MTB glasses and goggles for enduro and downhill

Glasses or goggles: what should you wear for mountain biking?

In cross-country, trail riding and on long rides with plenty of climbing, glasses win out: lighter and better ventilated, they fog up less under effort and can be stowed on your helmet during a climb. In enduro and downhill, speeds go up and mud flies: goggles, held by a strap and resting on foam, seal all the way around your eyes and stay in place over rough ground. They go naturally with a full-face helmet, but many enduro riders also pair them with an open-face helmet for the timed stages.

Which lens tint under the trees?

Mountain biking often takes place in forests, where the light changes from one corner to the next. A lens that is too dark hides roots and holes in the shade: for woodland, choose a clear or lightly tinted lens, or a lens that enhances contrast. Several manufacturers work on their lenses to bring out the browns and greens of the terrain. A photochromic lens, which darkens in the sun and lightens in the shade, suits rides that alternate between open ridges and wooded descents. Filter categories and their uses are detailed on the cycling glasses page.

Choosing the right MTB goggles

• The lens: a wide lens opens up your peripheral vision, and a double lens or an anti-fog treatment limits condensation. Models with an interchangeable lens switch from one tint to another to suit the weather.
• The frame and foam: a flexible frame follows the shape of your face, multi-layer foam absorbs sweat, and wide vents keep the air moving.
• Helmet compatibility: the frame must sit in the opening of your full-face helmet without leaving a gap, and the silicone-backed strap must hold on the shell.
• Tear-offs: on goggles fitted with posts, clear films are torn off one by one when mud blocks your view; a roll-off system winds on a continuous film with a pull cord.

Some goggles are certified to the EN 1938 standard, which covers eye protectors for motorcyclists: a useful reference if you also ride off-road motorbikes.

Mountain biking with prescription glasses

Several solutions exist if you wear prescription glasses. OTG goggles, for over the glasses, have a deep enough frame and side notches to fit over your glasses. Some sports glasses accept a prescription insert clipped behind the lens. Others build a reading zone into the lower part of the lens, handy for checking a bike computer or a map without changing glasses. Have your prescription checked by an optician before you choose.

The kit that goes with them

Choose your glasses and goggles together with your helmet: check that they work with your MTB helmet, especially with full-face models. MTB gloves complete your protection in a fall, and the rest of your kit is gathered in MTB gear. For smooth tracks, gravel glasses favour photochromic lenses suited to long days in the saddle.

Which MTB glasses and goggles brands to choose?

Rudy Project fits its Kelion, Astral Sphere and Spinshield with ImpactX Photochromic 2 lenses and offers Reader models, such as the Rydon or the Propulse, whose lower lens includes a reading correction for checking a bike computer.

Bliz, a Swedish sports eyewear brand that built its reputation among Nordic cross-country skiers, offers the P002 and the Arrow for cycling, as well as the Hero in size Small.

Leatt clearly separates its uses: Rideviz and Speedviz glasses, in photochromic versions or with a Cryztal lens, for trail riding, and Velocity 4.0 goggles for downhill, with a permanent anti-fog lens, a 170-degree field of vision and a frame that fits over prescription glasses.

POC developed the Clarity lens of its Ora goggles with Zeiss, which enhances the contrast of the browns and greens of the trails; the Ora DH version has posts for tear-offs, which are also available as replacements.

Sweet Protection, born in Trysil, Norway, fits its Ronin and Shinobi glasses with RIG toric lenses, an in-house technology that enhances contrast, in Reflect or photochromic versions; its Durden and Firewall goggles are aimed at enduro and downhill.

Giro designed its Vivid lenses with Zeiss, fitted to its Dropline and Tazz goggles; the Dropline, certified to the EN 1938 standard, changes lenses in a few seconds and comes with a spare clear lens.

MTB glasses and goggles on sale

Frames and lenses from previous collections join MTB clearance, and models that have just arrived in the catalogue are shown in new arrivals. The summer sales and the seasonal sales come just before the bike park season.

Frequently asked questions

Can you wear MTB goggles with an open-face helmet?

Yes, it is common in enduro: the strap goes around the shell or under the peak, which sometimes needs to be raised. Check that the goggles leave no gap at the nose and do not push the helmet backwards. Compact goggles fit under the peak more easily than a very wide downhill model.

How do you stop MTB goggles fogging up?

Do not keep the goggles over your eyes on climbs: rest them on the peak or around your arm, and put them back on at the top. Choose an anti-fog lens or a double lens and well-ventilated foam. Also avoid breathing into the goggles or storing them damp in a closed bag.

How do you clean a goggle lens without damaging it?

Rinse off the mud with clean water before wiping, otherwise grit will scratch the lens. The inside often carries the anti-fog treatment: dab it with the microfibre pouch supplied, without rubbing. Leave the goggles to dry in the open air, foam included.

Are ordinary sunglasses enough for mountain biking?

Not really. Everyday sunglasses give poor protection at the sides, slip over rough ground and their lenses are not always designed to withstand an impact or a branch. Sports glasses wrap around your face, stay put thanks to grippy nose pads and arms, and let air through.

Are there MTB glasses and goggles for kids?

Yes, kids' size goggles and narrower frames, often labelled Small, suit young riders. Choose them together with the child's helmet: goggles must sit in the opening without pressing on the nose, and glasses must not touch the shell.