Best Oakley Alternatives
Some people have to have the “right” brand name on everything they own. Lucky brand jeans, Gibson guitars, Rolex watches, Gucci handbags...they want you to know they spent money on the best — or at least stuff with names that suggest lots of money was spent.
But others want quality over all else. Whatever the name is on the label, it’s secondary to the product itself. If it happens to be a Ferrari that wins the race, great -- they’ll buy that. But if the new Corvette beats that Ferrari around the test track, the prestige doesn’t matter. They just want to be faster.
If you haven’t guessed, we’re discussing Oakley ski goggles in this article. This is NOT to say that Oakley goggles aren’t amazing -- they are! But like many brands that have become household names, it doesn’t hurt to examine whether they’ve become… let’s say “overrated.”
New technology and manufacturing standards are bringing high quality to other brands. These manufacturers might not be as familiar to you, but their products could satisfy you just as much, if not more.
Some brand names are long-established because once, upon a time, they had a monopoly on certain features. Their corner on the market could have come through patents or because some features were so expensive to integrate that no one else even tried.
Let’s say you’re one of those people who value function over brand, and you’re shopping for some ski goggles. The brand name probably isn’t the only guarantee you need.
Do you want to dig deeper and find the goggles that will make you happiest when you’re on the slopes? We’re here to help with a comprehensive guide to the best Oakley alternatives.
What Should You Look for in Ski Goggles?
What qualities are important in ski goggles? These are the general features you should look for in any pair of high-quality goggles:
● Eye protection from debris
● UV blocking
● Glare elimination
● Improved visibility in varying conditions
● Comfort
● Quality
● A secure strap
● Anti-fog
And then there are the things that sway you toward a particular pair, like:
● They look cool
● The price is right
Let’s face it — no one wants dorky goggles or ones that cost the same as a used car.
Best Oakley Alternatives
If you’re on the hunt for some new ski goggles, there are alternatives to Oakley's you need to know about. Now, we’re not here to knock the Oakley — we just want to give you alternatives that can give you the features you want and the quality construction you should expect, all at a price that’s more reasonable!
Below, we’ll talk about the major features of alternative brands, as well as the “cool factor” and price.
The Glade Adapt 2 needs no introduction. Widely considered the best goggle on the market today, this goggle has won just about every award in the industry including Ski Magazine's Best Overall Goggle, Freeskier's Editor's Choice award, Outside Magazine's Best Goggle, and Blister Gear Review's 'Best Of' award for the last 2 years in a row, to name a few. At only $150 this goggle is truly a steal. One thing to note: Glade seems to sell out of this goggle every season so your choices may be limited depending on when you are looking to purchase.
Features
The Glade Adapt 2 comes standard with anti-fog treatments, an anti-scratch lens with 100% UV protection and a wide range of vision. Still, instead of providing multiple different lens options with varying VLT percentages, the photochromic lens can give you anywhere from 16-61% VLT as it adapts to whatever light conditions are present.
Style
With that signature clean and simple Glade look, to Adapt 2 is another pair of beautifully designed ski goggles. The range of options has expanded to six photochromic lens colors and seven strap colors available, so you can effectively customize your look, while always getting the single lens solution.
Affordability
Again, it’s doubtful you’re going to find too many photochromic ski goggles at this price point with such a great look and these features. Anything within the near vicinity of $150 is a good deal, and with lenses that adapt to various light conditions, you’re saving even more money by ridding yourself of the need to buy extra pairs of goggles.
As the next evolution of the X1, the Dragon X2’s are super comfy and offer some really good features, which include:
Flat Light
Dragon’s LUMA LENS technology helps differentiate colors and reduce eye fatigue in low-light conditions.
Fogging
The X2’s hydrophobic surface helps to repel moisture and lower the amount of fog build-up.
Durability
The plastic frame is a little cheap feeling (especially for the price tag), but it’s durable and does come with a hard case.
Field of View
The aforementioned comfort comes at a cost. The cushion that makes them feel soft on the face limits the field of view, especially when you’re looking down.
Lenses
The interchangeable lens system uses a lever for release. Don’t pull that lever unless you’re ready to catch the lens as it pops off!
Cool Factor
These goggles are cool. The straps come with some awesome patterns, while the lenses come in a wide variety of colors. The shape is a little fishbowl-like, if that’s the kind of look you’re going for.
The Giro Article is one of our favorite (if a bit pricey) ski goggles on the market, especially with the Vivid Infrared lens technology.
Flat Light
The clarity is excellent with these goggles. Details are crisp, especially with the low-light lens.
Fogging
The anti-fogging could be better. It’s not terrible, but not as good as other goggles in this price range.
Durability
They are solidly built, but long-term ownership has revealed that peeling may occur on the lenses in some cases. This may not happen to you, but just be aware that it’s possible!
Field of View
The Jiro boasts an excellent, wide field of view. The curved shape feels natural.
Lenses
The snaps allow for quick-change swaps and easy substitution.
Cool Factor
The strap choices are limited, (generally black or some solid color with their logo on the side), but hey — black looks dang classy! The accent of color on the frame under the lens is a nice touch. Very futuristic!
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Oakley is a world leader in eyewear of all kinds, so you can reasonably expect that their ski goggles are of a certain quality. Their Flight Deck goggles do not disappoint.
With an F3 anti-fog coating, face foam with a moisture-wicking fleece lining, and a patented design that conforms to your face in order to keep harsh weather out, you can expect these goggles to avoid lens condensation all day long.
Features
The lenses on the Oakley Flight Deck goggles are not only anti-fog -- they’re also impact-resistant, interchangeable, and able to offer protection against UVA/UVB rays and harmful blue light. They’re even available with optional Prizm Lens Technology and glare-reducing Iridium lens coating.
Style
The Flight Deck goggles earned their name because the design was inspired by the visors on the helmets of fighter pilots. In other words, they look really cool. They come in ten different colors, butt he interchangeable lens options open the door for even more customization.
Affordability
The Oakley brand generally features a somewhat hefty price tag, and the Flight Deck goggles are no exception. However, it’s important to remember that premium price points generally come with premium quality products. The Flight Deck goggles are no exception there, either.
