Anon M5 Snow Goggles Review

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I’ve worn a bunch of goggles over the years. As a grom, it was often whatever hand-me-downs came from the lost-and-found, or thrift store scores. Then, as an adult, I’d often go for the cheap pairs that would end up becoming a disaster. Now as I get older, I have seen the light (in all its various tints) to the value in investing in a good pair of goggles from the outset. Doing so will keep you riding more in a blizzard, allow your eyes to adjust to full sunlight on snow, and have the right ventilation to keep fog from ruining your sight.

After testing dozens of pairs over the past 5 or so years (and many seasons before that while trying to find the best pair, I’ve come across one that stands out: the Anon M5. These goggles took Best Overall in my roundup of the best ski and snowboard goggles, where you can see how it compares to the Smith 4D MAG, Vallon Crossroads, and Dragon NFX MAG.

Read on to see what I like about these.

Anon M5: First Impressions

I own an Anon Merak helmet as well; and what I first noticed when putting it on is how they are designed to have a seamless fit. This is nothing unique to Anon, of course. Most brands who offer a goggle/helmet combo will make them work togther but I do love the helmet (check out the review here) so it’s nice to have the goggles work well together with it.

Specs verified September 2026 against Anon’s product page

Notable Features of the Anon M5

MFI magnetic face mask: This is the feature that separates Anon from everyone else, and it comes in the box rather than as an upsell. The mask clips magnetically to the bottom of the frame, so it seals the gap under the goggle without bunching, and it comes off one-handed when you’re overheating on the skin track. Anon’s line is that it seals without obstructing ventilation, which is the failure mode of pulling a regular buff up over your nose.

Magna-Tech lens change: Rare-earth magnets with up to nine connection points depending on the model, self-aligning so the lens drops into place without you looking at it. It’s the fastest system of the four I tested, and the one you can genuinely work with mittens on. What it doesn’t have is a mechanical lock — see Drawbacks.

The flat toric lens: These are Anon’s middle ground between a cylindrical and a toric shape, aimed at people who want the wider peripheral vision of a toric without the frame footprint of the M4. If you’ve looked at the M4 and thought it was a lot of goggle, this is the reason the M5 exists.

Perceive lens range: The M5 ships with two Perceive lenses, and the wider catalogue spans roughly 6% to 59% VLT, so you can build out to cover glacier sun through storm-day flat light on the same frame. Which pair you get depends on the colourway you buy, so be sure to check the lens spec rather than the frame colour when you order.

Fit options: Beyond the standard frame, Anon offers a Low Bridge Fit with extra foam in the nose pocket, and the M5S. It’s the same lens shape and tech scaled down for smaller faces. That’s a genuinely useful ladder if the standard M5 doesn’t seal on you.

Drawbacks

No mechanical lock. Magna-Tech is magnets only. Anon’s claim is “unsurpassed lens retention” from the number of connection points, and in my experience the magnets have held through repeated crashes. But if that type of thing worries, you, the peace of mind from a mechanical lock from other brands may suit you better.

Premium price. At ~$320 USD list it’s not the most expensive goggle in the roundup, but it’s well above the Vallon Crossroads for a comparable feature set. The facemask is part of what you’re paying for, which is a good deal if you’d have bought one anyway.

One-year warranty. Anon covers these for one year from purchase, which is shorter than some competitors in this price bracket. Vallon, for one, offers a lifetime guarantee against manufacturing defects.

Silicon band wears out. The silicon on the strap (actually, two of them) seems to wear out after a bit of use. It wasn’t as thick as other brands I tested. So if staying in place is of utmost importance, then you’d either want to add some of your own or find a strap that has a bit more tackiness.

Best Uses for the Anon M5

The fact that you have so many lenses to choose from, and how easy it is to change lenses means it’s pretty much a go-anywhere, do-anything pair of goggles. So you want to have these when quality counts, and the weather is variable enough to require lens changes from run to run. It’s also a great mid-winter tool since you get the magnetic facemask included, allowing you to easily remove it when it gets hot, and put it back on when the snow is piling up.

Skip If You…

If you’re a casual skier or snowboarder that only goes out when it’s sunny, you can probably do fine with a lower-shelf pair of goggles. This is meant to be for people who ride hard, in all conditions, and need a fast lens-change on the fly.

You also might want to find a pair of goggles with a locking mechanism if you’re the type who crashes hard, and often. The magnets are excellent, and I’ve never had them fly away, however as I get older I tend to avoid the hard bails and stick to pow. But it’s a numbers game with them flying off eventually since there’s nothing locking them into place.

Final Thoughts

I’m a big fan of the M5 goggles. They really are as versatile as they are promoted. I haven’t had any fogging issues, they are now three seasons deep and still hold up well, and the facemask gets use when the timing is right. I’ve never tried the M6, though, so that’s for another time. But for me, the M5 is in the sweet spot for shape, size, comfort, and versatility.

For how the M5 compares against the rest of the field, see The Best Ski and Snowboard Goggles.