Difference Between Snowboard & Motocross Goggles

The extreme sports of snowboarding and motocross put you in hazardous conditions where eye protection is essential. Dirt, snow, ice and debris can reduce your vision and create a potentially dangerous situation that could cause serious eye injury. Snowboard and motocross goggles feature a similar overall design, but each type has small differences specific to the sport’s needs.

  1. Use

    • Snowboard and motocross goggles both feature designs to protect the eyes, but each protects you from different potentially harmful items. Snowboard goggles have to deflect snow, wind and ice to keep your vision clear while navigating a downhill slope. Motocross goggles protect your eyes from flying debris from other motorcycles, including dirt, mud, rocks and plant material.

    Strap

    • The strap is essential to keeping your goggles in the best position to protect your eyes. Snowboard models feature a short, wide strap that securely grabs the back of your head or hat. Motocross models feature a longer strap designed to fit around a motocross helmet. These straps are generally narrower so they can fit the inset groove of helmets.

    Frame

    • Motocross goggles have a lightweight design that allows air into and out of the goggles, cooling your face and head. Snowboard goggles have a thicker construction lined with insulation to keep your eyes and face warm. They have vents that allow air to escape to prevent the lens from fogging. Snowboard goggles tend to have more padding on the side of the frame that lies against your face. Both motocross and snowboard goggles have a rubber substance to help them grip your face tightly.

    Lens

    • The lens of the goggles is instrumental in keeping your eyes safe from flying debris, wind and sun. Motocross goggles typically feature clear or tinted lenses for optimum vision in dusty environments. Roll-off and tear-off lens systems for motocross goggles allow you to clean your vision area. You either tear off the top lens or move the film across the lens, which places a clean section in front of your eyes. Polarized and colored snowboard goggles reduce UV rays and the brightness of the sun.