Best Anti-Fog Ski Goggles
- October 29, 2020
Nothing ruins a great powder day like foggy goggles. Without crisp vision, you’ll be more likely to overlook moguls and bumps, which can cause some serious accidents.
Lucky for us, the ever-evolving technologies are gradually putting an end to this crucial flaw. Many brands pride themselves on having cutting-edge technologies that guarantee endless hours of fun on and off piste. Below are some of our favorite ski and snow goggles on the market today that boast good anti-fog technologies and are proven to be good value for the money. For more info on buying ski goggles, check out our post on how to choose ski goggles.
Without any further ado, let’s dive right in!
Comparison Chart
| Goggles | Lens Shape | Frame | OTG Friendly | Swappable Lenses | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anon M2 | Spherical | Frameless | Yes | Yes | $$$$ |
| Oakley Flight Deck | Spherical | Frameless | Yes | Yes | $$$ |
| Smith Range | Cylindrical | Rimmed | No | Yes | $$ |
| Giro Cruz Asian Fit | Cylindrical | Rimmed | Yes | Yes | $$ |
| Giro Axis | Spherical | Frameless | Yes | Yes | $$$ |
| Bolle Mojo | Cylindrical | Rimmed | No | No | $ |
Best Anti-Fog Ski Goggle Reviews
Best Overall Anti-Fog Ski Goggles
At a Glance
- Lens Shape: Spherical
- Frame Design: Frameless
- OTG Friendly: Yes
- Interchangeable Lenses: Yes
Favorite Features
- Magna Tech makes swapping lenses super easy
- Top notch lens clarity and definition
- Integrates wonderfully with Anon neckwarmer
The Details
Anon is Burton’s subsidiary for high-quality ski goggles and helmets. Despite being relatively new on the market, their innovative designs took them to the top pretty fast. The M2 goggles are arguably the best example of their state-of-the-art concepts.
What we like the most about these goggles is the Magna-Tech Quick-Lens-Change Technology. Instead of having the typical latches and grooves, these goggles hold the lens in place with 16 powerful neodymium magnets. This way, when you want to change the lens, you can simply pop the old lens off and gently push the new one. This should be especially helpful for professional skiers who can’t afford to waste any time on the piste.
Best of all, magnets aren’t only reserved for the lens. Anon places extra magnets at the lower frame for excellent integration with their MFI mask and neckwarmer. But be aware — having that tight seal between the mask and goggles will increase the likelihood of fogging.
In terms of performance, the M2 goggles don’t disappoint. Thanks to the spherical lens, you’ll enjoy an excellent field-of-view with the least distortion possible. We also like how the SONAR lens technology enhances the colors and contrast, improving the visibility of bumps and moguls.
The only thing we wish was different is the foam padding. Thicker padding would be welcomed to promote additional comfort and prolonged use.
Best Large Anti-Fog Ski Goggles for Men
At a Glance
- Lens Shape: Spherical
- Frame Design: Frameless
- OTG Friendly: Yes
- Interchangeable Lenses: Yes
Favorite Features
- Extra wide field of view
- Dense foam padding for great comfort
- Small notches in frame to hold eye glasses in place
The Details
If you like having impeccable field-of-view, you’re guaranteed to love the Oakley’s Flight Deck goggles. Not only are they larger than average, but they’re also equipped with a rimless design to enhance your vision in all directions.
As a plus, Oakley adds a bunch of internal notches to house most prescription glasses, making these goggles among the best over-the-glasses (OTG) options.
By the nature of the beast, such large goggles can make you look like a giant fly! But that shouldn’t be a problem for people who care about performance above anything else – or for those that like the larger style.
Thanks to the Prism technology, these goggles can enhance contrast, which should come in handy in low light conditions. However, some skiers reported that it causes a minor degree of distortion.
On the down side, these goggles lie on the expensive side of the market and don’t provide any additional lenses. And because the lens isn’t supported by the typical frame clip, changing between different tints can be quite tricky for the average user.
Best Budget Anti-Fog Ski Goggles
At a Glance
- Lens Shape: Cylindrical
- Frame Design: Rimmed
- OTG Friendly: No
- Interchangeable Lenses: Yes
Favorite Features
- Great value, highly affordable
- Many lens and strap color options
- Simple, effective, no frills design
The Details
Needless to say, skiing equipment breaks the bank. The skis and boots alone can cost a fortune. And while you can’t dial down on the quality of these pieces of equipment, you can opt for affordable goggles to make ends meet. If that’s what you’re after, you should consider the Range goggles from Smith.
Although these goggles feature a cylindrical lens, they’re wide enough to give ideal edge-to-edge visibility without that annoying tunnel effect. On the inside, Smith’s Fog-X technology absorbs and disperses moisture to prevent fogging, which is no small feat at this price point.
Unfortunately, these goggles come with one lens only, which is understandable for such an affordable cost. Additionally, because these goggles don’t feature the iconic ChromaPop lens technology, the clarity was lacking at times in certain conditions, especially on cloudy days.
Considering the tremendous value, this isn’t a deal breaker and folks who ski on an occasional basis won’t feel the difference. For the more serious skiers who value top-notch performance or venture into the backcountry, a better model might be more suitable.
Best Anti-Fog Ski Goggles for Women and Small Faces
At a Glance
- Lens Shape: Cylindrical
- Frame Design: Rimmed
- OTG Friendly: Yes
- Interchangeable Lenses: Yes
Favorite Features
- Compact design for women or smaller faces
- Dual-mirrored lens resists fogging
- Sleek and stylish for a framed goggle
The Details
Technically speaking, women skiers can use any of the previous goggles. However, unisex goggles might not fit your face properly, leading to a higher possibility of fogging. That said, the Cruz goggles from Giro should be the best bet for women, especially those with small faces.
Thanks to the Vivid lens technology, these goggles will improve your experience on the snow by optimizing the clarity and contrast. It’s important to mention that this technology comes in partnership with Zeiss, a leading German optical system manufacturer.
To provide the best value, Giro sends two lenses alongside the goggles. The lenses can be swapped easily on the go without needing any special equipment.
On the downside, owing to the high frame flexibility, the lenses may pop off if you apply unequal pressure at either side. Nevertheless, once you tighten the goggles, you won’t encounter any stability issues.
Best Anti-Fog Ski Goggle Design
At a Glance
- Lens Shape: Spherical
- Frame Design: Frameless
- OTG Friendly: Yes
- Interchangeable Lenses: Yes
Favorite Features
- Perform excellent in flat light
- EVAK Vent technology provides great breathability to avoid fogging without letting in the elements
- Quick change, magnetic lenses
The Details
Did you like the magnetic lens system featured in the Anon goggles? Well, you can enjoy a pretty similar one with the Giro Axis for a bit more affordable cost.
Although the Giro Axis works on the same principle, it’s a bit trickier to handle. See, each lens has four magnetic extensions placed on the four corners. To attach the lens, you just have to hover it over the goggles: The magnetic extensions will guide themselves into the corresponding depressions.
However, to remove the lens, you’ll need to apply considerable pressure, preferably underneath either side. If done incorrectly, you can scrape off the anti-fog coat, which will drastically affect the goggles’ performance.
As for the visual performance, these goggles don’t disappoint since they feature the Vivid lens technology mentioned earlier.
Best Beginner Anti-Fog Ski Goggles
At a Glance
- Lens Shape: Cylindrical
- Frame Design: Rimmed
- OTG Friendly: No
- Interchangeable Lenses: No
Favorite Features
- Cheapest goggles out there
- Several anti-fog precautions to provide good performance for most casual skiers
The Details
If you want to keep things as simple as possible, check the Mojo goggles from Bolle.
Unlike the other goggle recommendations here, this pair features a non-detachable lens. Although this limits the goggles’ potential to some extent, it eliminates the guesswork of which lens to choose, which usually feels overwhelming for novices. I like that Bolle went for a rose tint since it gives a pretty acceptable performance on both sunny and cloudy days.
Because these goggles lie well into the affordable extreme, they don’t feature any special technologies that improve the contrast or clarity. Nevertheless, they have a thick P80 Plus coating that performs surprisingly well against foggy conditions.
In terms of comfort, the flexible frame and fleece padding will allow you to wear the goggles for hours without feeling any discomfort.
More Anti-Fog Snow Goggles
What to Consider Before Buying Anti-Fog Ski Goggles
If this is your first time buying ski goggles, things can feel a bit intimidating. Don’t fret, though; this section will tell you everything you need to understand to get goggles that truly fit you.
Lens Shape: Spherical vs. Cylindrical
As the name implies, the spherical lenses curve both vertically and horizontally. Since this shape matches the anatomy of our eyes, these goggles produce little to no distortion.
On the other hand, cylindrical lenses are curved only on the horizontal plane. In other words, they have a flat vertical profile. As you might’ve deduced, this design might mess up your visual perception to a great extent. However, the affordable price makes these goggles the ideal choice for beginners.
Lens Color
Contrary to common belief, lens color provides more than a fashionable look. If money isn’t an issue, you should get a collection of different colors to perform well in different weather conditions.
Naturally, dark tints block a considerable amount of light, making them perfect for sunny, bluebird days. On the contrary, lighter tints will improve your visibility on overcast or snowy weather. Here are our recommended colors for each situation:
- Overcast or snowing: rose or yellow
- Sunny: orange, gold, blue, or grey
- The most versatile: amber, rose
- Night skiing: clear
Frame Design
Recently, more brands have been shifting to frameless and half-framed goggles. These designs are way better than full frames because the latter impairs your peripheral vision, which is extremely important in skiing.
On the downside, frameless designs are usually pricier than the average. You’re not being ripped off, though. These designs require special considerations since they leave the lenses exposed from all directions.
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Ski Goggle Fogging Tips
Why does fogging happen?
Simply put, fogging happens when warm, moist air meets a cold surface. While wearing the goggles, your body’s temperature warms up the air trapped in front of your eyes. And since most people tend to overdress, the resultant sweat fills the air with tiny water droplets. When the goggles get cold enough on the piste, these droplets will condense on the lens and obscure your view.
Stay mindful of how you use the goggles
Ideally, you should complement your goggles with a sturdy ski helmet. Not only will the helmet protect you, but you’ll also use it to safely store your goggles. If you suffice with a beanie, you have to keep the goggles on your face at all times. Why? Well, the beanie can’t isolate your body’s moisture and temperature. Once you place the goggles over it, all the hot air will instantly cling onto the lens.
Never wipe the lens
As you might already know, all goggles come with special anti-fog treatment on the inner surface. If you vigorously wipe that surface, you may disrupt the anti-fog particles, making them totally useless. So how should you treat fogged goggles? Just let them dry on their own. If you’re in a hurry, you can use an air dryer. But don’t bring it too close to the lens since the heat may also disrupt the anti-fog particles.
Use anti-fog spray
If you’ve mistakenly wiped the anti-fog coat off of your goggles, don’t worry; that doesn’t mean that you’ll have to get a new pair. Nowadays, you can find dozens of anti-fog formulas on the market. The Optix 55 formula is well-known for its prompt action and prolonged efficacy. To use it, apply 1–2 drops on the lens, and gently spread with a soft cloth. After about 20 seconds, you’ll be ready to hit the slopes with your brand new goggles!
Final Thoughts
The Anon M2 are our favorite for overall best anti-fog ski goggles. Thanks to their ingenious magnetic technology, you can easily swap between different lenses by a quick flicking motion. They perform well with fogging and look great on the slopes.
If you have a small face, you should try the Giro Cruz Goggles. Their small, flexible frame will bend well over your face, creating a better seal. This way, you can enjoy skiing for hours without worrying about fogging.
Have fun and hope you get out there with crystal clear sight!
