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The War Zone

Best Motorcycle Goggles: Vision, Safety, and Style

Protect your eyes without compromising the look of your open-face helmet.

byRobert Bacon|
The Garage
Motorcycles photo

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BYRobert Bacon/ LAST UPDATED ON June 8, 2022

Anyone who wears an open-face helmet needs to take eye safety seriously, and motorcycle goggles are the best form of protection. Regular sunglasses simply won’t cut it, as they don’t provide a sealed barrier to keep the wind out, and their lenses aren’t tough enough to withstand flying objects. The lenses on motorcycle goggles can provide you with the perfect tint, meaning you can use them during the day and at night. These goggles aren’t just a practical piece of safety equipment. Depending on what model you choose, motorcycle goggles can be a stylish addition to your gear that completes your retro look.

Best Overall:

Bertoni Motorcycle Goggles

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Summary
These goggles are a cut above thanks to features such as photochromic lenses and interchangeable arms and straps.
Pros
  • Photochromic lenses
  • Interchangeable arms and strap
  • Polycarbonate construction 
  • Anti-fog lenses
Cons
  • Slightly pricey
Best Value

Bobster Cruiser 2 Goggles

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Summary
A pair of goggles that are great value and will have you covered in all situations, thanks to the three interchangeable lenses.
Pros
  • Great value
  • Three lenses included
  • Side ventilation slits
  • Anti-fog lens coating
Cons
Lenses aren’t photochromic
Honorable Mention

Halcyon MK 49

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Summary
The quality of these goggles is second to none. They’re handmade and use leather, polished brass, and chrome in their construction.
Pros
  • Extremely high quality
  • Retro style
  • Parts can be bought separately
  • Made from brass, chrome, and leather
Cons
  • Pricey
  • Not photochromic

Summary List 

Best Overall: Bertoni Motorcycle Goggles

Best Budget: Bobster Cruiser 2 Goggles

Honorable Mention: Halcyon MK 49

Best Polarized: Bikershades Motorcycle Goggles

Best Over Glasses: Bikershades Motorcycle Safety Goggles

Our Methodology

To choose the best motorcycle goggles, I employed The Drive’s comprehensive research methodology and evaluated dozens of goggles. Although I haven’t personally tested these products, my selection is informed by consumer testimonials, expert reviews, discussions on relevant online forums, and my institutional knowledge of the industry. I visited the Motorcycle subreddit to get a more informed opinion of what motorcyclists felt about the products on the market and RevZilla to see what the experts had to say after their hands-on tests.

Best Motorcycle Goggles Reviews & Recommendations

Best Overall

Bertoni Motorcycle Goggles

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Specs

  • Make: Bertoni
  • Model: F366
  • Photochromic: Yes

Pros

  • Photochromic lenses
  • Interchangeable arms and strap
  • Polycarbonate construction
  • Anti-fog lenses

Cons

  • Slightly pricey

The Bertoni Motorcycle Goggles take my best overall pick because they hit all the right marks and then some. These goggles use sunsensor photochromic anti-fog lenses that are rated from cat zero to three, meaning they stay transparent in low-light conditions and turn darker as conditions become brighter. These lenses also offer 100 percent UV protection, so you can ride seamlessly into the night and don’t need to carry around extra lenses. These goggles are ready for whatever your next adventure has in store, thanks to their impact-resistant thermoplastic polyurethane construction. There’s a removable soft foam that runs along the edge of the frame, keeping the wind out of your eyes. The grip on the bridge of the frame works with an elastic strap to ensure this model stays firmly in place while you’re on the move. If you’d rather use these goggles as windproof sunglasses, all you need to do is attach the arms, which are included in the sale.

Best Value

Bobster Cruiser 2 Goggles

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Specs

  • Make: Bobster
  • Model: Bob01200-brk
  • Photochromic: No

Pros

  • Great value
  • Three lenses included in sale
  • Side ventilation slits
  • Anti-fog lens coating

Cons

  • Lenses aren’t photochromic

You can get cheaper goggles than the Bobster Cruiser 2s, but you won’t find a pair that are a better value. These goggles come with three tinted polycarbonate lenses: smoked, amber, and clear. Since these lenses are interchangeable, you can ride in any light conditions. The polycarbonate lenses block 100 percent of UV rays and are 10 times more impact resistant than plastic or glass lenses. Preventing these goggles from fogging up are vents on each side of the frame, which work well. These lenses are prescription ready. This model uses open-cell foam around the frame that provides a tight seal and is light, soft, and sweat absorbent.

Honorable Mention

Halcyon MK 49

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Specs

  • Make: Halcyon
  • Model: MK 49
  • Photochromic: No

Pros

  • Extremely high quality
  • Retro style
  • Parts can be bought separately
  • Made from brass, chrome, and leather

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Not photochromic

If you want retro style and a premium finish, the Halcyon MK 49s are an easy choice, but be prepared for the high price. These goggles are handmade in the United Kingdom, and the company has been producing eye protection for motorcyclists and pilots for the better part of a century. Instead of plastic frames, these goggles are made from brass, which is polished until it achieves a mirror finish. After the brass is polished, it gets chrome plating. The frames are hand-stitched to a padded full leather face mask and are sure to please anyone who wants a retro look. The lenses are made from a scratch-resistant polycarbonate and offer 100 percent UV protection. The adjustable straps have three rubberized strips, ensuring these goggles grip firmly to the back of your helmet. All components on these goggles are replaceable, so if you scratch a lens or snap the strap, you won’t have to buy a new pair of goggles.

Best Polarized

Bikershades Motorcycle Goggles

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Specs

  • Make: Bikershades
  • Model: Bikershades Motorcycle Goggles
  • Photochromic: No

Pros

  • Polarized lenses
  • Great value for money
  • Polycarbonate construction
  • Sweatproof foam cushion

Cons

  • Not suitable for riding at night

If you only ride during daylight hours, then you need a pair of polarized goggles, and Bikershades’ Motorcycle Goggles take my pick. Both lenses have a polarized coating, which takes the glare away from things like water, windows, and chrome. So, whether you’re inclined to take a coastal ride or through the city streets, you’ll notice a reduction in glare. These goggles are great value for money, and the lenses are made from impact-resistant polycarbonate, so they’re built to last. A sweatproof foam cushion lines the frame, which creates a secure barrier between your eyes and wind, dust, and debris. Keeping the goggles in place is an adjustable strap. Unfortunately, the black tint on these goggles make them unsuitable for riding at night, but there are several combination bundles to choose from, which are meant for riding during the day and night.

Best Over Glasses

Bikershades Motorcycle Safety Goggles

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Specs

  • Make: Bikershades
  • Model: Bomber cover over smoke
  • Photochromic: No

Pros

  • Fit over eyeglasses
  • UV 400 rated
  • Dual-density foam
  • Vents on top and bottom

Cons

  • Bulky
  • Not photochromic

If you wear prescription eyeglasses while you ride, many of the goggles on the market won’t fit correctly, but the Bikershades Motorcycle Safety Goggles will. This model will fit over glasses that are up to 145 mm wide and 52 mm tall, so measure your glasses before buying. These goggles are bulky, but both the lenses and frame are made from polycarbonate, so you don’t need to worry about flying objects or anything else breaking them. Lining the frame is dual-density foam, which is made of a firm and a soft layer and ensures a comfortable but snug fit. There’s an anti-reflective coating on the lenses, which allows light to pass through but reduces glare. They have a UV 400 rating, so will block UV-A and UV-B rays. Since you'll be looking through your eyeglasses and these goggles, condensation is the last thing you want. Thankfully, vents run along the top and bottom of these goggles, so they are less susceptible to fog. There's an adjustable strap that fits all helmet sizes and has a clip, meaning you can clip the ends together or pull it over your helmet like a conventional strap.

Our Verdict

The Bertoni Motorcycle Goggles will have you covered in all conditions, thanks to their photochromic lenses and the fact that they double as sunglasses. If you’re on a budget and don’t mind changing your lenses depending on light conditions, you can’t go wrong with my value pick, the Bobster Cruiser 2 Goggles.

Consider Secondhand

When we start shopping for tools and products, we never overlook the secondhand market. In fact, it’s usually the first place I look. Whether you’re scrolling through Amazon’s Renewed section, eBay for car parts or tools, or flipping through the pages of Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, you have hundreds of thousands of used tools, parts, and gear ready to be shipped to your doorstep. Refurbished to like-new status, they’ll be willing to give you many more years of faithful service all while saving you money. 

Secondhand Tips

To make your secondhand search easier, here are two tips to finding the best deals and making sure your new-to-you goggles weren’t destroyed by the previous owner. 

  • Make sure the lenses aren’t cracked or scratched to the point where they impair your vision.
  • The foam strips along the frame can degrade and become loose, which lets in the wind. Make sure the foam is in good condition before buying. 

Things to Consider Before Buying Motorcycle Goggles

Lens Type

There are several coatings available for lenses, and the right one for you will depend on the conditions you ride in and your budget. Photochromic lenses adapt to light conditions, so you don’t need to change them whether you’re riding at noon or midnight. If glare is an issue and you only ride when it’s bright, you should get polarized lenses. You can get interchangeable lenses to suit different light conditions, which usually come in three shades: clear, amber, and tinted. Goggles with interchangeable lenses are normally less expensive than ones with photochromic lenses and fine for people who don’t mind bringing the extra lenses and changing them when needed.

Prescription Lenses

You can change the lenses on some goggles to match your prescription, so you won’t need to use your eyeglasses while riding. If you’d prefer to wear your glasses while riding, you’ll need to get a pair of goggles that are designed to be worn over eyeglasses. 

Pricing 

You can pick up a pair of motorcycle goggles for $30 or less that’ll come with up to three interchangeable lenses. For between $30 and $70, you’ll find goggles with photochromic lenses, some of which you can wear as sunglasses. Anyone who spends $70 to $125 can expect goggles that’ll be made of higher quality materials, such as leather and polished brass.

FAQs 

You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.

Q: How do I stop motorcycle goggles from fogging up?

A: The best way to stop your goggles from fogging up is to treat the inside with an anti-fog product. You can apply the product with a wipe or spray it on.

Q: Should I get prescription lenses?

A: There’s no one correct answer to this question. Since motorcycle goggles are curved, it can be expensive to have bespoke prescription lenses made. But if you don’t want to wear glasses or contact lenses, then this is an option. A more financially viable option is to buy goggles that fit over your eyeglasses.

Q: How do I care for my motorcycle goggles?

A: Taking care of motorcycle goggles is fairly easy. Just wash them with light soap and warm water. Make sure not to use any washing products that contain ammonia, as this can make the lens brittle. Use a microfiber cloth to get rid of dust and, if you want to go the extra mile, apply some anti-static spray.

Why Trust Us

Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.

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