Eyewear for below 30 deg.

[cydswipe]

I am going to start hitting the roads thru winter. I have everything I will need except for my eyes. My route has climbs and descents. I don't want the distraction of watery eyes. I have Oakley Radars & M-Frames. Are ski/ snowboarding goggles a good choice for 30 miles in an Iowa Feb.?

[MagClyde_II]

I am going to start hitting the roads thru winter. I have everything I will need except for my eyes. My route has climbs and descents. I don't want the distraction of watery eyes. I have Oakley Radars & M-Frames. Are ski/ snowboarding goggles a good choice for 30 miles in an Iowa Feb.?

The windier the ride is, the more a pair of ski goggles makes perfect sense.


I wear glasses but it's not too windy during the Winter where I ride.

[Scott B]

Ski goggles work well. I recommend them. When it's real cold a ski helmet is actually a good substitute for a bike helmet.

If it's sunny I generally just wear regular sunglasses, but I don't have much of an issue with watery eyes.

[Eiron]

I use Performance Procyon glasses w/Rx inserts & they work pretty well, but they're a little on the small side so I still get a bit of wind coming in around the sides. I'm not sure if having the Rx inserts taking up some of the extra space between the glasses & my eyes helps or not.

My thermometer in the back yard said 8°F this morning when I left for work. I used a Gore-Tex helmet cover, a fleece cap & a neoprene face mask. I think getting good wind blockage from your head & face coverings helps whatever glasses you choose to wear, as the Procyons did a good job for me this morning. But my commute is only 7-1/2 miles each way.

Colder than this & I'll probably switch to my ski goggles simply to keep the cold off my skin. Keep in mind that it's harder to get everything to fit once you add goggles to the mix. They're a lot bigger than glasses & don't give much ground, so you might end up with your helmet pushed back on your forehead (& your chinstrap choking you) or your goggles pushed down below your eyebrows.

[shinnster]

good sport glasses have worked for me down to the 20s. Although goggles do sound like a decent idea if they are comfortable enough

[Mr. Versatile]

I just wear regular cycling glasses with changable lenses. They've never bothered me down to single digit temps. Mine never fog up unless I stop for a light.

[NJBiker72]

I wear regular glasses. Also Performance brand as someone else mentioned.

I use a lot of ski stuff. Gloves, socks, balaclava, base layers. Have not used the helmet yet but considered it last week.

But back to the glasses. A key ski accessory for me is Cat Crap.

Just get yourself a kitten . .

No. Seriously ask for it at your ski shop or search on Amazon. Really helps with the fog problem.

[bitterertundra0]

Oakley Wind Jackets have a rubber seal that attaches to the glasses and seals them to your face. I bought them because my eyes are sensitive and would start watering even in the 40's while wearing my Rudy cycling glasses. My commute yesterday was 7 degrees and no problems with watery eyes with the wind jackets.

These are a great option... an expensive option though.

[bikerector]

I wear regular glasses down to 20 or so or until the wind is strong enough that I need the extra seal, you might get that wind factor with you decent. I picked up some nice dragon snowboard goggle last year and it was a great decision, wish I had tried it the year before. The seem to be much more resistant to fogging since they're designed for sweating in the cold where my standard shades are not and fog up at every stop sign.

One downside to the larger ski goggles is that if they start to fog, there's no wear to put them. I have to stop and wipe them out. Only usually happens if I've stopped somewhere and have them hanging around my neck and I breathe into them and the water vapor stays in there when I take off later.

Some of the smaller ski goggle that look more like swimming goggles might work better, but I'm pretty happy with the half face shield, helps keep the cheeks warm too.

[Srode]

I have used Smith Optics Pivilocks and haven't had any issues in the mid 20's, haven'ttried any colder. They come with several lens colors- I use the clear riding before sun-up so I can get a ride in before work. I don't plan to ride any colder than this, thats what I have a trainer for.

PS: I live in Iowa too - very cold in Feb around here - zero is warm!

[saf-t]

My annual post on the topic, based on several winter's worth of commuting experience...

Visorgogs Dorky as hell, but fit over any kind of glasses and work really well, without fogging.

[Gunnar75]

Great $5.00 goggle option, small enough to fit with my helmet. I wish I found them years ago!


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[SpezTrek]

Swim goggles