5 Best Goggles for Night Skiing & Snowboarding
Many resorts have begun to open up night skiing as a way for skiers to get more time on the slopes. For night skiing you need clear or tinted goggles that don't block out any or too much light (a high VLT).
Night skiing goggles are cheaper than normal day goggles because the lenses aren't as expensive to produce. Instead of blocking out the powerful glare of the sun, for night skiing you only need goggles that block out the wind and snow or in some cases the glare of the spotlights. Night skiing at a resort is typically lit with spotlights that run along the trail.
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Best Night Ski Goggles
- Oakley O-Frame MX Goggles
- Bolle Freeze Ski Goggles
- OutdoorMaster Ski Goggles
- OutdoorMaster PRO Ski Goggles
- Smith Optics Cascade Classic Goggles
1. Oakley O-Frame MX Goggles (93% VLT)
Best Night Ski Goggles
Main Features:
- Clear lens
- Anti-fog coating
- Triple-layer face foam
From the well-respected goggle brand Oakley, these clear lenses are perfect for night skiing. They have a comfortable face foam that will wick away sweat and keep your face warm. The lenses have a medium fit but will fit small spectacles beneath them if you're a glasses wearer.
Many reviewers note Google's ability to prevent fogging. Even though they were originally designed for use on motocross many people use these goggles to great effect for night skiing or snowboarding - with over 200+ 5-star reviews on Amazon.
The best thing about these goggles is that they have interchangeable lenses - which means you can buy day lenses and use the same pair for all your skiing. The clear lenses have a 93% VLT rating which means they only block out 7% of light - great for blocking out the glare of ski run spotlights.
Where to Buy:
2. Bolle Freeze Ski Goggles
Best Budget Night Ski Goggles
Main Features:
- Clear lens
- Double lens layer
- Anti-scratch
Bolle has been making ski goggles since the 1960s. These goggles are lightweight, durable, and perfect for night skiing. They're inexpensive, anti-scratch lenses that come in three tint options. Clear, yellow, and orange.
The yellow and orange lenses add a color tint to increase contrast in flat light conditions and work well for night skiing. They will fit over small spectacles but they do have a narrower medium fit. The strap will stretch over most helmets and the fit is adjustable to fit kids up to adults.
Where to Buy:
3. OutdoorMaster Ski Goggles (99% VLT)
Main Features:
- Clear lens; blocks 1% of light
- Budget-friendly
- Durable
The OutdoorMaster ski goggles are my best budget pick. They're a great pair for most recreational night skiers with other 1k 5-star reviews on Amazon. They have very clear lenses blocking out just 1% of light but 100% of UV (making them suitable for flat light days).
They have a wide-angle fit that can be adjusted to fit men, women, and teens and fit comfortably with almost all helmets. They have thick foam which allows the goggles to be worn with glasses measuring 1.65" (4.19cm) off the face and 5.3" (13.4cm) wide.
The frame is made from very flexible TPU which is strong and durable. The lenses have a fog-free coating and provide decent clarity.
Where to Buy:
4. OutdoorMaster PRO Ski Goggles (99% VLT)
Main Features:
- Changeable lenses
- Fog-free
- Durable
These are the PRO version of the OutdoorMaster goggles. They have a more effective anti-fog coating that is more resistant to scratches. Crucially this version has interchangeable lenses which means you can use the same pair of goggles all day. There are 16 lens options that fit all within a range of different tints and VLT from 5-99%.
While these goggles are near twice the price of the standard version, you get a goggle that has the potential to work in bright light, flat light, and artificial light.
If you prefer a tint with your goggles then the green lenses (80% VLT) will work well for night skiing and reduce the glare from the spotlights.
Where to Buy:
5. Smith Optics Cascade Classic Goggles (84% VLT)
Main Features:
- Clear lens
- Budget-friendly
- Lifetime warranty
Smith Optics is another well-known name in the goggle market. These goggles are not top of the range but they are great all-around lenses with a clear finish and do a good job at keeping your eyes protected and preventing fog from condensing.
These are cylindrical lenses with a medium width that will fit most helmets.
Where to Buy:
Key Features of Night Skiing Goggles
1. Visible Light Transmission
Often abbreviated to LVT, this is the percentage of light that a lens allows to pass through, In low light environments, you need a goggle that lets through more light than in sunny bright environments. In night skiing you only have the light of the moon and the artificial lights alongside the trail.
These can range from bright to dim depending on where on the trail you are and the brightness of the bulbs.
The key point is that for night skiing your goggles don't need to block out any light (some light-blocking helps to reduce spotlight glare). In that case, you want ski goggles with a high VLT. Ideally 80-100%.
2. Ventilation
It's important for ski goggles to have vents to release warm air and prevent it from condensing into the fog.
Ventilation allows cold air to enter and warm air to leave, this evens out the temperature and helps to prevent water vapor from forming into droplets on the inside of the lens.
While vents don't guarantee a fog-free experience, their an important part of the overall strategy. Spherical goggles that sit further away from your face provide a wider angle of vision and are less likely to fog up as there is more room for the air to circulate.
3. Changeable Lenses
Some ski goggles have the ability to swap lenses using magnetic docks or clips. This is a great feature if you want to buy just one pair of goggles but have multiple lenses for a range of light conditions.
Everything you need to know on my full guide about ski goggles.
Why Night Ski?
Night skiing is not for everybody but it's a great way to get more time on the mountain and have wide-open slopes with fewer people on them. Many people night ski to ski under the stars and see the mountain from a completely unique perspective.
Night skiing is also a great way to ski around jobs or skis with cheaper lift passes. It's colder and the piste can be icier, but it's definitely an experience you won't forget.
I wrote a whole guide to night skiing - how to stay warm and how to have even more fun.
Best Ski Goggles for Flat Light?
In fact, light-tinted ski goggles with medium to high VLT work well. You'll want ski goggles that contrast well and can pick out detail in overcast, cloudy, or whiteout conditions.
Here are my top picks for the best ski goggles for flat light.
- Oakley Flight Deck With Prizm Hi Pink
- Smith I/OX with ChromoPop Storm Lens
- Oakley Canopy Ski Goggles
- Outdoor Master PRO Light (Blue Lens)
I wrote detailed reviews on all these lenses over at Best Goggles for Low Light.
How To Stop Goggles Fogging up?
- Invest in quality goggles
- Don’t overheat
- Don’t tuck in your balaclava
- Keep your goggles off your bare forehead
- Shake snow from the vents
- Use soft wipes not your finger
I cover this in much more detail in my guide to staying fog-free.
Night Skiing with Glasses?
The best lenses for night skiers who wear glasses are the OutdoorMaster Ski Goggles which are advertised as OTG ‘over the glasses’ goggles.
They sit further from the face and will accommodate a greater range of glasses. Otherwise, you can wear contact lenses under any clean ski goggles or buy a separate pair of inserts.
P.S I wrote a whole guide to ski with glasses if you want tips on getting the right fit, alternatives to OTG, and how to stay fog-free on the mountain.
Best Overall Ski Goggles
If you’re looking at my overall pick for the best ski goggles – read my in-depth review for this season.
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