Outdoors & Fitness · Head-to-head
Smith 4D MAG vs Anon M5
Which should you buy? Here's the honest call, pulled from our full The Best Ski Goggles: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Smith 4D MAG is the most complete goggle here - peerless downward vision, elite optics, and a secure quick-change system with a bonus lens included. The Anon M5 gets you nearly all of that performance with an even faster lens swap for meaningfully less money.
Smith 4D MAG
Buy itThe best all-around goggle you can buy, with a downward field of view nothing else matches.
- BirdsEye lens curves under your sightline, so you can see terrain and your ski tips without dropping your chin
- ChromaPop optics are repeatedly rated among the crispest and most color-accurate in independent testing
- MAG magnetic lens swap with locking clips is fast, secure, and includes a bonus low-light lens
- One of the most expensive goggles on the market
- Some owners notice slight distortion at the very bottom of the curved lens until they acclimate
Anon M5
Buy itThe fastest lens swap in the business, elite Perceive optics, and it undercuts the flagship competition.
- MAGNA-TECH magnetic system lets you swap lenses in seconds without taking the goggle off
- Perceive contrast lenses hold their own against the best from Smith and Oakley in independent testing
- Ships with a bonus lens and magnetic MFI face-mask integration that seals out wind without gaps
- Medium/large fit runs a bit smaller than the older M4, so bigger faces should try before buying
- Bonus lens comes in a soft sleeve rather than a hard case, which owners say invites scratches in a pack
Side by side
| Smith 4D MAG | Anon M5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Skiers and riders who are out most weekends and want the best optics and quickest secure lens changes, price be damned. | Riders who change lenses often - storm-day skiers and snowboarders who want magnets to do the work mid-chairlift. |
| Price tier | $$$$ · flagship | $$$ · premium |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Smith 4D MAG - The best all-around goggle you can buy, with a downward field of view nothing else matches. Choose the Anon M5 instead if riders who change lenses often - storm-day skiers and snowboarders who want magnets to do the work mid-chairlift.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Ski Goggles: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).