When it comes to the best ski goggles, you should always consider options with a high optical quality, along with interchangeable lens systems for maximum usability. Helmet compatible straps and high quality, layered foam for all-day face comfort were also critical deciding factors. After finding models with these options, we purchased the top 20 models and took to the slopes to test them out. Looking to replace your skis? Find professional recommendations in our best skis guide.
After skiing and snowboarding as much as we possibly could, we easily settled on the OutdoorMaster OTG Ski Goggles as our #1 pick. These goggles boast a flexible frame that easily fits over glasses, universal helmet compatibility and a wide field of vision. Keep reading to learn more about the OutdoorMaster OTG goggles and the other top ski goggles of 2019.
Top 5 Best Ski Goggles Compared
#1 OutdoorMaster OTG Ski Goggles
Award: Top Pick/Best OTG
WHY WE LIKE IT: The Outdoor Master OTG ski goggles are durable and versatile, making them an excellent choice for anyone hitting the slopes to ski and snowboard. With a bendable frame design that fits easily over glasses, almost everyone can use these goggles.
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- Fits over most prescription glasses
- Bendable frame for more comfort
- Universal helmet compatibility
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- Some minor fogging in colder temps
- Struggles in low light
- Somewhat limited peripheral vision
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The OutdoorMaster OTG ski goggles are the perfect choice for skiiers and snowboarders who wear prescription glasses only a daily basis. The deeper frame fits glasses up to 5.3 inches long and 1.65 inches tall. This is big enough for most glasses to fit comfortably underneath the goggles. This extra-large, TPU frame is also super flexible and bendable, making them even more comfortable and safer to use in the case of impacts or collisions.
The OutdoorMaster goggles work with virtually any helmet without too much tightness due to its extra-long strap. You also get some anti-fogging capabilities with a special coating on the lenses but be aware that you may experience some fogging in temperatures below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Fortunately, you get 100% UV400 protection built directly into the lenses, making them great for all-day use. See also best mens ski goggles. Unfortunately, they can sometimes struggle in low-light conditions so make sure you only use them in bright sunlight.
#2 ZIONOR Lagopus Ski Goggles
Award: Honorable Mention/Best UV Protection
WHY WE LIKE IT: If you’re looking for extra protection from the sun, the ZIONOR Lagopus ski goggles are the right eyewear for the job. They offer stellar UV protection and anti-fogging capabilities on their double lenses, making them great for all-day use.
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- Best-of-class sun protection
- Magnetic lens swapping
- Great against wind
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- Lenses aren’t polarized
- Padding gets a little uncomfortable
- Only fit over small- to medium-sized glasses
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The ZIONOR Lagopus ski and snowboard goggles are optimized for sun protection and overall performance. The double lenses are built with 100% UV400 sun protection and a specialized anti-fogging coating for ultimate eye protection. And while most ski goggles offer the same UV400 protection, they’re not all built equally. Some goggles are better than others with their UV protection, and the ZIONOR goggles offer top-of-the-line protection. We didn’t have any issues with sunburn, even on the sunniest days on the slopes.
Another one of the best features you can get with these ski goggles is the magnetic lens swapping functionality. If you ever want to switch out lenses to get different visible light transmission (VLT) levels, simply pop the current lens off the magnetic portion of the frame and replace it with the desired lens. This is very handy when on the best ski mountains in Colorado. The ZIONOR Lagopus ski goggles are super wind resistant as well, protecting your eyes from the bitter cold air as you’re cruising down the slopes. Unfortunately, while the goggles do work over the glasses, they only fit over small and medium frames. Also check out the LUMALENS line of goggles with photochromic lenses, which is an adaptive lens technology that automatically changes tint based on light conditions.
#3 Hubo Sports Ski Goggles
Award: Best Dual Lens
WHY WE LIKE IT: The Hubo Sports ski goggles are built to be super durable with dual layer lenses that are anti-fogging and anti-scratching. If you’re looking for extra-durable ski goggles with dual lenses, this is the pair for you.
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- High impact resistance
- Built with permanent anti-fog material instead of coating
- Good OTG design
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- Lenses aren’t interchangeable
- Sizing runs a little small
- Take some breaking in for full comfort
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Durability may not be the first thing you think about when purchasing a pair of ski goggles, especially since they just sit over your eyes all day, but it’s an important consideration. And the Hubo Sports ski and snow goggles are the most durable goggles on our list. They feature high-impact resistant frames that can easily take a hit without a problem. They also feature three separate layers of padding, including a waterproof layer, a breathable layer and a sweat-absorbent layer for greater durability. Another great accessory are the best all mountain skis.
The lenses are also unique in the fact that the lenses are built from anti-fogging materials instead of covered with an anti-fogging coating. This makes their anti-fogging capacity much more effective and efficient than other ski goggles. You might run into some sizing issues – the goggles tend to run smaller – and they take some breaking in, but in the long run, the Hubo Sport ski goggles are comfortable, durable and versatile. You won’t go wrong with these goggles. Though if you’re looking to make sure your goggles fit well and have interchangeable lenses, check out the Oakley Flight Deck Snow Goggles, and the large size fit of the Flight Deck goggles helps maximize your field of view while skiing. Overall, Oakley is one of the most popular ski goggle selling brands of 2020, and for good reasons too, due to their impressive product design and lens technology.
#4 AKASO OTG Ski Goggles
Award: Best Value/Best Interchangeable Lenses
WHY WE LIKE IT: The AKASO OTG ski goggles offer high-end features for a super-affordable price, making these goggles our best value pick. With a mag-pro interchangeable lens system, efficient venting system and wide field of view, these goggles give you pro features at a beginner’s price.
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- Mag-pro interchangeable lens system
- Anti-slip helmet strap
- Includes comfortable balaclava ski mask
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- May scratch easier than other models
- More expensive than others on our list
- Much larger than other goggles
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When it comes to value and ski goggles, you need to consider what kind of premium features you get at a much lower price. The AKASO OTG ski goggles offer these features without requiring you to spend too much of your hard-earned money. The best feature you get with the AKASO goggles is the “Mag-Pro” interchangeable lens system. Featuring 8 magnetic connection points and 4 physical anchors, these goggles allow you to easily and securely swap out different lenses to account for different light conditions throughout the day.
Another premium feature you get with these lenses includes an excellent anti-fog functionality with a hydrophilic coating and premium venting system. You’ll also get an anti-slip silicone-backed helmet strap to keep the goggles in place during intense runs. The AKASO goggles also give you an insanely wide field of view without any weird frame lines in your vision due. These extra-large goggles may be too big for some, but the wide FOV is certainly worth it in our books. Another pair of goggles that comes with lens options is the Smith 4D MAG Goggles, which comes with two lenses that are easily interchangeable. Smith provides other ski goggle options alongside the 4D MAG that feature innovative lens technology, from their ChromaPop polarized lenses that enhance color and clarity to their Polarchromic lenses that use photochromic technology. Once you choose your goggles, you can check out the best ski boots.
#5 Snapper XD MAXBolle Mojo Ski Goggles
Award: Best Budget/Best Under $50
WHY WE LIKE IT: If you can’t spend more than $50 on a new pair of ski goggles, you’ll definitely need to consider the Bolle Mojo ski goggles. These budget ski goggles are simple but effective at keeping the cold and snow out of your eyes while you’re cruising down the slopes.
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- Super affordable
- Comfortable for kids and adults
- Great wind protection
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- Don’t fit over glasses
- Fit tight around the bridge of your nose
- Peripheral vision not great
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You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on ski goggles to get effective and efficient protection during your ski runs. The Bolle Mojo ski goggles are the perfect fit for anyone needing new gear on a budget. Even though you won’t spend an arm and a leg on these goggles, you’ll still get some high-quality features. The goggles feature proprietary anti-scratch Carbo Glas lenses that are super durable. You’ll also get a double lens thermal barrier to keep your eyes nice and toasty on the side of a cold mountain.
Overall, the goggles are excellent for most users. Unfortunately, they don’t fit well over prescription glasses and some users report that they are tight over the bridge of their noses. You’ll also have some limited peripheral vision due to the design of the goggles. Of course, some drawbacks are to be expected with budget ski goggles, but these weren’t dealbreakers for us by any means. In the end, the Bolle Mojo ski goggles are a stellar option for any skier or snowboarder on a budget. Don’t forget about the best skis of course.
How We Choose
In the five years of teaching skiing full time, I’ve figured out how to separates the okay goggles from the legendary ones, and how to avoid some of the most common mistakes in ski goggle buying.
How do we choose the best of the best? We’re looking for goggles with advanced spherical lenses, that offer great peripheral views, UV protection, and stylish color options. Our choices must be helmet compatible too, as more and more skiers wise up to the benefits of protecting their heads. We’re also only including lenses with interchangeable lens systems – an important factor for swapping lenses on bright or cloudy days.
Why You Should Buy New Ski Goggles
Goggles have evolved greatly over the last handful of years to meet two main needs. First, skiers are demanding more flashy colors and styles, and second, skiers are almost universally wearing helmets today which older goggles cannot fit over anymore.
Helmet use is on the rise, and we really expect to soon see every skier wearing a helmet. This means old goggles with small straps are out. You need a goggle with enough adjustability to be worn with or without a helmet and that’s exactly what we’ve chosen here. Our goggles feature highly adjustable headbands and wider attachment points at the goggle to accommodate that new helmet.
While fashion may not be the most critical upgrade factor, flashy new lenses do offer a few real upgrades over older lenses. First, newer goggles and lenses are beginning to incorporate wide lenses with a greater peripheral view. This helps with safety, allowing you to see more of what (and who) is around you at all times. Second, these newer lenses are using reflective coated technology to help shed harmful UV light before it reaches your eyes. Because crisp visibility and wide viewing angles are an important part of skiing at your best level and avoiding potential dangers, we feel there’s a strong case to be made for an upgrade.
Your goggles may be the unsung hero of your skiing gear. Without a good ski goggle you’ll be left skiing in poor, flat lighting which makes skiing difficult and unsafe. Choosing the right goggle and lens combo will revolutionize the way you see the snow you’re skiing…literally.
Key Factors and Features of a Good Ski Goggle
- View: Never compromise on view. One part of having great clarity and contrast through a goggle is a high visibility lens for overcast days. I highly recommend an interchangeable lens system for this reason. Spend the extra money on a good pair of wide view goggles too, and your skiing will improve dramatically.
- Price: Price is a big deal to many skiers. A new pair of skis and boots are expensive, so it can be tempting to try and save a little money on the goggles, but don’t do it! Investing in good goggles is critical to avoid fogging, clarity issues, and low light contrast issues. It’s scary trying to ski moguls in low light with a foggy lens. Avoid that by investing in a good goggle system.
- Helmet Fit: Most goggles these days are designed to be worn with a helmet. Wide hinge points for strap attachment and silicone bands on the strap help keep everything in place. Make sure your goggles and straps are wide enough to fit around your helmet – all of our recommendations are!
- Lens Types: Buying a goggle with a wide assortment of available lenses is a huge bonus. On super dark and snowy days a clear (or near clear) lens is great to improve visibility. For bright bluebird skiing, a reflective lens helps protect your eyes from solar radiation and also gives a good increase to your overall “radness” level in style. While you’re researching the best ski goggles of 2020, also consider a lens shape that will work well for you. Many goggles on the market have spherical and cylindrical lenses, and toric lenses are a hybrid of the two. Cylindrical ones are curved on the sides and flat vertically, while the spherical type is overall much more curved to create more surface area. Toric lenses were introduced to the market a few years ago, so there are only a few goggles that feature them.
- Included Lenses: If you’re spending good money on a new goggle system, look for one that includes more than one lens with your purchase. More lenses mean more versatility when it comes to skiing in different light conditions. If you do have multiple lenses, you should also consider lens interchangeability. The best goggles allow you to easily change out different lenses without any trouble.
Mistakes to Avoid
Going Too Big: With the big goggle trend at an all-time high, some skiers may buy the coolest goggles only to find out they’re actually too big to fit with their helmet. Yeah, that’s a thing. Check reviews to make sure the goggles you’re ordering aren’t too big to fit your riding setup.
Skimping on Price: Many skiers will say their skis or ski boots are the most important piece of gear. I would urge you to think differently – your goggles are the most important piece of gear. Without a good, crisp image to see while you’re skiing, it’s impossible to avoid dangers and injury. Fog, flat lighting, and overly dark lenses are all common issues. Spend the extra dough on your goggles – you’ll be happy you did.
