Which cold weather eyewear?
#1
Old Dog, New Tricks
Thread Starter
Which cold weather eyewear?
I realized yesterday, after nearly freezing off my eyeballs, that I need dedicated winter eye wear. Which goggles are best? Are goggles the only choice for rides in sub-freezing temperatures?
Is there a low cost option (like generic ski goggles) that wont fog up? What are some good options for fog prevention or mitigation?
I don't imagine that my winter rides will average the same mileage as my warm weather rides, but I'm game for 100-200k in sub freezing temps if the sun will be out-- so I'm looking for eye wear that will function (i.e. not fog up) for commutes and on over longer distances.
Thanks
Is there a low cost option (like generic ski goggles) that wont fog up? What are some good options for fog prevention or mitigation?
I don't imagine that my winter rides will average the same mileage as my warm weather rides, but I'm game for 100-200k in sub freezing temps if the sun will be out-- so I'm looking for eye wear that will function (i.e. not fog up) for commutes and on over longer distances.
Thanks
#2
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Sub-freezing, I use generic ski goggles. I have not found any that do not fog when I stop or am going really slow, but with more speed and some air flow the fog has usually dissipates and clears pretty well. My goggles have enough tint that I would not want to use them after sunset, that would be a consideration if you might be out after dark.
If you go shopping in a store, bring your helmet with you so you can make sure the goggles and helmet play well with each other. I have a couple pair of goggles and one pair pushes against the helmet.
If you go shopping in a store, bring your helmet with you so you can make sure the goggles and helmet play well with each other. I have a couple pair of goggles and one pair pushes against the helmet.
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#3
Old Dog, New Tricks
Thread Starter
Good advice-- I would not have thought to check compatibility between goggles and helmet. Thanks.
I do a fair amount of riding after sunset and in the dark year round, so hopefully transitional lenses won't increase costs too much.
I do a fair amount of riding after sunset and in the dark year round, so hopefully transitional lenses won't increase costs too much.
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If you’re not wearing anything now then cheap shop glasses will be a step up. For me fogging is related to face moisture & ventilation. I like my helmet that has an eye shield held by magnets (clear and tinted)
but riding into a blizzard last winter I resorted to my cheap ski goggles w foam air filter inserts (top & bottom) removed
but riding into a blizzard last winter I resorted to my cheap ski goggles w foam air filter inserts (top & bottom) removed
Last edited by rumrunn6; 11-14-19 at 01:42 PM.
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#5
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There is a lot to wade through here: https://www.bikeforums.net/winter-cy...-riding-2.html, but it seems work/safety glasses are more popular than ski googles.
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There is a lot to wade through here: https://www.bikeforums.net/winter-cy...-riding-2.html, but it seems work/safety glasses are more popular than ski googles.
Above freezing conditions, I concur that there are other good options. In the upper 30s and 40s (F.) I prefer Bolle Tracker glasses instead of ski goggles.
https://www.bolle-safety.com/model/tracker
The Tracker model has small vents that allow air into behind the lens, in strong wind or at speed with them my eyes will water a little bit, thus prefer ski goggles when it gets really cold. When I stop on a windless day with the Tracker glasses, they will start to fog up but once I start moving and get some air low into them the fog clears out quickly. They have less peripheral vision than regular sunglasses, but I quickly got used to it.
I use the elastic strap to hold them on to my head, that puts the seal tighter against my skin much better than if I wore them as regular glasses without the strap. Also, the elastic strap means that I can put the ear pieces outside of my insulated ear band instead of over my ears, thus my ear band fits better. The specific helmet that I use has a bump in the back at the bottom of the shell, I put the elastic over and above that bump.
Above the 40s (F.) I revert to wrap around glasses.
The Tracker ones come in several different tints. I have the gray (or smoke) tint and also have ones with a dark brown (twilight) tint. There is some confusion with the tints as they also make or previously made a yellow version that some websites confuse with the dark brown ones. Amazon lists both yellow and dark brown with different model numbers.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bolle+tracker
I am not saying that everyone would prefer ski goggles below freezing and something else above, but those are my preferences. I suspect that everyone is a bit different
ADDENDUM:
I found a different Bolle website (USA Version) that lists both yellow and dark brown (twilight) part numbers, perhaps the other site was an international version?
https://www.bollesafety-usa.com/model/tracker
Last edited by Tourist in MSN; 11-16-19 at 02:04 PM.
#7
Senior Member
”Cat Crap”antifog works pretty well. I prefer the paste vs the liquid spray. It’s on the shelf at Walmart.