Three of the best ski goggles available

Look at a pair of snow goggles, and you’ll see what’s on the surface. The shape, the style, the varying colours… But what lies beneath the exterior is what truly distinguishes the best ski goggles around from the competition.

It’s all about the tech that keeps your eyes on the prize. After all, vision is paramount to spotting tricky landings and nailing that killer line. In short, performance matters. So here’s three of our tech-fuelled favourites and some of the best ski goggles available…

The best ski goggles available

Anon M1

Behold the marvel that is Magna-Tech. Remember those days when lens changes took forever? Well, they’re over. Swapping lenses now takes seconds (literally). Unclip the lens from the bottom before slotting in the spare lens that comes as standard. Each lens is held in place by 16 rare earth magnets with 22 lbs of pulling power. So the lens is secure too.

We love the view from behind these Anon M1 Goggles too. Its expansive lens extends your perspective downwards and outwards.

Bid adieu to distortion. It’s gone. You get sharp, wide views instead. It’s formed from durable polycarbonate too – just in case you can’t evade what’s flying towards you.

Fog ups are no longer a problem either. Anon’s own ICT anti-fog treatment prevents water droplets collecting on the lens. Plus vents around the lens channel airflow to send moisture packing. Your face will also be warm with M1’s triple-layer face foam.

Oakley Airbrake

Oakley have long been known to innovate and make some of the best ski goggles. With the Oakley Airbrake Switchlock technology is bought to the mountain. Arguably the simplest lens-changing system around, it process is simple. Flick the switchlock, lock in the spare (again, you get one with it) and go. That’s all there is to it. You’re covered from greybird right through to glorious bluebird days.

Forged from pure Plutonite, Airbrake’s lens is far tougher than your average. It’s purified too, eliminating haze. The view is as crisp and clear as the freshest alpine air. As you’d expect, Oakley takes a no-holds-barred approach to fog. Firstly, their F3 anti-fog coating takes care of the water. From there, vents confound any mist to oblivion. Double lenses stop warmer air meeting cold air. There’s nothing to obscure your sight.

Here O-Matter also makes a huge difference to performance. It forms a sturdy backbone to the flexible frame – so Airbrake is strong and supple when things get nasty out there. Its solid frame support doesn’t allow the lens to bend and distort. Every object, near or far, appears in its true location.

Dragon APX

The epoch-shattering Dragon APX became the first frameless goggle on the hill in 2011. Predictably, this feature saw it become an instant best-seller. APX’s oceanic lens is completely uninterrupted. It’s polycarbonate surface has been curved to perfection too. For truly unrivalled peripheral vision this is one of the best ski goggles available.

Dragon really tested this bad boy. They rounded up a gamut of pros, including pow-conquering freeski hero Chris Benchetler, and sent them to into the Colorado wilderness. No stone was left unturned as they ensured APX could stand up to whatever the backcountry throws at it.

Uni-Directional Flow venting is among the best systems for dislodging moisture. Then Super Anti-Fog coating takes care of any liquids attempting to cling to the lens. Like Anon M1 and Oakley Airbrake, it comes with dual lenses too. This means warmer air inside the goggle condensing with cold air outside. Three layers of face foam separate your face from the elements, keeping you snug and warm all day.

‘Three of the best ski goggles available’ was written by: Bobby Davis