The new Anon M6 ($295) boasts perhaps the best lens-change system in the biz, making it one of our favorite models based on its super-simple quick-swap system alone. Its optical quality is also great, and the goggle as a whole feels high-quality. However, the M6’s foam is a bit less plush than other premium competitors, and our tester had some issues with the nose bridge staying in view.
Optical Quality
Field of View
Lens-Change System
Comfort
Ventilation
Sustainability
Fit
Medium/large
Lens Shape
Cylindrical
Lenses Included
2
Additional Sizes
Small (M6S), low-bridge
Pros
Cons
Anon M6
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Ski Goggles.
The Anon M6 ships with two lenses—one for sunny days, one for cloudy ones. I chose the Hyper Lilac with Perceive Sunny Onyx (6% VLT) and the Perceive Variable Violet (34% VLT), a good combo for ultra-sunny days in the California Sierra and cloudy, flat-light storm days I hoped to experience on a trip to Japan. With both lenses, optical quality felt on par with most high-end Smith and Oakley goggles that I’ve used. I could always see clearly, with no weird distortion and crisp, clean visuals.
Along with the excellent optics, each lens dealt with its intended light conditions well. The Perceive Variable Violet has a nice, warm tint—sort of pink-brownish, with a hint of purple, which makes everything look warm and sunny. It provided helpful contrast on cloudy days. In contrast, the Perceive Sunny Onyx performed great on super-bright days with full sunshine; they saved my eyes from hurting on slushy May days at Mammoth Mountain. They felt dark enough to keep my eyes comfortable and happy in the brightest conditions.
The Anon M6 comes in a medium/large size, and Anon also offers a smaller M6S. Each version is available in both standard and low bridge-height options. I chose the medium/large size with a standard bridge, and I’m glad I did; it still felt a bit small compared with a lot of the popular oversized goggles on the market, and the other frame would have felt even smaller (and dorky), despite the fact that I’m a 5-foot-tall woman with a small face.
The M6’s lenses are cylindrical, which is a bit interesting given the goggles’ premium positioning; the shape is usually seen on models that don’t cost a ton, and is different from the spherical or toric lenses found on top-of-the-line goggles like the Smith 4D Mag, the Smith I/O Mag, and Anon's own M4 and M5. I like the lenses’ style, which looks less bug-eyed than spherical lenses, but the tradeoff is that their field of view is only decent, not fantastic.
My peripheral vision in the M6 is reasonable, but I could definitely see the goggle frame when looking side to side. More annoyingly, though, I could constantly see the nose bridge in my peripheral vision, which bugged me. No matter where I looked, there was always a little hint of purple, indicating the frame or nose bridge was in my field of view. Compared to the Zeal Lookout and the Flight Deck I’d used previously, the M6’s field of view was a clear step down, if not a dealbreaker.
Thankfully, Anon’s Magna-Tech lens-swap system goes a long way towards making up for the M6’s deficiencies. It’s crazy-easy to use, and I’m obsessed with it. Basically, magnets are embedded in the goggle frame and along the edges of the lenses; with your thumb on the nose bridge and your index finger at the center of the frame, you can pinch both sides and gently pry the flexible frame away from the lens. To put the new lens on, roughly line it up with the frame, let the magnets pull it into place, listen for the telltale “clack,” and you’re done.
The process is stupendously user-friendly and is almost certainly the easiest lens-change system I’ve ever used. I'd typically worry that a magnetic system wouldn't stay secure (like everyone, I crash occasionally), but the whole thing feels glued on. Even after a few wipeouts, the goggle lenses have stayed in place. Plus, I can swap lenses while wearing gloves, and even with the goggles still on my face (though I’ll admit the latter makes me look a little like a dweeb).
The only minor drawback I’ve found is that when I pull the goggle strap too tight around my helmet—like when I take off my goggles and place them on my helmet—the lens occasionally pops out. I now keep the strap a bit looser and am more mindful of how hard I squeeze the frame when repositioning it between runs.
For a model near the top of Anon’s goggle line, the M6 wasn’t as comfortable as I was expecting. In particular, its foam was less plush than on other high-end ski goggles I’ve worn. Although the foam molded to my face okay, it always felt like it was compressing my cheekbones a bit awkwardly. The foam is dual-density, unlike the triple-density found on more comfortable models like the Smith 4D Mag. That said, I didn’t feel the frame at all, and it’s flexible enough to mold to my face when I tighten the straps.
Ventilation is another area in which the Anon M6 shines. Almost the entire top of the goggle is one giant vent covered in a thin layer of foam. Two medium-sized vents sit at the bottom, and the sides are also nearly entirely vented. This is one well-aerated goggle. As a result, its anti-fog performance is excellent—I rarely found my goggles fogging, whether I was riding a sweaty powder day at Mammoth or slogging through a nuking storm in the June Mountain backcountry. This level of ventilation is essential for good visibility, so I don’t take it for granted.
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Longevity
Choosing durable outdoor gear and keeping it in use for longer is one of the best ways to reduce environmental impact. Our proprietary longevity rating assesses factors like overall build quality, materials, fabric denier, component durability, and real-world performance. A green check indicates that we expect the product to be long-lasting relative to its peers, a yellow check mark indicates average longevity, and a red X indicates a product that may have a limited lifespan.
Recycled Materials
Recycled materials are prevalent in outdoor gear, with nylon, polyester, wool, and down among the most common, but the composition varies widely. A green check mark indicates the product is made with a substantial amount of recycled materials (100% recycled or the core fabric that makes up most of the product is recycled), a yellow check means it contains a moderate to small amount of recycled materials, while a red X means there are no recycled materials in the product.
Replacement Parts
Replacement parts help extend a product’s lifespan by allowing consumers to repair damaged components—like ski goggle lenses or trekking pole clips—rather than purchasing a new one. A green check indicates a brand offers a robust selection of replacement parts, a yellow check indicates a more limited offering, and a red X indicates no replacement parts are available for this product.
Responsible Manufacturing
This criterion evaluates a brand’s commitment to fair wages, safe working conditions, and reducing environmental impact through certifications and programs like Fair Trade Certified, Fair Wear Foundation, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), and the Fair Labor Association, while also recognizing brands that manufacture primarily in the U.S. or Europe under strict labor and environmental regulations. A green check mark indicates a brand meets our responsible manufacturing criteria, while a red X means it does not.
Recycled and/or Reduced Packaging
Packaging can add significant waste to outdoor gear purchases, so many brands work to reduce its impact by using recycled materials, incorporating Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products, and minimizing plastic and paper use. A green check mark indicates a brand uses recycled or reduced materials across all of its packaging, a yellow check indicates moderate or limited use of recycled or reduced packaging, and a red X indicates the brand does not make either of these efforts.
Carbon Footprint Tracking
This criterion evaluates whether a brand measures, reports, and works to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions using established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. A green check mark indicates a brand publicly reports greenhouse gas emissions data, sets clearly defined reduction targets, and uses established tracking frameworks such as Higg or The Change Climate Project. A yellow check mark indicates the brand tracks emissions and outlines reduction goals but provides limited data, lacks science-based verification, or does not clearly report progress. A red X indicates the brand does not appear to track greenhouse gas emissions or provides so little information that its efforts cannot be verified.
Annual Impact Report
Annual impact reports provide transparency and accountability by outlining a brand’s sustainability efforts across areas such as material sourcing, greenhouse gas emissions, waste, water use, supply chains, and packaging. A green check mark indicates a brand publishes a detailed, brand-specific impact report that closely aligns with our sustainability criteria and leaves little room for ambiguity. A yellow check indicates a brand provides some relevant sustainability reporting but lacks detail in key areas or is covered only briefly within a parent company report. A red X indicates a brand does not regularly publish an impact report.
Face Mask
One of the most notable things about Anon’s M series of goggles is that they come with a face mask that magnetically attaches to the goggle, keeping it securely in place without bunching. I didn't use it much, mostly because I prefer masks that fit more tightly around my face and are made from merino wool rather than this one’s polyester. The Anon mask also goes over the nose and has gaps at the back, two features that I don’t love. But if you’re not as picky as I am or value the solid connection, you’ll probably like the design.
Case
Along with a Gogglesoc sleeve that doubles as a lens wipe, the M6 comes with a really nice soft-sided carrying case. It did a great job protecting the goggle during my travels to and around Europe for a spring splitboard mountaineering trip. I never worried about damaging the goggles, even when I tossed my luggage on trains, planes, and in cars.
The regular Anon M6 fits medium-to-large faces, while the Anon M6S fits smaller faces. Both models come in regular and low nose bridge heights.
I’m pretty petite—just five feet tall and with a small face—but I still prefer a larger goggle, partly for style and partly for function. (You’re less likely to get an annoying helmet gap, and it covers more of your face on windy days.) I went with the regular M6 and would describe it as closer to medium; it’s not super big, but it's definitely not small. I have a few minor gripes with the goggles’ fit: they were a little tight against my cheekbones and formed a slight gap with my Smith Vantage helmet that I kept having to adjust. That said, the seal was good; no elements got in, and I never noticed wind in my eyes.
Anon M4 ($340): The True Flagship
Anon’s naming scheme leaves something to be desired from a clarity standpoint, but here’s the simple breakdown: yes, the M4 is older than the M5 and M6, but it’s the current flagship of the line. For another $45, the M4 gets you a larger size (it’s a true large compared with the M6’s medium/large) and superior field of view from its Toric lens. In our opinion, the reasons to get the M6 over the M4 are if you prefer its flat cylindrical lens look or like the smaller shape; otherwise, the M4 beats it in most key performance metrics for not much more money. To learn more, see our Anon M4 review.
Smith Squad Mag ($265): Cheaper… and Better
Smith’s Squad Mag is a logical competitor to the latest M6, coming with two cylindrical lenses, a magnetic quick-change system, and an all-around premium build. Style-wise, it’s a difference between a low-profile full frame (M6) or a semi-framed look (Squad Mag), and Anon’s Magna-Tech lens-change system is slightly faster to use than Smith’s (though they’re both excellent and secure). The Squad Mag is slightly larger, has a slightly better field of view, we didn’t have any comfort issues with its foam, and it saves you a not-insubstantial $30. As such, we give it the advantage. For more, read our full review of the Smith Squad Mag.
The newest entry in Anon’s flagship goggle line, the M6 excels where its predecessors did: its magnetic lens-change system is the smoothest on the market, and Anon’s Perceive lenses deliver high-end optics. However, we found the M6’s sightlines and foam to be less than stellar.
Optical Quality
Field of View
Lens-Change System
Comfort
Ventilation
Sustainability
With the release of the M5 and M6, the Anon M4 is no spring chicken. But the past-gen model remains the flagship, with a premium build, fast magnetic lens-change system, and super-crisp optics. Plus, the M4 has a slightly larger field of view (and a slightly larger fit) and comes with a hard-sided case for your spare lens.
Optical Quality
Field of View
Lens-Change System
Comfort
Ventilation
Sustainability
Smith’s lowest-priced Mag is no slouch. The Squad features the same snappy lens-change system as the I/O and 4D models, a wide selection of premium ChromaPop lenses, and a comfy fit. The large cylindrical lens is a bit bulky, but the Squad’s retro styling and high-end build give it widespread appeal.
Optical Quality
Field of View
Lens-Change System
Comfort
Ventilation
Sustainability
If you’re a skier or rider who lives in a constantly shifting climate—we’re talking about hourly, not just day-to-day—the Anon M6 ski goggle and its easy-as-pie lens-change system might make your day on the mountain a lot simpler. The magnetic system makes quick equipment changes easy, and the M6’s lens tech and ventilation are up there with the market’s best. Just know, though, that you won't get as refined a feel or field of view as you might with other top-of-the-line options like the Smith 4D Mag or the Oakley Flight Deck—though the M6 is the slightly better deal at less than $300.
pray for snow
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