Goggles – Onto the Slopes

Oakley and Anon are two market leaders when it comes to snow goggles so in this article I'll be directly comparing their flagship goggles, the Oakley Flight Deck and Anon M4, so you can decide which is the best option for you. Oakley Flight Deck vs Anon M4 Oakley Flight Deck goggles have spherical lenses whereas Anon M4 goggles have either cylindrical or toric lenses. Anon M4 goggles are more expensive but come with a spare lens and MFI mask. Anon M4 goggles come in a single size whereas Flight Deck goggles come in two sizes. FactorBest OptionPeripheral ViewOakley Flight DeckOptical ClarityOakley Flight DeckAccessoriesAnon M4Lens Change SystemAnon M4Value for MoneyAnon M4 Images link to Amazon Lenses and Optics Oakley Flight Deck goggles have spherical lenses whereas Anon M4 goggles come with a choice of either toric or cylindrical lenses. Cylindrical lenses curve horizontally but not vertically which does allow for a larger lens to increase peripheral view. Spherical lenses curve both horizontally and vertically to match the shape of the eye. This reduces the amount of glare and distortion experienced in the periphery.Toric lenses are a cross between cylindrical and spherical lenses because they have some vertical curvature but not as much as spherical lenses. Oakley Flight Deck goggles have a frameless design which looks very sleek and also helps to increase visibility. In my opinion, the spherical lenses on the Flight Deck offer the best optics especially combined with the frameless design. However there are some people who prefer the look of the toric/ cylindrical lenses on the M4. Check out this article comparing the pros and cons of each lens shape to learn more about this topic. Oakley Flight Deck goggles use PRIZM technology lenses which uses dyes to change the light spectrum and block certain colors from getting through to increase contrast and reduce glare. Anon M4 goggles use Perceive lenses which offer great clarity and contrast but I think the edge really has to go to the PRIZM lenses. Here are some tables to show the lens options available for the Anon M4 and Oakley Flight Deck. Anon M4 Perceive Lenses Perceive Replacement LensLight Pass ThroughSunny Onyx (S4)6%Sunny Red (S3)14%Sunny Bronze (S3)17%Variable Blue (S2)21%Variable Green (S2)22%Variable Violet (S2)34%Cloudy Pink (S1)53%Cloudy Burst (S1)59%Cloudy Night (S1)72% Oakley Flight Deck Prizm Lenses Perceive Replacement LensLight Pass ThroughBlack5.5%Dark Grey12%Sapphire13%Jade13%Torch17%Rose26%Persimmon38%HI Pink46% Fit and Feel There are two versions of the Oakley Flight Deck: M and L. L goggles suit larger faces whereas M suit medium-sized faces. Anon M4 goggles come in one size which is designed to fit medium-large faces. I recommend trying both these goggles in a store if you can so you can feel which one is the best for your face size and shape. Filght Deck goggles have extra padding around the nose bridge which helps to ensure they fit slightly different nose bridge shapes and still feel comfortable. The M4 has a deeper nose pocket which means that it provides more space around the nose. The result is that it doesn’t push down on the nose as much which can otherwise be quite uncomfortable. Both Anon M4 and Oakley Flight Deck have an adjustable head strap and are compatible with pretty much every helmet on the market. Both goggles also have triple-layer face foam to improve comfort and moisture wicking as well as top and bottom venting. Accessories Anon M4 Goggles come with 2 lenses and an MFI mask whereas Oakley Flight Deck goggles just come with a single lens and no mask. The MFI mask that comes with the M4 is excellent. It has really nice fleece back material and vents to reduce fogging but the best part is that the mask attached to the goggles magnetically ensuring you get a perfect fit and full face coverage. Unfortunately you'll need to get an extra lens with you Oakley Flight Deck goggles if you plan on using them in very different lighting conditions. These replacement lenses typically cost $70 in the USA and £60 in the UK. Both goggles come with a bag included. Lens Change System Anon M4 goggles have Magna-Tech quick lens-change technology which uses magnets to allow you to easily switch between lenses in a matter of seconds which is really useful if the conditions quickly change on the slopes. The process of changing lenses is a bit of a pain on the Flight Deck's in comparison. You need to first remove the shield and then install the new lens by lining up the nose bridge and pushing it into place. Check out the videos below to see the lens change processes for both goggles. Anon M4 Lens Change https://youtu.be/6uLsoL5PgFY Oakley Flight Deck Lens Change https://youtu.be/xPAvjiR0v4s?t=120 Value for Money Anon M4 goggles cost approximately $265 in the USA and £290 in the UK. This includes the spare lens and MFI mask. Oakley Flight Deck goggles cost £200 in the USA and £183 on average in the UK. Replacement lenses for the flight deck cost approximately $70 in the USA and £65 in the UK. If you want two lenses then the price overall is pretty similar for both goggles. However, since the Anon M4 also includes the MFI mask, it does offer better value for money in comparison to the Oakley Flight Deck goggles. Colorways Finally, let's take a look at the color and lens options available for both goggles. Here are two tables to show you what's on offer. Anon M4 Color and Lens Options Frame ColorLensesSmoke FrameSunny Onyx Lens (6%/ S4)Variable Violet Lens (34%/ S2)Lemon FrameSunny Onyx Lens (6%/ S4)Variable Violet Lens (34%/ S2)Gray FrameSunny Onyx Lens (6%/ S4)Variable Violet Lens (34%/ S2)Black FrameSunny Red Lens (14%/ S3)Cloudy Burst Lens (59%/ S1)Mendez FrameSunny Red Lens (14%/ S3)Cloudy Burst Lens (59%/ S1)Maroon FrameSunny Bronze Lens (17%/ S3)Cloudy Burst Lens (59%/ S1)Navy FrameVariable Blue Lens (21%/ S2)Cloudy Pink Lens (53%/ S1)Black FrameVariable Green Lens (22%/ S2)Cloudy Pink Lens (53%/ S1)Green FrameVariable Green Lens (22%/ S2)Cloudy Pink Lens (53%/ S1)Melt White Frame Cloudy Pink Lens (53%/ S1)Variable Green Lens (22%/ S2) Oakley Flight Deck Color and Lens Options Note that Flight Deck goggles are frameless so only the color of the strap and lens changes. Strap ColorLensBlackBlack Iridium (5.5%)BlackSnow Rose (26%)BlackSapphire Iridium (13%)BlackSnow Torch (17%)BlackHi Pink (46%)BlackPersimmon (38%)BlackDark Grey (12%)BlackClear (90%)WhiteTorch Iridium (17%)WhiteJade Iridium (13%)WhiteHi Pink (46%)WhiteSapphire Iridium (13%)WhiteClear (90%)CelesteJade Iridium (13%)Dark BrushDark Grey (12%)PoseidonSapphire Iridium (13%)RedlineTorch Iridium (17%)Ultra PurpleHi Pink (46%) Check out my comparison between the Anon M2, M3 and M4.