Teton Tested: Spy’s Omen MX Goggles

Goggles are a very personal piece of gear, and finding the right fit and features can be just as important as choosing a new saddle or pair of shoes. I’m very picky about my gear, and I like when it simply disappears when I’m using it, and the Spy Omen MX goggles do just that. And yes, that’s a good thing. Not once did I have to fidget with these goggles during use, I just popped them on and they comfortably blended right in.

FEATURES AND FIT

The Omen comes with interchangeable lenses, tear-off lenses for muddy days, and a nose bridge (not pictured) to block trail debris. Ryan Dunfee photo.

For $95, you get a flexible polyurethane frame, a removable nose protector, an anti-fog and scratch-resistant lens with Spy’s Happy Lens technology, a spare clear lens, and a 10-pack of tear-off lenses. Comfort and sweat-wicking properties come courtesy of four layers of foam, and the strap sits tight on your lid thanks to a grippy silicone strip. The Omen MX comes in ten different frame colors and several choices of lens colors to suit your riding conditions.

Some goggles out there have a hard time striking a balance between peripheral vision and helmet fit, but Spy has done an excellent job of giving both features priority with the Omen MX goggle. The thick and comfortable padding on the goggle took a few minutes to get used to, and felt a bit intrusive on my field of vision, but as soon as the foam compressed a tad I felt comfortable with the fit and visibility.

I’m also happy to report that, although large, the goggles fit just fine in every helmet I tried them with thanks to wide outriggers that give the goggle strap extra clearance on full-face helmets with small face openings. The silicone strip on the goggle strap also made the goggles stay put when used with a half shell helmet.

Spy's Happy Lenses are a big step up from your average clear bike goggle lens. Ryan Dunfee photo.

The idea behind Happy Lens is that the lens only allows for the transmission of the sun’s “good” rays, while blocking the “bad” rays. Additionally, the lenses are meant to enhance color and contrast so that trail features are more easily discernible, even in low light. Although I haven’t used the goggles in very dark conditions or while riding at night, I’ve been very pleasantly surprised with the clarity and contrast of the lenses in most light conditions. I spent most of my time using the supplied bronze with silver mirror lens, and I never had trouble with clarity or transitioning between light and shaded areas.

I have yet to use the goggles in super wet and muddy conditions, so the tear-off lenses haven’t been put to the test. I did install them indoors for shits and giggles, and both the lens posts and pull-tabs worked perfectly. The lenses sit tight enough on the posts as to not rattle around when riding, the pull tabs are easy to grab with gloved hands, and the lens pops off easily when you pull. Those suckers aren’t biodegradable though, so be mindful of littering if you use these and clean up after yourself.

The anti-fog properties of the goggles work really well but are no match for a sweaty forehead when sitting still, as I discovered every time I jumped on the chairlift after a hard lap at the bike park. I don’t see this as a downside though, because the fog instantly disappeared as soon as I started moving again. On extra hot days, I found that ventilation was a bit better when I removed the nose bridge, which comes out with a good tug, but I didn’t mind having it there to protect my poor little nose from branches and bushes. Maybe I just need to ride a bit farther away from trailside vegetation.

Swapping lenses is pretty quick and easy, but requires manhandling the lens a bit, so be ready to wipe off your grubby fingerprints once the lens is installed. Like any goggle, some dirt and dust can get caught between the frame and the lens, so I regularly plucked the lens out to clean that interface.

COMPARISONS

Good ventilation and clear vision. Jon Grinney braps through Big Sky with clear eyes. Ryan Dunfee photo.

I’ve spent quite a bit of time in goggles like the 100% Race Craft and Fox Air Defence, and acknowledging that fit is very personal and subjective, I like the fit and padding of the Omen MX a bit more. The raised middle portion of the lens on goggles from 100% does leave me wishing for an increased vertical field of view on goggles like the Omen MX, but this is something I honestly don’t notice once I’ve been wearing goggles for a few minutes.

In terms of ventilation, I haven’t found any goggles around the $95 price point that are lacking, but I can say that the Omen MX really stands out from the pack due to its optics. Easy on the eyes, in every sense, is an apt description.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Spy's Omen MX goggles get you a lot of good vision for under $100. Ryan Dunfee photo.

The Spy Omen MX goggle stands out with excellent optics, a very comfortable fit, good ventilation, and cool extras like a nose protection bridge and a pack of tear-off lenses. I think the fact that I reach for the Omen MX goggles even though I have three other goggles to choose from means I have a new favorite. And when a sub-$100 price tag gets you the best goggles Spy makes for motocross and mountain biking, I can’t complain.