Riders often spend hours researching and months saving for components they think will give them a competitive edge. Many believe that new wheels will make them faster. Or that colorful handlebars will give them more style on the trail. Similarly, they’ll spend money on pieces of kit that look good, or match their vibe. Often times riders overlook a critically important piece of performance gear, a product that is directly related to one of the most important senses a mountain biker has on the trail – sight!
We’re guilty of this too. We’ve dismissed “overpriced” eyewear and opted for $5 gas station glasses, or ridden in Harbor Freight safety glasses before. For some reason we accept that our riding isn’t the same on a set of crappy $30 tires because rubber compounds and sidewall technology truly enhance the ride. Yet, we haven’t bought into the fact that optically correct lenses and heightened vision will keep us safer and riding better on the trail.
During this goggle roundup we tested a variety of goggles at different price points and learned a lot about how important quality lenses are. The faster you ride, the more you rely on correct and highly defined vision, making line choices, braking points and avoiding obstacles as calmly and smoothly as possible. Being able to spend less time straining your eyes to make out the difference between a shadow or a rock could mean the difference between a checkered flag or a face-full of dirt.
Below is the group of goggles we tested with several riders over the last six months.
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From The Loam Wolf
The Loam Wolf has been watching from the woods and mountains above, waiting for the right time to attack the status quo. We have descended, hell-bent and heaven-sent to reignite the stoke in riders around the world. Our pack has been growing and we smell blood. The passion, wildness, and grassroots love for our sport will no longer go without a voice. The Wolf Pack is here, and we will do our best to unite photographers, industry friends, athletes and mountain bikers of all kinds while giving them a voice and place to remember why they fell in love with riding bikes.
