We’ll try to answer more specific questions below, but if you’re looking for your first pair of snow goggles, try the free, 30-second “Help Me Choose Snow Goggles” quiz above. It will help you narrow down your options by asking questions about your sex and age, the weather conditions you’ll be skiing or snowboarding in, and whether or not you wear prescription eyeglasses under your goggles.

Sizing snow goggles is about ensuring a complete seal against the elements and seamless integration with your helmet. The goggles’ foam should sit flush and comfortably against your face, with no gaps, especially around your cheeks and nose, and the frame shouldn’t pinch your nostrils or limit your peripheral vision. Remember to try the goggles on with your ski or snowboard helmet to ensure there is no large gap on your forehead, and that the helmet doesn't push the goggles down. The strap should be adjusted to be snug but not uncomfortably tight. Be sure to look for “OTG” (Over The Glasses) models if you wear prescription glasses.

No, ski and snowboard goggles are essentially the same. Both provide eye protection for snow sports enthusiasts. Both ski and snowboard goggles offer UV protection, good ventilation, and a comfortable fit with your helmet. While snowboarders might prefer slightly wider frames for enhanced peripheral vision and skiers may opt for a more focused view, these differences are minimal, and most ski and snowboard goggles are just “snow goggles.” They’re essentially identical.

Yes! It’s a good idea for children to wear snow goggles while skiing, snowboarding, tubing, or participating in any other prolonged snow play. In fact, it's even more important than snow goggles for adults. A child's eyes are more susceptible to damage from the sun, and kids’ snow goggles provide crucial protection from harmful UV rays, which are significantly stronger at high altitudes and magnified by reflecting off of the snow. Goggles also create a complete seal to shield eyes from wind, cold, and blowing snow, preventing irritation and improving comfort. Furthermore, quality lenses enhance contrast to help them see the terrain more clearly, and unlike sunglasses, they offer impact protection and integrate seamlessly with a kids’ helmet for a complete safety system.

Generally, kids should wear snow goggles as soon as they are old enough to participate in snow sports. If your child is old enough to ski or snowboard, they’re old enough to wear kids’ snow goggles and a helmet. This could be as young as age two or three for a first ski lesson. The need is based on the environment, not a specific age; if a child is active on the snow, they require eye protection. Goggles are essential from this early age to shield their vulnerable eyes from intense UV rays reflected by the snow, as well as to protect them from wind and cold. Unlike sunglasses, goggles provide a full seal and are designed to stay on an active toddler's face while integrating safely with a helmet.

No, there aren’t any major differences between men's and women's snow goggles, and retrospec snow goggles are designed to be unisex, so they can be worn by men and women alike! There are sometimes stylistic differences, and some brands will design female-specific models with a slightly smaller frame, narrower facial fit, and sometimes less volume to better accommodate typically smaller facial structures. However, the crucial performance features—like the quality of the lens, UV protection, and anti-fog technology—are identical between men’s and women’s models.

In snow goggles, the acronym VLT stands for visible light transmission. This refers to the percentage of visible light that passes through the lenses of your goggles. Higher VLT percentages (>25%) are more lightly tinted and will allow a high level of light through. These lenses are good for dusk, dawn, and cloudy days. Lower VLT percentages (<25%) will allow less light through, and are best for bright, sunny days.

For bright, sunny days, you need a snow goggle lens with a dark tint and a low VLT (Visible Light Transmission) to protect your eyes from intense light and reduce glare. Our quiz will help you narrow down your options, but generally, look for lenses with VLT in the 5% to 20% range.

For partly cloudy days with changing sun and clouds, you need a snow goggle lens with a versatile tint and a medium VLT (Visible Light Transmission) to handle a mix of bright and flat light. Our quiz will narrow down your options, but look for lenses with VLT in the 20% to 45% range.

For cloudy or overcast days, you need a snow goggle lens with a contrast-enhancing tint and a higher VLT (Visible Light Transmission) to improve definition and depth perception in flat light. Our quiz will help you narrow down your options, but look for lenses with VLT in the 45% to 60% range.

For snowstorms and extremely low visibility days—or hitting the slopes at dusk or dawn—you need a snow goggle lens with a very light or clear tint and a high VLT (Visible Light Transmission). This will maximize visibility while still protecting your eyes from wind and snow. Our quiz will help you narrow down your options, but generally, look for lenses with VLT in the 60% to 90% range.

Yes, you can absolutely wear prescription eyeglasses under snow goggles. Look for models that are labeled OTG, which stands for “Over The Glasses.” (Our “Help Me Choose” quiz will highlight OTG models, like Zenith, for you.) OTG goggles are built with greater interior volume to accommodate an eyeglass frame, and have small channels in the side foam that allow the arms of your glasses to sit comfortably without creating pressure points on your temples. Attempting to wear glasses under standard, non-OTG goggles could lead to discomfort and major fogging issues.

Yes! The best snow goggles often have interchangeable lenses to provide optimal vision in a variety of weather conditions, from dusk and dawn to overcast skies to bright, sunny weather. Different lenses are designed for different light levels and weather, such as flat light, heavy clouds, bright sunshine, or snowy whiteouts. Instead of having to carry multiple pairs of goggles, skiers and snowboarders can simply swap lenses, adapting to changing conditions throughout the day and maintaining clear visibility on the slopes. This versatility enhances safety and comfort on the mountain.

Yes, lens colors actually do matter on snow goggles. Yes, snow goggle lens colors are one of the most important technical features, as different tints are designed to optimize your vision in specific weather and light conditions. The color of the lens filters visible light to enhance contrast and protect your eyes. Darker, mirrored tints like grey, black, or gold are best for bright, sunny days because they block intense glare and reduce eye strain. Lighter, non-mirrored colors like rose, yellow, or amber are ideal for overcast, snowy, or "flat light" conditions, as they increase contrast and depth perception, helping you see bumps and details in the snow more clearly.

The three basic snow goggle lens shapes are cylindrical, spherical, and toric. Let’s break them down.

• Cylindrical lenses are horizontally curved, but vertically flat. This design was standard for ski goggles for many years, and it's still common in some models at lower price points. While they offer decent optics and a stylish “old-school” look, cylindrical lenses have some drawbacks. The flat vertical plane can cause visual distortion, especially at the edges of your vision. Cylindrical lenses also tend to create more glare because of the flat surfaces reflecting light.

• Spherical lenses are curved horizontally and vertically, mimicking the shape of the human eye. This curvature provides a wider field of view and significantly reduces distortion, giving a more natural, accurate visual experience to judge distance and terrain. Think of it like looking through a bubble—the image remains clear and undistorted no matter where you look. The curved surface of spherical lenses also minimizes glare, which is important in bright, snowy conditions. Finally, the shape of spherical lenses creates more volume inside the goggles, improving ventilation and reducing fogging.

• Toric lenses are somewhere in between. A toric lens has more curvature horizontally, less curvature vertically, but isn’t flat. This is the most optically-true lens choice because the lens closely follows the shape of your face. Still, the horizontal curve provides excellent peripheral vision and enough room between your face and the lens to minimize fog.

UV (ultraviolet) protection is crucial in snow goggles because sunlight is more intense at higher elevations (where you’ll likely be skiing and snowboarding) and also because the stark white surface of snow is extremely reflective. It redirects up to 80% of UV radiation, significantly increasing your exposure to harmful rays while skiing and snowboarding.

Goggles are important not only because they ensure visibility on the slopes but also because prolonged exposure to UV radiation can lead to serious eye problems, including cataracts and macular degeneration. A pair of goggles with 100% UV protection is crucial. These goggles will filter out these harmful rays, ensuring clear vision while on the slopes and preventing vision problems associated with UV exposure in the long term.