If you are on the prowl for kids’ ski goggles, you have no shortage of options.
There are plenty of kids’ ski goggles, each of which has its own unique merits and weaknesses.
Choose wisely and your little one will have his or her own stylish ski goggles that keep the snow and sun glare out of his or her eyes.
The best kids’ ski goggles provide the perfect combination of both function and form.
However, if you were to sort through the litany of choices, you would find there is an absolute avalanche of information about this unique product.
Instead of burning through your valuable free time researching the seemingly endless ski goggles for kids, let our team do the work for you.
Below, we shed light on the best kids’ ski goggles, highlighting the cream of the crop to help you whittle down the selection to those worthy of your hard-earned dollars.
Best Ski Goggles for Kids
Smith Daredevil OTG Snow Goggles | Giro Grade Goggle | Oakley Line Miner Goggles – Youth |
★ EDITOR’S PICK ★ | ☆ BUDGET PICK | ☆ LUXURY PICK |
best overall pick | best cheap kids ski goggles | best high end kids ski goggles |
Buy at: Amazon | Buy at: Amazon | Buy at: Amazon |
Top Kid’s Ski Goggles Reviewed
1. Oakley Line Miner Goggles – Big Kids
Review: If price is not your primary concern, you should give serious consideration to the Oakley Line Miner Goggles.
Oakley, a group known for its stylish sunglasses, make some truly snazzy kids’ ski goggles as well.
This kids’ ski goggle rests particularly close to the face, providing optimal vision along the periphery.
Featuring Prizm lenses with flawless contrast, your little one will rave about his/her vision while donning these goggles.
Oakley’s Line Miner Goggles are comfy, keep sweat out of the eyes and apply pressure in an even manner for the optimal feel.
In fact, the goggle’s O Matter Chassis frame actually conforms to your little one’s face, proving quite flexible even in frigid conditions.
Pros
- Prizm lens blocks wavelengths for optimal color contrast
- Plutonite lens blocks all harmful forms of light and proves impact resistant
- The frame is highlighted by its low-profile design that maximizes the rider’s view in every direction
- Designed with dual vented lenses, these goggles ensure crystal clear vision
Cons
- Higher price tag than most other kids’ ski goggles
- 2-year warranty while some other kids’ ski goggles have a lifetime warranty
Takeaway
A truly elite kids’ ski goggle built for optimal clarity, comfort and durability across posterity, albeit at somewhat of a high price point.
2. Giro Grade Goggle
This eye-catching kids’ ski goggle is sold in a plethora of colors, one of which is sure to please your child, tween or teen.
If your little one is looking for visually striking ski goggles, this is it.
Featuring a dual-slide strap adjustment that is silicone backed, these ski goggles fit snugly on the face and minimize fogging.
Pros
- Lifetime manufacturer warranty
- Anti-fog coating that actually works
- Well-vented lenses
- Functional for every type of skiing
- Low cost, very affordable
Cons
- Made with comparably cheaper materials that might not stand the test of time
- Cylindrical lens as opposed to the widely-favored spherical lens
- Some might consider the strap design to look somewhat cheesy or even retro, harkening back to 80s aesthetics
Takeaway
Parents on the prowl for affordable kids’ ski goggles should give serious consideration to these low-cost and visually unique goggles.
3. Smith Daredevil OTG Snow Goggles
These kids’ ski goggles feature extensive interior volume, a floating foam membrane that prevents temple pressure, a comfy fit (even over glasses) and a unique rimless design.
The hydrophobic lens coating prevents the accumulation of grease, moisture and other gunk.
Flawless vision is guaranteed thanks to the goggle’s Fog-X antifog inner lens and carbonic-X lens, ensuring your little one gets the most out of his or her days on the slopes.
Pros
- 100% UV protection
- Compatible with eyewear
- Made in the USA
- Nearly completely rimless style
- Reasonably priced at $50
- Considerable width for helmet compatibility
Cons
- Cylindrical lens as opposed to spherical lens
- Minimalist style might not appeal to your child, tween or teen
Takeaway
If your aim is to spend $50 or less on kids’ ski goggles that prove functional yet do not make a powerful visual impact, the Smith Daredevil OTG Snow Goggles are a solid choice.
Buying Guide: How To Get The Right Fit
No two ski goggles will feel exactly the same on your little one’s face.
Aside from size differences, kids have their own ski goggle preferences in terms of feel.
Even something as subtle as the amount of pressure the goggles place around the eyes makes a big difference in terms of fit and comfort.
If your child tries on a pair of ski goggles and says they are too narrow, trust his or her word and continue looking for goggles that have a wider frame.
Pinching is a Problem
Ski goggles have the potential to pinch the area around the temples and the bridge of the nose.
Do not stop searching until you find ski goggles your child can easily adjust by loosening the strap to minimize tension around his or her temples.
If you cannot find ski goggles with a strap to your little one’s liking, consider wider goggles.
In terms of eliminating the pinching along the bridge of your child’s nose, try tightening the strap so it keeps the goggles in place higher on his or her face.
If this approach does not work, consider goggles with a comparably small fit.
Goggles with a different contour along the bridge might also suffice.
Consider the Gap
Some kids complain their ski goggles have too large of a gap along the bridge of the nose.
If this is the common refrain of your little one when trying on kids’ ski goggles, loosen the strap just a bit to determine if the goggles can be secured a bit lower on the face for optimal comfort.
If this alteration doesn’t do the trick, consider kids’ ski goggles with a more expansive bridge.
Spacing
Ideally, there will be minimal or no space between the goggles and the helmet.
If there is a considerable gap between the sides of the face or even along the forehead, your child will likely end up with exposed skin that is frostbitten or sunburnt.
The right fit permits the proper airflow.
The helmet should not push down on the frame. Furthermore, pinching should not occur by the goggles’ frame.
If your child complains of such pinching, the goggles are not the proper fit for his or her face.
Padding is a Significant Determinant of Ski Goggle Comfort
Finally, padding plays a meaningful part in the right fit.
Kids’ ski goggles have face foam that eliminates pinching. This foam must be thick to the point that it properly cushions the face yet does not lead to fogging.
Ample padding around the edges generates a comprehensive seal against the face that keeps the cold air out of the goggles.
How to Choose Goggles
The right ski goggles for your child, tween or teen depends on his or her unique face shape, comfort/fit preference and aesthetic desires.
Furthermore, the goggles’ visible light transmission also matters.
Often referred to with its acronym of VLT, this feature is the percentage of light that moves through the lens.
The VLT of ski goggles is between 100% and 0%.
The contrast in the skier’s surroundings also plays a part in VLT.
If your child skis in an area that has an abundance of clouds or fog, a high VLT will be necessary.
Alternatively, if your family skis in an area that typically has cloud-free skies, a low VLT is optimal.
Those looking for a ski goggle lens that will suffice in any type of environment, regardless of its illumination, should lean toward goggles that have a VLT of 30% as it is a happy medium between high and low VLTs.
Changing Systems
The weather has the potential to change after you and your youngster arrive at the mountain for a fun-filled day of skiing.
There is no sense forcing your child to change his or her lens with their bare hands when smart lens changing systems are available.
This feature empowers your little one to alternate lenses based on weather variances in mere seconds.
Let your little one try out the click changing system, the clip changing system and the magnetic changing system to see he or she is most comfortable with.
Ventilation
Ventilation is particularly important as it prevents fog from forming on the lens and ruining your child’s skiing experience.
Each ski goggle ventilation system works to its own unique degree.
The space between the lens and your child’s face should have enough airflow to prevent steam from forming, ensuring clear vision.
This is precisely why you and your little one should pay close attention to ventilation when checking out kids’ ski goggles.
Padding and the Strap
The stretchy adjustable strap empowers your little one to adjust the length as desired.
The clip or buckle must feel perfectly comfortable when your child is wearing a headband or beanie.
The wider the strap, the better it will hold.
In fact, some straps are even designed with a narrow silicone line along the inner portion that stops the strap from jostling around in the helmet.
The material that contacts your child’s face within the goggles is the padding.
Padding is available with either one, two or three layer foams.
The more layers there are, the better the air will circulate within the goggles to prevent sweating and fogging.
Mind the Lens
There are two types of kids’ ski goggle lenses: spherical and cylindrical.
Spherical lenses are horizontally curved, and also curved along the vertical axis to provide the optimal view.
However, spherical lenses are comparably expensive.
If you are hesitant to pay for a spherical lens, think twice before opting for low-cost goggles.
Spherical lenses permit more space between the lens and the face, ensuring ample airflow and minimal fogging.
Furthermore, spherical lenses reduce glare level to boot.
Alternatively, cylindrical lenses are flat along the horizontal axis and bent along the vertical axis.
Though cylindrical lenses do not provide extensive peripheral vision and fail to absorb as much sunlight as the spherical variety, they are comparably cheap.
Final Thoughts
In the end, those who weigh the merits and drawbacks of each of these kids’ ski goggles will feel comfortable with their selection.
Perform your due diligence, let your youngster try on each of these ski goggles and you will rest easy knowing you and your little one made a truly informed decision.