Best Sunglasses for Skiing – Our Top 10 Tips

Looking to buy sunglasses for skiing or snowboarding? Then you’ve come to the right place. In this blog post we explain what to look out for when choosing a pair of sunglasses for skiing and share some of the best models on the market in 2022. Read on to find out more!

Can you ski with sunglasses?

Skiers and snowboarders are often divided when it comes to eyewear on the slopes. While ski goggles tend to offer better all-round protection and comfort, there are a few situations where you might prefer a good pair of sports sunglasses. For example, sunglasses are often preferred by ski instructors simply for ease and lighter weight during long hours of teaching. Many also opt for sunnies on the brightest days or during warmer spring temperatures and goggle up on colder or more snowy days.

For those wearing contact lenses, make sure you go back to goggles on colder days – you don’t want your contact lenses freezing up! All joking aside: contact lenses increase the eyes’ sensitivity to light, so it is even more important to protect them with high-quality ski sunglasses or goggles. For glasses wearers, you have the choice of getting sunglasses with prescription lenses or getting over-the-glasses ski goggles. To learn more on the latter, view our guide on how to choose ski goggles here.

Sunglasses for Skiing – Features to Look Out for

When it comes to choosing sunglasses for skiing, any pair of sports sunglasses can work, but the safest and best performing models will have the following features:

• UV400 Protection (included in most sunglasses)
• Wrap lenses or side shields
• Polarised lenses – best for sunny weather
• Non-polarised – best for general/overcast weather
• Shatter-resistant lenses/impact resistant frame
• Mirror coating to reduce glare
• Rubber or non-slip materials on nose pad and temples

Ski Sunglasses: Which tint?

Be sure to also choose the appropriate lens category or VLT (visible light transmission) for the light conditions you will be out in. This should be Category 2 for cloudy days or Category 3 for sunny days, or Category 4 for ultimate protection at the highest sunny altitudes. Lens colours vary depending on brand, so the most important thing to look out for is the category or VLT.

• VLT <25%
• Cat. 3/4
• Mirrored lenses in black, grey, dark rose
• Additional lens coatings like anti-reflective or anti-glare coatings can be useful here

• VLT 25-50%
• Cat. 3
• Blue, green, red, medium copper, rose or brown

• VLT >50%
• Cat. 2
• Yellow, amber, light rose

There is also the option of getting photochromic lenses which change tint depending on the light conditions.

GOOD TO KNOW

Oakley has dedicated lens tints for winter sports called Prizm^TM Snow. They reach from Prizm^TM Black Iridium for sunny days to Prizm^TM Persimmon for overcast .

Best Sunglasses for Skiing – Our Top 10 Favourites

These are our top 10 best ski and snowboard sunglasses:

1. Oakley Radar EV Path

A classic among skiers and snowboarders and even famously worn by members of the Norwegian cross country ski team, you can’t go wrong with the Oakley Radar EV Path.

• Frame made of Oakley’s signature O-Matter^TM material – lightweight and durable
• Wide wrap-around shield lens providing full coverage
• Unobtanium on nose pad and temples helps prevent glasses from falling off
• Venting to reduce fogging along top of shield

2. Oakley Jawbreaker

The Oakley Jawbreaker is another favourite among athletes and snow sports enthusiasts.

• O-Matter^TM frame
• Wrap-around shield lens
• Adjustable temples useful for wearing with a helmet or hat
• Unobtanium nose piece and temples
• Venting around lens to prevent fogging
• Interchangeable lens system to swap out lenses with ease

3. Oakley Sutro

If you’re looking for sunglasses that can also be used outside of sports, the Oakley Sutro with its retro full-shield look is perfect.

• O-Matter^TM frame
• Wrap-around shield lens
• Unobtanium saddle nose bridge
• Available in Sutro S, which is the same model but a bit smaller.

4. Oakley Half Jacket 2.0

The Oakley Half Jacket is another classic sports sunglass that can be used in a range of sports.

• O-Matter^TM frame
• Unobtanium earsocks and nosepads
• Wrap-around 8.75 base lenses
• Interchangeable lens system to swap out lenses with ease

5. Gloryfy Gi3

If you’re looking for a pair of aviator sunglasses for skiing, the Gloryfy Gi3 is perfect, combining style with the full protection of impact-resistant sports eyewear.

• Retro aviator style
• Gloryfy unbreakable NBFX material
• Retro aviator style with wrap
• Wide field of vision

6. Gloryfy G9

The rimless shield-style Gloryfy G9 stylish pair of sunglasses for snow sports that you don’t have to worry about breaking thanks to its unbreakable NBFX material.

• Wide rimless lens provides wide field of vision
• Gloryfy unbreakable NBFX material
• Rubber nose piece and temples to improve grip
• The G9 is also available with Xtr Helioz Stratos Fogless Lenses which improve vision in foggy conditions.

7. Adidas Zonyk

As worn by pro skiers Natalia Nepryaeva and Laura Gimmler, the Adidas Zonyk are an excellent choice for snow sports.

• Wrap-around shield lens
• Wide field of vision thanks to huge lenses
• Adjustable nose bridge and temples

8. Smith Wildcat

The Smith Wildcat model is a tried-and-tested favourite among skiers and snowboarders.

• Large wrap shield lens
• Shape fits well with helmet
• Very lightweight
• Adjustable nose pad to move lens closer or further away from face
• ChromaPop colour-enhancing lens technology

9. Smith Ruckus

The Smith Ruckus is great for skiing thanks to its semi-rimless frame offering lots of coverage on the sides as well as top to bottom.

• Large wrap lens blocks wind effectively and provides wide field of vision
• Platinum lenses are perfect for skiing in sunny weather
• Easy to replace lenses thanks to the PivLock Lens Change system
• ChromaPop colour-enhancing lens technology

10. Arnette Fastball

For those who want a sports eyewear model that can also work well in everyday life, the Arnette Fastball is perfect.

• Classic wrap shape with thin temples
• High impact resistance

Not found the right pair of ski sunglasses yet? In our online shop you will find many other sports glasses and sunglasses for men and women, polarised and unpolarised, and of course for both adults and children. Instead of children’s sunglasses, however, it is usually better for children to wear suitable ski goggles (goggles). These not only protect the little ones’ eyes from UV rays, but also from snow, wind and sharp ski poles…