Julbo Eyewear Quickshift Goggles 2020
Reviews / Goggles
140,754
At A Glance
The demands and expectations for mountain bike goggles have increased massively over the last decade. This, in part, is due to the rise of Enduro and challenges that racing of this format delivers. Goggles are now worn for longer, with higher levels of effort from the rider and in every type of weather condition.
Buy Goggles on
Julbo has long been at the forefront of the eyewear game, making goggles, glasses and helmets for the skiing world. Their mountain bike products so far have lived up to there reputation and the Quickshift goggles appear to be no exception.
Essentially these goggles aim to achieve the best possible ventilation in the form of removable sections from the lower portion of the frame. This allows for more airflow to occur and the dreaded fog to be avoided. To do this Julbo have removable magnetic pieces (Switch Air System), which sit under the goggles this, along with the ventilation at the top of the lens allows air to easily flow through.
Other features include:
- Extra-wide, cylindrical lens.
- Anti-fog lens treatment.
- Interchangeable lenses, available in clear and low light.
- Compatible with all helmets, including full face.
- Silicone-lined adjustable strap.
- Price- €140
On The Trail
The goggles come with two lenses, one of which is Cat 2 (tinted) and the other Cat 0 (clear). Given it's a typical British winter, the clear lens has been the lens of choice for all the testing. Both sets are a two-layer design to further prevent misting and fogging up on the trail. The fit is good and comfortable, the grippy strap holds well on the back of a helmet and it’s easy to adjust the length.
Given the size of the goggles, they look better with a larger open face helmet of the enduro-style or a full face rather than a 'trail' style lid. On my IXS Trigger, full-face helmet the strap needed to be at its longest and there was no spare space around the goggles once in position, it was a very tight, or perfect fit, depending on which way you look at it.
The Quickshift Goggles give excellent vision and their large size gives great peripheral vision and all-round clarity. Wearing them fully assembled, they are comfortable and snug fit on the face and feel like a normal set of goggles, as they should. It's when the lower sections are removed that the goggles feel different. Julbo suggests that hot and humid conditions will lead to fogging up, but mild, wet winters can create the same issue. With the extra ventilation, you can feel more air instantly and any fog is quickly cleared as soon as you start moving. Given the conditions I've been riding in, the ventilated mode makes the most sense although there is still a risk of getting spray in your eyes, which I did on one or two occasions.
Removing and attaching the Switch Air System is much easier than at first it seems. Simply pull off the segments and stick them in your nearest pocket. Reattaching I found easiest with the goggles stashed on my helmet and with left and right printed on them they simply clip into place. The only time I've dropped them was when taking my goggles and helmet off at the same time, they pinged off and landed in the nearest puddle, of course, reminding me that care is needed not to lose them.
The concept is sound, they certainly create a lot more airflow, but this is balanced against the chance of still getting spray in your eyes. In essence, you get two different types of goggles in one, and additional options are always good. If somehow they could fold out, or slide into the frame rather than be completely removed, that would be something special.
Overall
Excellent fit and quality is something that I have come to expect from Julbo. The air vents are more than a gimmick and offer a reliable way of keeping fog at bay. For those serious about racing, the Quickshift Goggles are an innovative and reliable way to keep your eyes safe and vision crystal clear.
This review was in Issue 63 of IMB.
For more information visit Julbo EyewearRelated
By Ewen Turner
Ewen Turner is a self-confessed bike geek from Kendal in the Lake District of England. He runs a coaching and guiding business up there and has a plethora of knowledge about bikes with an analytical approach to testing. His passion for bicycles is infectious, and he’s a ripper on the trails who prefers to fit his working life around his time on the bike.
