Bike Perfect Verdict
If the extra bulk and mass don’t bother you or if maximum protection is your main priority, the Velocity Goggle from Leatt is a totally dialled option, especially if a chunk of your riding time is inside a full-face helmet
Pros
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Supreme build quality
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Huge amounts of protection
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Impressive lens quality
Cons
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The generous levels of protection may be too much for some
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Some peripheral vision contamination
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First of all, let’s get this out the way - the 2.7mm thick lens Leatt has selected for its Velocity 6.5 goggle is stated to meet a ‘Military Ballistic Impact Standard’. In other words, it’s actually approved to a bulletproof standard. The bulletproof lens is available in a wide range of light transmission options meaning there’s a lens option to suit everything from dark and dank woodland to exposed and sunny alpine terrain. The lens tested here is the ‘Iriz purple 30%’ option which was well suited to riding in all but the densest woodland, during the current UK wintertime. The lenses clip in and seem a cinch to switch. All of the lenses get anti-fog treatment and feature tear-off posts, there’s actually a pack of tear-offs included in the box too which is unusual but great to see. They’re roll-off compatible too, while not included it’s a great option for the wettest days, especially if you’re a racer.
One of the first things you notice when handling the Velocity goggles is how stiff the frame is compared to most other goggles on the market. This is helped by the two outriggers featured on either side of the lens which act like braces to the mainframe. The stiff frame could potentially transfer more impact energy if they took a direct hit while crashing, but the ‘over-the-glasses fit’ will protect normal specs if you need them for riding.
The Velocity goggle frame is also stated to be shaped to specifically fit even the most awkward helmets on the market, a bold claim when helmet shell shapes vary massively, especially between open and full-face helmets. There’s a generous 50mm wide silicone-coated strap to keep things in place also.
A triple-layer, dual-density foam with an anti-sweat wicking fleece backing seals the goggle to your face which is shaped to provide a seamless fit for sealing and comfort. There’s also a removable nose guard included in the package, this is an extra level of protection we became big fans of when recently testing the Koo Edge goggles.
Performance
Throughout testing, we tried the Velocity goggle with a range of open and full-face lids from numerous brands and Leatt’s fit claims proved to be correct. The sculpted goggle shape offered a great fit with every lid we tried but while it was ok with open face variants the beefed up and bulky shape proved better suited to DH style full-face options or properly aggressive half-shell helmets. With some brands, we even found that the Velocity’s solid construction provided additional stability to the helmet in high-frequency chatter and rough terrain. This is also helped by the liberal silicone coating that’s featured on the already wide adjustable strap.
As soon as you install the Velocity goggles, you’re greeted with a totally locked-in feel, the foam used is supportive and really well-fitting, and due to the deep fit, it makes you feel safe and secure when attacking the trail. Looking out, the lens quality proved to the excellent and the slightly tinted lens (30%) was well suited to everything from low-light winter sun to generally overcast conditions, only on the grimmest days were we reaching for the clear option to achieve a little more consistency for dipping in and out of the trees. Unlike most goggles - especially models which feature foam-covered venting - the anti-fog coating on the Velocity lenses actually works really well. Throughout the whole testing process, including extremely wet and misty uplift days and prolonged e-MTB adventures our vision remained totally clear, which is impressive considering some of the bleak conditions we experienced recently. All this performance won’t break the bank either, the £79.99 price point leaves them in a fair position in the ever-growing goggle market, especially with the protection and clarity on offer.
It’s not all positive though and the high levels of protection and security do come with some trade-offs. The Velocity’s beefed-up design does mean there is more intrusion into your peripheral vision compared to some other, more compact goggle options. Whilst this didn’t cause any issues throughout testing, it’s definitely apparent the field of vision isn’t as wide as some when comparing to a range of other goggles, especially our current go-to goggle from ‘Smith’.
Verdict
If the extra bulk and mass doesn’t bother you or if maximum protection is your main priority the Velocity Goggle from Leatt is a totally dialled option, especially if a chunk of your riding time is inside a full-face helmet. We’ll certainly be leaving the Velocity’s in our kit bag and reaching for them for the majority of uplift days and gravity focused alpine riding trips.
Tech spec: Leatt Velocity 6.5 Goggles
- Colours: 13
- Price: £79.99
