Biking...goggles?
September 28, 2015 11:44 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for some glasses or goggles for biking. Details inside.
I'm looking for something that is lightweight, with high visibility that will keep my eyeballs from freezing while biking this winter, possibly reduce glare, but be wearable year round to keep random crap out of my eyes. In my head I'm imagining something like a smaller version of ski goggles but with transition lenses? I don't know if that exists though so I could also go with something that is clear. The most important part is that they don't reduce visibility and that they don't freeze to my face (I may have gotten frostbite on my face last year from the edge of the sunglasses I was using). Budget is $100 but if there is something that works for much less that would be good too.
I'm looking for something that is lightweight, with high visibility that will keep my eyeballs from freezing while biking this winter, possibly reduce glare, but be wearable year round to keep random crap out of my eyes. In my head I'm imagining something like a smaller version of ski goggles but with transition lenses? I don't know if that exists though so I could also go with something that is clear. The most important part is that they don't reduce visibility and that they don't freeze to my face (I may have gotten frostbite on my face last year from the edge of the sunglasses I was using). Budget is $100 but if there is something that works for much less that would be good too.
I haven't worn goggles when riding a bike, but in case it's helpful, I can say that looser fitting glasses/lenses worked much better for me than ones that fit close to my face. Glasses that fit more closely to my face fogged up really quickly, especially in winter, which is why I never bothered to try goggles. (I don't know for a fact that goggles would have the same issue or not, it just scared me off from trying.)
posted by instamatic at 12:21 PM on September 28, 2015
posted by instamatic at 12:21 PM on September 28, 2015
Best answer: I'm stuck wearing my actual glasses but some of my winter riding friends just use cheap safety glasses (clear or tinted depending on conditions).
posted by mikepop at 12:32 PM on September 28, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by mikepop at 12:32 PM on September 28, 2015 [4 favorites]
Back when I rode motorcycles, I used these. I had a tendency to lose them, or break them, so the price was right. Oddly enough, the last one I bought is quite the survivor, and I use it while riding my bike all the time. Super great, five stars, would glasses again.
posted by furnace.heart at 12:44 PM on September 28, 2015
posted by furnace.heart at 12:44 PM on September 28, 2015
Best answer: Seconding the cheap(ish) safety glasses. They're essential during gnat season.
posted by scruss at 12:46 PM on September 28, 2015
posted by scruss at 12:46 PM on September 28, 2015
Well, mountain biking goggles are basically what you are describing (example). Search terms: Downhill/DH, MTB, BMX
But honestly, every other commuter is just using safety glasses, as others have noted. They work fine and goggles would likely be overkill.
posted by veery at 12:58 PM on September 28, 2015
But honestly, every other commuter is just using safety glasses, as others have noted. They work fine and goggles would likely be overkill.
posted by veery at 12:58 PM on September 28, 2015
Just the other day I saw a post on Cool Tools that concurs with the safety glasses suggestion.
posted by ckape at 1:50 PM on September 28, 2015
posted by ckape at 1:50 PM on September 28, 2015
I use $3 lab goggles in winter over my glasses. Dorky but cheap and functional.
posted by miyabo at 4:33 PM on September 28, 2015
posted by miyabo at 4:33 PM on September 28, 2015
Of course they exist. Try Oakley and Rudy Project for cycling glasses or sports glasses.. Transition lenses available too.
posted by JimN2TAW at 9:09 PM on September 28, 2015
posted by JimN2TAW at 9:09 PM on September 28, 2015
If you need something that supports prescription lenses.. back when I cycled more I used to have some glasses made by Bolle -- the model was called "Edge".
I don't know if they still sell them but they consisted of a wrap-around face plate like the safety glasses people are recommending, but the nose piece was removable and could be replaced by a clip-in replacement that had prescription inserts which fit behind the front shield.
You also had several options of shield, so you could use a tinted one in sun and replace it with a clear shield for shade or nighttime.
I would think, though, that if you can find a pair of safety glasses which meet your needs that they'll be much less expensive and much easier to replace.
One thing I very strongly recommend is to make sure whatever you choose is made out of a decent polycarbonate. While wearing those Bolle Edges, I had an incident along the Lake Michigan shore where I'd stopped to help a stranded motorist who had pulled off the pavement and wound up stuck in soft sand. I was helping them rock their car out of the depression they'd dug with their wheels and as soon as they felt some forward movement out of the hole they stomped on the gas, which sent a thumbnail size rock accelerated by their wheels rocketing towards my face. It hit in the middle of the shield on my glasses with enough impact to rock my head backwards but didn't leave even a scratch on the face shield. But given the impact I'm pretty convinced that if I hadn't been wearing glasses that day they'd have partially blinded me. I've been a big believer in polycarbonate ever since: it is a good thing to have between your eyes and whatever might be flying toward them.
posted by Nerd of the North at 3:29 PM on September 29, 2015
I don't know if they still sell them but they consisted of a wrap-around face plate like the safety glasses people are recommending, but the nose piece was removable and could be replaced by a clip-in replacement that had prescription inserts which fit behind the front shield.
You also had several options of shield, so you could use a tinted one in sun and replace it with a clear shield for shade or nighttime.
I would think, though, that if you can find a pair of safety glasses which meet your needs that they'll be much less expensive and much easier to replace.
One thing I very strongly recommend is to make sure whatever you choose is made out of a decent polycarbonate. While wearing those Bolle Edges, I had an incident along the Lake Michigan shore where I'd stopped to help a stranded motorist who had pulled off the pavement and wound up stuck in soft sand. I was helping them rock their car out of the depression they'd dug with their wheels and as soon as they felt some forward movement out of the hole they stomped on the gas, which sent a thumbnail size rock accelerated by their wheels rocketing towards my face. It hit in the middle of the shield on my glasses with enough impact to rock my head backwards but didn't leave even a scratch on the face shield. But given the impact I'm pretty convinced that if I hadn't been wearing glasses that day they'd have partially blinded me. I've been a big believer in polycarbonate ever since: it is a good thing to have between your eyes and whatever might be flying toward them.
posted by Nerd of the North at 3:29 PM on September 29, 2015
The reason why safety glasses might be suitable is that they have a wrap-around or curved or shield-like face. The Oakleys and Rudy Projects have this same feature but they add anti-glare/polarized coating not present on plain old safety glasses. Ray-Ban should be considered too. When you're looking at frames in your local eyeglasses shop, look for frames that sit close or tight to your temples too. An example of a wrap-around frame is this one from Oakley or these shield-like ones from Oakley. Ones that might look okay off the bike would be something like these from Oakley or these from Ray-Ban. The last two pairs have a curved frames and fit tight to your temples and they don't look so heavily sports-dedicated.
Oakleys are high-class products but some of that high price is paying for their heavy ad campaign. Some national chain eyeglasses stores but especially your independent eyeglasses stores will stock off-brand/small brand but not too expensive glasses that are intended for sports and look similar to the last example Oakley pair. Any frame can be made to be shades. If you choose that route, order polarized lenses.
posted by dlwr300 at 8:35 AM on October 2, 2015
Oakleys are high-class products but some of that high price is paying for their heavy ad campaign. Some national chain eyeglasses stores but especially your independent eyeglasses stores will stock off-brand/small brand but not too expensive glasses that are intended for sports and look similar to the last example Oakley pair. Any frame can be made to be shades. If you choose that route, order polarized lenses.
posted by dlwr300 at 8:35 AM on October 2, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by brainmouse at 11:59 AM on September 28, 2015