Updated November 25th, 2024
Any cheap set of budget ski goggles will work on the average ski day. Which ones will stay fog free or work well when the light is flat? We spend the entire winter trying out ski goggles to find which ones stand out and perform during all weather conditions.
The 7 Best Budget Ski Goggles
- TOP PICK: Outdoor Master Falcon
- TOP PICK: Wildhorn Roca
- BEST VALUE: Outdoor Master Heron
- Wildhorn Maxfield Pro
- Outdoor Master Pro
- Outdoor Master Ultra Zeiss
- Smith Frontier
1. Best Overall – Outdoor Master Falcon
Specifications
- Fit – Large
- Lens Shape – Cylindrical
- Swappable lenses – Yes, magnetic
- Included Lenses – 2 – Primary Lens and 87% Yellow Lens
- OTG Compatible – Yes
Get 25% OFF site wide with code BLACK25 during BLACK FRIDAY SALE at OUTDOOR MASTER
What we liked:
- Very clear lenses with good difinition of the snow surface
- Stylish flat lens look
- They come with 2 lenses that can be swapped in seconds while wearing them
- They include a hardcase for storage
- Good flat light and anti-fog performance
- Great value with a very reasonable price
What we didn’t like:
- The second lens could be a bit darker like a 50-60% VLT instead of a 91% lens.
- There isn’t much to find wrong with these goggles.
The Outdoor Master Falcon could easily be a $200-$300 ski goggle if sold by Smith or Oakley. Here it is from Outdoor Master for $100. It has every bit of lens technology and other feature found in a high end goggles from the big name brands. Outdoor Master has always been about bringing great gear to the mountain at a price anyone can afford. The Falcon proves that they know exactly how to do that.
The Falcon takes a step up in lens quality using lenses by Zeiss Optics. Zeiss has been making lenses for Giro and Anon brand for years. They produce very high clarity lenses that give you a clear view of the slope. Their SONAR color filtering technology gives everything the visual pop you get from Smith ChromaPop or Oakley PRIZM lenses. The Falcon comes with a primary lens that is good for bright and overcast conditions. They all come with a 91% yellow lens that is good for dark flat light days.
The goggles have a cylindrical lens frameless design that follows all the latest styling trends. It uses 10 magnets to attach the lens for easy and fast lens changing.
If you prefer a toric or rounded lens over flat lens, check out the excellent Outdoor Master Ultra goggles mentioned below.
Review
See our detailed review of the Outdoor Master Falcon Ski Goggles to learn more.
2. 
Top Pick – Wildhorn Roca
Get 15% OFF with code ACTIVEGEAR15 at WILDHORN OUTFITTERS
What we liked:
- Magnetic lens with side latches
- Low cost
- Frameless appearance with many available colors
- Comfortable to wear
What we didn’t like:
- No color filtering, polarized or photochromic lens options
- They only come with 1 lens
Summary
The Wildhorn Roca Snowboard & Ski Goggles are a good low cost goggle option. They have spherical lenses with magnetic interchangeable lens swapping. They have side latches as well for a little extra lens security. They are designed by skiers and snowboarders in Utah and are a sponsor of the US-Ski Team.
These goggles have a dual pane spherical lens with anti-fog and anti-scratch coating. They scratch as easily as any goggles from Smith, Oakley or Giro. Their anti-fog performance is good but not as great as Smith or Oakley. The frame design gives excellent peripheral vision. They are available with a variety of lens tints. For flat light use the Blaze or Amber lenses for best performance.
The Wildhorn Roca goggles are a great value for a swappable lens goggle with high quality lenses and good anti-fog performance. We wish they included 2 lenses with their goggle frame. Extra lenses are not expensive and readily available.
Review
See our full review of the Wildhorn Roca to learn more.
3. Best Value – Outdoor Master Heron
Specifications
- Fit – Large
- Lens Shape – Toric
- Swappable lenses – Yes, magnetic with 10 magnets
- Included Lenses – 2 primary lens and 87% VLT yellow lens
- OTG Compatible – Yes
Get 25% OFF site wide with code BLACK25 during BLACK FRIDAY SALE at OUTDOOR MASTER
What we liked:
- Toric lens shape with big field of view
- Easy to swap magnetic lens change system
- Comes with 2 lenses
- Updated hardcase that easily fits the goggle and extra lens
- Low price
- Comfortable to wear
- Good anti-fog performance
What we didn’t like:
- The second lens should be 50-60% VLT instead of 87%
- No advanced color filtering, polarized, or photochromic lens options
Summary
The Outdoor Master Heron Ski Goggles are the latest budget goggle from Outdoor Master. They give you a toric lens shape, OTG compatible frames, and they include a 2nd yellow low light lens. They also throw in a hard case and lens pouch for cleaning and storing the extra lens. Everything about this combo just makes sense.
The Heron is available at a cost slightly below the old Outdoor Master Pro with extra lens bundles. This is a no brainer for the best value out there now in ski goggles and a nice upgrade from the old Pro design. Outdoor Master seems to have gone after this design full force with a full range of lens and strap colors as well as extra lenses available from the start.
There is a 25% VLT Brown polarized lens and 65% orange lens that would be excellent for flat light days. There is a clear lens for night skiing. There is a polarized 8% black lens that would be great for a really bright day.
Review
See our detailed review of the Outdoor Master Heron to learn more.
4. Best Under $150 – Wildhorn Maxfield Pro
Specifications
- Fit – Large or Medium
- Lens Shape – Cylindrical
- Swappable lenses – Yes, magnetic + Latch
- Included Lenses – 1
- OTG Compatible – Yes
Get 15% OFF with code ACTIVEGEAR15 at WILDHORN OUTFITTERS
What we liked:
- Wide field of view
- Available in 2 frame sizes and many colors
- Clear lenses with minimal distortion
- Soft comfortable feel to the foam and flexible frame
- Effective color optimization gives good flat light performance
- Good value for the price
- Latches keep the lens secure
What we didn’t like:
- Orange frame is bright when viewed from inside goggle around the nose
- Lens take more effort to change than a pure magnet system
Summary
The Wildhorn Maxfield Pro Ski Goggles are the latest offering from Wildhorn Outfitters. They are a true high performance ski goggle with high quality color optimized lenses. They are a step up in performance from anything we have seen from Wildhorn before.
The Maxfield has cylindrical lenses with a big field of view. They use color optimized lenses that are on par with anything Smith or Oakley has to offer. They work great in bright or flat light conditions with the right lens.
These goggles are available in both a large and medium fit version with a bunch of different colors for each. There is a wide variety of lenses available including photochromic versions.
We reviewed the orignal Maxfield a couple of years ago and they were fantastic. The only downside was very few color and lens options. The Pro fixes that and goes full force with options.
Review
See our detailed review of the Wildhorn Maxfield Toric Ski Goggles to learn more.
5. Best Under $50 – Outdoor Master PRO
Get 25% OFF site wide with code BLACK25 during BLACK FRIDAY SALE at OUTDOOR MASTER
What we liked:
- Variety of styles and lens tints
- Low cost
- Variety of colors and lenses
What we didn’t like:
- Lenses aren’t as good as Oakley PRIZM and Smith Chromapop
Summary
The OutdoorMaster Pro XM Frameless Goggles are a great low cost full feature goggle. These goggles feature a magnetic swapping spherical lens. They are also OTG compatible for those of us who wear prescription glasses. Only one lens is included with the goggles if you buy from Amazon. A combo with a second lens is available directly from OutdoorMaster. Other lenses can are available separately.
These goggles have dual pane lenses with anti-fog coating and ventilation. Their anti-fog performance is okay but not as good as other higher cost ski goggles. The magnets attaching the lens could be stronger. The lens can be knocked off while adjusting your goggles or during a fall. The spherical lens has high clarity and low distortion. It doesn’t have the great color refraction that the Chromopop/SONAR/Vivid/PRIZM have. For the cost, you still get good performance on bright days.
These goggles are an excellent value. They have most of the performance of more expensive goggles at a much lower price. This makes it our best value pick for best under $50 ski goggles.
Full Review
See our detailed review of the OutdoorMaster Pro ski goggles to learn more.
6. Outdoor Master Ultra Zeiss
Specifications
- Fit – Large
- Lens Shape – Toric
- Swappable lenses – Yes, magnetic
- Included Lenses – 2 Primary Lens and 99% Clear
- OTG Compatible – Yes
Get 25% OFF site wide with code BLACK25 during BLACK FRIDAY SALE at OUTDOOR MASTER
What we liked:
- Overall great value and performance
- Great performing lenses in all conditions
- Easy magnetic lens swapping
- Comfortable fit and feel
- They include 2 lenses
- Available photochromic
What we didn’t like:
- Only available in large size
- No low bridge fit version is available
- No cylindrical lens version
You can spend $200 to $300 or even more for a pair of ski goggles. How much do you have to spend to get all the features of the high end goggles? The answer is $100. The Outdoor Master Ultra Zeiss ski goggles feature the best of everything from high end goggles and are just above $100 with discount code.
The Ultra XL from Outdoor Master has been around for a few years now and we have used them everywhere from sunny days in Utah to rainy fog in Whitefish, MT. New for this winter is Zeiss lenses giving the original Ultra a lens upgrade.
The Ultra Zeiss goggles have toric shaped lenses with color optimiztion similar to what you will find from Smith Chromapop. They have clarity as good as Oakley Prizm lenses. They have a magnetic lens swapping system similar to the Anon M4. They have really good anti-fog performance as well. For $100 you get 2 lenses, 2 microfiber bags, and a hard case. If you want it all but don’t want to spend it all to get them, the Outdoor Master Ultra Zeiss are the way to go.
There are a wide variety of Ultra lenses avialable now including color optimized flat light lenses and photochromic lenses.
Review
See our detailed review of the Outdoor Master Ultra Ski Goggles to learn more.
7. Smith Frontier
Get up to 40% OFF ALMOST EVERYTHING during ULTIMATE SALE at SMITH OPTICS
Overall Score
What we liked:
- Low cost
- Good performing lens in flat light
- Wide field of view
- Stylish cylindrical lens look
- Great anti-fog performance
- Durable construction
- Includes microfiber bag for cleaning and storage
What we didn’t like:
- No swappable lenses
- Only single layer face foam
Summary
The Smith Frontier Goggles are the entry level goggle from Smith. Don’t let the low cost fool you. They still have really good lenses and anti-fog performance. They aren’t technically ChromaPop lenses. They do still have the the characteristic yellowish/orange color filtering when viewed from the inside. They perform really well on flat light days.
The Frontier is a basic goggle with non-swappable cylindrical lenses. There is no magnetic or other fancy lens swapping. For the price, you could get 2 pairs and be setup good for almost any condition. The lens has Smith Fog-X anti-fog coating along with lots of ventilation to stay fog free on the mountain.
The Frontier frame only has a single layer face foam instead of the more typical 3 layer. They are still comfortable to wear with good field of view. It has solid durable construction and should last for years of use on the slopes.
The Smith Frontier ski goggles are a great cheap goggle option for those wanting good flat light performance in a cheap durable goggle.
Review
See our full test & review of the Smith Frontier goggles to learn more.
Budget Under $100 Ski Goggle Comparison Chart
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| Outdoor Master Falcon | Wildhorn Roca | Outdoor Master Heron | Wildhorn Maxfield Pro | Outdoor Master Pro | Outdoor Master Ultra Zeiss | Smith Frontier | |
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| Cost | $$ | $$ | $$ | $$ | $ | $$ | $ |
| Overall Rating |
93 |
83 |
87 |
90 |
75 |
92 |
81 |
| Lens Clarity | |||||||
| Field of View | |||||||
| Flat Light | |||||||
| Anti-Fog | |||||||
| Lens Swapping | |||||||
| Comfort | |||||||
| Lens Shape | Cylindrical | Spherical | Toric | Cylindrical | Spherical | Toric | Cylindrical |
| Fit | Large | Large | Large | Large or Medium | Medium | Large | Medium |
| OTG Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Included Lenses | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| More Information |
Ryan Craig
Co-Founder & Chief Editor
I am a total gear nerd and love learning how things work and thinking about how they could be improved. Nothing excites me more than trying out new gear. I’d rather spend 3 hours taking my bike apart and learning how to change something than go to a bike shop. These days, I reside in Michigan by the Great Lakes and go skiing, biking, and boating as much as possible. Visit our About Us page and learn more.
ryan@lowbudgetadventurer.com