Expert Review: Anon M2 Goggles · 2021

About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the goggles, which I purchased with my own money in November of 2020.

My take

The Anon M2 are high-quality goggles with a quick and easy lens-change system and many lens options. They’re very versatile, so they’re perfect for the rider looking for all kinds of riding while encountering changing conditions.

About the goggles I own

• Model: 2021 Anon M2 Goggles
• Size: One Size
• Does it feature lens replacement?: Yes
• Fit: True to size

About me

• Helmet: 2022 Smith Vantage MIPS
• Wear glasses with goggles: No
• Experience: 30 years of snowboarding

Test conditions

• When I bought them November 2020
• Days used 100+ days
• Lenses I own: Perceive Variable Green and Perceive Cloudy Burst
• Weather conditions used in Every condition imaginable
• Where I’ve used them: Mt Bachelor, Mt. Hood meadows, Timberline, Anthony Lakes, Fergi, backcountry in Oregon
• Terrain: All terrain types

How they perform

What I was looking for

I wanted a quality goggle with a quick and easy lens-swap system and multiple lens options. I needed something that would work well for variable, quickly changing conditions.

Why I chose this gear

This goggle has the quickest and easiest lens-swap system of any goggle I’ve ever used, and lots of lens options are available. I also considered the Smith IO Mag, but my decision really came down to ease of lens swap. The Anon M2 has an easier system overall and similar quality and performance between the two goggles. I have used a lot of different goggles in the past, most recently the Smith IO and Electric EGG.

What I love about them

• Fit: The Anon M2s fit true to size. They work best for a medium-sized face like mine, but will also work for slightly smaller or larger face sizes. For the XL or XS face size, one will want to get the corresponding goggle size. The M2 fits snug to the face without pressure points and makes good use of padding.
• Comfort: These are some really comfortable goggles. Soft to the touch with ample padding.
• Lens replacement: Lens swap is quick and easy. It’s done by simply pulling the lens off, lining up the new lens to the goggles, and allowing the magnets to snap it in. It takes about 30 seconds and can be done with the goggles still on the face and in some pretty harsh conditions.
• Visibility: Outstanding visibility with crisp vision. The lenses are high quality and there are a lot of options; I can really find the perfect lens for the conditions and my preferences. I have a variable green lens for sunny days and a cloudy pink lens for overcast and low-light conditions. I have never had any issues with vision; wide field of view, but not as wide as some of the XL goggles on the market.
• Face frame These are best for a medium-sized face. They will fit on the moderate sides of medium, such as a large or a small face. But for snowboarders with an extra large or extra small face, it would be better to go with an XL or Asian-fit goggle.
• Experience with glasses underneath: I have not used these with glasses underneath, as I got Lasik some years back. However, the lens does sit away from the face, and it appears that glasses would fit fine without the extra pressure or constant fogging.
• Strap: The M2s have a pretty typical strap. It’s pretty easy to adjust and has a good combo of flex and rigidity to keep the goggles firmly on the face. They also have silicone on the inside that sticks to the helmet well, so they don’t slide down while riding.
• Helmet compatibility: I’ve used these with an Anon helmet, and I got a new Smith Vantage last year. The fit is a little better with Anon helmets—as all companies match their goggles to their helmets for the best fit. But the M2 has a really good fit with the Smith Vantage too. They make a good seal together, so no extra air gets in the helmet or goggles and the helmet isn’t pushed up. It’s not as seamless as the fit with the Anon helmet, but it is very close and something that has not been an issue at all.
• Features: The M2 has pretty much all the new, high-end features: magnetic lens swap; super crisp and clear Perceive lens with hydrophobic and oleophobic coating; spherical injected lens with wide field of view; triple layer foam; venting system; and silicone on the strap. They also have magnetic facemask integration (MFI) technology that allows for an MFI facemask to strap to the magnets of the goggles for a perfect fit. All this tech makes for a high-quality and great-performing goggle—as one would expect for the price range.
• Durability: I have had no issues with durability. These still perform close to new after 100+ days. The lens will inevitably get scratches, but they are replaceable.
• Other: I was a little concerned about the lens falling off with a lot of force—due to the magnetic system and no locking mechanism—but I have had some pretty gnarly wrecks that put a ton of pressure on these goggles and have not lost a lens yet. So I no longer have any concerns in that area.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Ventilation: There is good airflow, but when I get a good sweat going, these lenses fog up and don’t receive enough ventilation to clear the fog. So I have to remove the lens to wipe the fog off. I’ve only had this issue with climbing in the backcountry, so it probably won’t be an issue for most.

Favorite moment with this gear

I’ve had a lot of good moments with these goggles, as I haven’t had to worry about them—and that’s as good as it gets with goggles. My favorite moment was on a backcountry splitboarding excursion. I was climbing a secondary ridgeline in mild weather with the sun out, so I had the variable green lens in. When I reached the top, a gnarly wind was blowing with sideways snow, and quickly a thick cloud cover formed. I couldn’t see anything, but I was able to swap out my low light lens in about 30 seconds without having to take the goggles off my face. That gave me enough vision to switch over to ride mode and pick a line to get off the top of the mountain. I bought these goggles for these types of scenarios; the lens swap technology lives up to the hype.

Value for the money vs. other options

These are high-end goggles with magnetic lens swap technology and all the top technology, so that’s going to be included in the price. However, the M2 is similar to the Smith IO Mag and retail for $35 less; in my mind that’s a good value.

Final verdict

The Anon M2 is the best google one can get for quick and easy lens swap with high-quality lenses in multiple options. They are also cheaper than the top competitor, so a no-brainer for the rider who is swapping lenses multiple times throughout the day and encountering changing conditions.