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Mark Hinchliffe·
Gear/accessoriesApparel
··5 Comments·2 min read

What is the best rider eye protection?

Only dopes ride high! marijuana eye

In some states of the USA riders don’t have to wear a helmet, but they must have eye protection, while helmets are mandatory in Australia and glasses are not.

It seems strange that eye protection has not been made mandatory in our nanny state. After all, your eyes are the most important thing to protect when riding.

Most riders have visors on their helmets, but those who don’t or who ride with them open in summer, should have decent eye protection.Motorcycle goggles eye

Normal glasses just aren’t tough enough to stop an errant piece of gravel flicked up by the rear tyre of your mate’s bike in front of you.

It’s not just pieces of gravel, dust and other detritus that cause problems, but also wind. It can dry your eyes and make them sore or water, which impairs your vision.

Glasses and goggles

Here at MBW HQ we have a range of special riding glasses and goggles.Goggles glasses eye protection

Riding glasses and goggles should feature ballistic lenses that can withstand impact.

For daytime riding, UV protection is also important.

At night, we suggest clear glass, although some people believe yellow lenses make objects stand out better.

Yellow glasses night riding eye protection
Some swear by yellow lenses at night

We like glasses with a foam gasket insert to block the wind from sneaking in behind the frames, although not all glasses trap all the air.

You should ask if the store has a return policy in case you find the glasses don’t keep out all the wind when you go for a ride.

As for goggles, we’ve worn everything from ski goggles to MX goggles and retro designs.

We are yet to find a pair that feel comfortable on a long trip.

Most seem to pinch our nose, making it difficult to breathe, while the foam just feels uncomfortable against your face.

Ariete goggles

These Italian-made Ariete Vintage goggles have just been added to the Australian market through Link International.Ariete goggles glasses eye protection

They are not cheap at $179.95 but they are certainly stylish and feature vented chromium-plated frames and hand-sewn natural leather and weatherproof suede.

There is no information on whether they have impact-resistant lenses, but they are UV-protected and treated with anti-fog material.

The headband has a double buckle for adjustment, and a non-slip silicone band on the inside to keep it in place on the helmet.

They come in black and brown.Ariete goggles glasses eye protection

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Mark Hinchliffe
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5 Comments

  1. Visit your local hardware store where there will be a range of close fitting safety glasses (so they protect from wind as well), that are indistinguishable from normal sunglasses, in a variety of tints and colours and made specifically to withstand high speed impacts. And less than $20.

    1. You got it, cheap as chips, made from the same materials and often by the same manufacturers as the high end gear, and doesn’t bring a bitter tear when they get scratched.

  2. Goggles, by the very nature of their construction, can restrict peripheral vision. Sometimes just a bit, sometimes a lot. This may not be so important out on the open road but around town it can make a difference.
    Definitely try them on with your intended helmet before you buy.

  3. “It seems strange that eye protection has not been made mandatory in our nanny state.”

    No it is not strange. It is just good sense. Do you ever flip your visor up in slow moving traffic for maximum airflow in hot weather? Of course there are many softies who don’t know what I am talking about because they never ride in unpleasant weather. If eye protection was mandatory it would just give the police another senseless excuse to book us. Surely people have enough common sense to make their own decisions on such matters.

  4. Mandatory eye protection means you can’t flip your visor up when it fogs so in order to be legal you have to ride along unable to see. geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz …………………………….

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