The Best Ski and Snowboard Goggles

Buying Guide for Ski and Snowboard Goggles

Why buy a pair of ski and snowboarding goggles?

Whether a beginning skier or an expert snowboarder, it’s vital to protect yourself as much as possible on the slopes, as you’re exposed to the sun’s reflection (snow blindness), whipping winds, and harmful UV and UVB rays, which can damage your eyes. Goggles also shield the sun’s glare from distorting visibility while shredding a hill or learning the bunny slopes. And if you wear prescription glasses, you don’t have to go without—there’s a pair of goggles for you.

What should you know before purchasing ski and snowboarding goggles?

• Lens Shape: Think about whether you want cylindrical lenses offering a flatter profile or spherical lenses that curve across the face and vertically for better peripheral vision.
• Anti-Fog: Factor in anti-fog lenses into your purchase if you want to prevent fogging while skiing or snowboarding. Chances are, you do.
• Lens Tint: Tint emphasizes colors and encourages important contrast. Lenses come in light tint, dark tint, and clear for night use. Choose the best tint depending on the light and weather conditions.
• Glasses: Do you wear prescription glasses? Make sure the goggles you purchase work with your everyday eyewear.

How should a pair of skiing or snowboarding goggles fit?

Your goggles should fit snugly but comfortably over any headgear (whether a helmet, ski mask, or beanie) and include adjustable straps to help secure the perfect fit. You’ll know they’re the right goggles if your cheekbones, forehead, and nose all fit inside, and you’re not bending the goggles to fit your headgear. Breathing should be easy and unaffected. The foam surrounding the lenses should also be tight and consistent all around so that no elements break through.

Our Picks for the Best Ski and Snowboard Goggles

Pro: These flexible, high-quality Lagopus goggles from ZIONOR are an excellent investment in comfort and safety. With important protective features for youths and adults, like a thermoplastic (TPU) safety frame and 100% UV protection, the entire family can tackle snow days with complete confidence (even if you wear prescription glasses). The included adjustable strap extends from 21 to 32 inches to fit a wide range of sizes, and a built-in ventilation system (cold air in, hot air out) prevents fogging to help maintain optimum visibility. Choose from a wide variety of colors and lenses.

Cons: In the photos, the Lagopus goggles appear to have mirrored lenses, but they’re more see-through.

Bottom Line: This is a quality find for a great price. These goggles contain all the important features needed to protect your eyes for as long as you’re enjoying the ride.

 

Pro: These goggles can fit over your eyeglasses comfortably, so you can see your best while staying protected from the sun and the glare off the slopes. Dual-layer lens technology with anti-fog inner lenses allows you to enjoy your day with great visibility. The long elastic strap allows for greater compatibility with helmets and other gear. Each pair comes with its own carrying case for extra convenience. These protective goggles come in 27 different colors, so everyone in your family has plenty of choices.

Cons: Some users had their eyeglasses underneath the goggles fog during use.

Bottom Line: These anti-fog goggles are a great choice for maintaining visibility on the slopes. They can fit teens and adults, so your entire family can find a great pair of goggles.

 

Pro: Get a clear view wearing these goggles, thanks to anti-fog technology and 100% UV protection. These goggles are made from a durable thermoplastic urethane polymer material and have a soft touch anti-slip coating. The triple-layer foam makes the goggles comfortable and provides ventilation to keep the goggles from getting foggy. You can outfit your whole family in these high-performance goggles thanks to junior sizes in addition to adult sizes. These premium goggles are available in 16 colors.

Cons: Any extra detachable lenses are sold separately.

Bottom Line: These goggles have every feature an avid snow-sporting family needs to enjoy their day on the slopes. Anti-fog technology, anti-scratch coating, UV protection, and durable frames are all included in these high-performance goggles. These also have separate lenses that can be purchased so you can get the best visibility no matter what the weather conditions are like.

 

Pro: Here’s a worthy buy from ASAKO for kids 3 to 16 years old. These double-layer, spherical goggles provide kids with 100% UV protection and shielding from snow glare, which can affect their fun, performance, and eye health. Like quality adult goggles, these encourage excellent peripheral views and clean, crisp vision and contrast, and you won’t have to worry about foggy vision because these feature a high-performance hydrophilic internal coating. Your purchase also includes a soft microfiber bag to keep goggles safe and scratch-free. For added fun, your little skier or snowboarder can choose from six bright colors.

Cons: The lenses are fairly dark and may not be optimal for night skiing.

Bottom Line: These goggles are a funky, cool way to keep your little (or teen) explorer protected while they learn the ropes. You won’t spend any time worrying about eye safety or comfort.

 

Pro: These goggles have a flexible and durable frame that is comfortable to wear for various sports and are impact-resistant to provide excellent protection from the elements. They also feature a layer of lightweight sponge that makes them pleasant to wear. The lenses have anti-fog coatings and circular holes distributed around them to provide maximum airflow. The lenses also feature UV protection and an extra-long strap for better helmet compatibility. The sets of two have 14 different combinations, so you can find the right ones for yourself or another family member.

Cons: The padding is thinner than other options, making them less comfortable. Even though the set includes two goggles, it only comes with one carrying case.

Bottom Line: This is an affordable set of goggles for people who don’t intend to use them regularly. While they cover all the concerns you want for ski or snowboard goggles, they are not a top performer compared to other, more expensive options. However, they can add an adequate layer of protection from the elements for occasional skiers to enjoy the slopes just like the die-hards.

Final Thoughts

We hope you’re feeling extra prepared for the snow with any of these high-quality, safety-conscious goggles. With so many styles, safety features, and sizes, you and the family won’t have to trek to the nearest sporting goods store.