If you wear glasses and snowboard, it can be challenging to find an option that will fit over the top of your frames. Luckily, there are some good OTG style designs out there that are made with this in mind.
My job as a snowboarding instructor allows me to interact with all types of riders. I don’t wear glasses myself, but I’ve talked with many of my students who do. That’s how I’ve learned about the best goggles to wear with glasses.
The best OTG snowboard goggles are the Oakley Flight Deck. These come in a larger size and already have a wide, expansive frame to sit over your face with glasses on easily.
In this post, I’ll show you a handful of other OTG goggle options to help you find the pair that will work best for your preferences or needs.
Clean your glasses, and let’s go.
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Who Should Get This
As the name suggests, OTG goggles are for boarders with glasses. Anyone who needs prescription eyewear on the mountain will love these.
They also work well with sunglasses, making them great for people who like to ride in warmer weather.
Do note that while OTG goggles can be used with glasses, they don’t have to be. Each of the following models do well on their own with or without eyewear.
If you’re looking for a solid pair for your next trip, these will get the job done.
Top OTG Snowboard Goggles
Here are my picks for the best OTG snowboard goggles:
1. Best Overall: Oakley Flight Deck
- Best for: Overall
- Key features: Super comfortable, rimless lens, HDO lens technology, large frame, dual vented lenses
- Lens: Interchangeable
- Frame Size: Large
- Cost: $$$
The Oakley Flight Deck is the best pair of OTG snowboard goggles on the market. These would work well for any rider, but the large frame and rimless lens design make them ideal for anyone who wears glasses.
They are very comfortable and built to have an anatomical fit that holds tight to your face without letting in airflow. The seal that the Flight Deck makes on your face is impressive and effective at keeping out the elements.
The rimless lens design increases your field of view considerably while allowing you to have extended peripheral vision. Even if you wear large glasses, these will fit over the top, no problem.
Plutonite lenses ensure you get clear vision and durable performance. They come with an F3 coating to prevent fog from building up. This material is also super strong and resists scratches and smudges.
Dual vented lenses allow for adequate airflow, which is needed to keep the larger lenses free from moisture and fog. It also helps keep your face from overheating. Triple-layer polar fleece foam adds another moisture-wicking element to the equation.
These are expensive and might be too big and bulky if you don’t wear glasses.
==> You can also get it on Evo or Sunglass Hut.
2. Best for Low Light: Smith Optics I/O Mag XL
- Best for: Low Light
- Key features: Responsive fit frame design, ChromoPop lens tech, interchangeable lens system, AirEvac venting, QuickFit strap
- Lens: Interchangeable
- Frame Size: Large
- Cost: $$
If you want an OTG option that works well in lower light, take a look at the Smith Optics I/O Mag XL. These are some of my favorite goggles around and deliver excellent clarity and comfort.
They come with a Responsive Fit frame design that keeps the outer material flexible enough to mold to the contours of your face. Even with a larger frame, you will get a good seal to keep out wind and snow.
Excellent visibility is made possible by ChromaPop lens technology. This design filters out specific wavelengths of light to help provide better color and contrast when you ride.
The I/O Mag XL also comes with an advanced 5X anti-fog inner lens that effectively reduces moisture and limits fogging. AirEvac tech works right alongside this to keep the lens clear almost all the time.
These can fit a little tight, so you’ll want to be sure to adjust the strap just right before you start riding.
==> You can also get it on Smith Optics or Evo or Backcountry.
3. Best Women’s: Giro Lusi
- Best for: Women’s
- Key features: Affordable, EXV frame, injection-molded lenses, Zeiss VIVID lenses, EVAK venting
- Lens: Interchangeable
- Frame Size: Medium
- Cost: $$
The Giro Lusi is an excellent OTG women’s goggle. These have a great throwback style and performance you can count on. They also have a Super Fit OTG design that is specifically engineered to work with glasses.
The lenses are injection-molded and spherical for solid and durable performance and provide optics that mimic the human eye. This shape also increases airflow by creating more space between the lens and face, which is also a great OTG consideration.
Zeiss makes the VIVID lenses, and they offer fantastic contrast and clarity. These also come with an anti-fog coating, so you won’t need to worry about moisture build-up. EVAK Vent technology uses special foam to keep out wind and moisture as well.
The Lusi also has helmet compatibility and will work seamlessly with all Giro helmets.
They have a medium frame, so they might not be the best option for women with larger heads who wear glasses while they ride.
==> You can also get it on Evo or Sun & Ski Sports or Equipe Sports.
4. Best Budget Option: OutdoorMaster OTG
- Best for: Budget
- Key features: Affordable, anti-fog lens, excellent clarity, many lens options, TPU frame, universal helmet compatibility
- Lens: Anti-Fog
- Frame Size: Large
- Cost: $
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get OTG goggles, and the OutdoorMaster OTG reflects that. These will give you all the performance you need at a very approachable price.
They have a large frame that sits nicely over your face. It’s made from a TPU material that is flexible and lightweight for lasting comfort.
A dual-layer lens with an anti-fog coating will limit moisture from building up, and they also have pretty decent ventilation for a cheap set of goggles.
Universal helmet compatibility is made possible by an extra-long strap to lengthen or short to get that perfect fit.
The OutdoorMaster OTG is available in many different lens colors and styles, but the lenses aren’t interchangeable. They also don’t offer outstanding durability.
==> You can also get it on Walmart.
How to Choose Snowboard Goggles for Glasses
Here are some things to keep in mind when you are shopping for snowboard goggles for glasses.
Tint
Every goggle comes with different tints, and each tint is made for a specific type of light. When getting new eyewear, pay attention to what conditions you most commonly ride in.
Lighter tints are better for overcast days and low-light environments, while darker tints help you see better when the sun’s out.
In addition, completely clear goggles work during the night. If you board in a lot of different environments, photochromic lenses are the way to go. These lenses can adapt to varying light conditions without changing lenses.
Ventilation
Nobody wants their goggles to fog. Not only is it annoying, but it can also be quite dangerous as you zip around the mountain. Most snowboard goggles, OTG or otherwise, have built-in ventilation to prevent that issue.
Look for models with vents, anti-fog treatments, or special lenses that let hot air escape. Such traits help you see and also work to keep you cool as you sweat.
Fit
When picking out OTG goggles, you have to make sure they fit. These models tend to come with extra space or a unique design to incorporate glasses. As such, you always want to be sure they are comfortable and sit in a way that won’t pinch or harm you as you ride.
You also want to watch out for goggles that are too loose, as those can let in cold air or snow. When possible, always try on eyewear before making your final purchase.
Useful Tips
All snowboard goggles, OTG or otherwise, need to be well cared for. It is easy to assume a durable pair will last forever, but that’s simply not the case.
Check out the video below for a few tips you can follow to keep your goggles protected each and every season.
While OTG goggles are the best way to board with prescription eyewear, simply owning a pair doesn’t mean you’ll be able to use them effectively.
If you’re curious about all the different ways you can board with glasses, this article covers each one in great detail.
My Verdict
If you want the best OTG goggles to wear when you snowboard, take a look at the Oakley Flight Deck. These are a top-of-the-line option for any rider, but come with a larger frame and wide lens that makes them highly compatible when wearing glasses.
Glasses and goggles are not mutually exclusive. While some snowboard brands make goggles that don’t work with other eyewear, there are plenty of fantastic OTG models if you know where to look.
All of the above options will give you great results all over the mountain, regardless of how you like to ride.
About Lorraine