Best snowboard goggles of 2023

Every year when winter rolls around, we can’t wait to hit the slopes with our new snow gear. Snowboarding is a great activity to get your body moving, spend time with friends, breathe in some fresh air, and try out new tricks. Every snowboarder needs to be outfitted in the right equipment to stay safe and warm, from beginner to advanced. Goggles are an essential part of protecting yourself on the mountain. The best snowboard goggles will reduce the glare coming off of the snow, increasing visibility. Many will also increase contrast, so it’s easier to identify bumps and dips that are otherwise camouflaged in the snow. Perhaps most importantly, snowboard goggles will protect your eyes from harsh winds, intense UV rays, and any debris you might come in contact with should you fall.

When it comes to picking out snowboard goggles, you’ll be saturated with many options. It can be difficult to choose the right pair for you, which is why we have created this brief guide that includes helpful tips and our favorite models to get you started; you’ll be ready to shred in no time.

• Best for large faces: Oakley Fall Line XL
• Best for small faces: Anon WMI
• Best for kids: Smith Young Daredevil Snow Goggles
• Best OTG/prescription: Smith I/O Mag XL Snow Goggles
• Best anti-fog: Julbo Airflux Snow Goggles
• Best with interchangeable lenses: Anon M4 Perceive Toric Goggle
• Best frameless: Oakley Flight Deck XM
• Best budget: Smith Range Snow Goggles

Features to consider when shopping for the best snowboard goggles

The best snowboard goggles will fit your face perfectly while protecting your eyes and increasing visibility. They’ll also fulfill additional needs such as accommodations for prescription glasses, interchangeable lenses, and more. Feel secure slopeside, knowing your goggles will protect you from the elements while working on your frontside 180.

Need snow goggles for the whole family?

If your entire family is ready to suit up and hit the slopes but still needs to find the right pair of goggles, we have some suggestions. There are a few key things to consider no matter your age, experience, and ability that will help you find the best snowboarding goggles for you.

First, think about your face size. Most goggles come in sizes small, medium, and large. It can be hard to decide, without trying them on, which size will best fit your face. Some men tend to skew larger and some women smaller or narrower, but this isn’t always the case. If you’re familiar with buying sunglasses and hats, you probably know your face shape enough to take an informed guess.

If you can’t peruse a few pairs in-store, we recommend trying on your ordered pair at least once, with your helmet, before hitting the slopes. You want to make sure they fit snugly on your face with no gapping but not so tight that you’re in pain or feel a lot of irritation. Goggles will come with an adjustable strap, so if the first fit isn’t right, try tightening or loosening before moving up a size. You’ll also want to make sure your goggles pair well with your helmet. If you are ordering a pair, you can always trust single brands to have complementary products. But don’t worry too much if this isn’t an option for you; most helmets these days are compatible with most snowboard goggles.

Best for large faces: Oakley Fall Line XL

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The Oakley Fall goggles in an XL size are great for folks with broader faces. Available in over 24 colors, they are 10 inches long and 6 inches tall. The interchangeable Prizm lenses have everything you could ask for, including anti-fog coating, UV protection, and a rimless design for increased visibility.

Best for small faces: Anon WMI

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The Anon WM1s snowboard goggles are designed to fit small faces with a “women-specific” fit. These goggles have an amazing ability to quickly interchange their high-contrast lenses protected with smudge, scratch, anti-fog, and moisture-resistant coating. This model will fit over prescription glasses and even comes with a magnetic face mask, extra lens, and a microfiber goggle bag.

Best for kids: Smith Young Daredevil Snow Goggles

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The Smith Young Daredevil Goggles are great for kids ages six and up. They are helmet and eyewear compatible with tons of space between the face and lens. A floating foam membrane and dual-layer Driwix face foam will keep them comfortable, while the adjustable silicone strap keeps these kid’s goggles in place.

Do you wear glasses? Find snowboard goggles to fit your prescription

If you aren’t one of the lucky few with perfect vision and contact lenses aren’t really your thing, you need a pair of goggles that can accommodate your glasses (or provide you with new ones). Many goggles are designed to fit over prescription glasses and are labeled as OTG (over the glasses). This type has a large amount of space between the lens and the face, leaving ample room for your eyewear. OTG goggles will also have small notches in the frame to fit the arms of your glasses. Keep in mind; these models are designed to fit average-sized glasses, so if you’re working with a bulkier shape or non-traditional frame, you may need to go in another direction. As a general rule, make sure you try on the goggles with your glasses and helmet before heading out for your first day to ensure a comfortable fit.

Should the idea of wearing so much eyewear make you feel slightly uncomfortable, you can also invest in a prescription insert for your goggles. Prescription snowboard goggles will use the same technology found in prescription sunglasses. These inserts fit on the inside of the lens, typically customized to fit the make and model of your goggles by a reputable company.

Best OTG/prescription: Smith I/O Mag XL Snow Goggles

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These snowboarding goggles from Smith are designed to both fit over lenses and be compatible with a prescription insert so you can decide how you want to snowboard, depending on the day. It includes two interchangeable Chromapop lenses, one for bright and one for low light, each with an anti-fog coating. The I/O Mag has a responsive fit frame, quick strap adjustment system, and wide silicone backed-strap to keep things secure.

Keep your snow goggles from fogging up at all times

When the sun is shining and there’s loads of fresh powder waiting for you, you don’t want to spend the day wiping out your goggles to get rid of the fog. Luckily, there are many anti-fog snowboard goggles to look out for.

The best snowboard goggles will have ventilation built into the frame, ideally on all sides. The more ventilation you have, the less likely fog will occur because of the increased airflow. Every pair’s vent system will be different, so it’s a good idea to try them on with your helmet, if you can, to ensure the open slats aren’t blocked. At the same time, you’ll want to make sure the goggles seal tightly to your face to keep out any excess sweat that could create fog. Next, check to make sure the pair you are looking at has a double lens; most models do. Finally, look to see if these lenses have been treated with an anti-fog coating. This coating will be almost 100% successful at eliminating fog so long as you avoid touching the inner side of the lens. Every time you wipe away moisture on a treated surface, the coating will slightly erode.

Best anti-fog: Julbo Airflux Snow Goggles

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Julbo has, without a doubt, some of the best anti-fogging solutions currently available. Many of their goggles utilize Superflow, which allows you to push the lens away from the frame, if needed, creating more room for air to pass through and exhaust any existing fog, should some start to creep in. As a preventative measure, the lens also has an anti-fog coating. This pair of snowboard goggles has a Spectron Category 3 Polycarbonate lens with 13% visible light transmission (VLT) and 100% ABC UV Protection.

To get the best out of any weather, go for interchangeable lenses

We know that goggles prevent the elements from interfering with our eyesight. One of their key functions is to refract light making it easier to see in the snow. Instead of being absorbed, light is bounced off clean snow, which can dramatically increase brightness and glare. Additionally, when the sky is overcast, the light becomes flat, making things look two-dimensional, disguising bumps, drops, or changes in snow texture and depth. The best snowboarding goggles will be designed to increase clarity and contrast even in less-than-desirable conditions. While we can’t necessarily rely on one lens to be perfect for every kind of sky, you can look for goggles equipped to handle interchangeable lenses. Switching up your lens type based on the weather is a foolproof way to get the best visibility—snow or shine.

Once you’ve settled on a great pair of goggles designed for a speedy-quick change, start to stock up on lenses. Lighter tints, like gold, amber, and green, are great for cloudy days because there is an increase in visible light transmission (VLT). Darker colors are best for bluebird skies, made even more effective if they are mirrored. Mirrored snowboard goggles, in general, are great at keeping light out of your eyes. Of course, you should also go for goggles that provide 100% UV protection and consider a polarized lens to further reduce glare.

Best with interchangeable lenses: Anon M4 Perceive Toric Goggle

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Anon is the leading champion when it comes to easily interchangeable lens technology. Using powerful magnets, you can quickly pop a lens in and out, securing a lens to gram seal. These goggles’ incredibly strong frame will protect the lenses from slipping off and accruing damage during a fall. The Anon lenses have anti-fog and smudge coatings to keep your vision clear. Triple-layer face foam keeps the goggles comfortable, and an included magnetic facemask blocks out any strong winds or extra moisture.

For great peripheral vision, frameless snowboard goggles are it

Snowboard goggles come in two different styles: framed and frameless. Frameless snowboard goggles do away with the plastic trimming found on many models, which results in a trendy, oversized look. Remember when Apple removed all the buttons from the iPhone for a sleek, streamlined surface? Frameless goggles are the winter sports industry’s upgraded iPhone. However, choosing a frameless pair isn’t all cosmetic; there are some additional benefits.

Forgoing the frame can lead to an expanded field of view and extended peripheral vision, a helpful feature when you’re on the mountain. Using your peripheral vision when you’re going through a tree run or speeding up on a crowded day can help you avoid nasty falls or collisions. They can also help you spot the perfect patch of snow, natural jump, or any extra opportunity to show your skills. Additionally, frameless goggles may make it a bit easier to use interchangeable lenses, though that is ultimately up to the manufacturer. Keep in mind that some frameless models are more susceptible to damage at the edges because they don’t have that protective barrier, but this should be a minor concern. Overall, frameless goggles are a great way to look cool and expand your field of vision.

Best frameless: Oakley Flight Deck XM

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The rimless design on these Oakely goggles perfectly compliments the Prizm lens, providing precise control over the light transmission. Each lens has an F3 anti-fog coating and frame notches that can accommodate prescription eyewear. Changing the lens type is quick and easy. With Oakely’s Ridgelock Technology, you can switch up your lens without sacrificing the secure seal to keep out wind and snow. The Flight Deck XM is designed to fit most helmets, so you have the utmost flexibility when it comes to personal style.

Best snowboard goggles on a budget: What you can get for under $100

While snowboard goggles can, indeed, be costly, you can always find something that will fit your budget. If you only ski a few times per year, you don’t necessarily need to invest in the perfect pair. Instead, find a model you know will fit, with a protective lens and cushioning around the eyes. It’s good to go for a reputable brand, such as Smith or Oakley, which has more budget-friendly options made with the same quality their higher-end models are known for.

Best budget: Smith Range Snow Goggles

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These Smith goggles are a great quality option for less. They feature a cylindrical carbonic-x lens, Fog-X anti-fog inner lens, and VLT lens technology for improved vision. They come in various colors and sizes with a thick, wide silicone-backed strap and 2-layer DriWix face foam for extra cushioning around the eyes.

FAQs

A final word on shopping for the best snowboard goggles

By now you should be ready to shred with a great pair of goggles on your head. Remember, the best snowboard goggles will not only keep you safe, but expand your field of vision, accommodate your needs, fit your personal style, and stay comfortable all day long.