6 Great Ski Goggles For Your Next Weekend Trip
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Looking to hit the slopes this season? If so, before Après Ski, there's just straight up ski. You got to get the gear to keep you protected outdoors. On the whole, you just need some proper ski gear. For the ski essentials, you need ski jacket or at least an Arc'teryx shell. When we're talking performance, there's one piece of gear that really trumps all others. I'm not talking the helmet that keeps you safe, base layer that keeps you dry, or the pack that holds your shit. I'm talking about goggles. The things that make sure you can see where you're going.
Anyone who's been skiing knows how life saving the right pair of goggles can be. If you wear clear lens goggles on a sunny day, you're going to be blinded by all the snow in front of you. If you've got excessively dark goggles on a foggy afternoon where you're getting dumped with fresh powder, you're not going to be able to see 20 feet in front of you. Ski goggles are the most important tool on the slopes. And as such, they're usually a massive investment.
No worries though, we've got some snowboarders on our outdoors team, and we've hit the slopes to put the top ski goggles to the test. Here, we've compiled the top performers into a list of the six best ski goggles on the market. Whether your a noob or confidently hitting black diamond runs, these are the lenses that'll keep you out there.
Frontier
Hey, they might fog up sometimes, and the lenses aren't the greatest in the world. But, for $50 you're not going to find anything else on this level. Smith's Frontier give you a decent field of vision, are reasonably comfortable, and they have a handful of lens options for various situations.
If you're buying these, you're either in a pinch, or you're only skiing a weekend or two out of the year. If it's going to be a bright and sunny weekend, snag a lower light transmission pair. If it's going to be foggy and actively snowing, grab a pair with higher light transmission. Or, instead of blowing $300 on a pair with swappable lenses, just grab two of these.
Like I said, not the best ever, but you (nor I) are Zeb Powell on the board. These are good enough.
Apres All Day
If you want to spend a little more, though, you can actually get a pair of goggles with interchangeable lenses. The Apres All Day from goodr are about as good of a bargain as you'll ever find. They're under $100, and you get two sets of lenses—one for low-light conditions and one for high to regular light. But lenses are great, and switching them in and out with the magnetic system is stupid easy.
That said, it can be a bit too easy to pop the lenses out at times. We've found that if you push on them a little too hard in that direction—like when you're pulling them on or adjusting over your helmet—the lens can pop a little bit loose. It's not a huge negative, and something you get used to pretty quick, but it's there.
The Standard Synthesizer
Yeah, yeah hate me for this one. Pit Viper is the epitome of those Full Send brands that are way too obsessed with being funny and into mullets and neon and whatever. But... The product is really good.
If the Look is a bit grating on you (like it is for me) they've even made some concessions. You can snag a pair of Synthesizers in all black, and no one is the wiser. If you like the black frames, but prefer a more colorful mirrored lens, they've got you there too.
As far as actual performance goes, these will compete with anything on this list. The field of vision is good. Both the mirrored and the clear lenses get the job done. And, since they're a glasses/goggle hybrid, they're way easier to slip on and off your head. (Though, adjustable arms and a retainer strap make sure they fit your face and stay on it when you eat shit.) Pretty much every piece of the goggles are removable and replaceable. So, although you never thought it was possible, you just might be a Pit Vipers guy.
Line Miner L
These are your do-it-all goggles. Some people would crucify me for this, but above $150 for a pair of goggles is something I'd only recommend to the more serious—or at least more regular—skiers. All of the other options will be fine, but these are going to stand out in your mind as the best ski goggles you've used, up to this point.
First, you've got to talk about the lenses, because it's Oakley. Whether it's these do-it-all lenses, or a replacement set you got for high-light or low-light, they're the best in the game. They're not fogging up, and they're not fucking with your peripheral vision. They're large fit to work with helmets, and the old-school frame makes them feel a bit more classic, a bit more durable.
For those in-between spenders, this is the Goldilocks pair of goggles.
4D MAG ChromaPop
For anyone that's serious about skiing, or only trusts the highest-quality lenses, these are for you. First, you pay a little bit extra for the convenience of the perfect magnetic replaceable lenses. Unlike cheaper pairs, when these are locked in, they're Locked In. You don't have to worry about accidentally popping the lens off. But, when that times come, it's stupid easy. It takes all of 30 seconds to change lenses.
When it comes to the lenses themself, you're at the top-of-the-line for Smtih, so you're getting the best lenses on the market. Everything is going to be clearer and sharper, and if light conditions change, you can pop in a new lens on the lift.
Terrabeam Ski Goggles
Listen, I know you. If you're buying any sort of designer goggles, you're more focused on the Look. You're not entirely worried about specs. You're not chasing powder. You're looking for an easy bluebird day, and a good cocktail at the lodge. Honestly, I respect that a lot more than someone freaking out over specs. You want the Moncler goggles because if you don't look good, what was it all for?
That said, Moncler was originally a functional company. Back in the mid 1900s, they were outfitting mountaineering expeditions and ski teams. Is the modern Moncler that? No, but there's still an air of it. These goggles perform surprisingly well. And although the blue mirrored lenses aren't made to interchange, they're great in akk conditions.
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