How to Choose Ski Goggles

A goggle does three jobs. It lets you see the snow, it keeps the cold and the wind off your eyes, and it does both without fogging. Here is how to judge each one.

Lens shape: spherical or cylindrical

A cylindrical lens curves side to side and is flat from top to bottom. A spherical lens curves in both directions, like a slice cut from a ball. That extra curve follows the shape of the eye, widens the field of view at the edges and reduces distortion when you look up or down. It also leaves more air inside the goggle, which helps against fog.

Most Ocean goggles use a spherical lens. Everest, Kilimanjaro and Fitzroy use a cylindrical one, and Fitzroy's oversized, frameless lens gives the widest view in our range.

Anti-fog: why a double lens works

Fog forms when warm, humid air from your face meets a cold lens. A double lens puts a layer of air between the cold outer lens and the inner one, the same way double glazing keeps a window from misting. On our goggles the inner lens also carries a permanent anti-fog treatment, and the outer lens has a hard coat against scratches.

A few habits help more than any coating:

• Don't push your goggles up onto your forehead. The heat rising from your head fogs the lens in seconds.
• Don't wipe the inside of the lens. It wears away the anti-fog layer. Let it air dry.
• Keep the vents clear of snow.

Lens darkness for snow

Snow reflects much more light than water or grass, and UV gets stronger with altitude. On bright, clear days a category 3 lens is the norm. In flat light, fog or snowfall, a lighter category 1 or 2 lens brings back contrast so you can read the shape of the slope. Our guide to lens categories has the numbers.

Photochromic: one lens for the day

If you don't want to swap lenses, choose a photochromic goggle. The lens darkens in bright sun and clears in flat light. Most of our range comes in a photochromic version, including Aspen, Cervino, Everest and Fitzroy. More in How photochromic lenses work.

Smoke or mirror

A smoke lens reduces brightness evenly and keeps colors natural. A revo mirror coating on the outside reflects part of the light away before it reaches the lens, which suits high sun and glaciers. It also hides your eyes, which some riders like.

Fit and helmet compatibility

A goggle should sit flush against the face with no gaps at the nose or cheeks, and the top of the frame should meet the helmet without leaving a strip of forehead exposed. That strip is where cold air gets in, and it has a nickname on every chairlift. Our goggles use a TPU frame, three-layer foam and a wide anti-slip strap designed to sit over a helmet. For smaller faces, Ice is our kids' goggle.

Which style

Freeride and all-mountain goggles such as Denali, Everest, Fitzroy and Aspen are made for long days on varied terrain; Kilimanjaro keeps a slim frame for riders who move light and fast. Race and speed models such as Teide, Kalnas and Cervino are built for competition and fast groomers.

For mountaineering and days that don't call for a goggle, our mountain sunglasses, Summit and Ridge, use wide shield lenses with removable brow guards and side panels. The full range is in Snow & Mountain.