Currently injured so filling my time with looking for things to buy. I have been pondering some Goggles with prescription inserts for a while and with more time on my hands I am looking a bit closer. So far I have had one rental experience at a bike park where the discomfot over the nose area was enough for me to ditch them. Last week I tried on 2 pairs of other peoples Goggles and they squeezed my nose so I couldn't breath comfortably (the Goggles not the people I borrowed off)
Now I am off the bike for 6 weeks I have found a place to get the prescrition insert from but they no longer do the try before you buy option, and no retailers handy nearby to try the Smith range. Are all goggles just a nightmare over the nose area? Is it just my odd face? Could it be my lumpy broken nose? What are other peoples experiences?
Are all goggles just a nightmare over the nose area? Is it just my odd face? Could it be my lumpy broken nose? What are other peoples experiences?
I've had various pairs over the years, the poc ones I had were the worst for crushing my nose consistently but that was more to do with the physical height of the things I think and needed me to have my lid shoved way too far back on my head.
Every other pair I've owned has been variously not great to not noticeable depending on the helmet they were worn with, and it's not been consistent, pair a would be great with helmet a but not b or c, pair b worked with a and c but not b, C worked with b but not a or c etc.
You may also have an issue if you've got a nose like an ex heavyweight boxer.
I will say I'd be wary (enough so that I think the idea is madness and haven't tried) of inserts in goggles. They're bad enough for being "just another thing to fog" in glasses and goggles are foggier than the tyne on a lindisfarne greatest hits CD on perpetual repeat. I'm definitely a contact lens wearer when it's a day for goggles.
i have found that goggle positioning is sometimes dictated by the helmet.
I have a trusty old Fox Rampage Pro Carbon that i pair up with some 100% race craft goggles. For me, they fit like a glove. really comfy.
But a while ago i tried to buy a newer 'enduro' style full face helmet. I couldnt find one that fitted my head (too big, too small or uncomfy/pressure points), but as part of that experiment i tried my goggles on with all of them, and at times the helmet and/or where my head sat in the helmet meant that the goggle would sit lower than my current setup, causing pinching or discomfort, on goggles which i find very comfy otherwise.
So its something to consider, in addition to the different shape and design of various goggles.
Ideally, try before you buy, but as you mention, not always possible!
If you are looking at inserts you could also try OTG (Over The Glasses) goggles like the 100% Accuri OTG which may fit better due to the extra clearance.
I’d be wary about having glasses rattling around inside a pair of goggles causing facial lacerations and possibly worse if I crashed in a full face helmet.
I’ve got goggles, without inserts, and to be honest I hardly wear them. They either steam up, or when it’s muddy I can’t see through them.
All good points thank you. Begs the question as to why everyone but me was wearing goggles at Dyfi last week. Fashion?
I currently wear glasses with the prescription insert which is also a nightmare but more when sweat drips in between or rain rather than fogging. I asked for contacts but apparently daily lens are not available for my wonky prescription.
The helmet variation makes sense as well. I am already having issues with the front of all my helmets hitting the top of my glasses, so I guess goggles will be even worse. Laser eye surgery maybe?
Whereabouts are you? I’ve got a couple of pairs of Smith googles.
I buy Smiths as the nose padding is quite thick, which means you can carefully sculpt it with a craft knife to the perfect fit without making them too loose
I've had dozens of goggles and I always just cut the foam down in the nose area until it doesn't pinch or restrict breathing. Some are worse than others but they always bunch up in the middle so just remove it.
I'd also use a 1mm or 2mm drill bit to put a line of tiny holes around the edge of the lens. Not all the way around but usually in the middle and at the edges. You'd be surprised how much it helps with fogging in crappy weather.
Can't help with prescription info sorry, I've never needed them.
why everyone but me was wearing goggles at Dyfi last week.
To keep the smell of weed in the car park out of their eyes?
In all seriousness they do have a place for keeping mud out of your eyes, if the conditions are right, it’s just I’ve never got on with them.
Begs the question as to why everyone but me was wearing goggles at Dyfi last week. Fashion?
For up lift fogging tends to be much less of an issue, they're also better than glasses for protection. (it's less of an issue because you take them off, quite a lot, which is also another reason I'd steer clear of inserts, goggles come off as soon as I stop pedaling because otherwise they're opaque when I start moving again)
I tend to wear goggles as soon as it starts getting reasonably wet especially anywhere gritty, sure they get muddy but no worse than glasses and I can't ride without either glasses or contacts and I'm sure as hell not riding in mud with just my contact lenses.
Smith Squad XL don't pinch your snout.
Mrsstu has just had a pair with inserts from RX Sport.
She likes the goggles* but the inserts just aren't working for her.
After chatting to one of the guys at RX that rides he says he's had the same experience and thinks it's because the insert part is too far away from your eyes with some prescriptions.
They've offered her a full refund.
I use Oakley Airbrake goggles and they also let me breath fine.
* she's used a few other goggles and has always complained of similar snoz pinching with them.
This is leading me into a very expensive direction of laser eye surgery and then goggles. STW never fails to cost me money 🙂
Will buy a set of Smith Squad XL along with the Oakley and see what tey feel like, I can always return them. Bit of a faff but I think it is the only way.
@kramer To keep the smell of weed in the car park out of their eyes?
You have obviously been, this cracked me up 🙂
laser eye surgery<br />
Every eye surgeon I know wears glasses. #JustSayin
you can always cut the padding over the nose to relieve pressure. I had to do this on some cheap emergency purchase ones i got at a bike park somewhere.
Goggles are good for uplift but do take some getting used too. I find my eyes water in the cold sometimes so its better to have googles than streaming eyes. and its just good to protect yourself.
my oakley o frames were lovely but disintegrated. i've some fox ones that are small but are actaully OK. some 100% accuri that are meh and 100% status that are horrible (see above) and i now use them for when i scape/grind crap off my van.
also the lense type makes a difference. wierdly i find clear lenses are a bit odd. also greyer shades. i get on with orange and yellow. whereas the missus likes the grey tint ones.
depending on your helmet, where do you have the strap? theres probably a good 6 inch height range on the back of the head where they will acceptably stay on. Perhaps a higher position might put less pressure on the nose.
theres probably a good 6 inch height range on the back of the head where they will acceptably stay on
There's about a 1/4 " range of putting the strap in the correct place or looking like a nober. 😜
There’s about a 1/4 ” range of putting the strap in the correct place or looking like a nober. 😜
It's true, and much much more important than nonsense like comfort, practicality and efficacy.
Yep the correct place for the strap is the most effective place to put it.
Don't let me stop you riding around with your elbow pads over your coat either.
If it works for you you go for it. 😘
I have the Oakley OTG goggles (L Frames) that I have worn with my full face and an old pair of Oakley Marshal glasses.
I'm not a habitual Full face/goggle wearer but when I did it all worked fine if a bit of a faff...
I switched to OTG goggles for skiing after my eyes stopped getting along with contact lenses. They’re not too bad for fogging as long as you’re moving.
@billoddie & @zomg I went on a Google search for a brand of goggles called OTG, you have put me onto a line of thinking that is cheaper than laser surgery. Need to see if I can get some simple plastic prescription glasses that are small and comfy.
Over the glass rather than any specific brand. Sorry. I think mine are Bollé, but they’re ancient and ski-specific. Glasses, a helmet, and goggles worked for me though.
For full face I have some cheapo goggles, but with prescription clip-in inserts. They work just fine for uplifts. <br /><br />
For open face, I have prescription Oakleys, but they flap about in the full face.