Backcountry skiing and riding can put your gear through the wringer. And finding the right backcountry equipment that can hold up to the beating and provide you with the right level of durability, utility, weight savings and safety can take almost as much time as planning your next adventure. Goggles might be just a small piece of that equation, but compromised vision and eye fatigue can ruin a great day in the mountains.

Read on to learn what makes the perfect backcountry goggles and Julbo’s top picks for heading out of bounds

1. They're Lightweight

Weight should always be a consideration with backcountry—ounces saved equal energy preserved, which adds up to more energy for the descent and more laps. Julbo’s goggles feature frameless and minimalist frame designs that both keep weight down and provide a wide field of vision. 

2. They Fit Properly

Finding goggles that fit the size and shape of your face will provide a secure and comfortable fit. Julbo offers goggles in a variety of sizes, and with a number of features that ensure comfort and security. From the smaller-sized Shadow to the XL-sized Skydome, there is a goggle for any face. The dual-layer foam utilized across the goggle line provides optimal comfort, with soft contact with the skin.

3. They Have High-Quality Lenses

In the backcountry, you can experience everything from bright, midday sun to overcast and whiteout conditions, which can lead to compromised visual clarity and eye strain. Ensuring clear vision and protection no matter the weather or time of day will enhance your day in the mountains. This makes selecting the right lenses one of the most important aspects of purchasing goggles. 

Julbo offers two styles of lenses:

REACTIV Photochromic lenses change from light to dark, depending on ambient UV light. They are made from Trivex, an ultra-durable material with superior optical quality that’s used in helicopter windshields. The technology is built into each lens, making it non-temperature sensitive and impossible to scratch off or wear off over time. Certain Reactiv lenses are polarized, too, meaning they’ll eliminate glare off reflective surfaces, including snow and ice, and improve contrast.

SPECTRON lenses are lightweight, made from durable polycarbonate and designed to offer powerful protection in the mountains. They are equipped with an anti-reflective coating to improve visual comfort and a flash finish that improves the filtration of visible light. Although highly durable, Spectron lenses are less scratch-resistant than mineral lenses and they do not adjust to different light like Reactiv lenses. They are, however, more affordable.

4. They Don't Fog

Julbo incorporates strategically placed venting into every frame, for improved air circulation to prevent fogging. In addition, the NEW Lightyear goggles utilize the NEW SuperFlow Pro Anti-Fog System to provide increased ventilation using a lens that separates from the frame without removing the goggles from your face. 

The award-winning Lightyear goggles combine the revolutionary SuperFlow Pro anti-fog magnetic ventilation system with a frameless design and an XL-sized REACTIV photochromic lens. The new SuperFlow Pro easily switches open to immediately eliminate fog and prevent moisture buildup, replacing the Aerospace goggle’s hinge system with a glove-friendly design and dual-sided magnetic closure that effortlessly locks the lens to the frame. Combined with Julbo’s REACTIV photochromic technology, this large, spherical-lensed goggle is a multi-tasking hero for all conditions.

The CYRIUS was designed around a cylindrical photochromic lens and frameless construction for a super-wide and unobstructed field of vision so you can stay concentrated on nailing your line. 

The REACTIV photochromic lens adapts to UV lighting conditions in real time and is combined with our proprietary anti-fog coating for perfect vision and total protection, no matter the weather.