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Eye protection on the mountain is very important, so we used several pairs of goggles and gloves. This is our favorite.

Have you tried skiing without goggles? Generally speaking, this is a terrible idea. Snowflakes bombard the eyeballs like X-wing bombards the death star. The wind wilted the peeper into useless prunes. Cuttings with sharp branches are always threatening. The dazzling ultraviolet rays reflected thick snowflakes and scorched the retina, just as the steakhouse owner said "good job".

Without goggles, even the most skilled skiers and snowboarders can be blind and helpless like newborn puppies. This is why we debated and tested the specifications of top brands.

In this buying guide, you will find the best goggles available for the 2021-22 season, including those with the highest budget. Oh, and if you want to learn about goggles, please feel free to jump into our in-depth research on lens science, expert opinions and key purchase issues.

The advanced sonar of Zeiss toric lenses helped these Anons lead. However, what drives the M4 one step ahead is the magnetic lens exchange system. Although more and more brands have joined the magnetic trend, Anon has always been a strong pioneer: M4 is the fourth product in its magnetic product lineup. M1 was launched in 2012 and has six touch points. Now, there are nine M4s, and the connection has never been so secure. The wide peripheral vision, soft three-layer foam, and the accompanying low-light lenses and magnetic mask support the movement of the M4. Finally, by the way, M4 is the first goggles compatible with both cylindrical and toric lenses. We recommend sticking to toric lenses with superior optical performance-they are hard to beat.

Thanks to crease lenses — what Smith calls BirdsEye Vision technology — 4D Mag is arguably the most innovative goggles on the market. Compared with the popular I/O Mag, the exaggerated curvature of 4D Mag increases the field of view by 25%. This is not only convenient when you are observing a slope, but also when you are looking for a CamelBak hose or reaching into your chest pocket to place a walkie talkie or Snickers rack. As amazing as the lenses-they are why this goggles became our upgrade choice-we also like Smith's lens exchange system. It's not as simple as Anon's, but it's easy to do on a chairlift, and relying on locking rods and magnets, Smith uses a belt and sling method that hardcore skiers and snowboarders will respect.

You can get reliable, interchangeable cylindrical lenses with 100% UV protection and Everclear anti-fog treatment for less than half the cost of buying the highest-end goggles. But that's not all, because this goggles has such a radical tilt for a reason. The 10 degree lens angle design is based on the physical principles behind structures such as aerial control towers. Zeal calls it Observation Deck Technology — the result is a goggles that reduces glare, increases vertical peripheral vision, and helps you focus on the most important part of any run: downhill.

Directly from Østerdalen, Norway, this goggles has many outstanding features, including stylish, easy-to-replace toric lenses and a wide, distortion-free field of view. But it won a durability nod on the strength of several key ingredients. First of all, the dual lens has GORE protection vents, which can balance the pressure and help the lens maintain its shape under different atmospheric pressures. Secondly, the co-molded frame is reinforced with carbon fiber, which can provide sufficient long-term support and stability.

Although Smith and Zeal provide very beautiful visibility solutions at different price points, the two-time Olympic gold medalist Ted Ligety's brand achieves its own optical breakthrough while the price is just between the two. Simplify+’s contrast enhancement lens was developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sports Laboratory to brighten the picture when it is cloudy, so you can watch clearly and shoot safely. Like many goggles on this list, it also comes with spare lenses that can be easily replaced when conditions change.

The stylish, frameless Fall Line L provides a futuristic oversized shape and a sturdy lens exchange system (although not so easy that you want to take out your low-light lens on the gondola). Due to the perfect pop and contrast, the Prizm lens won two praises from our testers. A skier who happened to wear goggles in a ski town’s optical shop commented: “Prizm is like watching a high-definition TV.” Cylindrical lens enthusiasts will fall for Fall Line L, and those who do not seek L-shaped lenses will Satisfied with the Medium Fall Line.

Use spherical toric lenses with thin and durable TPU frames-and provide gorgeous prints or black matte-to ensure that EGG is very comfortable for the eyes. The same goes for field performance: testers approved the option of highly reflective red chrome (VLT 23%) for mixed conditions and general use. Fitted three-layer foam, flexible frame, over-the-glass (OTG) fit and wide adjustable shoulder strap help EGG score points in the comfort category.

From a distance, the PXV looks like an oversized cylindrical lens, but this is just a mirage: it is actually a toric lens. Panotech lenses have a slight curve on the vertical axis to capture the optical advantages of spherical lenses. Science aside, the stylish PXV provides a wide field of view, while LumaLenses (plural-PXV with backup) provides clarity and depth perception, only one shade lower than the top goggles, at an additional cost of 50 to 100 US dollars. All in all, this is a wise choice for the mid-range crowd.

The Swedish eyewear experts at POC and Zeiss (honestly, who doesn’t?!) teamed up to develop Fovea Mid Clarity, a top-of-the-line, full-frame, small-sized, wide-field goggles with the required clarity at the top of the crease line . The Clarity lens produced by Zeiss is made of scientifically optimized basic tones and then polished with a Spektris mirror coating under specific conditions. result? According to our staff, the Type 2 lens we tested (22% VLT) is a high-contrast professional lens that deserves a place on the optical stage. Note: If you need a greater fit or desire additional low-light lenses, please upgrade to Fovea Clarity Comp ($220).

The method was launched in 2020 and provides a 20/20 vision aptly. These goggles cost $140 and are one of the most affordable ways for you to experience the expertise of Carl Zeiss lenses. In fact, Method is equipped with two Giro VIVID lenses. The Slash Seal interchangeable system is not too tricky, although it is definitely not the best lens exchange system that can be used for mountain adjustments. The Method’s cylindrical lenses and elegant, simple frames are very stylish, even for the most discerning park rider, Giro’s Adapt Straps allow you to be creative and customize your gear.

Although I am an expert in ski goggles and have tested countless pairs of ski goggles in the past five years, I am not a doctor. To explain exactly why rock goggles should be worn when skiing, I interviewed David Robbins, who is a PhD in Optometry from ABBA Eyecare in Gunnison, Colorado.

Snow blindness: "It is absolutely wrong not to wear goggles for skiing, especially in high-altitude areas, where there is more ultraviolet radiation," Robbins said. "Acute overexposure can cause photokeratitis, often called'Snow blindness'." Photokeratitis usually produces one of three reactions in the cornea-none of which sounds particularly pleasant. "The cornea looks like it has been rubbed with sandpaper, the cornea looks like a cheese grater goes through it, or the cornea looks like a fried egg (the result of a real ultraviolet burn)."

Macular Degeneration: Robbins explained that although painful, photokeratitis is not necessarily a long-term problem. This honor is attributed to macular degeneration, "a disease of aging that causes progressive vision loss," which, along with cataracts, is "accelerated or possibly caused by long-term overexposure to ultraviolet light."

Corneal wear and tear: "But can't I just wear sunglasses?" This is one of the most common questions people have when buying goggles. Although sunglasses are better than nothing, they still do not provide the complete face wrap protection of goggles. "During the ski season, compared to snow blindness, I saw more wear and tear from the branches to the cornea of ​​the eye," Robbins pointed out. "Branches will inevitably find a way under sunglasses!" Generally speaking, sunglasses are not designed to withstand these types of shocks, and the design of goggles takes into account the impact of pierced branches and battle axes. In addition, although the color tone looks stylish when paired with a beanie, it is very silly when paired with a helmet-please don't try it.

Note: For backcountry skiing or slope skiing, sunglasses are usually preferred when going uphill because they are not prone to fogging during difficult climbing. When traveling in highly reflective glacial terrain, it is often seen that travelers in remote areas rely on "glacial glasses." This subset of sunglasses features a small curved leather or plastic flap near the temples, which helps keep the sunglasses close to the face and provides more UV protection. However, these flaps may not stop spear-like branches, so we always recommend carrying a pair of goggles when descending.

The lens determines the success or failure of the goggles. Therefore, we conducted an analysis with Trevor Moore, Anon’s senior product manager, to see how Anon’s M4 goggles became our favorite in our test. We were impressed by the M4's intuitive magnetic lens exchange system and its high-quality lenses developed in collaboration with the ultimate optical overlord Carl Zeiss. We will introduce interchangeable lenses and lens technology below.

When buying goggles, it is helpful to have a basic understanding of visible light transmission (VLT). According to Trevor, VLT (measured as a percentage) refers to "how much light passes through the lens and reaches your eyes." He went on to point out that these percentages are adjusted by adjusting the color tone and mirror coating. A brilliant blue bird day requires dark low VLT lenses, while night skiers can use clear high VLT lenses. Between the two, there are various lenses that can be adjusted to more mixed conditions.

Because mountain conditions often change with little warning, skiers and snowboarders need to be prepared. There are two main ways to navigate these shifts. The first is to replace the lenses (or goggles) as needed. The second is to choose a pair of goggles with photochromic lenses, which actually adapt to light.

Interchangeable lenses: The price of interchangeable lens systems can be high (usually as high as $200), but they are well worth it-skiing in plain light and shaking the lens on a bluebird day is a secret to end-of-season injuries. When you buy a pair of goggles with interchangeable lenses, it usually comes with a low-light lens and a darker tinted lens for use on brighter days. Although you can enrich your kit with a third mid-range lens, it is not required. Another professional buying an interchangeable lens system? If you wear goggles or touch tree branches up close, you can always replace the damaged lens at a fraction of the cost of a new pair of goggles.

Although interchangeable lens systems all have the same purpose, the technology differs from brand to brand. Anon's M4 uses 18 rare earth magnets to fix the lens to the goggles frame, which is surprisingly strong and easy to use. Dragon's SwiftLock technology uses a more mechanical connection, with a lever that satisfactorily clicks to lock the lens in place. Smith's 4D Mag combines the two together, with magnets and mechanical connection points at the bottom of the frame. No matter which system is used, lens replacement should be a simple task with little effort and can be done with gloves; unfortunately, this is not the case.

Photochromic lenses: For those who are tired of changing lenses due to frostbite on their fingers, photochromic lenses are an attractive but expensive alternative. "Photochromic lenses provide the most dynamic spectrum of tones in one package, which is helpful in a day with multiple lighting conditions," Robbins said. "They have their disadvantages. For example, it takes a few minutes to change in a new light environment (walking into a warm cabin), but usually when skiing, the conditions will gradually change." If the day starts to be sunny, but the afternoon is clouded. , Then the photochromic goggles are fantastic. But in and out in the sun and shadows? You may prefer to lock the mid-range VLT lens and stick to it.

Lenses, like people and pancakes, come in various shapes and sizes.

Cylindrical lenses: As the name suggests, cylindrical lenses look like they are cut from the side of the tube—they are curved on the horizontal axis and straight on the vertical axis. These lenses are generally cheaper than spherical lenses and have more optical aberrations.

Spherical lenses: Spherical lenses look like-you guessed it-they are part of a sphere. By more closely simulating the natural shape of the eye, this curvature provides better perimeter and clarity, although it is also more expensive.

Toric lenses and lens changes: Are you ready for nerds? The name of the toric lens comes from the "torric", not to be confused with the constellation of the ex-girlfriend. Essentially, the torus is a doughnut shape. If you imagine cutting a slice of doughnut, you will begin to understand why toric lenses are becoming more and more popular. "Spherical goggles bend equally on the x-axis and y-axis, just like a basketball," Robbins said. "If the toric lens has only a slight curvature on the y-axis and perfect curvature on the x-axis... Most likely, since the curvatures of the eyes and the face are matched more closely, the toric lens will have the best Optical performance."

As Robbins said, toric lenses can better mimic the shape of the eye—in fact, this is not a perfect sphere. In addition, spherical and cylindrical lenses are somewhat limited by geometric shapes—the spherical surface is a spherical surface, and the cylindrical surface is a cylindrical surface—but the manufacturer can adjust the size and division of the doughnut to accommodate various lens shapes. They have more leeway to adjust the formula, manipulate the curvature and pursue perfection.

Then, the toric lens has an infinite number of iterations. For example, Dragon's Panotech lenses look like cylindrical lenses, although they are considered toric due to the slight curvature on the vertical axis. On the other hand, goggles like Anon M4 or Electric EGG look spherical at first glance. The difference between the vertical axis and the horizontal axis cannot be seen until they are placed under a microscope.

Finally, some lenses cannot be completely classified into any category. You have innovations out of the box, such as Smith's 4D Mag. The beast bends significantly at the bottom of the lens-almost at an angle, which helps to expand the field of view of the goggles.

Which lens is best for you? It depends on budget, fit, style and personal preference.

Fit and comfort: Choosing the right pair of goggles depends largely on the fit. Of course, you can buy the best goggles in the world, but if they don't fit your face, it will be troublesome to wear them. The best way to ensure that your intended goggles fit your face shape is to try them on yourself. Go to your local ski store or buy some competitive products online, and then return those that don't work.

Helmet compatibility: If you wear a helmet-and you absolutely should-buy both goggles and helmet to ensure that the goggles fit well in the helmet without any annoying gaps or unpleasant hot spots. Or, if you already have a helmet you like, make sure to try goggles with that particular helmet. Advice with clear edges: You might get the best helmet/goggles with two products from the same brand.

Budget: Anon's M4-our most highly rated goggles-is priced at $319.95. Yes, it is equipped with a magnetic mask that can be stuck on the goggles frame and a spare lens, but it is still very expensive. There are definitely cheaper goggles that work well — such as mid-range POC Fovea and Giro Method or budget Zeal Beacon — but like most things, you get what you pay for. If you spend less than $100, you may not get additional lenses, simple interchangeable lens systems, or high-quality optical components.