Best OTG Ski & Snowboard Goggles of 2023

by Simon Naylor | Updated: February 6th, 2023 |  Recommended Gear

If you wear glasses and are looking for ski goggles that will comfortably fit over your goggles without hurting your or your expensive frames, then you need to buy large spherical goggles or specially designed OTG or 'Over The Glasses' goggles. OTG goggles have specially cut grooves into the foam and are made specifically to accommodate a range of frames.

OTG goggles are perfect for a massive variety of snow sports from skiing & snowboarding to riding ATVs or snowmobiles. They're the perfect choice if you want the extra protection and warmth of a goggle whilst also being able to wear your everyday spectacles.

man wearing ski goggles

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Here is my top pick for the best OTG or glasses-compatible ski goggles. Full reviews for each one beneath.

Our Top Picks

  1. Outdoor Master Pro OTG Goggles (Best Budget OTG Goggles)
  2. SPOSUNE Ski Goggles (Runner Up)
  3. Copozz Ski Googles (2nd Runner Up)
  4. Oakley Flight Deck (Best Clarity)

1. Outdoor Master Pro OTG Goggles

Best Budget

This is my budget pick - a great pair of OTG goggles at a nice price. The Outdoor Master OTG is a large spherical lens with special channels cut into the foam so your glasses fit comfortably and without the risk of bending.

My favorite thing about these goggles is the fact that the lenses are interchangeable and there is a wide variety of lens tints to choose from. From 10-99% VLT which makes them suitable for all weather from night skiing to flat light and bright sun.

Awesome Features Worth Mentioning:

  • Large spherical lens with channels in the foam for glasses
  • Interchangeable lenses with magnetic clasp
  • Huge range of lenses from 10-99% VLT
  • Great price.

Downsides:

  • The anti-fog coating is not as effective as more expensive options.

Where to Buy: 

2. SPOSUNE Ski Goggles

Runner Up

Awesome Features Worth Mentioning:

  • Adjustable strap with comfortable wearing experience and giving you great compatibility with most adult and youth helmets.
  • Interchangeable lenses can easily be swapped out with magnetic attachments.
  • Free hard carry case for easy storage and transport to reduce the risk of scratching.

Downsides:

  • Maybe too wide for some people
  • It doesn't have the high-tech features of more expensive models.

Where to Buy: 

3. Copozz G1 OTG Ski Goggles

All-round great goggles that fit glasses of up to 5.5inches wide and 1.65inches tall. These goggles allow the lenses to be easily interchanged which is a great feature if you want optimum vision across a range of different weather conditions (from 10-90% VLT) but don't want to buy multiple goggles.

Awesome features worth mentioning:

  • Silicone-backed strap.
  • Italian-made lens.
  • Interchangeable lenses.
  • Anti-fog & anti-scratch coating.

Downsides:

  • Some reviewers complain that the goggles are 'too ventilated'.
  • Not all lens options are available to buy. (at the time of writing)

Where to buy:

4. Oakley Flight Deck Goggles

The Oakley Flight Deck Goggles are top-of-the-range spherical goggles with crystal clear and high contrast lenses that make use of the latest Prizm technology. While they're not OTG-specific goggles, they will comfortably fit most glasses.

They use HDO or High Definition Optics for incredible contrast to make it easier to see when you're in cloudy or whiteout snow conditions. There are four different lens options that are interchangeable

Awesome Features Worth Mentioning:

  • Large wide field of vision
  • The high-tech lens with Prizm technology
  • Interchangeable lenses
  • Glasses compatibles (But not OTG)
  • Moisture-wicking face foam and excellent ventilation.

Downsides:

  • Not budget-friendly
  • Only comes with 1 lens unlike the smith

Where to Buy: 

What To Look For In OTG Ski Goggles

goggle lens

When looking for OTG ski goggles there are a number of key things you need to be on the lookout to get a pair that you can comfortably wear all day.

1. Sizing

The key thing when picking OTG glasses is to check in the product description the diameter and size of the goggles. OTG goggles will fit most but not all glasses and face shapes. If you're glasses or face shape are too big for the goggle proportions then it will put pressure on your head and glasses making it uncomfortable and potentially dangerous for you to ski in.

OTG ski goggle sizing
Sizing is different for each brand of goggles. The example shown is COPOZZ

To minimize this risk, put your glasses on and measure the amount that they protrude from your face and then check to see if the goggles can accommodate your sizing.

2. Ventilation

Ventilation is key to preventing warm air from condensing and fogging up the lenses. All ski goggles have some type of ventilation, but some do a better job than others and allow air to circulate.

When you are wearing your glasses beneath your goggles ventilation becomes even more important as more air needs to circulate to prevent fog from building on four, not two lenses.

3. Comfort & Padding

Some ski goggles are more comfortable to wear than others. Extra face foam makes a difference and so do adjustable straps that fit around helmets. Your goggles should not press or squeeze your face but gently rest on your face.

Always dry your goggles and keep away from direct sunlight or direct heat when not in use. This will maintain the integrity of the foam and make it longer lasting.

skidded turns and carving

4. Wavelength Filtering

Some of the high-tech goggles like the Smith I/OX and Oakleys Flight deck use advanced lens technology to filter out specific wavelengths of light. This helps to improve contrast and makes it easier to see more clearly in challenging conditions. Technology like ChormoPop (Smith) or Prizm (Oakley) is not essential - but it is pretty impressive stuff.

If you can afford to splash out on the high-end goggles you won't be disappointed by the level of clarity that you can see. It gives you a crisp and sharp field of view rather than a washed-out look -, especially in heavy snow or fog.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_tjkGjHSPQ&ab_channel=SportRx

5. Visible Light Transmission

Commonly known as VLT, this refers to the amount of light that a lens blocks. The lower the number the more light is blocked. Some tints with a low VLT work better in sunnier environments whereas, in cloudy or whiteout conditions, you will benefit more from a higher VLT lens that lets in more light.

When choosing a pair of goggles look for a mid-range tint that works in all weather or buys a ski goggle with interchangeable lenses. You can then buy one lens for bright sunny days and another for cloudy days.

If you're night skiing, you'll want goggles with a clear lens or very high VLT - see; best night skiing goggles.

6. Interchangeable Lenses

Interchangeable lenses are an awesome feature that allows you to change the lenses of your goggles to match the light conditions of the day. Rather than buying two or three pairs of goggles (expensive) or having just one pair for all light conditions (sub-optimal) - an interchangeable goggle allows you to upgrade your lens selection over time.

To see how you would change the lenses on the Oakley flight deck - check out this video walkthrough from Rob below.

What Are The Alternatives To Wearing OTG Googles?

Wearing OTG goggles makes sense for many skiers, but there are alternatives. The two other popular ways to solve the problem are to either wear prescription inserts or wear contact lenses.

1. Wear Prescription Inserts

Prescription inserts are like glasses without arms that are specially made to fit inside ski goggles. Instead of arms that point out, they usually have flexible tabs of plastic at the top and bottom of the frames which allow them to fit into different size goggles without being dislodged.

You can pick the prescription insert frames up on Amazon and an opticians shop can give you the specific lenses to match your vision needs.

prescription inserts will fit most goggles

2. Wear Contact Lenses

Another popular option is to wear contact lenses. Some skiers will prefer this option as it allows them to wear any ski goggles and not worry about the extra lenses fogging. Contact lenses are not comfortable for everyone, but it is worth trying to see if this alternative suits you better.

Dr. Samuel Pierce from the American Optometric Association, recommends wearing single-use contacts which allow for the best contrast vision because you have a fresh lens each day.

How To Prevent Goggles & Glasses Fogging

No one wants their goggles to fog up, it's not only a hassle but it can be dangerous if they suddenly fog up and you skiing at speed. Ski goggles fog up when trapped warm air meets the cold lens and condenses the water vapor into droplets.

These tiny water droplets form on the surface and reflect light, blocking our vision. The best way to prevent fogging is to:

  • Invest in a quality pair of lenses with an anti-fog lens coating that prevents droplets from forming
  • Clearing snow from vents so warm air can circulate out and fresh air can come in.
  • Stop overheating: wear breathable layers and don't overheat - sweat releases vapor and excess heat that travels up and into your face area.

P.S Looking for the best ski goggles overall - read my full roundup.