Helmets Problems with full face helmets and prescription glasses

jamesh75

jamesh75

Joined
Jun 7, 2010
Messages
21
Location
Highland, IL
Bike
2016 Kawasaki Versys
I have a couple modular helmets, but due to some neck problems, I need to find a lighter helmet. So I'm looking to go with a full face. I've researched online to find the lightest weight helmets out there. The problem is, every helmet I've tried on (that fits correctly), I either can't get my prescription glasses on, or I can get them on, but they are pushing into the side of my head. I have wire frame glasses that the temples fit pretty close to my head. Has anyone had this same issue and been able to modify the cheek pads to allow room for the glasses?

Unfortunately, contacts don't work for me and I'm not a candidate for lasik.

Thanks,
James
 
You need to be looking at the modular helmets where the chin bar will unlatch and slide up out of the way. I have a Gmax modular helmet and wear glasses and don't have a problem.
Don McDonald
Downtown Tumtum WA, USA
 
If you'd like to keep the convenience of a modular, you might want to check the weight on a Schuberth in comparison to the full face models you're looking at. (They are light, but expensive.) I believe that Nolan made a light weight modular at one time; not sure if this is still the case.
 
DonMac said:
You need to be looking at the modular helmets where the chin bar will unlatch and slide up out of the way. I have a Gmax modular helmet and wear glasses and don't have a problem.
Don McDonald
Downtown Tumtum WA, USA
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice Don, but I can't wear the modulars because they are heavy. I end up at the chiropractor after every ride. I do have an old Bell that is a tad too big for my head, but is very light. When I wear it, I have no neck pain. I'd keep it, but it is an older helmet and doesn't fit as tight as I would like.
 
I wear Shoei helmets and prescriptions eyeglasses. I have never had any problems and seem to have plenty of room. I wear XXl helmets.

Another consideration is the type of glasses you wear. I have some Bolle sunglasses with straight legs and they work great. Easy on and off.

Mike
 
I wear sunglasses all the time with my Shoei RF1000. I know you said the glasses are pressing into the side of your head. Sometimes breaking in the setup will help. IOW a groove sort of gets pressed into the side padding of the helmet after you wear it that way for a while. Seems this is going to be totally dependent on head shape anyway.

The biggest problem I had with different glasses was the earpieces being too long, extending behind the ears and hitting the back of the helmet. Shortened a few earpieces to the point where they're just long enough to hook over the ear.

Good luck.
 
I wear glasses with my Shoei helmets. The RF1000 full face and Multitec modular have channels for the temples but the J-Wing open face I had to take the cheek pads out and use a regular clothes iron on low heat to "squish" down the top edge of the pad for the glasses to fit. I read a review in Rider magazine this week on the new Shoei Quest and the reviewer mentioned the eyeglass channels the test helmet had.
 
I've had the Shoei RF1000 and RF1100 and both are good. You might have to take a spoon and press some of the areas to help make it better but it's 1000% better than the HJC I had with no eye glass channels.
 
I just got an HJC IS16 (1st 250 miles today) and wear Rx glasses.
No problems. Chris wears glasses with her HJC too.

I wore them with an RF1000 and had not issues too.
 
I've used frames like these ever since I started riding, first with the standard sunglass lens, and now with prescription lenses installed. (I've been using the same pair of frames for years...)

ao_origpilot.jpg

I've never had a problem inserting their straight, flat temples into a helmet.

ao_bayonet.jpg
 
Have you tried a Bell Star? It's light weight and eyeglass friendly, at least for me. My frames are fairly traditional wire construction with temples that angle downward behind the ear. Of course there are many variables with different eyeglass frames and head shape/helmet fit, so it's good you are able to try different helmets on.

I hope your neck problem gets better. Mine didn't. I had surgery a year and a half ago to replace my C5/C6 and C6/C7 discs. Now the constant pain is gone and my range of neck motion is just as good as before. I also initially sought the help of a chiropractor. He suspected a herniated disc and recommended my regular doctor order an MRI to see what was really going on. It turned out I had two badly herniated discs that pinched nerves causing pain between the neck and shoulder that felt like a pulled trapezius muscle. Sometimes the pain would radiate down the tricep muscle to my elbow.

Where was I going with this story? I guess I just wanted to recommend getting another medical opinion if chiropractic treatment doesn't fix it.

Best of luck.
 
Fred D said:
I've used frames like these ever since I started riding, first with the standard sunglass lens, and now with prescription lenses installed. (I've been using the same pair of frames for years...)

ao_origpilot.jpg

I've never had a problem inserting their straight, flat temples into a helmet.

ao_bayonet.jpg
Click to expand...

+1 Been using US Army aviator spectacles like this for 40 years now. Work very well in all my Shoei full-face helmets over the years. I had custom clip-on sunglasses made for them.

Regards, John
US Army, Retired, Master Army Aviator
 
Shoei Multitec here.

If one is wearing glasses that do not have a large bow on the side, the Shoei works great.

I read your post about the sore neck and you're attributing it to the helmets weight.

You may want to talk with your chiro or family doctor about this: There are riders here (and other boards) that complain about neck, back, wrist, whatever pain they get while riding. The cruiser people talk about back pain. Sport bike riders back and wrist pain. Much of this is lack of proper conditioning for your riding style.

What I mean is, do you have the strength in your neck to ride 500 miles or only 100? How strong is your "core"? Possibly by doing certain exercises you can strengthen your neck where you can wear a modular and enjoy yourself.

Give it some thought and talk to your medical practitioners about it.

Good luck.
 
Thank you for all of the replies. I spent my afternoon helmet shopping. I ended up running across a Joe Rocket carbon fiber helmet on the sale rack. It was last year's model and marked down to $200. It's very light, fits my head great, and works very well with my glasses. I'm not real fond of the Joe Rocket brand, but it meet all of my criteria and while in the store, I checked the reviews on my phone and it got good reviews. I wore it home from the dealer and I love it.

For those of you talking about the neck pain. Thank you for the advice. I have been going to the chiropractor for few years for the pain and he fixes me, but it only seems temporary. I've also talked to him specifically about the pain I get after riding. He cracks and pops me, sometimes hooks me up to something, and I feel better and he sends me on my way. He's given me stretches to do, but no real strengthening exercises. I think I'm going to talk to my regular physician for another opinion.

Thanks,
James
 
I use the Vega Summit 2 Modular. Weight 4.1 lbs. This is not a very expensive helmet ($79.99- $139.00 on the internet) I am almost blind without glasses and wear no line bi-focas. Using this helmet I have plenty of chin room and no pressure against the bows of the glasses behind the ears. Most of the head aches with helmets usually does not come from weight but from wind buffeting. What type of windscreen do you have and how tall is it?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom