No matter how badly you want to be there, the top of a mountain is a harsh environment. Like the best sunglasses, a good pair of ski goggles will protect your eyes from UV rays, winds, and driving snow. On bluebird days, snow reflects 85 percent of the sunlight, and the intensity increases by 10 to 12 percent for every 3,281 feet (1,000 meters) you gain in altitude.
While we await genuinely “smart” ski goggles, the biggest development for the 2025-2026 ski season is incremental rather than revolutionary. This year, more brands have adopted spherical and particularly toric lenses, which is a newer lens shape that has slightly less curvature on the Y-axis of the goggle and expands peripheral vision without compromising distortion. We're also seeing that photochromic and contrast-enhancing optics are improving and becoming more widely available, while magnetic lens-swap systems are now almost mandatory past $200. Fit options are also diversifying, with small and low-bridge frames becoming more common, and there’s even a few more OTG designs for glasses wearers.
Thankfully, the best ski goggles come with interchangeable lenses with variable tints to help boost your ability to see in the worst conditions. Remember, you can’t ski if you can’t see. Don't forget to check out our other outdoor reviews, including the Best Ski Gear and Best Ski Gloves.
Updated January 2026: We added the impressive new Anon M6 goggles, Smith Preview, Pit Viper (yes, really!) BN5000, Salomon S/View Photochromatic and a new entry from Roka. We’ve also updated links and prices throughout.