Oakley Airbrake MX Goggle

  • Optics / Field of Vision

Optically, the lens was as good as any goggle I’ve tried. The lens doesn’t distort colors at all, and I didn’t have any issues with light refracting or flaring off of the lens.

The field of vision is comparable to other high-end goggles I’ve tried—the goggle never obstructed my view in any direction. As with almost every motocross goggle I’ve worn, I did find that the tear-off posts caught my eye from time to time, but having tear-offs is nice when you need them. It would, however, be nice if Oakley offered replacement lenses without the tear-off posts for use in dry conditions.

Oakley Airbrake, Blister Gear Review.
Noah in the Oakley Airbrake MX, Whistler.
  • Fogging

I didn’t have any noteworthy fogging problems with the Airbrake.

Oakley does put an anti-fog treatment on the inside of the lens, which I noticed made condensation a little more “spotty.” With an untreated lens, fogging would generally appear as solid patches of moisture. On the Oakley lens, the treatment seems to make condensation bead up a little more. Granted, this is still annoying and makes me want to clean my lens, but I can at least continue riding.

In terms of frequency of condensation build-up, I found the Airbrake to be similar to other high end goggles I’ve used. On humid days, I’d get a bit of fogging if I was sweating and stopped moving, but I never had a problem with fogging when I was riding. I did an enduro race while wearing this goggle, and didn’t have any problems with fogging even on uphill pedally sections.

Other Features

While the durability and swapability are the best features of the Airbrake in my opinion, there are some other features worth mentioning. First, another benefit of the more rigid material used in the lens is that the lens is more impact resistant.

I haven’t had the occasion to test this particular aspect of the Airbrake, but I have tested the lack of impact protection offered by other goggles (in case you were wondering, handlebar + thin Lexan goggle lens = black eye).

The added protection afforded by the Airbrake is certainly nice if and when you need it. While I’m using these goggles for mountain biking, I imagine if I rode more motocross and spent more time having rocks kicked up into my face, I’d be pretty excited about some extra impact resistance.

Another nice feature of the Airbrake is that it’s fully rebuildable.  In addition to replacing the lens, you can also replace the strap, the foam faceplate, the outriggers, and the frame. It’s nice to know that, if you’re going to spend $160 on goggles, you’re not going to have to throw them away when the strap wears out or the foam gets nasty.

Also, the replaceable outriggers mean you can swap in Oakley’s integrated roll-off system. While I’m generally fine using a couple of tear-offs when needed (which are also available for the Airbrake), if you’re riding in super muddy conditions, the roll-off system might be a good add-on. If you foresee using that system a lot, you can buy the Airbrake with it already installed.

Oakley Airbrake, Blister Gear review.
Fully rebuildable frame

 Straps

In most other respects, the Airbrake is similar to other high-end goggles I’ve used. The strap has silicone strips on the inside, so it doesn’t slide on a helmet.

The frame has outriggers where the strap attaches, which keep the strap running straight across the side of the helmet. These outriggers also help the goggle sit neatly against your face without causing any uncomfortable pressure points.

Fit / Helmet Compatibility  

The Airbrake was comfortable on my face and fit well with my POC Cortex Flow helmet. The goggle also worked well with a Specialized Tactic half-shell helmet I wore in an enduro race.

The foam faceplate was comfortable for me, and I never had any problems with it pinching my nose or creating weird pressure points. I also haven’t had any problems with the foam getting funky or gross, which is an issue I’ve had with cheaper goggles.

Bottom Line

Without a doubt, the Airbrake is an awesome goggle. I’ve used plenty of goggles that were “fine,” but the Airbrake is the first goggle I’ve owned that was clearly superior to everything else I’ve tried.

Astute readers probably noticed that the MSRP on the Airbrake is $160.  That’s correct—the Airbrake costs more than twice as much as the Oakley Crowbar MX, which is already at the upper end of the price range for motocross goggles. So yeah, the Airbrake is pretty expensive.

But if you do spend the money for the Airbrake, you know you’re getting something that’s measurably better than its competitors.

To warrant the expense, you might have to look at the Airbrake as an investment—in the short term, it’s a great option because the lens and the Airbrake system are awesome. In the long term, it’s a good option because you can replace parts as needed rather than shelling out for a whole new set of goggles. From a dollars and cents perspective, it’ll take awhile for that investment to pay off, but in the meantime, you’ll have some sweet goggles.

 

4 comments on “Oakley Airbrake MX Goggle”

  1. I ride moto and it seems that no one has anything bad to say about these – except for the price. Maybe more so in moto than in mountain biking, our goggles get absolutely punished by roost. When you wear a $500 pair of boots you can justify the price by saying that they will last a while (they do), and they can take the punishment (they can). What I’m wondering is can these goggles take 2 motos + practice per week of getting roosted and beat on better than other goggles? If so, are they significantly more durable to justify the price? I have a hard time shelling out 2x the cash as the previous pro model setup that I run now. The saving grace of these goggles may be the completely rebuildable design, if I can swap foam and lenses after the first moto that would be great. I understand that its probably only a matter of time before everyone goes this way, hell, Dragon and Smith are already turning out frameless goggles, I’m just wondering if it’s cost effective right now.

    • Hey Rob

      Like I mentioned, I don’t have any specific experience using these on a moto. That said, I’ve got enough time on dirt bikes to have a decent sense for the punishment the gear takes, and I’ve got a bit more time in these goggles from when I originally wrote the review.

      Mine did, eventually, start to scratch up a bit and show signs of use. They lasted longer than “regular” lenses, but they’re not completely impervious to scratches. Looking at it purely from a cost standpoint, it’s probably cheaper to get a “regular” pair of goggles and replace the lenses more frequently. Where the Airbrake has a significant advantage is 1) ease of swapping lenses (and replacing other parts), and 2) impact resistance. Whether those factors give them the ultimate advantage really depends on your specific situation.

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