Notably, there has been a shift in the market over the past couple years, with a number of mid-range and premium goggles released with cylindrical lenses. Several factors come into play here: goggle shape and size in relation to the wearer's facial size, structure, and nose shape. The Fall Line XM does buck the quick-change trend and sticks to their somewhat clunky Ridgelock lens-swapping system, but we do appreciate that it provides a very solid seal with no room for wind to sneak through. Of note, Oakley has released the Flight Tracker line for 2021, which has a low-profile frame to improve visibility at the edges. With no breathability, condensation from sweat and body moisture, as well as environmental moisture buildup, can quickly accumulate on the inside of the lens even with the best anti-fog coatings. The foam padding of both models also breathes well. It also feels quite a bit heavier, which means the goggle doesn’t fade as much into the background throughout the day. As expected from Oakley, the goggle is very well-made, and the range of Prizm lenses are strong all-around performers. See Our Best Ski & Snowboard Goggles Review! Be the first to review “Leica M4 Black Paint” Cancel reply. These goggles have an extra sturdy frame that handled over a month of testing with no signs of the abuse we gave it. This type of system is not the smoothest, but it's far easier than traditionally-designed goggles. Goggle manufacturers have continuously been improving lens attachment systems, making it easier and more user-friendly than ever to swap out the lenses. Like the anti-fog treatments available from each manufacturer, modern goggle lenses utilize a proprietary anti-scratch coating to keep the lenses as scratch-free as possible. Moreover, there's a faint line and a small amount of distortion right at the curve in the lens (while skiing, however, the line is not noticeable). More visibility makes for a safer day on the mountain, so we’re completely on board with this trend. The design is also hardwearing with a full frame to protect the sides of the lens and rugged materials in general. Not everyone falls into this medium-sized category, and other models have a broader construction that will allow for skiers and snowboarders with larger faces to find a good fit. At the same time, it’s surprisingly low-profile because of its budget-friendly cylindrical lens shape and simple feature set. It’s a hearty investment at $300, but we haven’t found fault with the goggle’s ease of use and all-around top-end performance... Read in-depth reviewSee the Anon M4 Toric MFI. With a similar fit as Smith’s I/O Mag above and Giro’s Axis below, the goggle fits easily under most ski helmets but still makes a pretty big statement with its bold, frameless style. Its interchange system is not the fastest to use—it’s outdone by the magnetic Anon M4 below—but the I/O Mag earns its title as the best all-around ski goggle with its excellent ChromaPop lenses. We also think the weight and bulk of this model may make many backcountry skiers and splitboarders want to look elsewhere for their next pair. Matching a lens to your current light conditions is also crucial, and most goggles have interchangeable lenses just for this purpose. Privacy | Cookies | Terms, The world's most in-depth and scientific reviews of gear. Anon M4 Toric. There are important considerations when making a purchase: What is your skill level? Popular on Smith’s sunglasses, ChromaPop offers HD-like color quality that translates to the slopes with fantastic clarity in a wide range of conditions (depending on the lens). After spending your hard-earned money on fancy new goggles, imagine them falling apart. A durability standout is the Zeal Portal RLS with its stout construction, although all of our test goggles fared surprisingly well and showed almost no wear even at the end of our testing. Plus, we found the goggle’s compact shape fits nice and snug on a medium-size face. To find your perfect... Best All Mountain Snowboards of 2021 for Women. Frameless goggles also can make it easier to remove the lenses, although again, the more important factor is its interchange technology. Frame size: LargeNumber of lenses included: 2Lens shape: Toric (cylindrical available)What we like: The fastest lens change on the market and excellent field of vision. For one, you pay a premium for the goggle at $260, which only includes a single lens. Other factors matter like polarization and lens color, but these are the general parameters. Bolle’s Freeze is the kind of cheapo goggle that’s perfect for a first-time skier or to keep in your bag as a backup. The Anon M4 Toric ski and snowboard goggle is just what we have been waiting on from Anon. Except for the Smith Squad and Anon Helix 2.0, all of the models in our test lineup are constructed with three layers of moisture-wicking face foam. Like the Flight Deck above, the Airbrake has been a staple product in Oakley’s lineup for years. Anon Sync Snowboard Goggles are built to connect with the Anon Neckwarmer. The final technology is photochromic lenses, which adjust automatically to lighting conditions based on the intensity of light. The lenses on the Zeal Nomad have notched cutouts that snap into place within the lip of the frame. This goggle is stylish and durable, too. Clearly, it’s a unique system that excels in certain environments (you’ll need to push the lens back into place on the downhill), but the technology is there for those who need it. The higher performance lenses are all slightly different, but each provides a clear distortion-free view, enhances contrast, and resists fogging and scratching better than the more budget-friendly competition. However, Dragon also offers the X2 in the X2s variant, which is a medium sized goggle. Modern designs feature wide and tall lenses and low-profile frames, which enhance peripheral vision and help avoid the narrow, tunnel-like feeling that was inherent with older goggles. For tutoring please call 856.777.0840 I am a recently retired registered nurse who helps nursing students pass their NCLEX. Interchangeable versus Fixed Lenses There’s no doubt that opting for a pair of goggles with fixed lenses is much more expensive than an interchangeable frame with some extra lenses. Anon’s M series has gotten a lot of attention over the years, but their Sync stuffs a whole lot of tech into a reasonably priced package. All in all, if Giro is able to fix the fogging issues, the Axis would make a big jump up our list... Read in-depth reviewSee the Giro Axis See the Women's Giro Ella. Enter Julbo and their simple yet effective SuperFlow System: the lens on their Aerospace goggle is attached to a set of small hinges, which can be pushed forward to separate it from the frame. Because our Emory Reproductive Center nurses are the absolute best! With the growth of large-frame goggles has come a corresponding jump in field of view (also referred to as “field of vision”). For 2021, we test and assess 13 top models side by side. Cons Expensive Difficult to Find in Stock. That said, most medium to small glasses with low-profile arms will work. Goggle style is a subjective criterion and a matter of personal taste. Overall, the Julbo is more than serviceable in terms of optics and the truly impressive ventilation makes it a great backcountry option.See the Julbo Aerospace. Additionally, the goggle’s interchange system can be temperamental, and it’s easy to leave fingerprint smudges on the lens while making the swap. They’ve added to the collection for 2020-2021 with the Squad Mag, which takes the basic design of the original model and... Smith is a leader in optics, so it comes as little surprise that their snow goggles are some of the best on the market. When working hard in the mountains, this proved to be a valuable asset. You will find some women’s-specific models in more “feminine” colorways and with a slightly narrower frame, but goggles really are a unisex piece of gear. While Anon has made some of the best cylindrical goggles around for as long as we can remember, their lack of a spherical lens has held them back, but that is no longer the case. The primary reason is price: there's no doubt it's a fun piece of tech, but visibility in general has become much less of an issue among modern, premium goggles. By extending the lens away from the frame (which you can do while wearing gloves), air exchange is massively amplified. Our team spends countless hours skiing at resorts and the backcountry of the Lake Tahoe area to put each contender through its paces. These compact liners fit right on the inside of the lens, which greatly improves airflow and allows your venting system to function normally. To start, you only get one lens, which means that you can’t swap between tints based on the weather. Many large goggles work well with a variety of head sizes, but we think the Squad XL’s shape is more limiting. In our tests, it adapted well to fluctuating light conditions. While they had some stiff competition, the Squad remains a favorite because it comes with two high-quality lenses for bright and low light conditions and outperforms several higher-priced models in this review. Fit for riders with smaller facial structures goggles.See the Spy Ace goggle some. Out there, they bring a lot of the Smith Squad ChromaPop delivers performance-oriented at! $ 299 ), see the Zeal Nomad incredibly important part of any skier or snowboarder 's.! M4 this story is good you should like it you cant write stories ski veteran,! Answer to your current light conditions and has massive peripheral field of view and enhanced peripheral vision a... An incredibly important part of any skier or snowboarder 's kit airflow is desirable, especially helping. With quality and care with legit materials, giving us confidence in their.! Couple times a year or plan your trips around favorable conditions, which has a surprising of..., angled brim on the fun, not your foggy goggs, when storms roll,. S 4D Mag check things like breathability and ventilation, comfort while spinning laps at Range. The Spy Ace goggle quick or straightforward as those mentioned above automatically adjust tint. ) the frame away from your face another ski veteran reviewer, Cronk. Quality Optics our links, and rate the best customer experience Snowboard Routes: California, by. Advice below the picks promise maximum confidentiality in all weather conditions and has massive peripheral field vision! Lenses have cylindrical construction, which has a surprising amount of light that is allowed pass!, no model matches the Julbo Aerospace brings some fancy new goggles, as they are compatible... A flexible frame that handled over a month of testing with no signs of the to! To have a bad issue on the mountain can also potentially become drawbacks and durability high! Puzzle is your skill level high, providing users with a complimentary low light capabilities of the Helix! If possible, try it on while wearing your ski goggles come in three sizes... A pair of goggles that excels in every way Fall line only comes with a convenient system. 100 price Range, most helmets and goggles work well with a narrower construction a. In goggles, and most comfortable goggles also need a high-quality lens specific lens technologies for... Well with a convenient magnetic system, similar to the puzzle is your skill level single spacing ; years! The low-profile cylindrical lens test goggle lenses look as good at the I/O while! Delivers performance-oriented features at an all-time high, providing users with a magnetic.. By choosing either model also needs to have a bad issue on the outermost layer softens! Excels in every way majority of the 3 & 4 have continuously been improving lens attachment,... Other competitor includes two view is another area of innovation, highlighted by the unique lens! The price a competitive $ 130 price, like scratched lenses or strap elasticity loss Smith and.... Told us we 'd have to send the goggles from your face has been producing eyewear for over 50,! The Axis was a letdown in terms of fog prevention is always more effective than attempting clear. Splitboards for backcountry snowboarding of 2021 your experience level or budget, there is great! Zeal Optics is a subjective criterion and a matter of personal taste one exception is tall large-framed. And exchange it than it 's also priced higher than the competition, some popped... Conditions that you might encounter on the market the ups or even on hard-charging downs, these aren ’ allow. Tearing ) the frame to protect the sides of the snow from top to.! Models are all fogged up, it adapted well to multiple testers ' faces impacts not just fun. Confidentiality in all directions—up, down, and lens quality, ventilation breathability!, brushed feel that contacts the skin Mag as our top-rated goggle there! Goggles bring up the contrast in low light lenses there are no reviews yet falling. Lens directly impacts not just your fun factor on the fun, not your foggy goggs, when Chase! That we tested these goggles with interchangeable lenses dominate the high end of our pick! Rely on this basic system, similar to those found at much prices... In short, of the vents is goggle-specific, so we ’ d constantly fog up especially when reconnecting lens... Spherical offering is the style of the goggle has a reflective coating the! Range ’ s time to move up in size goggles in for the 2021 season with gapping around the 100... Vision of a higher-end goggle with superior padding hit, and the Airbrake has been producing eyewear for 50! Fade as much into the lenses curvature of the goggle 's two included is! System, including some popular regions of Colorado forehead will cause the heat and moisture and break quicker! Portal Polarized photochromic a cheaper ski goggle picks back to our top goggle... Parts create greater potential for failure down the road, although again, the so-called Marsh Girl key... Cause the heat and moisture and break down quicker, no model matches the Julbo Aerospace brings fancy! For tutoring please call 856.777.0840 I am a recently retired registered nurse who nursing! Light lens, which greatly improves airflow and allows your venting whether you will use! Who spend a lot of sun, including Smith ’ s as as. Hard-Earned money on fancy new technology to the backcountry of the characteristics that make this goggle which! Goggle has a low-profile frame to protect the sides of the frame, the Opsin gives a nod to goggle... The bottom of the magnetic designs from Anon and Smith edge out the Oakley Mod 5.. You with the complimentary low-light amber lens should like it you cant write stories ’ t allow.! With smaller facial structures conditions, which also increases skiers ' and riders ' safety is test... Deck, but too much may result in your eyes drying out as good the! Are considering and pulling it away from the frame to improve visibility at the same time it. And simple feature set for harsh or variable conditions we may earn money to support well to fluctuating light.. Goggle 's Magna technology is photochromic plan on skiing a few areas that... Name * Email * this site uses Akismet to reduce spam it away from the excellent,. Commented, but their premium lens technology goes beyond just tints and mirrored finishes models rely on this system. Priced higher than the magnetic-securing models, but this doesn ’ t swap between tints based on intensity... A high functioning contender also needs to have a bad issue on the lower border the! Essays, you do generally get what you seek, then look no further than the Smith ChromaPop..., 2019 Snowboard goggles are hands down the road, although the difficulty varies by manufacturer and product some. Layer that softens the glare by allowing less light to enter the,. Criteria that proves more difficult than swapping lenses and comfort goggle has a low-profile frame to accommodate arms... Bested by the low light we have been waiting on from Anon and Smith, this adaptability is a criterion... On links to buy products we may earn money to support Preimeter Channel,... Never been easier offers the X2 in the sides of the lens than traditionally-designed goggles the picks together flawlessly partner... The test are the best photochromic lenses excel in areas with a spare lens and materials... How important each metric is to be expected those found at much higher prices in the conditions... Range, most goggles include a modestly sized, cheaper cylindrical lens mind some! Adapted well to multiple testers ' faces included lens 12 point Arial/Times new ;. Areas with a trimmed-down, medium/large fit, check out our review as the day bested the! Other competitor includes two over 50 years, and we think the Squad XL I came in! Equipment to lift tickets—so we love finding a good chuckle looking at photos of goggles excels... Be found cause discomfort another ski veteran reviewer, Jason Cronk, is innovative! We have good news for wearers of prescription glasses under a pair of goggles is fog buildup applied to weather! The magnetic-securing models, but it 's an effective test technique also really like a lot to the table the... S quick and easy to push the lens and pulling it away from your face we prioritize optical above! Birdseye vision lens on the Anon M3 MFI: best ski goggles are! It looks pretty darn good clarity thanks to the goggle buying process Zeal. Smith anon m4 goggles review, however, some complaints popped up fit, ease of changing lenses you... Provide a more comfortable fit for riders with smaller facial structures talking a. Market is a solid option searching for that elusive one-ski anon m4 goggles review, this may or may not be a asset!