Ready to hit the slopes, but stuck with the indecision of what the best lens colors for snow goggles are? Worry not! SportRx has put together the top picks in snow goggle lenses so you can enjoy more time charging down the mountain. Join us as we get into the best lens colors for snow goggles and how to pick the right one for you!
Best Lens Colors for Snow Goggles - What You Need to Know
A. What to Consider in Snow Goggle Lens Colors
B. Best Lens Colors for Snow Goggles
1. Oakley PRIZM™ Sage Gold Iridium
2. Anon PERCEIVE Sunny Bronze
3. Anon PERCEIVE Variable Blue
4. SMITH ChromaPop™ Photochromic Red Mirror
5. Oakley PRIZM™ Garnet
6. Zeal Optics Automatic+ RB
7. 100% HiPER® Vermillion w/Red ML Mirror
C. Prescription Snow Goggles Online at SportRx
What to Consider in Snow Goggle Lens Colors
Unfortunately, it's not as simple as saying "Here you go! These are the best lens colors for snow goggles". Choosing the right snow goggle lens color for you is dependent on many factors. What are your typical weather/riding conditions? Do you have any allegiance to a particular brand? Do you have a preferred color? The most important one to consider is your typical riding conditions. Every brand breaks down its lens collection into light conditions. You'll see VLT information and, more popularly this season, brightness categories. Cat 4 to Cat zero (or S4-S0) with 4 being the darkest lens letting the least light through and zero being clear. For the following list of recommendations, our opticians picked out their favorite lenses for a range of light conditions and among a few of their favorite brands. Let's look at what else to consider when comparing lenses, so you can pick the best lens color for your snow goggles.
Visible Light Transmission (VLT)
Visible Light Transmission (VLT) is the percentage of light that passes through the lens. It ranges from 0-100% with lower percentages allowing less light through, and vice versa for higher percentages. Bluebird days will call for a lower percentage, while flat light/stormy conditions require a higher VLT.
When picking a ski goggle lens color, consider the typical light conditions where you ride. This will help you determine which VLT is best suited for your environment.
Polarization
The subject of polarized lenses for the snow is a contentious one. The function of polarized lenses is to cut glare, or light bouncing off other objects. The easiest way to distinguish ice from snow is the glare bouncing off the ice, so if you cut that glare, you reduce your ability to discern ice on the slopes. There are, however, snow-specific lens technologies that are designed to cut glare while still allowing you to spot ice and hardpack. To learn more about which snow lens technologies excel with polarization, and which to avoid, visit our blog on Snow Goggles: Polarized or Not?.
Rx-Ability
If you wear prescription glasses, don't let outdated and uncomfortable over-the-glass (OTG) methods keep you in the past. At SportRx, we offer prescription inserts for almost every ski goggle on the market. The best part? No matter which lens color you choose, these prescription snow goggle inserts will work with them all! To learn more, visit our blog on the 7 Things To Know About Prescription Snow Goggles.
Prescription Insert in Anon Snow Goggle
Shop All Prescription Snow Goggle Inserts
Best Lens Colors for Snow Goggles
Now that you're familiar with the ins and outs of goggle lens colors, let's get into our lineup! Our Sports Opticians have handpicked all these lenses for their ability to boost contrast, help you read the terrain, and provide fog-free, clear vision.
Oakley PRIZM™ Sage Gold Iridium
A new and standout member of the Oakley PRIZM™ Snow Collection, Sage Gold Iridium lenses look as good from the inside as they do from the outside. In addition to killer ski style, PRIZM™ Sage Gold Iridium lenses are a great all-around lens. This lens combines their PRIZM™ Garnet base with a green/gold mirror to give you better light control and enhance contrast. PRIZM™ Sage Gold Iridium excels in sunny and lightly cloudy conditions. Pro tip: when you do not see 'Iridium' after a PRIZM™ lens color name, it means there is not a mirror coating on that lens.
All Oakley PRIZM™ Snow lenses are precisely tuned to increase contrast based on your conditions. What does this mean for your ride? Easy spotting of icy patches, hardpack, and dodgy terrain, so you can make split-second decisions with confidence.
Oakley Limited Edition PRIZM Snow Goggle - Line Miner L with PRIZM Sage Gold Iridium Lens
Shop Oakley Line Miner L
Oakley PRIZM™ Sage Gold Iridium Key Features
- VLT: 13%
- Base: Garnet
- Conditions: Sun & Clouds
Anon PERCEIVE Sunny Bronze
If you're not a fan of lens technologies wildly changing your view of the slopes, you'll love PERCEIVE! Don't mess with Mother Nature's masterpiece by wearing lenses that make the mountains too blue, too violet, too rose — too artificial. Enjoy the great outdoors in its natural state with Anon PERCEIVE lenses that provide true-to-color vision. You get all the benefits that allow you to better read the terrain without overwhelming your cones (the part of your eye that perceives color).
Anon PERCEIVE lenses are available in a variety of colors that correspond to varying conditions. The Sunny Bronze lens is, as its name suggests, the best lens color for clear to cloudy days. Its reflective bronze exterior looks gorgeous and don't be surprised when curious fellow snowboarders ask you for the make. Besides looking good, you'll have vivid color vision with added contrast for one of the best views yet.
Anon Sync in Jade with PERCEIVE Sunny Bronze Lens
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Anon PERCEIVE Sunny Bronze Key Features
- VLT: 17%
- Base: Dark Orange
- Conditions: Sun & Clouds
Anon PERCEIVE Variable Blue
Another great choice in the Anon PERCEIVE collection, this lens allows you to take on any lighting conditions and is from their Variable category of tints. Our favorite is the PERCEIVE Variable Blue lens for its unique color combination. When looking through the lens, you'll experience an orange tint that immediately boosts details of the terrain, while still looking natural. From the exterior, a cool blue wash creates a reflective surface to bounce off harsh light — and turn heads.
Anon M4 Toric MFI in Black with PERCEIVE Variable Blue Lens
Shop Anon M4 Toric MFI
Anon PERCEIVE Variable Blue Key Features
- VLT: 21%
- Base: Orange
- Conditions: Virtually any daytime conditions
SMITH ChromaPop™ Photochromic Red Mirror
SMITH ChromaPop™ goggle lenses filter out color confusion to reveal greater definition, more natural color, and unmatched clarity. The Chromapop Photochromic Red Mirror is suited for a range of conditions and the rose base makes textures pop. Also, thanks to the photochromic tech, this lens will change when the light does. All ChromaPop™ lenses also feature an anti-fog coating for clear vision — at all times.
SMITH 4D MAG in Black with ChromaPop™ Photochromic Red Mirror Lens
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SMITH ChromaPop™ Photochromic Red Mirror Key Features
- VLT: 20-40%* Photochromic lens adapts to changing light conditions
- Base: Rose
- Conditions: Variable
Oakley PRIZM™ Garnet
The second lens from the Oakley PRIZM™ Snow line, PRIZM™ Garnet is the ideal choice for cloudy days with some sun. It gives you the upper hand on the mountain with a rose base that helps you read the terrain. While we recommend this lens for cloudy days, if the sun starts to peak through, PRIZM™ Garnet still provides visual comfort. This is also a good lens for sunny days for those without eye sensitivity and makes the snow in the shadows much more readable. Noteworthy detail: this lens does not have a mirror coating, so it will be easier for others to see your eyes behind the lens.
Oakley Flight Deck M in Matte Black with PRIZM Garnet lens
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Oakley PRIZM™ Garnet Key Features
- VLT: 19%
- Base: Garnet (Dark Reddish-Brown)
- Conditions: Cloudy and some sun
Zeal Optics Automatic+ RB
Get ready for one of the most unique lenses in our lineup! The Zeal Optics Automatic+ RB combines polarization with photochromic lens technology. Despite the contention, we have been seeing an increasing demand for polarized snow goggle lenses. Being well ahead of the demand, Zeal has an exclusive lens technology that uses a uniquely designed polarization filter to cut glare while still highlighting hardpack and ice. The RB lens uses a rose base to increase contrast and transitions from 20% to 38% VLT.
Zeal Optics Lookout in Dark Night with Automatic+ RB Lens
Shop Zeal Optics Lookout
Zeal Optics Automatic+ RB Key Features
- VLT: 20-38%* Photochromic lens adapts to changing light conditions
- Base: Light Rose to Deep Rose
- Conditions: Variable
100% HiPER® Vermillion w/Red ML Mirror
100% is finally making snow goggles after a long, successful tenure in motocross goggles! Our favorite lens in their new lineup comes in a vermillion-rose base color. Thanks to this base color, you get big contrast and color boosts. The durable multi-layer (ML) mirror is applied in multiple layers with some variation in color to give you a rich mirror that shows the various reflective colors when the lens reflects at different angles. With the HiPER Vermillion w/Red ML Mirror, you get a great lens for bright, sunny conditions!
100 Norg in Essential Black with HiPER® Vermillion w/Red ML Mirror
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100% HiPER® Vermillion w/Red ML Mirror Key Features
- VLT: 8%
- Base: Vermillion-Rose
- Conditions: Sunny, Bluebird
Prescription Snow Goggles Online at SportRx
Need prescription snow goggles? Done. We have prescription inserts readily available to match your goggles with a seamless fit and superior optics. When you shop with us, you’ll find video guides and tool tips throughout the build process as you customize your perfect Rx insert. An answer to all your questions is at your fingertips, and if you want to chat with an expert, contact us. We’ll put you in touch with one of our friendly in-house opticians who can help you build your prescription goggles with the best ski goggle lens color.
Ditch risky online shopping with our See Better Guarantee. Try your snow goggles for 45 days. If you’re not satisfied, send them back. Get a full refund, exchange, or credit towards a better pair. And return shipping? Covered. Get the best ski & snow goggles online at SportRx today!
