If the snowy slopes call to you, this one’s for you!
When you’re out in the snow, ski sunglasses are a must! Top brands like Oakley and Pit Viper offer sunglasses with the protection you need.
These sunglasses are great for skiing and snowboarding. They’re also good for other winter activities, such as cross-country skiing, sledding, hiking, and snowshoeing.
But which ski sunglasses for men are the absolute best of the best? Check out my list to find out!
Features To Look for in Ski Sunglasses
Before we get into my top sunglasses, let’s go through what the best ski sunglasses should offer you.
UV Protection
This is a non-negotiable. You want sunglasses that give you 100% protection against UVA and UVB rays. You’ll find this indicated on the lenses, usually by a label like “UV400” or “100% UV protection.”
Lens Tint
The tint of your lenses affects the intensity of the light that reaches your eyes. Choose according to the typical conditions at your skiing site.
- Gray/Neutral: If you want true color perception, gray or neutral-tinted lenses are your best bet. They’re great for sunny days and reduce brightness without distorting colors.
- Brown/Bronze: For improved depth perception and enhanced contrast, choose brown or bronze-tinted lenses.
- Yellow/Gold: If you like skiing in the early mornings or late afternoons, choose yellow or gold-tinted lenses. These lenses will help you see through low-light conditions. They enhance contrast and improve visibility in flat light.
- Rose/Pink: If the conditions are partly sunny and partly overcast, rose or pink-tinted lenses are the best for improved depth perception.
- Clear: These lenses have no tint and are best for night skiing or extremely low-light conditions. Basically, they’re there to protect your eyes from wind and debris. They’re not your best option for daytime skiing.
Lens Category
Ski sunglasses for men are not all made the same. There are categories of sunglasses, and you need to choose from the category that best suits the light conditions at your skiing location.
The category is determined by the lenses’ visible light transmission (VLT), or the amount of light allowed through your lenses. This is different from UV protection. You can have 100% UV protection in Category 0 ski sunglasses that allow 80-100% of light transmission.
You’ll typically find the category in the sunglasses’ packaging or on the maker’s website.
- Category 0: Allows 80-100% light transmission. This is for very low-light conditions.
- Category 1: Allows 43-80% light transmission, which is good for low-light conditions.
- Category 2: Allows 18-43% light transmission, which is for medium light conditions.
- Category 3: Allows 8-18% light transmission and is the most common category for skiing. This is best for bright light.
- Category 4: Allows 3-8% light transmission. This is for very bright light, such as in glacier skiing. These can be too dark for typical skiing conditions.
Lens Material
- Polycarbonate: This is the most popular material for ski sunglass lenses. It’s lightweight, impact-resistant, and offers great UV protection.
- Polyurethane: This material has similar features to polycarbonate but is more flexible and scratch-resistant.
- Glass: Glass lenses can provide amazing optical clarity, but they are heavier and prone to shattering.
Polarization
Polarized lenses reduce glare from reflective surfaces like snow and ice. A bit of warning, though: Polarization can sometimes make it harder to see ice patches. If your skiing location is prone to ice patches, it might be better to opt for non-polarized lenses.
Mirror Coating
Mirror coatings reflect light and reduce glare. They also add a stylish touch to your sunglasses.
Frame Fit and Features
Consider sunglass frames that provide good coverage (typically wrap-arounds), grip, and adjustability. You want sunglasses that can be adjusted for comfort, especially if you’re wearing a helmet. Having vents is also ideal to minimize fogging.
Ski Sunglasses Picks for Winter 2025
Oakley
Of course, Oakley is on this list! This brand has become practically synonymous with sporty eyewear. They offer some of your best ski sunglasses options (I’ve got three on my list!).
For your ski sunglasses, choose Oakleys that feature Prizm™ lens technology. This is proprietary lens technology that’s made from impact-resistant Plutonite® material and provides 100% UVA, UVB, and UVC protection up to 400nm. (That’s up to 400 nanometers of UV radiation wavelength protection! Most sunglasses protect only up to 380nm.) It is designed to calibrate the lens tint to improve clarity and contrast.
Pick the ones best suited for your location. Prizm™ Snow is for typical skiing conditions. Prizm™ Torch Iridium, Jade Iridium, and Sapphire Iridium are good for variable light conditions. For low light and overcast days, Prizm™ Rose and Iced Iridium are best.
SUTRO OO9406
The Oakley SUTRO OO9406 sunglasses are full-frame shield-style sunglasses made from the company’s proprietary O MATTER™ frame material (said to be more durable and flexible than traditional acetate) and Prizm™ lenses. They’re great for skiing, mountain biking, and other high-performance sports that require vision clarity and protection from the elements.
Verified EZContacts buyers love these sunglasses!
Donald F. says:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oakley quality at a great price.
“Great glasses for cycling. Solid service and very competitive pricing.”
Likewise, Jacob S. highly recommends them:
“Great price and came a day sooner than projected. Came with brand new Oakleys, cloth cover, and case. Highly recommend EZContacts and these Oakley Prizms.”
Carlos R. praises the quality of these Oakley sunglasses:
“Great pair of active shades. Great sunglasses. Crisp, clear and covers your eyes entirely. Perfect for biking, hiking or water sports.”
OO9307 TURBINE ROTOR
Like the SUTRO, Oakley’s OO9307 TURBINE ROTOR sunglasses are made from Oakley’s better-than-acetate O MATTER™ frame material and Prizm™ lenses. These are shield-style sunglasses that are lightweight, durable, and built to withstand the elements. They’re great for skiing and other all-season outdoor sports.
They’re amazing sunglasses. Just check out what EZContacts customers are saying!
Ryan C. calls them “absolutely incredible.” He adds:
“The frame looks awesome and the fit is just as amazing… very comfortable and secure. The lenses are the best you’re going to find. I got them $70 cheaper than Oakley charges, and my order was processed and shipped very quickly. Overall extremely satisfied with my shades and the service. But truly, the lenses are out of this world… I will say that they are a little bigger than you may think, but it’s not a complaint because they contribute to wind protection.“
Chris W., on the other hand, calls them “superb.” He shares:
“Awesome pair of sunglasses. Very comfortable. Would buy again.”
CLIFDEN OO9440
Oakley CLIFDEN OO9440 sunglasses are specially made for high-altitude sports. The materials and lenses are similar to Oakley’s Sutro and Turbo Rotor (O MATTER™ and Prizm™ technologies) lenses. With the CLIFDEN, though, you get extra glare and sun protection through removable side shields and a center bridge blocker. They also come with a detachable 20-inch coated woven steel leash to keep the glasses in place, even as you twist and turn on complex slopes.
Felix W. calls these “BEST SUNGLASSES EVER,” and he adds that these are the best pair of Oakleys he’s ever owned.
Harold C., unsurprisingly, is also stoked! He says:
“Great glasses. Great job on lenses. Great price. I am more than satisfied.”
Pit Viper THE FRENCH FRY GOGGLE – SMALL: THE SLUDGE
The Pit Viper THE FRENCH FRY GOGGLE – SMALL: THE SLUDGE is a pair of skiing goggles that’s best for people with smaller faces. They boast of Cat 3 cylindrical revo lenses with anti-fog coating. Revo lenses use NASA-based Light Management System (LMS) technology to manage the full spectrum of light. How cool is that?!
Of course, you also get dual-layer 100% UVA and UVB protection, anti-fog coating, and vent technology. They are helmet-compatible and come with no-slip silicone-backed straps.
Honorable Mentions
Smith Venture
Smith Venture sunglasses are glacier-style sunglasses for high-performance sports. They’re similarly designed to Oakley’s Clifden sunglasses, with their removable side shields. They come with the company’s proprietary ChromaPop™ lenses for the best color and contrast. The frames are made from Evolve™ bio-based material.
When you buy this pair, you also get a removable nose piece that seals the nose area from cold-weather wind and fogging, and you get a detachable strap for added security.
Julbo Vermont Classic
Julbo Vermont Classic sunglasses are possibly one of the coolest-looking pairs of ski sunglasses you can find. They feature vintage-style Category 3 lenses. You get round lenses with leather side shields for extra coverage.
The 360° adjustable temple arms have rubberized grip technology and are ideal for wearing with a helmet. They’re great for winter skiing and other high-altitude sports.
Caring for Your Ski Sunglasses
Have you picked your winning ski sunglasses? Remember that they are necessary skiing accessories and need proper care so they give you effective eye protection.
Always use microfiber cloths and lens cleaners to clean the lenses. Don’t leave them out in the open, and definitely don’t leave them in direct sunlight. Store them in their protective case when not in use.
Also, always inspect them first before using. Damaged sunglasses compromise your eyes, especially during high-intensity activities, such as skiing.
TL;DR
- Skiing sunglasses are necessary accessories for high-intensity sports, such as winter skiing.
- Choose sunglasses that provide you with 100% UV protection, appropriate lens tinting, the best fit, impact-resistant frame material, and mirror coating.
- Some of the best ski sunglasses for 2025 include Oakley’s Sutro OO9406, OO9307 Turbine Roto, Clifden OO9440, Pit Viper THE FRENCH FRY GOGGLE – SMALL: THE SLUDGE, Smith Venture, and Julbo Vermont Classic.
- Make sure to clean your skiing sunglasses with a microfiber cloth, and always inspect them before using them.
