Goggles

Mountain Bike Goggles Buyer's Guide

Careening down the trail, the only sounds are those of the howling wind and rolling tires on the dirt. For downhill riders, protecting your eyes from fast moving air and general trail debris is not an option, and that's where goggles come into play. There are dozens of designs and patterns available, so finding eye protection that fits your face and matches your riding gear well is quite easy.

Types

Goggles are all quite similar in their basic design, however they can be differentiated by the system they use to deal with bad weather and whether or not they fit over glasses.

Goggles deal with mud by using a thin layer of replaceable plastic in front of the lens that is either torn or rolled off. These are commonly known as tear-offs and roll-offs, respectively. Models are designed to work specifically with one of the two. Tear-off models will have small posts on the lens, and roll-offs have small canisters on both sides of the goggle.

For riders who wear glasses, there are goggles built to be worn over glasses.

Sizes

Goggle sizing is simple - choose from either junior or adult options.

Materials

There are three parts to a goggle: lens, frame and strap, and each is made from a different material. Mountain bike goggle lenses and frames are made from polycarbonate plastics. Straps are made from stretchy fabrics and with hard plastic adjustment parts to ensure a snug fit.

Things To Look For

Goggles are an extremely practical piece of equipment. Choosing a pair largely depends on personal taste and the intended application. Riders who ride in bad weather will want a model compatible with either a tear-off or roll-off system that sheds mud from in front of your eyes. Riders who commonly ride in deep woods settings will want to opt for goggles with clear lenses, but most goggles have interchangeable lenses to allow for optimum vision in all light conditions.

How Much To Spend

Goggles range in price from $30 to $200.

Models in the $30-$60 range are entry-level designs. They are available in basic color schemes, use single ply foam padding, have replaceable lenses and may use tear-offs.

Moving up to the $60-$110 range, goggles begin to incorporate more sophisticated materials and technologies to deliver a more appealing and performance oriented product. Dual density foams, mirrored lenses, over the glasses specific designs, special color schemes and graphics are all available in this range of goggles.

Finally, goggles in the $110-$200 range combine only the best designs and materials to deliver the best possible product.

Product Reviews

Before buying, be sure to do your research and read product reviews. Reviews are a great way to find out specifics about a particular model, user impressions, and things to watch out for. After you've purchased a product and had enough time to thoroughly test it, we encourage you to leave a review for other people to see when they are researching bikes and parts on the web.

We hope you've found this information to be helpful. If you have a question that isn't answered in this guide, our mountain bike forums are a great place to get advice from knowledgeable riders. Your local bike shop is also a great resource.