Cycling glasses with some modern helmets: over straps or under straps?
06-21-21, 03:36 PM
#51
Junior Member
looking into me.....
inside on the left and outside on the right when going uphills
both outside when on flats
outside on the left and inside on the right when downhills
both inside when it rains
inside on the left and outside on the right when going uphills
both outside when on flats
outside on the left and inside on the right when downhills
both inside when it rains
06-21-21, 06:40 PM
#52
Newbie
06-21-21, 06:41 PM
#53
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Depends on the glasses and the straps. Some work better over, some under, and some over one and under the other, or under one and over the other, etc.
06-21-21, 07:16 PM
#54
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I don't have cycling glasses. I have Rayban prescription bi-focals (though I've had a variety of kinds since I took up bike 22 years ago). They always go under the straps. NEVER once occured to me to different. Today I put them on and tried it, and was worried that they could fall off and so put them under just like always. I hve the same Prevail helment.
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06-21-21, 07:34 PM
#56
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(j/k)
06-22-21, 01:14 PM
#57
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Hello
I'm used to wearing my Oakley RadarPath glasses over the helmet straps, which is traditionally considered the right way to do it. That's how I used to wear them with my previous helmet - Specialized S3 (size M).
Now I got myself a Specialized Prevail II MIPS (size L, since M felt a bit too tight even at max setting) and I see that the front strap attachment points stand notably further away from the sides of my head with this helmet. For this reason the gaps between the front straps and my head on both sides are pretty wide (~1.5 cm). When I attempt to put my cycling glasses over the straps, I end up having to force the glasses' temples to squeeze the front straps towards my head. I can feel how the straps fight the glasses, especially when I put some tension into the strap by lowering my jaw.
Is this how it is supposed to be? Or am I supposed to wear my glasses under the straps with this helmet?
I'm used to wearing my Oakley RadarPath glasses over the helmet straps, which is traditionally considered the right way to do it. That's how I used to wear them with my previous helmet - Specialized S3 (size M).
Now I got myself a Specialized Prevail II MIPS (size L, since M felt a bit too tight even at max setting) and I see that the front strap attachment points stand notably further away from the sides of my head with this helmet. For this reason the gaps between the front straps and my head on both sides are pretty wide (~1.5 cm). When I attempt to put my cycling glasses over the straps, I end up having to force the glasses' temples to squeeze the front straps towards my head. I can feel how the straps fight the glasses, especially when I put some tension into the strap by lowering my jaw.
Is this how it is supposed to be? Or am I supposed to wear my glasses under the straps with this helmet?
06-22-21, 01:21 PM
#58
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06-23-21, 04:00 PM
#60
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I'd estimate that those who wear prescription glasses like me tend to wear them under helmet more. No sense in taking off ones glasses and fumble with them just to put on or take off helmet.
07-16-21, 01:31 PM
#61
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Thread Starter
Regular glasses should be worn under straps, no question about it, simply because the temples of such glasses are thin and straight. They not designed to be worn over anything.
Cyclic-specific frames are a different story entirely. Cyclic-specific temples are beefy and curved. The whole purpose of the curvature is to facilitate wearing over the straps.
07-16-21, 02:32 PM
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There are a couple of aspects to this thread. The “I think if you are in a crash…” aspect which could be interpreted as “I’ve never really been in an accident where I hit my head so I’m just guessing.”
The other is the “anything other than the ideal securing of your helmet” aspect.
Like others, I’ve been riding for decades and have worn a helmet for decades. For me it needs to be secure enough not to flop around but not so tight that it is not comfortable. There is no way I can cinch the helmet so tight that ear pieces for glasses will not fit under the straps and still ride in it.
I have typically worn glasses under the straps, but I just tried the helmet on and put the glasses over the straps… meh. This is a 2019 helmet, but I have not crashed with it on.
Over the years I have had a few crashes where I hit my head while wearing glasses under the straps. Thankfully in all those instances the helmet protected my head, and more importantly I didn’t injure my neck or back.
That isn’t to say that one way is better than another as I think it really doesn’t matter.
John
The other is the “anything other than the ideal securing of your helmet” aspect.
Like others, I’ve been riding for decades and have worn a helmet for decades. For me it needs to be secure enough not to flop around but not so tight that it is not comfortable. There is no way I can cinch the helmet so tight that ear pieces for glasses will not fit under the straps and still ride in it.
I have typically worn glasses under the straps, but I just tried the helmet on and put the glasses over the straps… meh. This is a 2019 helmet, but I have not crashed with it on.
Over the years I have had a few crashes where I hit my head while wearing glasses under the straps. Thankfully in all those instances the helmet protected my head, and more importantly I didn’t injure my neck or back.
That isn’t to say that one way is better than another as I think it really doesn’t matter.
John
Last edited by 70sSanO; 07-16-21 at 02:37 PM.
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07-16-21, 02:40 PM
#63
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What exactly do you mean by "prescription glasses"? Regular glasses or cycling-specific glasses with prescription lenses in them?
Regular glasses should be worn under straps, no question about it, simply because the temples of such glasses are thin and straight. They not designed to be worn over anything.
Cyclic-specific frames are a different story entirely. Cyclic-specific temples are beefy and curved. The whole purpose of the curvature is to facilitate wearing over the straps.
Regular glasses should be worn under straps, no question about it, simply because the temples of such glasses are thin and straight. They not designed to be worn over anything.
Cyclic-specific frames are a different story entirely. Cyclic-specific temples are beefy and curved. The whole purpose of the curvature is to facilitate wearing over the straps.
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07-16-21, 02:55 PM
#64
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Helmet manufacturers probably need to specify what brands and model glasses may be worn with their helmets. Then they can write one of those multi-language documents with pictograms to show the approved way to wear them.
07-16-21, 06:01 PM
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What exactly do you mean by "prescription glasses"? Regular glasses or cycling-specific glasses with prescription lenses in them?
Regular glasses should be worn under straps, no question about it, simply because the temples of such glasses are thin and straight. They not designed to be worn over anything.
Cyclic-specific frames are a different story entirely. Cyclic-specific temples are beefy and curved. The whole purpose of the curvature is to facilitate wearing over the straps.
Regular glasses should be worn under straps, no question about it, simply because the temples of such glasses are thin and straight. They not designed to be worn over anything.
Cyclic-specific frames are a different story entirely. Cyclic-specific temples are beefy and curved. The whole purpose of the curvature is to facilitate wearing over the straps.
07-16-21, 06:20 PM
#66
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Mine are standard prescription glasses as I need to use base curve of less than 4 - that is no wrap or curvature in lens.
I certainly would not like to have to take off glasses to remove helmet - that just puts them at risk for damage.
I certainly would not like to have to take off glasses to remove helmet - that just puts them at risk for damage.
Last edited by noisebeam; 07-16-21 at 06:23 PM.
07-16-21, 06:47 PM
#67
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The general flamewar about "over or under" is of no interest to me. The fact that a mere passing mention of "over or under" tends to misdirect and drown the original topic is not something I can control.
07-16-21, 07:43 PM
#68
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That's false. I started this thread with a question about peculiarities of a specific cycling helmet. This is a thread about Specialized Prevail II MIPS.
The general flamewar about "over or under" is of no interest to me. The fact that a mere passing mention of "over or under" tends to misdirect and drown the original topic is not something I can control.
The general flamewar about "over or under" is of no interest to me. The fact that a mere passing mention of "over or under" tends to misdirect and drown the original topic is not something I can control.
07-17-21, 09:21 AM
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Prescription glasses or sunglasses, I always wear them under the straps (which is how they are designed, anyway). It certainly doesn't prevent the helmet being as tight as is comfortable to ride with.
Crashed hard enough to break the back of the helmet once, the glasses went off my head nevertheless, but remained serviceable.
Crashed hard enough to break the back of the helmet once, the glasses went off my head nevertheless, but remained serviceable.
07-17-21, 11:12 AM
#70
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I employ the AC/DC method. Using a utility knife I make a vertical slit (a match flame seals the cut edges) at the location that is revealed with glasses over straps. Helmet gets put on and strap clicked in, then arms of glasses are passed through the cut with arm over leading edge first thus an over/under solution. 
Seriously, straps ALWAYS OVER ARMS. Helps to keep glasses on when abruptly transitioning from a vertical to horizontal orientation.
Seriously, straps ALWAYS OVER ARMS. Helps to keep glasses on when abruptly transitioning from a vertical to horizontal orientation.
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07-17-21, 04:32 PM
#71
Full Member
What exactly do you mean by "prescription glasses"? Regular glasses or cycling-specific glasses with prescription lenses in them?
Regular glasses should be worn under straps, no question about it, simply because the temples of such glasses are thin and straight. They not designed to be worn over anything.
Cyclic-specific frames are a different story entirely. Cyclic-specific temples are beefy and curved. The whole purpose of the curvature is to facilitate wearing over the straps.
Regular glasses should be worn under straps, no question about it, simply because the temples of such glasses are thin and straight. They not designed to be worn over anything.
Cyclic-specific frames are a different story entirely. Cyclic-specific temples are beefy and curved. The whole purpose of the curvature is to facilitate wearing over the straps.
07-17-21, 05:35 PM
#72
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Not to mention, if you forget that your glasses are over your straps when you remove your helmet, your expensive prescription glasses go flying off to land in the gravel or poison ivy, or just somewhere that you can't see without your glasses.
07-17-21, 09:12 PM
#73
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Over straps for me, no question. Now I have a bigger problem: my helmet has a mesh inside that prevents inserting the glasses' temple pieces in the vent holes (glasses upside down of course) to look as an Euro Pro. Should I replace my helmet?
07-17-21, 09:59 PM
#74
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...and thats not including the few giro helmetsnivd owned or tried which didn't have a design for glasses storage. Those were super lame.
07-18-21, 12:24 AM
#75
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My aero helmet has miniscule ventlettes that are somewhat effective. Even if I detach the plastic cover that snaps into the vents, there isn't room for glasses. The helmet includes an effective shaded visor that holds securely with magnets, with the visor either down over the face or up over the helmet.
Usually I'll carry a pair of clear safety bifocal glasses with that helmet and stuff the glasses into a jersey pocket, or hang it off the back of my jersey collar. I'm farsighted so I don't need glasses to ride, but they are helpful for checking my phone or bike computer.
Usually I'll carry a pair of clear safety bifocal glasses with that helmet and stuff the glasses into a jersey pocket, or hang it off the back of my jersey collar. I'm farsighted so I don't need glasses to ride, but they are helpful for checking my phone or bike computer.
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