Night skiing is a wonderful experience. However, it can also be dangerous if you don’t have the right equipment. Though good skis, boots, and gloves will serve you both day and night, you can’t ski under the moon without the proper eyewear.
I’m a lifelong skier who has had the opportunity to ski in nearly every condition you can imagine. I love to night ski when I get the chance, and I’ve used many goggles to help me get good clarity when the sun goes down.
The Oakley O-Frame MX is my pick for the best night ski goggles of the season. These goggles are actually built for off-road motorcycling, but the clear lenses and comfortable fit make them ideal for night skiing as well.
I’ll show you several different night ski goggle options in this post. I want to make sure you get yourself well-prepared to handle night skiing adventures, and being able to see clearly is one of the most critical aspects of this.
Let’s get into it.
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Who Should Get This
Every nighttime skier needs a good pair of nighttime goggles. The specialized lenses allow you to adapt to your environment, regardless of how dark it gets, and give you the ability to ride the slopes far beyond normal hours.
If you like to ride in the snow when everyone else is at home and explore the slopes with the stars out, these are for you.
The goggles in this guide also work well in low-light conditions. For that reason, they are a good choice for early morning skiers as well. People who hit the powder at dusk or later in the day bleeding into the evening will also appreciate the extra features.
Should you wear ski goggles at night?
Yes, it’s a good idea to wear goggles any time you ski. For night skiing, you’ll want to make sure to get a pair that have a higher VLT rating, which means they let in a lot of light. Goggles are essential to protect your face from the elements, not just the sun.
What color goggles are best for night skiing?
I think that clear lenses are the best goggle choice for night skiing. You could also use a light amber or rose-colored lens, depending on how well-lit your night skiing area is. Clear goggles ensure that you’ll be able to see effectively while you ski.
Are pink lenses good for night skiing?
Yes, pink lenses can be a good choice for night skiing purposes. These are good if you are skiing at a resort with bright lights at night and want to cut down on the glare that creates. Clear lenses are also a very good choice.
Top Night Ski Goggles
Here are all of my picks for the best night ski goggles this season. Every model you see here will work well in low and no light situations.
1. Oakley O-Frame MX
- Best for: Overall
- Key features: Clear lenses, comfortable, good ventilation, fog-resistant
- Lenses: Scratch-resistant
- Venting: Channel vents
- Cost: $$
The Oakley O-Frame MX is my pick for the best overall night ski goggles this year. These are technically made for dirt bike riding, but they work really well for night skiing.
The frames come with a ventilation system and a special fog-resistant coating. What’s more, they have comfortable, triple-layer foam that wicks away any moisture that comes near your eyes.
These are also a very affordable option, which is great because you don’t need to spend a lot to get good vision at night.
The strap is a bit wide, so you’ll want to ensure you have a good fit for maximum comfort.
2. Smith I/O Mag
- Best for: Day and Night
- Key features: Excellent lens change system, comfortable, good venting, high-quality, anti-fog
- Lenses: ChromaPop
- Venting: AirEvac
- Cost: $$$$
If you want a pair of goggles that you can use for both day and night skiing, check out the Smith I/O Mag (review).
These are some of the best goggles in the game, and they have a straightforward lens change system that allows you to quickly pop in clear lenses when you want to go night skiing.
They also feature a 5X anti-fog inner lens for reliable clarity even when you are skiing tough and 3-layer face foam for increased comfort.
The downside of this excellent performance is that they are very expensive.
3. OutdoorMaster Ski Goggles OTG
- Best for: Fit
- Key features: High VLT, affordable, very comfortable, OTG fit, helmet-compatible, many color options.
- Lenses: Dual
- Venting: Perimeter
- Cost: $$
The OutdoorMaster Ski Goggles OTG is one of the best-fitting goggles for night skiing that you can find.
These are a very comfortable option with a wide field of view to give you the best of both worlds when it comes to fit, feel, and performance.
They also have a high VLT rating to let in plenty of light when skiing after dark. Helmet compatibility and many color options make these work well for nearly everyone.
These aren’t the most stylish option around, but they work great.
4. Smith Optics Scope
- Best for: Ventilation
- Key features: Great ventilation, comfortable, adjustable strap, helmet-compatible
- Lenses: Anti-fog
- Venting: Airflow System
- Cost: $$
The Smith Optics Scope is an excellent choice for night skiers who want added ventilation to ensure they see clearly at all times.
These feature an Airflow ventilation system that pulls cool air in through channel vents to prevent moisture from building up.
They also have a comfortable foam lining and anti-fog lenses to make sure you can keep skiing as late as you want to.
You don’t get the highest VLT rating here, but they are still effective under the lights.
5. Bolle MOJO
- Best for: Budget Pick
- Key features: Affordable, comfortable, lightweight, anti-scratch coating, one-year warranty
- Lenses: Double-lens system
- Venting: Flow-Tech
- Cost: $
If you are on a budget but still want night skiing goggles, the Bolle MOJO (review) is the way to go.
These are a very affordable pair of goggles that will give you excellent clarity and comfort on the slopes. They are also pretty durable for a cheaper pair of goggles.
Flow-tech venting and a P80 Plus/Carbo GLAS coating work to keep these fog-free under nearly any condition.
You don’t get too many add-ons or high-end features with the MOJO, but the price is definitely right.
How to Choose Night Ski Goggles: Things to Consider
Here are some essential things to consider when choosing the best night ski goggles.
Visible Light Transmission
Visible Light Transmission, often called VLT, is critical for nighttime ski goggles. This attribute measures the amount of light your goggles let in. For instance, goggles made for clear, sunny days tend to be tinted in a way that lets in the least amount of possible light.
Night ski goggles, however, are generally yellow or clear to bring in the most light possible. It is crucial to search for models with high VLT to increase your visibility. This is the most important aspect of any night ski goggles.
Appearance
Regardless of when you use them, ski goggles are an accessory item. Treat them as such. It is easy to go for a pair only based on features, but don’t be afraid to branch out and look for models that might have interesting colors or patterns.
You should always prioritize attributes over appearance, but if two goggle brands have similar qualities, pick the one that fits your look.
Ventilation
When skiing at night, you need to be able to see as much as you possibly can. That is where ventilation comes in. Most high-end goggles have a ventilation system that allows cold air into the goggles and pushes warm air out.
Such a system keeps the goggles cool to prevent the lenses from steaming or fogging up. Always look for a good ventilation system and give preference to models designed to cut down on steam.
Useful Tips & Resources
All ski goggles, even premium or high-end options, are prone to fogging. Luckily, you don’t have to suffer. There are many different ways to effectively de-fog your goggles when they steam up. Check out the video below for some more advice on that.
Night skiing is a lot of fun, but it’s different from day skiing. If you want some more tips to help you get ready for some fun after dark, check out the advice here.
Final Verdict
The Oakley O-Frame MX is my pick for the best overall night ski goggles this season. These goggles come with clear lenses to let you see everything that comes your way on the slopes when the sun goes down.
All of the goggles listed here will work for night skiing. You always want to have good vision when you ski, and that’s even more important at night.
Frank V. Pearsall
Great post,
Very in-depth and really helpful, thanks for writing this and making my choice in buying my next ski goggles easier 🙂
Regards,
Frank V.
Christine
Hi Frank,
Happy to hear you found the article helpful and that you got what you were looking for out of it. Cheers to a good winter!