Melon Snow Goggles F/W 2026/27 Preview

Retail Buyers Guide: Snow Goggles F/W 2026/27 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: Melon
Interviewee: Neil Slinger – Sales Director

Which goggles sold best in the winter 2024/2025 and why?
Our Akira magnetic model is the flagship of our line and keeps performing great. A strong all round goggle with top of the line lenses which can take on goggles at almost double the price.

Which of your 2025/2026 goggles do you expect to perform best at retail and why?
Again I think the Akira has it won simply due to the ease of lens change, but we bring a new model the Vetra with a fast push in lens tech at a lower price which may prove us wrong this season! Lets see!

Are there any observable trends in the practice of snowboarding that impact product demand and development?
I think there is a heightened desire for performance and practicability – and our new VANTAGE Photochromic lens tech covers that – meaning you really only need one lens all day, and can rock it in chrome colour of your preference.

What are the highlights in frame construction and materials of your 2026/27 collection?
Frames are all coming with our usual 360 degree venting, as well as adjusting outriggers for a better strap fit especially on helmets. These are then finished with a triple layer super cosy fleece lined face foam…snug!

What are the highlights in lens technology in your 2026/27 goggle collection?
Launching already as a late drop this season is our VANTAGE Photochromic lens tech. At Melon we are shifting all our lens tech into photochromic, whether its snow lenses, MTB goggle lenses, performance sports sunglasses or even lifestyle sunglasses. Over a year of R+D and testing with our riders and we have perfected photochromic performance lenses with colour chrome coatings which don’t change on the outside regardless of light changes – but the inside lens tint does…tech at the back, party in the front!

What colours, prints or patterns are you featuring in your 2026/27 collection?
The lenses come in a wide range of colours, so something for everyone. The goggle frame and strap ranges carry our NOS main range of colours, of course as with all Melon products, customers can choose whatever combo they want. You will also see bi-weekly drops during the year of new strap limited colourways (once they are gone they are gone) and sunglasses frame colours – keeping it more exciting than just preordering some seasonal colours. In terms of special editions we release shortly our SEA SHEPHERD collab snow goggles, excited for the launch of those, and we have a new legend of metal music to compliment our Iron Maiden line, prepped for launch in 2026…its still a secret though!

Which goggles from your 2026/2027 collection do you expect the most growth from and why?
The new Vetra push-in lens model with its aggressive price point for a high performance photochromic goggle should do very well indeed. You would only need a lowlight in the very worst of conditions, otherwise its one lens all day and forget about having to change out.

How are you implementing sustainability in your products and production processes?
2025 sees us launch our Sea Shepherd collaboration, focusing initially on a sunglasses line made from reclaimed and recycled fishing nets. We are including a snow goggle in 2025/26 for this range, and while not from fishing nets (as the material is not suitable) all sales will generate 15% of donations to Sea Shepherd for ocean causes. It goes without saying, all our packaging and microfibre soft bags are recycled.

How are you helping retailers to sell this category?
POS displays go without saying – the main key being we don’t pressurize retailers. Take on what you can, sell through and then order more – that is the benefit of us running a D2C business, we can share risk with retailers and even change out slow moving models for alternatives where needed – the key is working with retailers.

Key Products:

Akira Snow Vantage Goggle:
Our flagship model featuring a large cylindrical lens base, magnetic lens change technology, triple layer face foam and all round venting. Pair this with our new VANTAGE colour photochromic lens tech and you have one high performing badass piece of kit for the eyes – perfect vision with one lens all day…what could be better!?

Akira Eddies

VETRA Vantage Goggle:
New in our line, an aggressively priced push-in lens tech goggle featuring a large cylindrical lens base, triple layer face foam, all round venting and self adjusting outriggers for perfect helmet fit. Pair this with our new VANTAGE colour photochromic lens tech and you have one high performing badass piece of kit for the eyes – perfect vision with one lens all day…what could be better!?

Vetra e

VETRA SEA SHEPHERD Goggle:
For The Oceans. 15% of sales of the Sea Shepherd Vetra go to support ocean causes at Sea Shepherd – show your support while on the mountain! All the Vetra features, with a smoke performance lens with Sea Shepherd engravings, custom branded Sea Shepherd lens and packaging.

Vetra Sea Shepherd