When you gear-up for a motocross event, you’ll most likely pull on your boots, helmet, jersey, jacket – even your riding underwear! But if you leave out your motocross goggles, not only will you not fare well in the event, but you place your vision at serious risk. Flying dirt, rocks and other debris can cause permanent damage to your eye(s) when you’re riding at top speed. Riding in an event, or just for fun, without motocross goggles is rather like driving your car without a windshield; you don’t really appreciate them until your health (or even your life) depends upon safety gear.
When considering your options and styles to choose from in motocross goggles, first take into account your vision needs. If you normally wear glasses, there are many styles of “over the glasses” motocross goggles that sell from between $30 and $50, depending upon the style you choose. If you don’t need vision correction, you can easily find a style and type of motocross goggles that best suits your needs. A functional, long-lasting pair of motocross goggles should have replacement accessories that are readily available such as sweat pads, interior foam pads, and tear-offs.
On the track, you’ll need not only protection from dirt, rocks, snow and tree branches, but also from glare and fog. The priciest style of motocross goggles is a battery-operated, ultra-fog resistant, an “over the glasses” option, with high-power settings for extreme riding. You can expect to pay between $85 and $100 for this model.
Other options to consider when buying motocross goggles include vented vs. non-vented, quick-strap styles, roll-offs and tear-offs, the availability of replacement lenses, snow-sensitive, sweat-absorbing material, glare protection, mirror lenses, and of course, the correct fit of your goggles. For example, to maintain a tight fit with motocross goggles, you’ll find that there are differences between styles for men, women and children – all due to head size. Since a snug fit is essential for the rider’s protection, before you purchase any pair of motocross goggles, use a tape measure to determine the size you need; start at one corner of your eye and then extend the tape around your head and other eye, until the tape meets your starting point, thus measuring the circumference required. If the fit of the goggles is too tight, it will be very uncomfortable and distracting; a fit too loose is apt to result in less protection and distortion of your vision.
If you pay the same attention to your selection of motocross goggles as you do for your jersey, jacket, boots, gloves, and helmet, the excitement of the track awaits you with style and safety!