Optical Quality
Field of View
Lens-Change System
Comfort
Ventilation
Sustainability
Fit
Medium/large
Lens Shape
Cylindrical
Lenses Included
2
Additional Sizes
Low bridge
Pros
Cons
Smith Squad Mag
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Ski Goggles.
Smith’s ChromaPop lenses are a consistent favorite at Better Trail thanks to their sharp clarity, excellent contrast, and natural color rendering. The lenses add vibrance and depth to the landscape without feeling overdone or unnatural, making them one of the best all-around options on the market.
The Smith Squad Mag comes with two interchangeable ChromaPop lenses: one for bright conditions and another for low light. I opted for the Everyday Rose Gold Mirror lens, which is my go-to. It has a versatile 22% VLT (visible light transmission) and gives everything a pleasant, warm rose tint. It excels on sunny days and during light cloud cover, and the mirrored finish helps reduce glare from reflected sunlight. It’s the kind of lens you completely forget about during the day.
For storm days and cloudy conditions, the Storm Blue Sensor Mirror lens (55% VLT) has been a great companion. It’s ideal for PNW gloom and heavy snowfall, although it’s slightly dark for dedicated night skiing—but works well enough under resort lights in a pinch. Like the Rose Gold, it provides excellent contrast and clarity, helping to bring out subtle textures and undulations in the snow. No goggle lens can fully rescue you in true whiteout conditions, but ChromaPop lenses remain among the most confidence-inspiring and high-performing optics we’ve tested.
With its medium/large fit and cylindrical lens, the Smith Squad Mag offers a solid but not class-leading field of view. As my go-to goggle for resort and backcountry use, I’ve found the Squad Mag provides a wide and clear view with no major complaints. That said, the bulkier frame does make the edges of the goggle slightly visible in your periphery, particularly when glancing down. Thankfully, this fades away quickly on the mountain and I’ve never felt limited or experienced tunnel vision, even after multiple seasons of use.
That said, there are ski goggles that do it better. Smith’s 4D Mag, with its distinctive curved lens at the base, noticeably expands the downward field of view, which is helpful for quick gear adjustments or unzipping a jacket on the lift. I’ve worn both side by side, and while the 4D Mag undeniably provides a more open feel, I don’t find the difference large enough to justify the price jump for my needs. Compared to Smith’s I/O Mag, the Squad Mag is also a slight step down—the I/O’s spherical lens provides a touch more peripheral visibility, though the overall experience is fairly similar.
The Squad Mag is the most affordable model in Smith’s Mag lineup, but it retains the same high-quality and quick lens-change system. The design combines magnets and two locking levers for a secure yet highly intuitive swap. To remove the lens, you simply flip open the two levers on either corner, pop the lens out, and the magnets will guide the new lens into place. Snap the levers closed, and you’re ready to ski. It’s fast, foolproof, and a major upgrade over traditional gasket-based systems like those found on the standard Smith Squad.
Compared to older designs, the Squad Mag’s system is worlds better—you can swap lenses in well under a minute without even removing your gloves (and without risking broken nails). While it’s technically not as fast as Anon’s M Series goggles, which rely solely on magnets and can be swapped on-the-fly without removing the goggle, there’s some added security with the locking tabs on the Squad Mag. In short, this system strikes an excellent balance between speed and security, making lens swaps easy whether you’re in the lodge or mid-mountain.
As you’d expect from a premium $200+ goggle, the Smith Squad Mag delivers excellent all-day comfort. The triple-layer face foam strikes a great balance between softness and moisture-wicking while providing enough structure to prevent pressure points or discomfort from the plastic frame. I’ve worn these goggles for full resort days and long backcountry tours and have never experienced any soreness or pinching.
The frame itself is sturdy but has enough flex to mold well to the contours of the face, and I never noticed any gaps or poor sealing. Smith also offers the Squad Mag in a Low Bridge version, which adds extra foam around the nose for folks who would benefit from additional foam around the top of the nose.
If I had one minor gripe, it’s that the Squad Mag is slightly bulkier and sits a bit farther off the face than some sleeker spherical goggles like the Smith I/O Mag. For those with smaller faces, this could result in some added heft and pressure around the nose. But for most users, the fit is plush, secure, and supportive—making the Squad Mag a comfortable companion for full days of skiing and riding.
Like most of Smith’s premium goggles, the Squad Mag does a good job in the ventilation department. A high-quality anti-fog coating on the lens and foam-covered vents along the top, sides, and base of the frame work together to promote airflow and minimize fogging. I’ve used these goggles for short hikes into Crystal Mountain’s sidecountry terrain and rarely dealt with any significant fog buildup (as always, proper layering and managing your body heat play a role, too). On the few occasions when I did experience some fog, the anti-fog coating effectively cleared it up without forcing me to take off the goggles.
That said, after two seasons of use, I’ve noticed the anti-fog coating has worn down a bit, which is typical even with higher-end models. The ventilation system and coating still perform well enough that I’ve never been left unable to ski due to fogging, but it’s worth being aware that long-term wear will reduce some of that initial fog-fighting performance. Overall, the Squad Mag’s venting is on par with other top-end goggles and reliable for most resort and inbounds hiking uses.
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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.
Soft-Sided Storage Case
The Squad Mag comes with a standard microfiber storage bag, which includes a dedicated sleeve inside for the second lens. This helps keep both lenses scratch-free and organized when packed away. That said, I do miss the hard-sided case included with Smith’s pricier 4D Mag, which provides added protection, especially for those who tend to toss their ski goggles around a bit. Still, given the Squad Mag’s more affordable price point—$95 less than the 4D Mag—it’s a reasonable tradeoff for most users.
The Smith Squad Mag is a semi-framed goggle with a medium/large fit that worked great with my round-shaped face. The foam and frame conformed nicely, with no gaps or pressure points. It would be nice if Smith offered the Squad Mag in additional sizes—something they do with both their I/O Mag and 4D models. But we’ve found the medium/large fit accommodates a wide range of faces, from small/medium (for those who like a slightly oversized look) to larger faces. Finally, we do appreciate that Smith offers a low-bridge fit, which helps tailor the design to those with lower nose bridges.
Smith I/O Mag ($275): What About a Curvy Lens?
Smith’s I/O Mag closely resembles the build of the Squad but with a slightly smaller shape and a curved spherical lens in place of the Squad’s flatter cylindrical design. For folks with medium-sized faces, the standard I/O may offer a better fit, and its rounded lens shape and lower-profile frame leads to a little better field of view (again, for folks with medium-sized faces). Both models offer a wide range of quality ChromaPop lenses and a nice array of strap colors and designs. The I/O is made in three sizes—a plus for those with small or large faces—but otherwise a decision between the two should simply come down to looks. For us, the majority of our team is partial to the fun Squad and its semi-framed style. For more, read our review of the I/O Mag.
Anon Sync ($210): Save a Little, Sacrifice a Little
For a decent savings, Anon’s mid-range Sync is a worthy budget alternative to the Squad Mag. Both models include two medium/large lenses, a combo latch/magnetic lens-change system that’s secure and user-friendly, and their cylindrical lenses offer a good but not class-leading field of view. We give the overall optical edge to Smith’s more vibrant ChromaPop lenses, but Anon’s Perceive design isn’t far behind. One small slipup with the Sync is that its foam is thinner and can make it easier to feel the frame (especially if you really cinch it down snugly). That’s enough for us to give the edge to the Squad Mag but both are strong options.
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
The 4D Mag may be Smith’s pièce de résistance, but the I/O Mag is its flagship. It’s not a great value, but the proven design checks the right boxes: standout optics, a snappy lens-change system, and three available sizes (plus low-bridge versions). But don’t expect to stand out—the I/O is a popular choice on the mountain.
Optical Quality
Field of View
Lens-Change System
Comfort
Ventilation
Sustainability
A great middle-of-the-pack goggle, the Sync hits the mark for resort use. Optical quality and field of view are above average, you get two lenses and an easy-to-use lens-change system, and the price is right. The Sync can’t match the top of the market for optics or comfort, but it’s darn close and saves you cash in the process.
Optical Quality
Field of View
Lens-Change System
Comfort
Ventilation
Sustainability
The Smith Squad Mag is a great pick for skiers and snowboarders who want premium optics and a slick lens-change system without blowing the budget. The ChromaPop lenses are crisp and vibrant, the magnetic/lever combo for lens swaps is intuitive, and the ski goggle has the right balance of comfort and performance for season-long use. That said, the cylindrical shape and slightly bulkier frame trim the field of view and add a bit of heft compared to more expensive spherical options. But for $245, the Squad Mag delivers premium performance at a decent price.
pray for snow
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