Wearing glasses with a helmet

[Dog Star]

I've recently started having to wear glasses for distance vision. I've only used a bike properly once since which was for a winter bike rally and wearing glasses was just impossible - I gave up quite quickly because they just steamed up really badly.

I can't wear contacts as touching my own eyeballs is just not going to happen.

So what options am I left with? All these daft fog treatment sprays that people used before pinlocks? IME they just don't work.

[anonymous-user]

Check you have your vents open.

Only time my glasses have ever fogged up is in a blizzard

[Dannaz]

As above check all vents.


I also found removing the chin curtain from my helmet helped air flow and prevents my glasses from steaming up. I do however only seem to get steamed up glasses in very cold/damp conditions.

HTH

[RizzoTheRat]

It can be very dependant on the helmet, some have much better ventilation than others.

CatCrap works fairly well (yes that's really what it's called, plenty on e-bay), but switching from a Shoei Raid II to a Schuberth C3 solved all fogging problems, with the added advantage that I don't have to take my glasses off to get my helmet on and off.

[CanAm]

Dog Star said:

I can't wear contacts as touching my own eyeballs is just not going to happen.

I feel the same but surprisingly get on ok with them. Give it a bash.

[FunkyNige]

Do you wear anything over your nose/mouth? Like a foggy, or something like that. Whenever I tried pulling a buff up over my nose I found it just blasted steam onto my glasses and they fogged up instantly.
Never had a problem otherwise.

[Superhoop]

CanAm said:

Dog Star said:

I can't wear contacts as touching my own eyeballs is just not going to happen.

I feel the same but surprisingly get on ok with them. Give it a bash.

100% this..

When I first started wearing them 10 years ago, it was areal struggle to get contact lenses in and out - Now, it take a about 2 seconds per eye and is definitely something that you just get used to..

[Dog Star]

Dannaz said:

As above check all vents.


I also found removing the chin curtain from my helmet helped air flow and prevents my glasses from steaming up. I do however only seem to get steamed up glasses in very cold/damp conditions.

HTH

Thanks for the suggestions, chaps. Cat crap? Really?

The vents were open, and I must admit the chin curtain was on too - I do think it's helmet dependent. The current two helmets in use are AGVs, a Corsa and a Corsa R, and the normal visors really suffer from misting normally - they're unusable without a pinlock in slow moving traffic.

[RizzoTheRat]

This stuff
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EK-Cat-Crap-Anti-Fog-Le...

Rather than this stuff
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KITTY-CAT-CRAP-KITTY-PO...

[Dannaz]

Dog Star said:

Thanks for the suggestions, chaps. Cat crap? Really?

The vents were open, and I must admit the chin curtain was on too - I do think it's helmet dependent. The current two helmets in use are AGVs, a Corsa and a Corsa R, and the normal visors really suffer from misting normally - they're unusable without a pinlock in slow moving traffic.

Never used AGV, so can't comment there, but removing the chin curtain on my LS2 helmets has certainly improved this.

The contact lens route is worth a shout though, I used to use these all the time and once you have the knack of it, it really is a 2 second job and you probably won't even require a mirror to put them in and out.

[bogie]

Ive worn glasses all my life on bikes, it can be a pain but has got much better over the years. Pinlocks really work for the visor at least...so you dont have 2 steamed up bits of plastic to see through.

Dont wear anything over your nose is the best tip. Do treat glasses with anti mist stuff. Not found anything that lasts more than a couple of days winter riding yet so just get into the habit of cleaning your glasses with anti mist stuff during winter.

Some helmets are vastly better than others with ventilation in the right places. Myself and a couple of mates who wear glasses all use Shark Evoline for day to day use. The ventilation is good, they have grooves for the arms in the padding, and more room in the chin area compared to race style full face helmet. Ive got an Evo-One two and it comes with the pinlock in the box.

[rodericb]

Dog Star said:

Thanks for the suggestions, chaps. Cat crap? Really?

The vents were open, and I must admit the chin curtain was on too - I do think it's helmet dependent. The current two helmets in use are AGVs, a Corsa and a Corsa R, and the normal visors really suffer from misting normally - they're unusable without a pinlock in slow moving traffic.

Chin curtain is what's knackering it, if you've got your visor firmly shut. And probably will still fog up your specs to a degree depending on how far the visor is cracked open.

[LiquidGnome]

I hate to say it, but I find contacts an absolute necessity with my bike. The only time I wear glasses is if I've run out of contacts and forgotten to order more.

[2ndclasscitizen]

Laser surgery is the answer. So worth it if you ride.

[Zarco]

I started wearing glasses 4yrs ago to drive/ride. Tried contacts as I thought glasses would be a pain but couldn't get on with them. Generally don't have a problem with misting but don't ride when it is this cold. Nothing that cracking the visor open a tad at low speed doesn't sort out.

[Marlin45]

I have worn glasses since forever and found that:-

a) You have to buy a suitable lid that is well vented (I use a Shoei Multitec)
b) Wear glasses that are suitable for the helmet. Large Joe 90 frames are a PITA. Rimless Adolph types work well, or at least use small lenses.

I only have had one problem in very cold and high humidity conditions. Riding back from The Dragon in 2017 in the national park my colleague was gone on ahead on a single lane dry stone wall section and I sneezed. Roll on high humidity warm air hitting the cold visor. Instant see bks! Emergency blind stop and luck I didn't come off or hit nowt as I was only doing around 30!

[myvision]

I got a pair of bollè prescription safety glasses that fit tight to my face I find that these work really well and haven't steamed up once.

[Dog Star]

Some good tips here - cheers

[moto_traxport]

Just don't wear them. They only encourage your eyes to get lazier.

I'm as blind as bat according to my 1991 prescription. Wore the glasses for about a month but found the world looked very dangerous with lots of sharp edges.

I've kept them, despite the Harry Potter styling, for visits to the cinema.

[Skyman]

moto_traxport said:

Just don't wear them. They only encourage your eyes to get lazier.

I'm as blind as bat according to my 1991 prescription. Wore the glasses for about a month but found the world looked very dangerous with lots of sharp edges.

I've kept them, despite the Harry Potter styling, for visits to the cinema.

Daft (blind) bat comment.