Best of 26/27 Archives

Spring skiing is when plenty of us finally ditch the goggles, feel the air on our face, and remember why this part of the season is so addictive. Snow reflects UV and glare back at you, so even on “easy” piste days your eyes can take a hammering if your sunnies are not up to it. If you are choosing one pair for spring, start with the basics: UV400 protection, a lens that copes with bright conditions (often Cat. 3), and a fit that stays put when you are skiing, sweating, and stopping for photos. If you ski in mixed light, a photochromic lens that shifts tint can be the simplest solution. Watch our video review Want the quick, real-world version before you buy? We run through lens types, fit, coverage and what matters most for spring skiing, then rank the picks from budget to premium in our YouTube review: https://youtu.be/2wTn7SeICiE?siEzcTkeAix1Pu0QYT The sunglasses, budget to premium Goodr Fly G, £30 What it is: Oversized flat-top sunglasses with big coverage and a very spring-friendly price. What we love: You get proper coverage for bright piste days without treating them like jewellery. At £30, they are also the pair you can happily throw in a pocket at lunch. Best features: Big lens area, easy wear, fun styling, and Goodr’s UK range starts at £30. Buy if: You want the cheapest easy win for bluebird days.Skip if: You want a more technical wrap fit for higher speed or touring. UK stockists: goodr.co.uk and running and outdoor independents that carry Goodr. Goodr Flex G, £40 What it is: A sportier, half-rim shape designed to feel more “locked in” on active days. What we love: More performance vibe than Fly G, and the half-rim keeps your view clean when you are looking down the hill.Best features: Polarised and built around a no-slip approach across the Goodr range. Buy if: You want something you can ski hard in and then wear straight to après.Skip if: You prefer full-frame lifestyle shapes. UK stockists: goodr.co.uk and selected sport retailers. Goodr Grand G, £40 What it is: A broader, squarer fit that works as your “one pair for the trip”. What we love: Comfortable on larger faces, and easy to live in all day.Best features: Polarised approach and easy, everyday styling that still works on snow. Buy if: You want a single pair for skiing, travel and resort life.Skip if: You want wraparound coverage. UK stockists: goodr.co.uk and Goodr retail partners. Panda Optics S25-3, about £78 (often discounted) What it is: Lightweight sports sunglasses aimed at performance and adjustability. What we love: The feel is properly sporty without drifting into eye-watering pricing. Adjustable elements make a real difference when you are pairing sunglasses with helmets and beanies. Best features: Low weight and fit tuning, making them a strong mid-price option for skiers who move around a lot. Buy if: You want performance sunglasses but do not want to jump straight to the big premium brands.Skip if: You mainly ski in changeable light and want photochromic. UK stockists: pandaoptics.co.uk. Decathlon MH900 Photochromic (Cat. 2–4), £69.99 What it is: Photochromic mountain sunglasses that shift tint from Cat. 2 to Cat. 4. What we love: This is the value headline of the whole guide. A genuine Cat. 2–4 photochromic range at £69.99 makes it an obvious spring pick. Best features: Photochromic lens range, plus adjustable nose bridge and temples, with ventilation designed for mountain use. Buy if: You ski long days where cloud comes and goes, or you dip in and out of shade and sun.Skip if: You want a more lifestyle look off the hill. UK stockists: Decathlon (decathlon.co.uk). Vallon Hazlewood, £105 What it is: Big 1980s-inspired style with proper optics aimed at high-altitude light. What we love: It nails the spring-ski look while still offering the kind of protection you actually appreciate at altitude.Best features: Impact-resistant V52 lenses with full mirror coating, plus a gently curved frame designed to help with reflections. Buy if: You want style with substance for bright resort days.Skip if: You need Cat. 4 and side shields. UK stockists: vallon.com and selected retailers. Vallon Heron Glacier, about £115 What it is: Glacier-style sunglasses designed for intense light, touring and higher exposure days. What we love: This is the pair you pack when the light is properly fierce and you want your eyes to feel fresh at the end of the day, not fried.Best features: Built for ski touring and high-altitude use, with the protection-first glacier approach. Buy if: You tour, ski higher, or spend spring days hunting good snow when the sun is relentless.Skip if: You want one pair for skiing and driving, since Cat. 4 style lenses are not usually ideal for road use. UK stockists: vallon.com and specialist outdoor retailers. Oakley Stunt Devil (Prizm), £191 What it is: A premium Oakley pair with Prizm lens tech, listed at £191 on Oakley GB. What we love: Prizm can give you that extra bit of definition on spring snow, especially when the light is bright but the surface is a bit featureless.Best features: Oakley Prizm lens option, premium build, and a confident, sport-forward fit. Buy if: You want high-end lens performance and you know you will use them a lot.Skip if: You would rather spend similar money on a second goggle lens for mixed conditions. UK stockists: Oakley (oakley.com) and authorised eyewear retailers. Smith Pursuit (Photochromic), sale pricing varies What it is: Big-coverage, mountain-first sunglasses with photochromic options and removable side shields. What we love: This is about as close as sunglasses get to a “goggles off but still protected” feeling, especially for touring and high-output days.Best features: Photochromic lenses that adapt to light, adjustable fit, and removable side shields for extra coverage. Buy if: You skin, bootpack, tour, or just want maximum coverage without wearing goggles all day.Skip if: You want something compact that lives in a jacket pocket. UK stockists: Smith (smithoptics.com) and specialist retailers. Oakley Massillon, price varies by lens and retailer What it is: A premium Oakley model, positioned more as luxury eyewear but still performance capable. What we love: It is the “treat yourself” option, but comfort and build quality are genuinely excellent if you want one pair for travel, resort and everyday use.Best features: Oakley’s premium construction and lens options on the official store page. Buy if: You want one high-end pair that you will wear far beyond ski season.Skip if: You are mostly looking for a dedicated on-snow tool. UK stockists: Oakley (oakley.com) and authorised eyewear retailers. Quick picks for spring Best under £50: Goodr Fly G (£30) if you want coverage, or Flex G (£40) if you want more sport feel. Best value all-rounder: Decathlon MH900 Photochromic (Cat. 2–4) at £69.99. Best for full-strength glare days: Vallon Heron Glacier. Best premium contrast lens feel: Oakley Stunt Devil (Prizm) at £191. Review - Best Skis for 2026/7

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