There’s no getting away from their high price, but Smith’s Squad MTB goggles have a plethora of well-considered features that make them worth digging a little deeper for.
It’s also worth noting that when you buy a set of Squads you get a clear lens along with the fancy mirrored lens – a bonus, as and when the sun reappears from behind the clouds.
In the hills, the first thing we noticed was just how reluctant the Squads were to fog up. Smith has taken note of just how sweaty mountain biking can be and done away with any surplus foam around the frame, meaning venting is seriously impressive, even if you leave the goggles in place on short climbs.
To further help battle that pesky fog, Smith has put slotted vents in the lens itself – something we’re not used to seeing on goggles. Even in the most horrific of conditions, mud and slop failed to penetrate the Squads, keeping our eyes dirt free.
While on the subject of the lens, it’s hard to ignore the wide and deep field of vision, which makes life easier when scanning for hazards further down the trail. It also gets lugs for tear/roll-offs and is quick and easy to change. On top of all that, comfort is seriously impressive and the goggles have fitted into all of the full-face lids we’ve tried them with too.
