The Best Snow Goggles of 2023: Tested

Between the tech and the number of options available, shopping for goggles can be overwhelming. Here, we break down factors to help you choose, including lens interchangeability systems, lens tints, sizing, fit and helmet compatibility. (Also, learn more in our article How to Choose Goggles). 

Lens Shape

Goggles today feature a variety of lens shapes. Here are the shapes you should know.

• Cylindrical lenses: This lens curves left-to-right across your eyes and face, but the lens surface is vertically flat (between the nose and forehead). Cylindrical lenses often cost less to manufacture and don’t supply the best optics—the flatness can cause glare and slightly reduce peripheral vision. However, many snowboarders and skiers dig the style and price.

• Spherical lenses: This lens, too, curves across your eyes and face, but it also curves vertically. Spherical lenses are generally more expensive than cylindrical ones, but they’re closer to the natural shape of the human eye, minimizing the potential for distortion. They can also offer better peripherals.

• Toric lenses: Like spherical lenses, toric lenses are curved both horizontally and vertically. However, the curvature isn’t uniform. Toric lenses generally aren’t as curved vertically as they are horizontally, and the subtle curvature from forehead to nose helps toric lenses more closely imitate the curvature of the eyeball.

Lens Tints and Visible Light Transmission

Lenses come in a rainbow of tints—and, contrary to popular belief, it’s not so you can match your goggles to your jacket. Different tints allow different amounts of light to transmit through the lens and into your eye; the amount of light that passes through the lens is measured as a percentage known as Visible Light Transmission (VLT). A 0% VLT lets no light pass through—think eye mask—while a 100% VLT is completely clear.

Oftentimes, when you add a goggle to your shopping cart, you’ll have the opportunity to select from multiple lens tints. Or, if you’re shopping for an interchangeable lens goggle, you’ll see different pairs of lenses, usually a low-light lens and a dark-tint lens. Use the info below to help you make the right selection for the conditions you ride in most frequently.

• Darker tints for sunny conditions: Darker options—like black, brown and copper—usually have low VLTs. For instance, the Anon M4 we tested had a black lens (the Perceive Sunny Onyx) that scores a VLT of 6%. That’s on the extreme low side of the spectrum, and while the Perceive Sunny Onyx is not ideal for partly cloudy weather, it’s one of our favorite lenses for sunny days. Once you start creeping over a VLT of 20%, you’re approaching a mid-range VLT that’s better for sunny and mixed conditions as opposed to pure bluebird days.

• Mid-range tints for partly cloudy conditions: Mid-range tints vary tremendously in color, from greens and blues to pinks and reds, and range in VLT from the 20s to the 50s. If you’re looking for one lens to do it all—which we don’t recommend—hovering near a VLT of 25% isn’t a horrible idea. That’s dark enough to handle sunny days, but it’s light enough to work in partly cloudy conditions. VLTs of 40%, 50% and up are much better suited for partly cloudy conditions and storm days.
• Lighter tints for cloudy and stormy conditions: Light tints, like amber, gold and rose, typically have higher VLTs—meaning they let more light in—and are better suited for cloudy, stormy and low-light conditions. Our favorite low-light lenses have VLTs over 60%, but they aren’t versatile—if the sun pops, you’ll be squinting.
• Clear lenses: Clear lenses—lenses with no tint at all—can have a VLT as high as 100% since they aren’t blocking any light at all. You wouldn’t want to use them on a sunny or partly cloudy day, but they’re excellent for night skiing.

A caveat on lens color: Pay more attention to VLT than the color of the lens. For instance, a pale, translucent gold lens might be perfect for storm skiing, while a reflective gold lens might be better for bluebird days. Making decisions based on VLT will steer you in the right direction.

Lens Interchangeability Systems—and Why We Love Them

Most of our favorite goggles boast interchangeable lens systems, which allow you to swap out lenses while relying on a single goggle frame. The best interchangeable lens systems are quick and easy to navigate—even while wearing gloves—and offer a secure, gap-free connection between frame and lens. Here are a few reasons why we recommend going the interchangeable route:

• You'll be better prepared for changing conditions: Goggles with interchangeable lens systems typically come with two options: a low-light lens for cloudy conditions and a dark lens for brighter conditions. Unless you only ride on bright days, it pays to have both options available. Picking the right lens for the current light will improve your time on the slopes immensely. 

• You want to downsize your kit: Some skiers and riders choose to own two pairs of goggles—one for brighter days and another for cloudy ones. This is fine. However, a single frame with multiple lenses may be much easier to transport than two or three separate pairs of goggles.

• One interchangeable system may be cheaper than owning several pairs: Goggles with interchangeable lenses aren’t cheap. But it’s often comparable—even cheaper—to get one pair of interchangeable-lens goggles with two or three lenses than to buy two or three individual pairs of goggles.

• Interchangeable lens systems vs. replacement lenses: You can buy a replacement lens for most goggles on the market, but “replaceable” and “interchangeable” aren’t synonymous. Goggles that have replaceable lenses like the Oakley Target Line tend to be priced lower than interchangeable ones. Replacing a lens on a standard pair of goggles isn’t necessarily easy or quick, and it’s quite possible that you’ll leave your paw prints all over the lenses as you tug at the frame and try to lock the new lens into place. This explain why standard goggles only come with a single lens, while interchangeable-lens goggles are pricier and come with an extra lens.

Photochromic Lenses

Now that you have a basic understanding of VLT, let’s talk photochromic lenses. Also referred to as “transition lenses,” photochromic lenses automatically adjust to ambient light: The tint darkens in sunshine and lightens in shady, cloudy or stormy conditions. Here are the pros and cons of photochromic lenses:

Pros:

• Your lenses adapt to changing conditions, adding versatility that goes a long way in the mountains, where weather can shift quickly and dramatically.
• You might be able to get away with a single pair of goggles with a single lens, saving you space in your pack and, depending on the goggle cost, money.

Cons:

• Photochromic tech doesn’t work immediately, which means you can be skiing a shaded tree run, then pop into the sunshine and struggle to see because your goggles didn’t adjust in time.
• The axiom “jack of all trades, master of none” is an apt description of photochromic lenses. They can handle many conditions well, but they don’t provide the clarity and contrast of a premium, fixed-VLT lens at the extremes.

Sizing and Fit

Sizing and fitting goggles is key to enjoying your time on the slopes. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Helmet compatibility: To get the best fit, make sure to try on goggles with your helmet. You want to eliminate any “gaper gap” (the gap between your helmet and goggles) both for style and functionality in gnarly weather. Also, make sure there aren’t any uncomfortable pressure points on your nose, forehead or the corners of your eyes. If you’re starting from scratch and shopping for a helmet, too, look for one that’s the same brand as your goggles; there's a better chance of finding a flush, perfectly compatible fit. (If you’re in the market for a brain bucket, check out our helmet guide for our top-rated helmets of 2023.

Learn more: The Best Snow Helmets: Tested

Flush fit: You're looking want a comfortable snug fit—no gaps at the nose or corners of the eyes, as wind and snow can work their way into the slimmest of openings. The best way to size and fit goggles is to swing try on several options. 

Sizing Breakdown

As you peruse goggle descriptions, you’ll see fit and size described a few ways, several of which we’ve broken down below.

• Large or oversize goggles: Large or oversize goggles, like the Anon M4, are intentionally big. Bigger lenses tend to offer a better field of view—and many skiers and snowboarders love the style. Generally, these work best for folks with larger heads.
• Medium goggles: Medium-fit goggles, like the Smith 4D MAG, are the sweet spot that work for most skiers and boarders. They’re popular with riders with average-size heads.
• Small goggles: Small goggles are popular with riders with smaller heads, as well as teens and kids who have outgrown youth sizes.
• Women’s goggles: While many goggles are unisex, women’s goggles are engineered specifically for women. These sizes will be comparable to small or medium unisex goggles. Some include stylistic differences, too.

Low-bridge fit: If you have a narrow or smaller nose bridge and often find a pesky gap between your face and goggles, try low-bridge fit goggles—a solution to this common fit issue. The Smith 4D MAG, for example, is also available in a low-bridge fit.

Kids’ goggles: When shopping for your little ripper, opt for goggles specifically sized for youth, as they’ll be swimming in standard sizes.