Best Kids Ski Goggles
In the market for some kids ski goggles? There are many options—maybe even too many—and sorting through them all to find the perfect pair can be a daunting task. Fortunately, we’ve done much of that work for you, checking out a wide range of goggles from some of the most popular brands to find the ones that check the most boxes in terms of comfort, safety, affordability, and of course, style.
Much like our guide to the best ski and snowboard goggles for 2024, we want this guide to not only point you in the direction of some of the best kids ski goggle options available but to give you a better idea of what you should be looking for when trying to find the best option for you.
There’s a lot of high-quality stuff out there, and after a certain point, what makes the “best” goggles becomes more about your personal preferences than anything else. That’s why we’re going to give you the full details of how we made our selections. Hopefully, it allows you to make a more informed purchase.
If you want a really in-depth look at the different aspects of ski and snowboard goggles, check out our ski goggle buying guide.
Are Ski Goggles Necessary?
Considering how much certain pairs can run you, it’s fair to ask whether you need to ski goggles to enjoy a day on the slopes. While the law doesn’t mandate skiers to wear goggles, they are strongly recommended.
Goggles will improve your ability to navigate on days when the sun reflects off the snow, leaving you squinting just to see straight. They can also help you get a better sense of the slopes when the clouds and fog roll in and obscure what’s ahead of you.
Need another reason to buy your kid a pair? Well, ski goggles are also helpful in protecting your eyes against any snow spray or wind, and they offer extra insulation and padding. And let’s not forget, they look pretty cool, too.
What Makes a Good Pair of Ski Goggles?
Great question. We concluded that safety and comfort are the top priorities when shopping for a good pair of ski goggles. A good price point comes in a close second, and great color options and aesthetics are in a somewhat distant third.
Understandably, both you and your child may want to score some style points out there on the slopes, but we assume you prefer seeing well to looking good in most circumstances. Still, fashion and style are definitely factored into the decision, so don’t worry if that’s an important aspect for you personally.
Our Picks for the Best Kids Ski Goggles
Without further ado, here are our selections for the best kid’s ski goggles on the market.
Youth-sized ski goggles are often a somewhat stripped-down version of the ones offered to adults. That means that they have less of the performance features while also coming at a lower price point.
Well, the Smith From kids ski goggles are the exception to that rule. They remain cheaper than the adult version, but they offer many of the same features. To us, that makes these kids ski goggles stand above the rest.
Safety
The Chroma lens technology featured on both the adult and youth sizes gives the Smith Grom goggles a big leg up in the safety department. Visibility is obviously paramount to a safe day on the slopes. With the color and contrast boosting on these lenses, your child will have a level of clarity that many other goggles simply can’t provide. The lenses are also distortion-free, impact-resistant, and fog-resistant.
Comfort
You don’t necessarily want to feel your goggles on your face when you’re trying to focus on the slope ahead of you. The Smith Grom goggles address that issue by incorporating a floating foam membrane designed in order to eliminate temple pressure and give your child maximum comfort. These goggles are exceptionally comfortable when paired with a Smith helmet, too.
Affordability
Compared to other price points for some kid’s ski goggles, you may think that the higher end for the Smith Grom goggles is a bit steep, but remember that you’re paying for adult performance features in a youth size. Compared to similar adult goggles, they’re still a fraction of the cost, and when you consider that the increased price is for increased safety, these goggles start to seem a lot more affordable.
Style
We give these goggles a high grade for their overall aesthetic, but compared to some other kid’s ski goggles, particularly those on this list, the options for colorways are relatively limited. Three-strap colors and five lens colors should be enough to get you the look you’re going for, but if your tastes are more specific than that, perhaps you want to check out the other two options on this list.
These goggles checked so many boxes for us it was almost hard to believe. The anti-fog treated dual lenses, the fleece-lined double-layered face foam, the remarkably fair price, and the tremendous style selection made the Giro Grade an easy choice for this list. If you’re looking for above-average performance with great design at an affordable price, these may be the goggles for you.
Safety
There’s only so much you can do when your goggles fog up out on the mountain, especially when you’re moving. In order to protect your child from losing all visibility on the slopes, you should always provide them with a pair of goggles that are treated with an anti-fog coating. The Giro Grade goggles have precisely that.
Comfort
These goggles offer a ton of comfort, providing dual-density face foam with micro fleece facing to give your child a fit that’s snug but not too snug. The foam also keeps out the cold while wicking away sweat to keep your child warm and dry. And in order to accommodate those with less than 20/20 vision, Giro Grade goggles are also designed for eyeglass compatibility.
Affordability
The price point on the Giro Grade makes them an even more enticing option for any parent who isn’t looking to break the bank on their child’s ski goggles. Perhaps the performance features are not up to par with the Smith Grom goggles, but they still offer plenty of performance at their price point, making them a front-runner for the top of the bang-for-your-buck list.
Style
The 22 available design options and overall slick look make these goggles an excellent choice for the style-conscious skier. There’s bright pink, cool blue, sleek black, and many more looks to match whatever else you’re planning on rocking on the mountain on your next ski trip.
.jpeg)
To sum this selection up in one word, we’d probably have Togo with “versatility” or any comparable synonym. The SPY+ Cadet goggles give you all of the expected safety and comfort features of a kid’s ski goggle, but many more style options than most other selections can hold a candle to, and some that you may not even have known existed. So if aesthetics are a big priority for you, then these goggles are most likely just what you’re looking for.
Safety
SPY+ is among the most popular brands in skiing and snowboarding, and for a good reason. They do not skimp on the features. The Cadet goggles are distortion-free, anti-fog, anti-scratch, and 100% UV protected. They offer great clarity while also protecting your child’s eyes from strain and fatigue. They also fit well with ski and snowboard helmets of all kinds.
Comfort
The patented Intron face foam on the SPY+ Cadet is ergonomic and covered with fleece, giving a snug and cozy fit while also wicking away moisture that can cause fogging on the interior of the lenses. As another fog prevention measure, they’re outfitted with a Scoop ventilation system that offers enough airflow to keep you dry while still staying warm.
Affordability
These are the most affordable glasses on our list, and it’s not because they’re made cheaply or lacking in features. We may have said that the Giro Grade is potentially the list-topper in the bang-for-your-buck category, but these glasses most definitely give them a run for their money. Highly affordable goggles from a highly reputable brand. It’s hard to beat that.
Style
The style category is where the SPY+ Cadet goggles really stand out. They come in various colors and designs, including some fun straps that range from sleek and elegant to glitter and unicorns to pizza and french fries. Perhaps the coolest aspect of these goggles, though, is the interchangeable lenses. Very few ski goggles offer the option to match your lens color to whatever outfit you might want to wear that day. That’s a big reason why these goggles are on this list.
No matter what brand or style of goggles you go for, your child will appreciate all the benefits ski goggles offer, such as increased contrast, protection from the weather and debris or snow, and reduced glare. Using eyewear on the slopes also protects your young skier from harmful UV and UVB rays.
