Review: Oakley Airbrake MX goggles
We’ve been abusing the Airbrake on muddy trail rides, downhill shuttles, and on our motorcycles for a full year now (click to enlarge).
The Lowdown: Oakley Airbrake MX Goggles
For the price of the Oakley Airbrake MX Goggle, you could easily purchase several goggles with different colored lenses and have enough left over for a six pack (or two, or three). That’s a hard pill to swallow for the price conscious, but that money nets you what is arguably the most comfortable and protective goggle on the market. The lenses also tend to last longer than generic options and replacements are affordable. As an added incentive, if any individual component fails, it can be replaced.
If you’re a buy it once, buy it for life kind of rider, and you also happen to spend a lot of time riding dirt bikes, then the Airbrake MX is undoubtedly the best goggle on the market.
| Color: More than 20 Different Frame/Lens/Strap Combinations | MRSP: Airbrake MX Google $160, Airbrake MX w/ Roll Off $205, Replacement Lenses $25 |
| Lenses: 9 Different Lenses. Block UVA, UVB, UVC rays |
Rating:  4.5 Chilis-out-of-5 |
| Included in Box: Goggle tote bag, 7-pack of Oakley laminated tear offs, and 2 pack of Oakley Lens Protector Shields |
Pluses |
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Full Review: Oakley Airbrake MX Goggles
At $160, the Oakley Airbake MX brake may be the single most expensive goggle on the market. So what makes it worthy of this astronomical cost?
The Airbrake MX utilizes a lens constructed of injection molded “Plutonite,” which is the same material found in the eye-wear protecting our soldiers. They’re designed to shrug off high speed impacts, like those you’d encounter on the Supercross track. And as an added benefit, we’ve found that the lenses tend to last longer than those made of Lexan.
These goggles are huge. We haven’t had issues pairing them with most helmets, but it’s a tight fit on the Bell Full 9 (click to enlarge).
In terms of clarity and peripheral view, the Airbrake is on par with other high end competitors. Our only gripe is that the tear off pegs are black, which some riders have complained is distracting.
Comfort is unsurpassed. While the exterior frame which holds the lens is almost completely rigid, the inner foam faceplate is flexible and contours to your features. The entire assembly is replaceable and utilizes a dual density foam and soft fabric liner to create a seal against dirt and wick away sweat.
It takes under thirty seconds to swap lenses on the Airbrake MX with Oakley’s Switchlock mechanism (click to enlarge).
Ultimately though, my favorite feature is the “Switchlock,” which is Oakley’s name for their quick lens changing system, and consists of two spring loaded latches. Releasing them allows you to quickly and easily swap out lenses for different light conditions.
Everything on the Airbrake is replaceable, including the strap, which is starting to look ratty from all the abuse (click to enlarge).
For the price of the Airbrake MX Goggle, you could easily purchase several goggles with different colored lenses and have enough left over for a six pack (or two, or three). That’s a hard pill to swallow for the price conscious, but that money nets you what is arguably the most comfortable and protective goggle on the market. The lenses also tend to last longer than generic options and replacements are affordable. As an added incentive, if any individual component fails, it can be replaced.
If you’re a buy it once, buy it for life kind of rider, and you also happen to spend a lot of time riding dirt bikes, then the Airbrake MX is undoubtedly the best goggle on the market.
For more information and to buy it visit moto.oakley.com.
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