I was never sure why goggles were a requirement in mountain biking, but they are certainly in many rider’s kits these days. I fully understand, from my motocross days, that they stop the roost from a wildly spinning rear tyre being fired into your eyes at the speed of a bullet… but mountain bikes don’t do that. Moto riders hit speeds that blur the vision and water the eyes… but mountain bikers don’t usually do that. Sure, we can wear specific riding glasses to take care of those concerns, but rarely have I thought I need to wear goggles when mountain biking. After receiving a 100% Trajecta full-face helmet and these Accuri 2 goggles to review, I was interested to see if mind could be changed.

There’s no denying goggles offer better eye protection than glasses, but do we really need them? From listening to other riders, and wading through the swamp of all-knowing online forums, I discovered that a big part of it isn’t just function, but fashion too. Apparently, it’s not cool to wear riding glasses with a full-face helmet but, somehow, it is cool to wear goggles with a half-shell. Whack. I need to wear prescription lenses when riding, as I can’t tolerate contact lenses, so whether I’m wearing a full-face or a half-shell, I really have no choice but to wear glasses. Yes, there are prescription lenses available in a number of goggles, and 100% does offer this option, but it’s very expensive – especially if you need several tints for varying conditions.

So, I tried the glasses with goggles method. Wearing goggles while climbing isn’t the most comfortable or should I say, breathable, especially on a slowbike (MTB). It’s a little more practical if climbing on a fastbike (EMTB), but I still found that removing the goggles and slinging them around the back of my neck – while wearing my prescription riding glasses – was the better option, especially on warmer days. If the goggles are to be used for downhill sections, they have to fit over my glasses. These Accuri 2 units, despite not being a specific OTG (Over The Glasses) model, do that well. As long as there was some air flow, I didn’t fog up with the double-up option, probably as the polycarbonate lens has an anti-fog treatment that lives up to its claims. 100% do offer the Accuri 2 in a OTG model, which I hope to try out, to maximise fit and function even more.

The lens my test pair came with is a reflective True Gold tinted number, and it did a good job of reducing glare on some late afternoon rides with low sun. A clear lens is also available (I think it’s usually included, but ours didn’t come with it). The 45mm wide strap has a silicon gripper which kept it firmly in place on the helmet, while triple-layer foam soaked up the sweat well and felt good against the skin, with no movement or irritation at all. Meanwhile, the vents did a good job of keeping condensation away.

If nothing else, wearing goggles does give you a sense of impenetrable eye protection, and a full-moto vibe, which I’m all about! I still need to figure out the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ of it all, so cut me some slack if I’m carrying three helmets, two sets of glasses and these excellent goggles on my next ride. I’d hate to be in the wrong kit for a particular section or type of ride. Then again, perhaps I’ll just put protection first, pretend I’m Cooper Webb, and give the fashionistas the middle finger.

Distributor: FE Sports

Words and Images: Brett Kennedy