snowflakes.

UNDERSTANDING LENS LINGO

Visual light transmission (VLT) is the amount of light that reaches your eye through the lens. A lighter-tinted lens has a higher VLT and is best for low-light days, like when it’s overcast or actively snowing. A darker-tinted lens has a lower VLT, allowing less light through for sunny days when you need some shade for your eyes. Since every pair of goggles is offered with multiple lens colors and options for polarized or not, we won’t call out lens specifics here — it’s best to choose a shape, size, and frame style that you like, then choose the color of frame and lens that speaks to you.

How We Chose

We have had the opportunity to personally test (many of) these ski and snowboard goggles this winter. To give you a well-rounded opinion, we wore every pair in varied light conditions (from bluebird-sunny to mostly cloudy) and in multiple temperature ranges (well below freezing and warmer days). These are our editor’s favorite ski and snowboard goggles for the 2023 ski season, and we think you’ll be happy with whichever pair you choose. Now join us while we pray for snow.

Looking for more ski and snowboard accessories? Check out our guides on the best ski pants, ski gloves for kids, and thermal underwear.

Note: Unless otherwise noted, all goggles in our list are unisex. Many pairs include a second lens, too.

PROS	CONS
ChromaPop lenses enhance color and clarity, making everything more vivid and clear	Frameless design exposes lenses to damage more easily
Lens-change system is incredibly fast and intuitive

Our favorite goggles for the third consecutive year are these high-quality goggles from household name Smith. The Squad MAGs are a pricier upgrade to the $120 basic Squad goggles because they’re equipped with two of Smith’s beloved ChromaPop lenses, plus an industry-leading magnetic lens change system that lets you swap lenses effortlessly in as little as 10 seconds.

The Squads have a two-layer cylindrical Chroma Pop lens that is super durable, has a 5X fog-resistant coating on the inner lens, and delivers crystal-clear views of the slopes. These are our favorite pair of goggles right now, thanks to the lower profile and medium fit, which is a nice alternative to the oversized, bulkier options that tend to dominate the market.

All in all, the Squad MAG is a sick newer goggle model that provides plenty of protection, high-definition optics, an incredibly comfortable fit, and a wonderfully intuitive lens-change system for every weekend warrior.

We’re pretty stoked about some of the new color schemes and the included gogglesoc that safeguards your lenses. Heck, a few of the straps are even made from recycled nylon materials to help save the planet. Squad up!

Key Specs

Fit	Medium, low-bridge
Lens Shape and Quantity	Cylindrical, two
Lens Change System	MAG Magnetic
Lens Technology	ChromaPop

PROS	CONS
M-Fusion two-step lens change system is super simple	Full channel perimeter venting can get drafty
Perceive lenses increase contrast and clarity
MFI magnetic facemask integration protects your nose in sub-freezing temps

With premium goggles now running upwards of $300, Anon positioned the Sync in the middle of the pack. The Sync features nominal cuts in technology (when compared to their premium M4S goggles, also featured on this list), and we think it’s the best combination of performance and style you’ll find under $200.

These goggles have a large, flexible frame that sits nicely against most faces, a lower profile than many that integrates well with your helmet, and a cylindrical shape that maximizes peripheral vision. The Sync includes two Perceive lenses, which deliver some of the best terrain-defining, contrast-enhancing optics in the game.

The real star here is the M-Fusion quick change system. Changing lenses is a simple two-step process: Position the new lens close to the frame and feel the magnets draw it into place, then close the side latch and you’re ready to ride. It’s one of the fastest lens-change systems on the market, and easily the best in the mid-range price zone.

Add an MFI face mask — a neck gaiter with an integrated magnet that easily attaches to a magnet in the goggle’s nose arch — and you’ll be dialed in, dripped out, and ready to rip, no matter how harsh and unpredictable the conditions.

Key Specs

Fit	Large, low-profile, frameless
Lens Shape and Quantity	Cylindrical, two
Lens Change System	M-Fusion magnetic
Lens Technology	Perceive

PROS	CONS
Sexy brand collab blends retro heritage with advanced styling	Frameless design exposes lenses to damage more easily
Frameless design is super sleek
All the performance of a top-tier goggle at an attainable price

Dragon’s goggles are known for their frameless design, and this is an update on their most advanced style that skiers and snowboarders crave. These are a large-frame goggle with a frameless design and cylindrical lens, offering the greatest field of view with minimal distortions and peripheral restrictions.

Dragon’s newest lens technology, Lumalens, delivers 100% UV protection and boasts high-definition optics, with colors so vivid it feels like you’re sitting 3 feet from a 1080p television. Two lenses are included and can be easily swapped with their simple Switflock lens-change system.

Well-placed ventilation optimizes airflow and a stellar anti-fog coating helps to minimize fogging, so your goggles won’t steam up when your engine is churning. Meanwhile, triple face foam with a micro-fleece lining is super comfy.

Dragon teamed up with Spyder to make this limited edition collab for 2023, which sports the Spyder retro heritage logo — a nod to the brand’s history in the outdoor space. With so much style, function, and performance packed into such an affordable package, we’ll be surprised if these aren’t some of the most popular goggles on the mountain.

Key Specs

Fit	Large, wide angle, frameless
Lens Technology	Lumalens
Lens Shape and Quantity	Cylindrical, two
Lens Change System	Swiftlock, magnetic

PROS	CONS
Perceive lenses are high-contrast, terrain-defining, smudge- and scratch-resistant	High-priced
Mask integration keeps your nose warm and goggles fog-free
Scaled-down frame delivers wide-view optics to skiers with smaller domes

Anon’s top-of-the-line goggles have been some of the best in the game for a minute, and the M4S is just a smaller version of their top-end men’s M4 goggles. The M4S has a frame that’s scaled down for medium-sized faces, so your cheeks and nose aren’t smothered by your sick new specs.

We love the toric (spherical) shape of the M4S, which delivers a larger field of view and maximum peripheral vision without swallowing your face. They feature Anon’s newer Perceive lenses, which deliver high-contrast vision and clarity.

When combined with the Cylindrical Injected lens shape, Integral Clarity anti-fog treatment, and a low-profile frame thinner face foam, Anon delivers what they call “Wall-to-Wall Vision:” This design reduces peripheral distortion while providing an unobstructed, high-definition view of the mountain in all its glory.

These goggles have plenty of high-tech features that you’d expect from a leading goggle, like two anti-fog and anti-scratch lenses, a silicone strap that stays in place no matter how hard the impact, full perimeter channel venting for maximum airflow when you need it without the breeze when you don’t, and Magna-Tech — one of the fastest magnetic lens-change technologies we’ve laid eyes on.

But perhaps our favorite feature is Anon’s Magnetic Facemask Integration (MFI). A built-in magnet connects the goggles to a face mask (included) and delivers the most precise, weather-fending fit we’ve ever seen in a face mask, making Anon our go-to goggle on super cold days when you can’t risk exposing the tip of your sniffer.

Key Specs

Fit	Medium, scaled down from M4
Lens Technology	Perceive
Lens Shape and Quantity	Toric, two
Lens Change System	Magna-Tech magnetic

PROS	CONS
Happy Boost lens technology boosts clarity, mood, and field of view	Large frame is bulky on smaller faces
Deadbolt lens-change system is as secure as the name implies

Sometimes it’s snowing sideways in the morning, then sunny with blue skies in the afternoon. And when that happens, a high-definition pair of goggles — Spy’s Marauder model, for example — is your secret weapon to keep on fighting the weather for the best pow turns, when everyone else is sheltered inside.

We absolutely love Spy’s Marauder because its large, wide-angle frame and cylindrical lens (that looks spherical) provide unmatched peripheral visibility, which has helped us spot and avoid oncoming skiers on many an occasion. This year’s model is even OTG compatible, meaning they have small cutouts in the foam to fit over your eyeglasses.

The new Happy Boost lens enhances the color and contrast of upcoming terrain 30% more than the naked eye and 15% more than other brands’ lenses, permits passage of good blue light to boost mood and alertness, and gives us the confidence to send it safely, no matter how unpredictable the terrain. Each pair comes with two Happy Boost lenses — one for sunny days, and one for when it’s overcast.

Spy’s magnetic Deadbolt quick-change lens system is one of the quickest, yet also the most secure. Simply slide the levers, remove one lens, replace it with the next, lock the levers in place, and keep on riding. No more wasted time in the warming hut trying to swap goggles while everyone else snatches all the freshest lines.

To top things off, its RISE ventilation system pulls warm air up through vents in the subframe and pumps it out before your goggles can fog up, even when you’re fully masked and chugging along all day.

Key Specs

Fit	Large, wide angle, frameless
Lens Technology	Happy Boost
Lens Shape and Quantity	Cylindrical, two
Lens Change System	Deadbolt, magnetic