How To Choose The Right MX Goggles For You?
The type of riding you do and the riding conditions you most often ride in are two basic factors to consider before choosing dirt bike goggles.
1. Comfort and Fit
Every motorcycle goggle will fit slightly differently depending on the brand and the shape of your face. The foam should be touching evenly against your face all the way around the frame.
Check for pressure points that will cause irritation and possibly headaches after time, these will show up as red marks on your skin.
If you’re able to try them on with your motorcycle helmet just to be sure they fit within the helmet eye port it’s good to check.
If you are finding it hard to find one that doesn’t create pressure points you may have to look at one that has frame outriggers that help the goggles sit better over the helmet.
2. Ventilation
Ventilation is a key factor in keeping your goggles from fogging up. All goggles have vents top and bottom to allow air to flow easily through the goggle.
Ventilation in OTG goggles is even more important because you also have to prevent the prescription lense from fogging.
The general rule is: look for goggles with as much ventilation as possible.
3.The Frame
Motocross goggle frames are generally made from a flexible urethane which helps it conform to your face. It should seal evenly around the entire frame with only the smallest amount of frame visible in your peripheral vision.
Light weight and durability are key features in a goggle frame.
4.Nose Guards
Nose guards come with a large range of mx goggles available in all price ranges. They are a very useful feature, especially if you ride in rocky conditions, or get roosted by your mates, or other competitors often.
They are easily clipped on or off, depending on your preference that day.
5.UV Protection
Not all goggles lenses have UV protection, but it is definitely something to look for.
In higher-end goggles, lenses with 100% UVA, UVB, UVC, and ‘blue light’ protection are available.
6.Goggle Lens Colors
Clear Lens: Good at night and lowlight conditions
Grey/Smoke Lens: Bright sunny days with excessive glare
Yellow Lens: Dust, Fog, Overcast, Haze, Dusk, Dawn. Yellow increases depth perception
Blue Lens: Muddy conditions. Blue provides improved contrast in muddy conditions
Mirrored/Iridium Lens: Bright Sun. Reduction in glare in strong light conditions. They also look cool!
Amber/Orange Lens: Overcast days. Brightens while reducing glare, enhances detail
Brown Lens: Sunny days. Improved contrast, glare reduction
7.Face Foam
Higher-end goggles will almost always have 3 or 4 layers of differing density molded face foam.
This is a very important feature for comfort and moisture management. Drawing sweat away from your face so it can evaporate in the outer layers and reduce the chances of sweat dripping down into your eyes is an important function.
Multi-layer foam goggles will have the firmer foam at the outer layer attached to the frame, and the softer layer closer to your face for comfort.
Goggles that have moisture-wicking face foam against your skin is vital since sweating is inevitable. It also aids in anti-fogging by decreasing the amount of moisture in the goggle cavity.
8.The Strap
The strap has come a long way in recent years. Far from just holding your goggles on, they have increased in width to between 40 to 45mm, and almost all feature silicone beads that run around the inner side to reduce the slippage on your helmet.
The last thing you want is for the strap to slip down, or worse, over the top of your helmet and off.
9.OTG Goggle
OTG (Over The Glasses) goggles are designed to comfortably fit over prescription glasses.
They have indents in the frame at the temples to accommodate the glasses arms, and generally have a larger field of vision than standard goggles.
