What Goggles are Best for ATV Riding?
Choosing the right goggles for ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) riding is crucial to ensure your safety and comfort. It's not a decision that you should take lightly, even though it may seem so due to the relatively low cost of purchase for each pair of goggles themselves. Here are some features to consider when selecting ATV goggles:
Impact Resistance: Look for goggles with a strong and durable frame that can withstand impact. Polycarbonate lenses are a popular choice for their impact resistance.
UV Protection: Ensure the goggles provide 100% UV protection to shield your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays.
Anti-Fog Coating: Goggles with anti-fog coatings or features help prevent the lenses from fogging up, especially in different weather conditions.
Ventilation: Adequate ventilation is essential to prevent fogging and maintain airflow. Look for goggles with well-designed ventilation systems.
Fit and Comfort: Choose goggles that fit snugly around your face without being too tight. A comfortable fit is crucial for long rides. Consider goggles with adjustable straps and foam padding for added comfort.
Tear-Offs or Roll-Offs: Some goggles come with tear-off or roll-off systems that allow you to quickly remove a layer of film from the lens to maintain clear vision during muddy or dusty rides.
Peripheral Vision: Opt for goggles that offer a wide field of view, allowing you to see your surroundings clearly. Peripheral vision is crucial for safety.
Durability: Select goggles with a robust build and quality materials to withstand the rigors of ATV riding.
Strap Compatibility: Ensure the goggles' strap is compatible with your ATV helmet and can be easily adjusted for a secure fit.
Lens Tint: Select a lens tint based on the lighting conditions you'll encounter during your ATV rides. Clear lenses are versatile for various conditions, while tinted or mirrored lenses are suitable for bright, sunny days. Yellow or amber lenses can enhance contrast in low-light conditions.
Scratch Resistance: Look for goggles with scratch-resistant coatings on the lenses to ensure durability and maintain clear vision over time.
Foam Quality: The foam around the goggles should be of high quality to provide comfort and help create a seal to keep out dust and debris.
Compatibility with Glasses: If you wear prescription glasses, consider goggles that are designed to accommodate them comfortably. Some goggles have an OTG (Over the Glasses) design.
Water and Dust Resistance: Choose goggles that are water-resistant and have good sealing to keep out rain and dust, especially if you'll be riding in diverse weather conditions.
Quick Lens Replacement: Goggles with easy-to-change lenses can be beneficial, allowing you to adapt to changing light conditions or replace damaged lenses quickly.
Brand Reputation: Opt for goggles from reputable ATV gear manufacturers known for their commitment to quality and safety.
Adjustable Nose Guard: Some goggles come with adjustable nose guards that allow you to customize the fit and improve comfort.
Goggle Care: Consider the ease of cleaning and maintaining the goggles. Goggles with removable lenses or those that are easy to disassemble for cleaning can be convenient.
Certifications: Look for goggles that comply with safety standards for eye protection. Certifications such as ANSI (American National Standards Institute) or CE (Conformité Européene) indicate that the goggles meet specific safety criteria.
Brand and Reviews: Consider reputable brands known for producing high-quality ATV goggles. Reading customer reviews can also provide insights into the performance and durability of specific models.
Remember that personal preferences and riding conditions may vary, so it's essential to try on different goggles and choose the ones that best meet your needs and preferences. The thing is, there’s no true “best” goggles; everybody has different preferences, budgets, and wants/needs. Many ATVers choose traditional clear goggles without tear-offs as they do the job without breaking the bank. We’ve had great success with Fly Racing goggles in the past, and they’ve held up great year after year.
Another option is to skip the goggles and go for a full-face helmet with a flip-down visor. This eliminates the need for standalone goggles by integrating eye protection into the helmet itself. These helmets don’t breathe as well as a traditional motocross-style helmet, but they do offer better eye and face protection by eliminating exposed portions of the face.
Our personal preference is a traditional pair of clear goggles for darker times and a pair of tinted goggles for particularly sunny times on the trail. However, deciding on what works best for you may come with some trial-and-error, so don’t be disappointed should you not love one type of goggle. You can always try another when the time comes.
Ross hosts The Off the Road Again Podcast. He has been in the off-road world since he was a kid riding in the back of his dad’s YJ Wrangler. He works in marketing by day and in his free time contributes to Hooniverse, AutoGuide, and ATV.com, and in the past has contributed to UTV Driver, ATV Rider, and Everyday Driver. Ross drives a 2018 Lexus GX460 that is an ongoing build project featured on multiple websites and the podcast and spends his free time working on and riding ATVs.
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