More Than a Goggle
The Anon M4 is a goggle system. You get the frame, two lenses, a magnetic face mask, a case and a sock. Anon started inside Burton in 2001, and the M4 sits at the top of its goggle line.
The toric version uses a lens curved both side to side and top to bottom. The pitch is a wider field of view and less distortion at the edges. This review answers two questions. Does the toric lens earn its keep? And is the M4 worth the premium over simpler goggles?
How the System Works
Magna-Tech holds the lens in place with rare earth magnets. You pull the lens off and press the next one on. It takes seconds, even with gloves on and wind blowing on the lift.
MFI, short for Magnetic Face Mask Integration, is the M4's signature feature. The included face mask clips onto the bottom of the frame with magnets. It seals the gap between your face and the goggle, so warm breath goes down and out instead of up into the lens.
The lenses use Anon's Perceive tech, which boosts contrast and terrain detail. Anon offers tints for sun, variable and low light. The frame fits most medium and large faces and is shaped to sit flush under a helmet brim.
The M4 also takes cylindrical lenses. If you change your mind about lens shape later, you don't need a new frame.
On the Mountain
The face mask is the feature owners rave about. Riders who wear glasses or ride in cold, windy weather say it solves the classic problem: a buff over your mouth fogs the goggle, but no buff means a frozen face. With MFI, your breath goes somewhere else. Long-time owners say they haven't looked back since switching.
Lens quality is high. Owners who have compared the M4 side by side with Smith's top magnetic goggles call the optics comparable. Contrast is good, colors look natural and the view stays clear to the edges.
The magnets hold. Owners report hard falls without losing a lens. The stories of a lens popping out tend to involve a chairlift bar slamming down on goggles parked on top of a helmet, which would test any system.
The Toric Question
Here's the honest take. Most owners can't tell the difference between the toric and cylindrical lenses in field of view. Riders who own both say the toric gives a slightly wider view, but not enough to notice without a side-by-side test.
A few owners say the toric lens fogs less, or fogs in a more manageable pattern around the edges. That's worth something on wet days, even if it's hard to prove.
Looks come into it too. Plenty of riders think the flatter cylindrical lens simply looks better. If that matters to you, buy cylindrical lenses for the same frame and skip the debate.
Where It Falls Short
Lenses cost a lot. Two come in the box, which covers most riders. Adding a third tint for night riding or deep storms gets expensive fast.
Lens choice matters more than you'd think. Owners say some variable tints feel too bright in sun and too flat in poor light, the worst of both. Others say switching to a different variable tint fixed the problem completely. Read the light ratings before you pick, and don't assume the "do everything" tint does everything.
The frame is large. Riders with smaller faces should look at the M4S version or try one on before buying. A goggle that floats off your cheeks lets in air and ruins the seal that makes MFI work.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the M4 Toric if you ride in cold, stormy weather, fight fog or want the face mask system. It's also a good pick for riders who swap lenses during the day as the light changes.
If you don't care about the mask, look at the Anon Sync. It uses the same Perceive lens tech at a lower price. You give up MFI and a little of the premium feel, and keep most of what makes the optics good.
Pro tip: Buy a dedicated low-light lens if you ride storms often. Sunny-day tints rarely work well in flat light, no matter what the label says.
Alternatives to Consider
The Anon Sync shares the lens tech without MFI, at a lower cost.
The Smith I/O MAG has a similar magnetic swap, ChromaPop lenses and more room inside for glasses.
The Smith 4D MAG adds a curved lower lens for more downward view, at a similar price to the M4.
The Verdict
The Anon M4 Toric is a premium goggle that earns its place with the MFI face mask and a fast, secure lens swap. The toric lens is a small upgrade, not a big one.
Buy it for the system, not the curve. If fog and cold faces are your biggest problems on the hill, this goggle solves both.