Goggles

BMX goggles: clear vision from the gate to the line

On a BMX track, everything the front wheel ahead of you throws up ends on your face: grit off the start hill, dust from the tarmac, mud in the wet. Goggles are what protects the cornea and, just as importantly, what lets you keep both eyes open through the last few metres of a gate sprint.

Why goggles rather than glasses

Goggles sit inside the eye port of the full-face helmet, foam sealed against the face, strap running over the shell. They stay put through the rhythm section where sunglasses slide down, they let nothing in from the sides, and they spread a frontal impact around the whole frame. That is why they belong to the same everyday trio as the full-face helmet and gloves.

Choosing a lens

• Clear: evening training, overcast days, indoor tracks
• Tinted or smoke: full sun, very exposed tracks
• Iridium or mirrored: high glare, extra contrast
• Anti-fog coating: essential in winter and in the wet
• Anti-scratch: noticeably extends lens life

On most models lenses swap without tools, so one frame and two lenses cover the whole year.

Tear-offs and roll-offs

A tear-off is a clear film stacked in front of the lens and pulled away between motos once it is loaded with dirt. A roll-off works on the same principle with a film wound across the lens by a pull tab, which is worth having on genuinely muddy meetings. Check that the lens is drilled for the posts first: not every goggle accepts films.

Size, foams and helmet compatibility

Goggles are chosen around the helmet before anything else. BMX full-face helmets have narrower eye ports than motocross lids, and an oversized frame will simply not seat properly. Face foams come in single, double or triple density, with triple density absorbing sweat best. Youth sizes are shorter across the nose and on the strap and are built for Micro, Mini and Junior riders: never send a young rider out in adult goggles let out to maximum, because they will drop onto the cheekbones at the first jump.

Riding in prescription glasses

Models described as OTG (over the glasses) have channels moulded into the side foams so the arms of your spectacles can pass through. It is the simplest answer for a rider who wears glasses, well before considering a prescription insert.

Care and replacement

Rinse with clean water and never rub the inside of the lens: an abrasive cloth takes the anti-fog coating straight off. Dry in open air, lens upward, then store the goggles in their microfibre bag. A scratched lens scatters light into your eyes when you face a low sun and becomes genuinely dangerous, which is the point at which to replace it, long before the strap loses its tension.

The BMX RACING view

Because we stock Shot, Kenny, Fly Racing and Answer, we can point you to the frame shape that actually suits your helmet and your face rather than selling you the only brand on the shelf. Tell us your helmet model and the rider's age and we will give you the compatible references. Dispatched within 24 to 72 hours. Complete the setup with our helmet visors and the rest of our BMX protective gear.