Sunglasses or goggles for MTB: which to choose? JÉRÔME CLÉMENTZ EXPLAINS

An essential piece of cycling gear, how do you choose the right pair—or simply choose between sunglasses and goggles for mountain biking? We asked the opinion of Jérôme Clémentz, the first winner of the Enduro World Series in 2013 and 3rd place finisher in 2015 and 2016.

WHEN DO YOU RIDE WITH GOGGLES?

Jérôme Clémentz: “In competition and sometimes during training, I use the Bang MTB goggles: firstly because they fit perfectly with my full-face helmet, and secondly because they offer perfect protection. In races, stones and dust fly when someone is ahead of you, and goggles help isolate you from external elements and stay focused on your riding.”

AND SUNGLASSES? WHEN DO YOU USE THEM?

Jérôme Clémentz: “When it comes to sunglasses, I use two models: the Renegade and the Aero.
When I do intense training, I use the Aero: they’re lightweight and have plenty of vents that allow air to circulate, preventing fog on the lenses. Otherwise, for general riding, I also like wearing the Armor or Blast sunglasses: they have a fairly relaxed look which fits well with the enduro spirit and they stay well in place on the nose while providing good protection.”

Like Jérôme, we recommend choosing:

• A frame with enough ventilation so that air can circulate and prevent fogging.
• A frame that sufficiently wraps around the face to protect your eyes from external projections (dust, mud, insects…) and side sunlight.
• A frame with thin arms to easily fit under the helmet.

WHICH LENSES DO YOU PREFER TO USE?

Jérôme Clémentz: “As for lenses, whether I use goggles or sunglasses, I always go with the Reactiv Performance 1-3 photochromic lenses. They’re versatile and allow smooth transitions from open fields to wooded areas—ideal for my sport.”

In MTB, you often move from sunny to shaded zones while needing to stay focused on your line, so we recommend opting for a model with photochromic lenses: one pair for all light conditions. Our collection includes 3 lens types:

• Spectron 3 polycarbonate lenses: lightweight and durable
• REACTIV photochromic lenses that darken or lighten based on light intensity. Their activation time from the lowest to highest range is between 22 and 28 seconds, one of the fastest on the market! This way, your lenses quickly adapt to your surroundings. They also feature an anti-fog coating and an external oleophobic coating that helps water slide off and prevents smudges. Their yellow tint enhances terrain contrast and depth perception—very useful on mountain trails. Their main difference lies in their photochromic range. You can then choose based on your usage and sensitivity to brightness:
• REACTIV Performance 2-4: category 2 to 4, visible light transmission: 7 to 35%
• REACTIV Performance 1-3: category 1 to 3, 17 to 75%

And you, are you like Jérôme: goggles in competition and sunglasses in training?

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