Glasses and helmets

[RBEmerson]

Stuffing my regular glasses into my helmet, trying to get them in the right places over my ears, has resulted in more than one bent earpiece. I don't (and won't) wear contacts. At some point I started thinking about who else wears helmets and glasses. How about the military? How about the astronaut corps?

Check these bad boys out. The temples go straight back and don't loop over ears. At least in my case, there are no hot spots as there are with my regular glasses. The smaller lenses work out well in the view port that most full helmets have.

As the link shows, a new pair runs for $140-160-ish. But there is eBay. I paid $50 for the frames. I had to get prescription lenses, but that would be the same even with a new pair from Randolph. AO (American Optical) is another MILSPEC vendor. I'd be very careful about unbranded lenses.

Follow this link for sizing information. 52, 55, and 58 seem to be the most common sizes on eBay.

Two downsides: the first is having to buy prescription lenses. I bought lenses with a basic anti-reflective film and some degree of scratch-resistance. Lenses don't come cheap.

Second, these are not the glasses to wear while staring straight down at something. They're fairly quick to yield to gravity's inevitable call...

All of that said, I'm glad I got them.  

[Sport-Touring]

[miles]

I wear a pair like these (not this model exactly, but very close). Look at the mostly straight temples:



They work great in a helmet.

[rajflyboy]

Use contacts

[slvrsprint]

I have worn contact lenses since the early 80's, but I have worn glasses under my helmet many times.  The longest was when a shitmonk ate my contacts on the first night of a 10 day ride.

I've never found it a problem.  I wear Shoei helmets and always been able to get my glasses on and wear them without discomfort.  I don't pick my glasses with riding in mind, but don't like large frames.

Just lucky, I guess.

[RBEmerson]

For me, hell will have long since frozen over, the NHL will have a new division in the league, and
wthe Winter Olympics will be hosted there before I wear contacts. Next question?  

[rajflyboy]

For me, hell will have long since frozen over, the NHL will have a new division in the league, and
wthe Winter Olympics will be hosted there before I wear contacts. Next question?  

I get it

 

[bubba zanetti]

The Bell Star has arm pockets for glasses built right in.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcycle-helmet/2016-bell-star-review/

[Sport]

My Scorpion helmets make putting glasses on much easier than other helmets I've tried.

[RBEmerson]

The Bell Star has arm pockets for glasses built right in.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcycle-helmet/2016-bell-star-review/

I think one or two other manufacturers do that, too. AFAIK, most assume the riders have the eye of eagle, and the heart of a lion. Or at least don't need glasses.

My frames are fairly thin and have some flex, but every one, except the Nolan N103, tried to bend something at one time or another. The Nolan gave me hotspots.  

The Randolphs are the answer to my particular needs. And I get to do my best Alan Shepard "A-OK", too.  

[Hotbrakes]

I wear Oakleys with straight legs as well and never have any problems wearing several different helmets.

[RBEmerson]

I wish I could wear Oakleys and stuff with mirror lenses. But not a snowball's chance in hell I'll wear contacts. It's just how I feel about the matter, but there it is.  

So no Oakleys.  

[Bounce]

I check helmets for where the seam between the 2 side pads meet. I find that helps the ear pieces of my glasses slide into place easily. I also choose modular helmets so I can put on my helmet then slide on my glasses afterward.

[Jetpilot5]

I just bought an AGV K5 S that works with glasses after a long run of Shoei helmets. Not as slick as the Shoei's but the liner is designed for glasses and it gets better the more I use it.

[DbleDutch]

I also choose modular helmets so I can put on my helmet then slide on my glasses afterward.

My most recent helmets are modular and glasses on and off work well with them open.

[Baz]

I received laser eye surgery.... Eliminated the problem entirely.

[Atitalongtime]

I know some will cry foul... but it is my helmet and head.

I locate the spot in the liner where the ear piece travels into the liner and dent the foam core with needle nose pliers at the exact path taken to me ears, taking care not to mar the shell or gasket.

I do also use arms of straighter design, and the liner material generally masks the slight dent in the EPS.

It's been over 40 years, racing dirt and pavement and street riding without side pressure, open face, full face & modular. Currently using a Nolan 102  

[YYCZED]

I just bought an AGV K5 S that works with glasses after a long run of Shoei helmets. Not as slick as the Shoei's but the liner is designed for glasses and it gets better the more I use it.

I just got my first AGV helmet (T-2 model from the leftovers bin) and discovered that sunglasses fit in with no issues. Coming from a lifetime of Shoei helmets that never fit glasses, this was a nice surprise.

[Bounce]

I received laser eye surgery.... Eliminated the problem entirely.

For now.

How's your night vision? I know at least 2 people personally that had to quit rallying because of laser surgery and the halos around light sources at night.

[viffergyrl]

Yeah. Had laser surgery 20 years ago; now I need bifocals. Distance vision is fine; just need glasses for reading and the computer, but more practical to wear glasses all the time. Night vision is fine. YMMV.

Plastic frames, Shoei Neotec. Just put them on with a little fiddling with my right ear and I'm good to go.

[zer0netgain]

I honestly never had a problem.

Biggest issue is lens shape.  I wear the more oval/squared lens shape because it works better in a helmet, but other than putting them on after and taking them off before messing with the helmet, it's not a big issue.  I went to a modular helmet because it was easier than doing things through the fixed eye hole.

I get where you are coming from, though.  I buy frames with my motorcycle helmet in mind.  Indeed, if in doubt, bring your helmet when going for glasses and see what frames "play well" with your helmet.

Helmet fit can be the bigger issue.  Too snug a fit makes getting the glasses on and off more difficult.  You don't want loose, but just loose enough that you can slide the temple arms in without bending them...and slim enough that the pressure from the ear pads don't make them hurt.  I ride with a balaclava too, so I've gotten used to being gentle when sliding them on.