face protection?
 

So it was like 10°F out here in Albany tonight sans wind chill, and my dumb ass just had to go to the grocery store (buying Apple Jacks to ship to Norway, long story). I think I frostnipped the bridge of my nose, and my eyes wanted to die even though I was wearing glasses this time instead of my usual contacts, which would have been even more uncomfortable. I only really have this problem below 20°F or so.

What do you crazy kids use for face protection when it's well below freezing? I've got my balaclava on which protects my nose and most of my face but still leaves that oval of perpetual windburn around my eyes and whatnot. I've thought about ski goggles, but I'm worried about peripheral vision with them. Any thoughts?

Well, this is my first winter riding, but a good friend who has much experience told me that I really should get some ski goggles for the really cold days. Heck, with them, you could probably still wear you contacts. (I wear glasses, which is why I'm a bit concerned about ski goggles - I'm not that sure how well they will work together, and I don't want to have to get prescription goggles.) Think of it this way - how much worse for your peripheral vision can they be, when compared to wearing glasses instead of your contacts? It would depend on your prescription, but if it isn't in my corrected field of vision, I can't see a thing. You have to make sure to get clear ones, though, or you can't wear them at night.


Gabriel

I wear glasses and i picked up a pair of safty goggles at home depot that fit good over my glasses and vent from the top,i used them the other day and they work real good,don't fog up and they were only $3.97,i don't think your gonna beat that!

I had a good Seirus facemask that always worked well and looked cool... the velcro started to need replacement but I loved that mask. Lost it. Now it's a scarf and sunglasses when it's REALLY cold, but I don't like to sacrifice my peripheral vision, or look like an idiot.

Interesting... For me, it doesn't need to be in my *corrected* field of vision, it just has to be available to my field of vision (corrected or not). I don't need to be able to see it clearly, or even just clearly enough to determine what it is; I just need to see some inkling of motion or some anomaly in the color space that indicates something is there in order for me to take note. So any goggles that obscure my peripheral vision have proven horribly ineffective for me while cycling, whereas glasses are at least much safer.

i don't even wear sunglasses with rims on the bottom because i find it effects my ability to see. if you have to merge with traffic at all you absolutly need to be able to see what is behind you.

if you wear a balaclava and a neck gaitor or (my personal favourite i keep ranting about) a fleece "bandana". then you can minimize the amount of exposed skin to pretty much just your eyeballs. some days the wind will just make you feel like you have an ice cream headache. that's when people start calling you hardcore... or crazy ;)

Wow, I had never thought of that. Thanks for the tip. Too bad they don't make tinted ones for those days of bright sun bouncing off the snow.

I almost never wear goggles when biking (and quite seldom skiing), but in any case I don't think that ski goggles should restrict your vision at all. If they do, they are probably too small for you. You could also try motor-cross style goggles if ski goggles don't do it for you.

Oh but yhey do, multiple shades. I use a set I got at work even tho' it never snows here. One mail order company wants $4.00 a pair. As they sell them in sets of 12 better go to a safety supply store to get just what you want. Check the fit too.

We've had a cold spell here -20c/-4f and with the wind about -30c/-22f. I've been wearing a touque and wraping a scarf from around my ears to around my nose and mouth then securing it with my helmet and I've been more than comfortable without googles.

I wear my snowboarding goggles.

I've generally found the loss of peripheral vision to be marginal compared to the loss of general vision from watering eyes without them.

Some of the newer snow/moto goggles don't give up much field of view on the sides.

Yeah, it's really only when the ambient temperature gets below 20°F that I've had this issue.

Does anyone have a particular goggle they're fond of? What's up with the spherical lenses? Is it easy to get clear lenses (I do a lot of night riding)?

Ski are a must, IMO, for cold air, falling snow and cutting glare off of snow and ice. As Ghettocruiser says, any loss of peripheral vision is more than made up for by the prevention of watering, squinty eyes or snow blindness. When it comes to dealing with traffic, you're riding in wintry conditions, right? So, if you need to - and you probably do, because it might be icy or slushy or who-knows-what - slow down, or even come to a full stop, and take a good look before continuing. I haven't found that goggles are a significant enough hit to my peripheral vision, so I seldom need to actually stop just because of my goggles. If I'm stopping, it's because I don't want to ride forward through the mess while looking over my shoulder at something else. When I do, I don't resent it - goggles represent an overall massive increase in vision and safety.

I wear a mask -nose and mouth. I wore sunglasses for the first time the other day -rochester NY- and will keep doing so ..probably. They do keep the falling snow out my eyes which is great
but I'll wear them mostly for the extra contrast/warmth of the yellow filter. They make it seem less cold out there.
plus I'm out with cameras so it helps to see the added contrast while I'm scouting for shots.

I was out in all the ice and everything for
for hours and was completely fine. I always wear the mask till it remains above 40.

I use PolarWrap heat exhange mask when it's very cold out and it works great.
http://www.polarwrap.com/how.htm

My favorite is a fleece backed neoprene face mask that has been modified by cutting an opening at the mouth and enlarging the nostril area. The face mask rises over the bridge of your nose and stays reasonably tight below the eyes. These can be found at Target for $8 The mask is combined with cycling glasses that have a slight wrap to them and a polartec ear band. I keep the visor on my helmet to prevent snow from falling behind the glasses. The temperature was 22*F today during the ride. It works and is comfortable. Balaclavas tended to freeze and clog from heavy breathing.

Goggle and Face Protection
 

I hate wearing goggles except when it's incredibly windy or there's lots of flying snow that actually hits the eyes. Generally I wear a fleece-lined neoprene mask on the face and an alpine ski helmet for the rest of the head. It still leaves the eyes exposed but the vapour from my breath seems to keep them from freezing.

do goggles fog up though?

that's a point. if it's snowing, or just after a fresh snowfall slow down for sure, but in toronto the main streets downtown are usually dry within a couple days, sometimes even hours. for example yesterday was -10 degrees celius, "plus windchill", but i could ride normally.

i still didn't go as fast as i can/usually do, simply because it was so cold and drivers often don't watch for bikes when they percieve the weather to be too bad to ride in. i think it might also depend on the design of the streets in your area and the amount you are required to merge with traffic.

as a side note, i was just given a pair of safety glasses that seem to fit me 1000% better than most other cycling glasses i've tried and are still frameless on the bottom.

i use a neoprene face guard like the ones paint ball guys wear. got for $12 at a local sports store. works great. rode to 12F and had no problems. felt warm actually.