Right out of the box, most dirt bike goggles feel pretty cute on your face. The smell of brand new foam and crystal clear visibility are a great way to start the ride. Unless you’re a factory rider, you chances are you won’t get a new pair or even a new lens every time you throw a leg over your dirt bike. We’re not here either Ultimate motorcyclingSo we were happy to test EKS Brand EKS-S glasses on some popular, scruffy off-road routes as well as on sidewalk transitional sections.
The EKS-S glasses are a further development of the GOX line from EKS Brand, with several additional functions that improve the well-thought-out basic model. Two of these features are immediately noticeable – the boom frame and the detachable nose piece.
Since I usually wear an Arai VX-Pro4 helmet, which is designed with minimal clearance between the chin bar and the rider’s face, I had to remove the removable nose protector immediately. This enabled the EKS-S to sit properly in the helmet’s eye opening. It took less than 10 seconds to pull the plastic part out of the frame and easily 10 times longer to replace. If I had to do this on a regular basis, I assume I could shorten this time, although most people probably won’t remove / reattach the nosepiece more than once. If you do, you are simply purchasing separate goggles for each helmet.
The new Force-Fit boom system is an additional element to the flexible EX brand EKX-S frame that allows the glasses to stay in full contact with my face. There are no distortion gaps caused by pulling the strap over the edge of the helmet eye opening, so there is an uninterrupted tight seal. That makes it almost impossible for dirt to get past the glasses and into my eyes.
The 17mm super comfortable foam has three layers of different densities to filter the air and keep dust out, with a final layer of fleece on your face. This last layer is not only pleasant on the nose and cheeks. It also wicks away sweat and condensation so that nothing gets in your eyes – something I particularly appreciate as a contact lens wearer. Along the top of the EKS-S glasses there is a ventilation system with a very fine mesh foam with 100 pores per inch to keep dust out and at the same time allow air to flow. This ensures that no condensation forms.
Since I’m rarely the pacemaker on the trail – following faster riders forces me to increase my pace – I usually ride in dust. This means that I really appreciate glasses that filter out as much dust, air pollution and actual dirt as possible while allowing enough air to circulate so that the lens doesn’t fog up. This can be difficult, whether in the summer heat or in milder conditions, when I generate enough of my own energy to sweat.
When I take off my EKS-S glasses and helmet at the end of hot, dusty journeys, my hair is damp, but the sweat hasn’t run into my eyes. I also had a well-deserved layer of dirt on my face, but what was hidden by the glasses stayed clean.
Although every face has a different contour and nose size, the EKS-S glasses from EKS Brands fit my face perfectly. The face foam is cut spacious enough not to obstruct my peripheral vision. I test the golden mirror lens of my EKS-S glasses, although there are nine other tint options plus clear. As a blue-eyed driver who is overly sensitive to bright light, I appreciate the edge that reduces glare from the Gold Mirror lens. I can open my eyes wide without squinting, which is better for exploring the path in front of you and choosing lines. The EKS brand offers 11 color options for lenses, including clear.
EKS Brand uses polycarbonate lenses that are scratch-resistant, shatterproof and have an anti-fog coating. The lenses also have UVA protection to protect the skin from premature aging and some types of skin cancers. However, we would like UVB protection to be included as these rays cause sunburn and truly deadly skin cancer (melanoma). Tear pins are built into the lens as standard and the optical clarity is excellent.
The strap feels pleasantly soft yet substantial, along with nicely structured graphics. Two adjustable buckles in the back allow for an individual adjustment of the fit, and the range is generous enough to work with any off-road helmet. When I pull the EKS-S glasses with three lines of silicone gel on the inside of the strap over my helmet and put the strap on, it stays where I put it.
The included carrying case for the glasses is antistatic, which should help to repel dust and feels pleasantly silky. It should be smudge-proof. My only problem with the bag is remembering to use it instead of just tucking the glasses in my helmet at the end of the day.
In case you missed it, EKS Brand will be pronounced “X Brand” and the EKS S glasses will be pronounced “Excess”. But if you want to say EKS, by all means do.
The EKS glasses from the EKS-S brand are extremely comfortable and take care of your eyes transparently. As soon as I pull them over my helmet and put them in place, I don’t think about them anymore. They keep the dust out, keep the glare down and protect my eyes from flying debris. Job done.
Photography by Don Williams
EKS Brand EKS-S Glasses Review Fast Facts
Colours
- Black silver
- Flo yellow, black and fire red
- Gray & silver
Optional lenses
- “Terminator” red mirror
- blue
- Blue mirror
- Clear
- Gold mirror
- Green mirror
- persimmon
- Pink mirror
- Silver mirror
- smoke
- yellow
EKS brand EKS-S glasses: $ 70
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