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The Best OTG Ski & Snowboard Goggles For Winter 2021

Struggling to choose OTG ski or snowboard goggles? Check out our guide to the best brands, and the best goggles money can buy.

A lot of skiers and snowboarders that wear glasses are missing out; big time. They don’t know OTG goggles even exist.

But, now you do, how do you pick the best goggles within your budget?

In this guide we’ve picked out the 4 best OTG ski goggles available right now. And below each goggle you’ll find a live price comparison table with up to date prices from some of the web’s largest ski and outdoor retailers… so no need to go hunting for the best deal!

This Year’s Best OTG Ski & Snowboard Goggles

Here are our picks for the best OTG ski and snowboard goggles in 2021. Click the links below to jump straight to one our picks, or read on!

  1. Smith I/OX (Editor’s Top Pick)
  2. Oakley Flight Deck
  3. Giro Index OTG
  4. Bolle Y9

1. Smith I/OX

smith iox goggles

Smith ChromaPop I/O Goggles Review

Got the Smith Chromapop I/O ski goggles on your shortlist, and want to know what to expect? Jump straight into our review below.

Features

Whether you’re booking your first trip skiing, or you’re an expert snowboarder, you’re going to need some quality goggles. 

And, as you’ll know if you read any of my other articles, the Smith I/O ski goggles are one of the top choices.

They manage to combine every feature a typical snowboarder or skier needs from their goggles, including:

  • ChromaPop™ lens for unrivalled vision on the slopes
  • Frameless design for increased peripheral vision
  • Excellent anti-fog capabilities
  • Helmet compatible
  • Medium yet responsive fit, with extremely flexible frame that hugs your face, whilst still offering excellent visibility
  • Quick-release lens functionality, to match your lens to changing weather and light conditions.

Price

Let’s jump straight in with the price. If you want cheap ski goggles, then you’re in the wrong place. These are DEFINATELY not goggles you’ll be getting change from a 50. In fact, you’ll be looking at somewhere in the region of 4x that, with most models hovering around the $200 mark.

Keep your eyes peeled though, as we’ve found plenty of ski and snow outlets offering great discounts in the past. 

The rest of this review focuses on why the Smith Chromapop ski goggles are worth the price.

Lens

The lens on a set of ski goggles, is one its most important features, and the lens on the Smith I/O goggles is certainly packed full of functionality.

Crazy Anti-Fog Technology

Whether I’m racing motocross, road bikes or snowboarding, there’s one thing that drives me nuts; a fogging lens.

That’s not an issue with Smith I/O goggles. Smith claim their goggles squash 5x more fog than any other product on the market.

ChromaPop Lens

You’ll be able to grab the I/O snowboard and ski goggles complete with Smith’s proprietary ChromaPop™ technology for lenses. 

Put simply, it filters light wavelengths, which can cause blurry vision, especially in the shadows and off-piste. The ChromaPop™ lens, using these filters, gives natural color, with absolute definition.

Quick Release

Maybe light is dimming towards the end of the day, or you simply want to explore forests off-piste. You’ll need a spare lens, and you’ll need to fit it.

The release system on many lenses is clunky, and it’s easy to scratch a lens. Not the case with the Smith I/O ChromaPop goggles…they come inclusive of Smith’s quick release system.

Spherical on Both X and Y Axis

You’ll get a spherical lens construction on both the X and Y axis, meaning you get the maximum from your peripheral vision. And, if that’s not enough, the lens is then backed with carbonic-x, meaning they stand the test of time from impacts and scratches.

Tapered Lens 

Unfortunately, there is one problem with spherical lenses; they can distort light quite easily, and that’s going to affect your vision. 

The Smith I/O goggles combat this by using tapered lens technology, which almost completely removes light and vision distortion; so what you see, is what’s actually in front of you!

Fit

Whilst lenses are important, you also want a quality fit. And, the spherical shape of the lens certainly helps. That’s what you’ll be using after you’ve got the perfect fit thanks to the positioning system Smith have used (articulating outrigger).

Your Smith I/O goggles will be held in place with a super wide silicone strap, so they won’t be going anywhere. 

And, for a combination of comfort, fit and breathability, they utilize 3-layer face foam incorporating DriWix. So, even if you’re sweating, your goggles will dry quickly (which is needed to stop fogging). 

Warranty

If you’ve checked out reviews of cheap ski goggles, you’ll notice most offer no warranty at all. 

Not the case with the Smith I/O goggles. You’ll be grabbing a lifetime warranty when you buy them online. 

What’s Included?

Obviously you’ll get your brand new goggles, but your purchase will also include:

  • A microfiber goggle bag to keep them safe, and scratch free
  • Spare lens (trust me, these aren’t cheap)
  • Spare sleeve for the replacement lens

Who Should Buy Smith’s I/O Ski Goggles?

If you’re looking for the best of the best, you’ve basically got two options here; Oakleys’ Flight Deck, and the Smith’s.

I’ve used both Oakley and Smith goggles for a long time, and I know they both offer exceptional value for money.

Personally, I’d just be checking which set was on sale, as I’d be more than happy with both.

2. Oakley Flight Deck

oakley flight deck

If you’ve read anything else I’ve written, you’ll know I’ve got several sets of Oakley goggles in my gear bag.

First up, they’ve launched a tonne of new designs for 2021, so don’t just think you’re limited to the one we’ve featured here.

With the Oakley Flight Deck, you’ll get a clear field of vision. It’s almost unrivalled, even in comparison to some of the other top picks on this list. A lot of OTG goggles are limited to the view straight ahead, but not the Flight Deck. So, scanning the piste ahead, looking out for people fallen on the slopes in your peripheral – no problem!

Oakley have integrated a slight indent in the frame, and that means they’ll cover your glasses. More importantly though, you won’t notice you’re wearing your glasses at all.

Today’s best deals on the Oakley Flight Deck

3. Giro Index OTG


giro index ski goggles

If you jump from the Oakley Flight Deck to the Giro OTG Index, you’ll notice the difference.

The reality is you get what you pay for. In this list, the Giro OTG ski goggles could be considered cheap. And, they are; making them no match for the Flight Deck.

The field of vision, the quality of the strap, and the design; everything. And, not in a good way.

Does that mean they’re bad? Certainly not. Like the Flight Deck, they too have a indent in the frame to account for your glasses.

There’s an anti-fog lens included, but we’d go as far as saying (with all goggles, not just these), you’ll want to further protect them from fog.

Whether you wear goggles alone, or in conjunction with a helmet, the Giro Index OTG are perfect for those on a budget.

Today’s best deals on the Giro Index



4. Bolle Y9

bolle y6 otg goggles

Circling back round for those that want cheaper snowboard and skiing goggles, you’ve got the Bolle Y6. They’re a no-frills OTG goggle.

If you’re a gear junkie, there’s one thing you’ll notice; they’re pretty-bland. And whilst they are cheap, it’s not like they’re free.

That said, Bolle focus more on functionality than style.

You’ll get a lens that’s scratch resistant. And, the air flow provided by the foam helps to keep fog at bay.

Today’s best deals on the Bolle Y9

Which Are The Best?

You’ll fall into one of two camps here; cheap, or no expense spared.

If you’re looking for cheap OTG snow goggles, that offer decent levels of performance you’ve got the Bolle Y6 and Giro Index.

My recommendation?

Giro. They look better. And I don’t just mean style. The vision, the quality of the materials…that’s where I’d be putting my money.

And, if you’re looking for the truly best OTG ski goggles, you’ve got Smith I/OX or the Oakley Flight Deck.

It’s a real toss-up between the two. But, for skiing and snowboarding, the Smith I/O get my vote.

The Best OTG Ski & Snowboard Goggle Brands

Everyone has different tastes when it comes to style. More importantly, budget tends to play a key factor when it comes to buying gear.

My experience with all kinds of goggles (ski, snowboard, motocross etc) has taught me one thing; avoid the junk.

This is probably more important for skiing and snowboarding, than it is for motocross.

Cheap and junk OTG goggles don’t have good UV protection (if any). Now, if they have a tinted lens, your pupils will dilate to allow more light in.

Low UV Protection + Extra light = Very Bad News

So, whatever OTG goggles you choose for snowboarding and skiing, just make sure they come from a company on our “best brand list”.

  1. Smith Optics
  2. Oakley
  3. Giro
  4. Spy Optics
  5. Salomon
  6. Bolle
  7. Bloc
  8. POC
  9. UVEX

What’s Next?

Thanks for reading out 2-minute guide to the best OTG ski and snowboard goggles.

We regularly post-up skiing and snowboarding tips and product recommendations.

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