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The best mountain bike glasses and goggles will stop your vision being compromised by debris, letting you focus on the trail ahead… and out of A+E.
With the best mountain bike glasses – and goggles – are light, ergonomic and well ventilated, so you never feel claustrophobic. Here we round up a bunch of the best glasses and a couple of our top-rated goggles. Pair these with one of the best mountain bike helmets and your whole head will thank you for it.
Best mountain bike glasses and goggles
- Smith Optics Shift Mag
- Toolfreak Spoggles – BEST VALUE GLASSES
- Scott Spur
- Smith Attack Max
- 100% Speedcraft Photochromic
- Van Rysel RoadR 900
- Smith Squad XL – WINNER GOGGLES
- Giro Blok MTB Goggles
How we tested for the best mountain bike glasses and goggles
With all our glasses and goggles, we tested them in variety of conditions as well as both wooded and open trails, looking to see how all of these performance criteria measured up against optical clarity and contrast enhancement, so that we could ride faster and more confidently.
‘View Deal’ links
You will notice that beneath each product summary of the best mountain bike glasses are one or more ‘View Deal’ links. If you click on one of these links then mbr may receive a small amount of money from the retailer should you go to purchase the product from them. Don’t worry, this does not affect the amount you pay!
Smith Optics Shift Mag
Magnetic masterpiece
Price: £189 | Colours: Loads! | Weight: 30g | Rating: 9/10
Pros: Superb lens clarity. Quick lens changes. Flexible frame is less prone to breakage.
Cons: Hefty investment.
A magnetic frame makes swapping between the two included lenses (clear and choice of Chromapop tint) a doddle. Both lenses are impressively clear and durable considering the inevitably regular cleaning eyewear is subjected to when mountain biking. Vision is unobstructed and every element of the Shift Mag is well made. A premium pair of glasses at a premium price.
Read our full test review of the Smith Optics Shift Mag glasses
Toolfreak Spoggles
Toolfreak Spoggles
Wet weather eye protection at a great price
Price: £18.99/$21.95
Pros: Great value for money, decent performance
Cons: Not the trendiest brand, fit won’t suit everyone
Using safety glasses has long been a top tip for thrifty mountain bikers and the Toolfreak Spoggles are impressively cheap at less than £20. They come in a carry case with an array of accessories and feel nothing like the disposable items you might find down at your local hardware store. While not the most stable fitting glasses, we can’t argue with the quality and value.
Read our full test review of the Toolfreak Spoggles
Scott Spur
Scott Spur
Well shaped eye protection with easy lens swapping
Price: £89.99/$99.99 | Colours: Loads! | Weight: 34g | Rating: 9/10
Pros: Easy to swap lenses, comfy fit
Cons: More suited to wider faces
The Scott Spur has a shape more suited to medium to large faces. Riders with a slim face shape might be better off with another style. But it’s definitely one of the better sets of riding glasses on the market. The easy lens swapping and comfortable fit are two of its plus points, along with an excellent lens tint perfect for mountain biking.
Read our full test review of the Scott Spur
Smith Attack Max
Smith Attack Max
Lens clarity, simple lens changing and comfort
Price: £195.00/$181.30 | Colours: Plenty! | Weight: 23g | Rating: 9/10
Pros: Top quality Chromapop lens
Cons: Very expensive and slightly distracting frame
Quality-if-pricey eyewear that sits perfectly on the head and suits a wide range of head shapes. The clarity of the Chromapop lenses is second to none. They would be perfect if it wasn’t for the slight encroachment of the lens attachment into your peripheral vision.
Read our full test review of the Smith Attack Max
100% Speedcraft Photochromic
Protection of goggles with the airflow of glasses
Price: £199.99 | Weight: 28g | Rating: 9/10
Pros: Best of both worlds design
Cons: On the pricey side
The frame may not as wide as some of the other larger eyewear on the market as the lens flares out from underneath but this means it doesn’t feel too wide on the face and keeps out of peripheral vision. The arms have just enough flex to really latch on to your head without feeling too tight. The lens adjusts automatically depending on light conditions. It’s not fast, but if you’re in and out of the woods on a semi-regular basis, this clever tech is a useful feature. There’s also a clear lens included which will cover most UK winter conditions.
Read our full test review of the 100% Speedcraft Photochromic glasses
Decathlon/B’Twin/Van Dysel RoadR 900
Decathlon/B’Twin/Van Dysel RoadR 900
Light, comfortable, range of easily swappable lenses
Price: £39.99 | Colours: Grey/grey, white/red, white/blue, Team | Weight: 25g | Rating: 8/10
Pros: Another effective product at an impressive price
Cons: A bit utilitarian
This pair of glasses has changed names over the years (used to go under the B’Twin brand, for example) but it is fundamentally the same Decathlon-exclusive product as ever. No helmet compatibility issues. Simple lens changing process. Excellent price. They fulfil all of a rider’s requirements from eyewear – light, comfortable and with a range of easily swappable lenses that cover the whole gamut of conditions.
Read our full test review of the Decathlon RoadR 900
Smith Squad XL
Smith Squad XL
Contrast and clarity are first rate
Price: £90.00/$130 | Lens: Contrast Rose Flash, Clear lens and goggle bag inc. | Weight: 119g | Rating: 10/10
Pros: Cinematic riding experience
Cons: Not cheap
The Smith Squad XL is the equivalent of a 70in 4K TV for your face. Boasting pin sharp optical clarity and unhindered panoramic vision, it actually enhances your view of the trail ahead as well as protecting your eyes from insects, flying debris and encroaching vegetation. There’s plenty of airflow to keep you from getting stuffy or misting up, and there’s none of the claustrophobic tunnel vision that comes with some goggles.
Read our full test review of Smith Squad XL
Giro Blok MTB Goggle
Giro Blok MTB Goggle
Wide open views MTB-specific goggle
Price: £79.99/$90 | Lens: Black/grey smoke, Kryptex/smoke, matt lime/grey green, matt vermillion/purple red | Weight: 116g | Rating: 9/10
Pros: Quality option from the helmet kings
Cons: You can spend a lot less
One of the best sets of goggles out at the moment. The Giro Blok give the rider an almost uninterrupted field of view, which is pretty much what you need from your eyewear. Lens clarity is particularly good with the blue tinted mirror lens. Overall an excellent goggle choice for all types of gravity based riding. Bange of vision. Comfort. Easy lens swap.
Read our full test review of the Giro Blok MTB goggle
What to look out for when buying eyewear for mountain biking
Comfort and clarity are key when it comes to mountain bike glasses and goggles, so the frames have to fit well to the face and not move around on rough terrain. They have to fit without fouling against your helmet and offer good protection from debris and insects while also allowing air to circulate for ventilation. Ideally frames should come with replaceable lenses, so you can adapt them to different light conditions, and the lenses should be easy to switch with excellent optical clarity. Some glasses come with adjustable nose bridges and arms to custom tune to your head shape.
Goggles offer much more comprehensive protection, allowing you to really open up your eyes for maximum vision without fear of getting hit by debris. Some have an open frame top and bottom, which allows air to circulate to regulate your temperature and let the lens clear quickly if it fogs up. The downside of these is that debris, water and insects can get inside. The alternative is an enclosed frame, where foam layers top and bottom prevent dust entering the frame, but also restrict airflow. Some goggles use two polycarbonate lenses sealed together like double glazing. This is heavier, but it helps prevent fogging in cold/wet conditions. Most MTB goggles are single lens, which is cheaper and lighter but won’t stay as clear in cold weather. Goggle straps should have a broad elasticated band with silicone strips to prevent it slipping, and be adjustable to different size helmets. Dual density foam gives a more comfortable fit against the face.