As you suit up and head out on the slopes, your skiing eyewear is just as important as any other piece of equipment in your kit. Since some avid skiers prefer sunglasses over goggles when flying downhill (especially on warm spring days), our list of the Best Ski Goggles and Sunglasses includes our top picks for both eyewear styles. Discover our favorite polarized skiing sunglasses, our pick for the best downhill skiing goggles, and more.
As we narrowed down our picks for this list of the best sunglasses and goggles for skiing, certain tried and true eyewear brands instantly rose to the top of our list: Oakley and Von Zipper offer state-of-the-art lens technology and comfort features for some of the most functional and stylish snow goggles out there. And while we know you’re wondering whether sunglasses or goggles are better for skiing, certain sunglasses from brands like Hobie and Nike combine the best parts of goggles and shades for those skiers who prefer the best of both worlds.
The Best Sunglasses and Goggles for Skiing of the Year Are:
When you tackle your next black diamond, the Von Zipper Jetpack Snow Goggles can help you look good and feel good as you speed down the hill. The state-of-the-art rimless, spherical frames offer one of the widest peripheral fields available on the market, and the Glaricade anti-fog technology ensures that your lenses will stay clear all day. The comfortable goggles are compatible with almost any helmet, and Von Zipper's 4Play lens change system makes it easy to change between tinted lenses. Improved vision provides a boost of confidence, allowing you to conquer any slope with our pick for the Best Goggles for Skiing.
As we decided upon our pick for the Best Downhill Skiing Sunglasses, the Oakley Jawbreaker stood out as the obvious choice for its shield-style lens design and reliable O Matter™ construction. The wraparound frames offer a wide peripheral and the Unobtainium® nose pads and ear socks become grippier when wet for a secure fit. These cool shades feature Oakley's Switchlock™ interchangeable lens technology so you can opt to add a variety of tints to their HDO® lenses depending on whether you ski during the day, in the fog, the sun, etc. Take on any black diamond hill with confidence wearing these sunglasses from Oakley.
Nike makes top-of-the-line athletic eyewear and the Nike Windshield—our pick for the Best Polarized Sunglasses for Skiing–offers polarized lenses in a wide range of tints to help you see clearly while you ski. The purpose of polarization is to reduce glare in ultra-bright conditions—for example, a ski slope with a blanket of freshly fallen, reflective snow–and the comfortable 8-base wrap offers sun protection from straight-on sunlight and on the periphery. The floating nose pads help increase airflow and absorb impacts, while the cushioned rubber temple tips keep the shades in place behind the ears. Never miss a minute of the action when you opt for the Nike Windshield shades.
The Oakley O Frame 2.0 Pro XL Snow Goggles boast a flexible O Matter® chassis that conforms to your face, even in the coldest conditions, making it our pick for the Best Goggles for Night Skiing. The dual vented lenses and F3 anti-fog coating will help you see clearly in low light conditions, and the option for various tints to suit skiing at dusk, under bright lights, and in darker conditions. With a fully adjustable head strap to accommodate a helmet, these Oakley snow goggles will quickly become a staple of your ski equipment.
When heading out on a long trek, cross-country skiers need comfortable, lightweight frames and lenses with a wide field of view that won’t fog up. The Hobie El Matador exceeds these requirements, making it an easy choice for the Best Cross Country Ski Sunglasses. The sleek wraparound rectangular design offers unobstructed vision, as well as optimal protection from straight-on sunlight in all directions, with enough venting to keep your lenses clear. The TR-90 construction will withstand extreme heat and cold, and every lens tint option offers 100% protection from UVA, UVB, and UVC light. Make your next daylong trip in style wearing the El Matador from Hobie.
Von Zipper is known for making lightweight yet durable snow goggles in ultra-rad constructions and colors for the fashion-forward skier. The Skylab Snow Goggles are our favorite for the Best Polarized Goggles for Skiing for this emphasis on style paired with the option of glare-reducing polarized lenses. The frames boast optimal ventilation to avoid fogging and the triple density face foam conforms to your features for comfortable all-day wear. Enjoy enhanced clarity on bright, sunny days wearing the Skylab Goggles from Von Zipper.
Your young athlete can look cool and protect their vision wearing our pick for the Best Youth Ski Goggle: The Oakley Liner Miner Snow Goggles. The cylindrical-style design wraps around the head to provide an unobstructed view, and the water-wicking triple-layer face foam offers a slipless fit. The flexible O Matter® chassis withstands extreme cold, and the fully adjustable head strap fits securely without rubbing. Help your child experience ultra-clear views and superior eye protection wearing our pick for the best youth ski goggles.
If you ski tour, then having a pair of versatile shades is a must. The Oakley Sutro sunglasses rank as our top pick for the Best Ski Touring Sunglasses for their goggle-like coverage paired with the lightweight comfort and breathability of sunglasses. These frames are impact-resistant, so you don’t need to worry about them shattering on a hard fall, and the elongated bayonet-style temples easily slide beneath a helmet or hat. Oakley’s proprietary Prizm lenses in an eye-catching shield design complete the shades for unparalleled style and ultra-clear optics.