Anon M4 Toric Goggle Review

The Anon M4 Toric is Anon's flagship ski and snowboard goggle, and it's built around two features that no competitor bundles together at this level: a toric Perceive lens and an integrated MFI magnetic face mask system. At ~$320 with a bonus lens and face mask included, it's the most expensive goggle in our ski goggles comparison — but it's also the most complete package for cold-weather riders.

Perceive Toric Lens: What Makes It Different

The M4's defining feature is its toric lens shape. While spherical lenses (Oakley Flight Deck, Smith I/O Mag) curve equally in all directions and cylindrical lenses (Oakley Line Miner) curve in one direction, a toric lens curves at different rates vertically and horizontally. The practical result: you get the distortion reduction of a spherical lens with the lower, flatter profile of a cylindrical lens.

Anon pairs this with their Perceive lens technology and Integral Clarity Technology (ICT), which optimizes light transmission across the entire color spectrum. On the snow, this translates to sharper contrast between terrain features — you can distinguish ice from hardpack, powder from crust, and bumps from shadows more clearly than with a standard tinted lens.

The 40% thinner face foam (compared to previous M4 generations) pushes the lens closer to your face, creating what Anon calls "wall-to-wall" vision. The field of view is genuinely wide — peripheral vision extends further than most spherical goggles despite the lower profile.

Magna-Tech Lens Change

The M4 uses N52-grade magnets (the strongest commercially available neodymium magnets) to hold the lens in place. Swapping lenses takes about five seconds: pull the lens away from the frame, align the new lens, and the magnets snap it into position. You can do this with gloves on, at the top of a lift, without removing the goggle from your helmet.

The magnetic hold is secure enough for aggressive riding — I've never had a lens pop out in moguls, trees, or crashes. The frame has 18 magnetic contact points around the perimeter, which distributes holding force evenly.

The M4 comes with a bonus lens (typically a low-light tint to complement the primary dark tint), so you're covered for both bluebird and overcast days out of the box.

MFI Face Mask Integration

This is where the M4 separates from every other goggle on the market. The included MFI face mask clips magnetically to the bottom of the goggle frame, creating a sealed connection between goggle and face coverage. No tucking a balaclava under your goggle frame, no gaps where cold air sneaks in, no moisture from your breath fogging the lens.

The magnetic connection is easy to engage and disengage — pull the mask down for a breather at the lift, snap it back up before dropping in. The seal prevents the warm exhaled air from traveling up behind the lens, which is the primary cause of goggle fogging when wearing face coverings.

For riders in seriously cold conditions (-10°F and below), the MFI system is a genuine performance advantage. It's the difference between clear vision and constantly lifting your goggle to defog.

Frame and Build Quality

The frame uses dual-molded construction: PC-ABS (rigid polycarbonate/acrylonitrile blend) on the outside for structure, and TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) where the frame contacts your face for flexibility and comfort. This means the goggle holds its shape in extreme cold but flexes on impact rather than cracking.

Full-perimeter channel venting runs around the entire frame, channeling air across the inner lens surface. Combined with ICT anti-fog treatment on the inner lens, fogging has been a non-issue in my use — even during high-effort bootpacking and spring skiing in above-freezing temperatures.

The strap is wide, silicone-backed, and adjustable. It sits cleanly over helmets without bunching.

Anon M4 Toric vs. Oakley Flight Deck M

The Oakley Flight Deck M (~$200–240) is the M4's closest competitor and our top-rated overall ski goggle. Here's how they compare:

Optics: Both deliver premium lens tech (Perceive vs. Prizm). The toric lens gives the M4 a slight edge in distortion reduction with a lower profile, but the Flight Deck's frameless design provides a wider field of view overall. Close to a draw.

Lens change: The M4's Magna-Tech magnetic system is faster than Oakley's Ridgelock, and the M4 includes a bonus lens while the Flight Deck doesn't. Advantage: M4.

Face coverage: The M4 includes an MFI face mask. The Flight Deck doesn't offer any integrated face coverage. If you ride in deep cold, this alone justifies the price difference. Advantage: M4.

OTG compatibility: The Flight Deck has temple notches for prescription glasses. The M4 does not accommodate glasses. Advantage: Flight Deck.

Price: The Flight Deck is $80–100 less. If you don't need MFI face coverage, the Flight Deck delivers comparable optics for significantly less. Advantage: Flight Deck.

Verdict: If you ride in cold conditions and value the MFI face mask system, the M4 Toric is worth the premium. If you wear glasses or want to save $80+, the Flight Deck is the better choice.

Who Should Buy the Anon M4 Toric

The M4 is the right goggle if you:

• Ride in consistently cold conditions where face coverage matters
• Want magnetic lens changes with a bonus lens included
• Prefer a lower-profile toric lens over a bulbous spherical design
• Value the MFI system for fog-free face protection

It's not the right goggle if you:

• Wear prescription glasses (no OTG compatibility)
• Ride primarily in mild conditions where face coverage isn't needed
• Want to spend under $250 (the Oakley Flight Deck M or Line Miner deliver premium optics for less)

Final Verdict

The Anon M4 Toric is a serious goggle for serious cold. The combination of toric Perceive optics, Magna-Tech magnetic lens swap, and MFI face mask integration makes it the most feature-complete goggle available. At $320, it's a premium purchase — but when you factor in the included bonus lens and face mask, the effective price is more competitive than it first appears.

Anti-fog performance and a reliable seal are shared challenges across goggle sports — competitive swim goggles fight the same condensation battle in a very different environment. Our guide to the best swimming goggles for competitive swimmers covers how Arena's Swipe technology and dual-pane designs address fogging underwater.

For a broader comparison of the M4 against six other ski goggles, see our full guide to the best ski and snowboard goggles.