Get your faces into the best unisex goggles for winter 2023
- Bollé Mammoth Heritage
- Dragon RVX MAG OTG
- Dynafit TLT Pro
- Julbo Cyrius
- Oakley Flight Deck L – Mikaela Shiffrin
- POC Orb Clarity – Hedvig Vessel
- Salomon Aksium 2.0
First, if you’re interested in knowing more about ski goggles, lens choice and things to consider when buying ski goggles, take a look at Lee Hardy’s Goggle Guide:
Otherwise, here’s the shortlist for our pick of the best goggles of 2023 (for the full selection subscribe here to access our mega Winter 2022-23 Gear Guide for more goggles as well as skis, boots, bindings, sunglasses and kit).
Bollé Mammoth Heritage | £85
Take a step back in time to the good ole’ days when neon ruled the mountain! Ideal for large faces, these retro goggles offer a wide field of view and a Cat 3 black chrome mirrored lens for a sleek and stealthy look. They also come with articulated rubber outriggers for a super-snug fit, anti-fog and anti-scratch tech, flow tech venting and dual-density face foam. bolle.com
Dragon RVX MAG OTG | £210
Dragon’s first foray into the magnetic lens-changing system, these medium-fit cylindrical frameless goggles come with brand new Swiftlock 2.0 lens tech – aka magnetic contact points combined with a one-sided release lever ensure switches are swift and secure. Other top features includes OTG (over the glass) compatibility, armoured venting for max air circulation, Lumalens tech for high-clarity colourful optics, and Dragon’s Super Anti Fog coating. Throw in silicone strap backing and triple-layer face foam with hypoallergenic microfleece and you’re looking at seriously great goggle. dragonalliance.com
Dynafit TLT Pro | £160
Dynafit’s first-ever ski goggles, the ski touring-specific TLT comes with a photochromic hydrophobic lens that adapts to the light. Hitting the scales at just 63g, they’re lusciously light and low profile and are designed to fit seamlessly with the also new triple-certified TLT helmet (more about that in the next section). Anti-FogShield double lens tech ensures they stay fog-free when you’re giving it big guns in the backcountry. dynafit.com
Julbo Cyrius | £185
Julbo’s frameless Cyrius goggles with cylindrical photochromic lens provide a mega-wide field of view. Lightweight and comfortable, they come with Julbo’s Reactiv photochromic lens for max visuals in ever-changing conditions. Other features of note include the offset strap for compatibility with all types of helmet, dual-density face foam, silicone strap, integrated frame venting and anti-fog coating. julbo.com
Oakley Flight Deck L – Mikaela Shiffrin | £182
Inspired by fighter pilots’ helmet visors, these large-fit goggles are designed to work with a variety of helmets so there’ll be no gaper gap here. Developed in conjunction with the legendary Mikaela Shiffrin, the cool blue/green frame and anti-fog Prizm spherical lens draws on the Northern Lights for inspiration. Key features include Ridgelock Technlogy for quick lens switch-outs, triple-layer face foam and adjustable silicone strap. oakley.com
POC Orb Clarity – Hedvig Vessel | £250
Designed in conjunction with top freeride skier Hedvig Vessel, these toric goggles come with POC’s Clarity lens tech enhanced with Spektris mirror coating for max optics. Coloured to match the clear evening skies over the Lyngen Alps in Hedvig’s native Norway, they have an extra-wide, super-sharp field of view, soft frame, triple-layer face foam, and Ri-Pel, anti-fog and anti-sratch treatments. Pair them with Hedvig’s Obex BC Mips helmet and send it. pocsports.com
Salomon Aksium 2.0 | £50
Updated for winter 2023, these great-looking cylindrical goggles offer superb bang for your ski buck. The multilayer lens comes with a funky mirrored finish and it’s OTG-compatible, so spec wearers can get into ‘em too. Two-layer face foam, a silicone strap and Salomon’s Airflow system complete the visual picture. salomon.com
GOGGLEBOX
Which category?
The key to seeing clearly in flatlight, bright sunshine or a blizzard is wearing the right lens –and Sally Bartlett from Ski Bartlett is here to explain what’s what…
“Lenses have category numbers and VLT percentages (Visible Light Transmission – the percentage of light transmitted to your eyes). They vary from 100% in a clear lens to 3% for a very dark lens. Category 1 lenses are lightly tinted for grey days; Category 2 have a medium tint, and Category 3-4 lenses are darker for bright sunny days.
“For skiing, Category 2 or 3 is recommended unless you are out in very low or flat light, in which case Category 1 would be better. Category 4 would normally only be required for high-altitude glacier skiing in very bright conditions. “Everyone’s eyes responds lightly differently to different colour lenses. For some a yellow lens is great for flat light, while others prefer a hint of pink or orange, so look through different colour lenses in the shop. Look at bright lights and into darker corners to see what feels more comfortable on your eyes and gives you better clarity and definition.
“Most brands produce easy on-slope lens-change systems, whether they click in, snap on or slide out.”
Just to complicate things further, some lenses, known as photochromic, are a bit of a one-fits-all, as they adjust according to light conditions.
Cylindrical, spherical or toric?
Cylindrical lenses curve horizontally, while remaining flat vertically. They are generally cheaper than spherical lenses.
In spherical lenses, the bubble shape gives more surface area, enhancing peripheral vision, while strategically planned curves reduce glare. Most spherical lenses are injection-moulded, which allows for tapering (the lenses getting thinner further away from the centre). This reduces distortion and allows the light to hit your eye naturally. Also, there’s more volume inside aspherical lens, which means better air-flow and so less fogging.
Toric lenses are the new kids on the block. Similar to spherical lenses, they mimic the shape of the eye but have a tighter horizontal radius for enhanced peripheral vision, hence less of a bug-eye look. This shape also maximises the vent volume in the goggle for an unmatched field of view and max fog-free performance.
