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Home / Mountain Bikes and Gear / Clothing / Eyewear / Survey

Helmet Chin Strap Over or Under Sunglasses for Biking?

We have our own preference based on what works for us, but every face is different, and not all sunglasses and helmets are created alike. Sound off!

By Jeff Barber
May 30, 2021 Last Updated: December 6, 2023

6 comments

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Is there a right way to layer sunglasses and bike helmet straps? We have our own preference based on what works for us, but every face is different, and not all mountain bike sunglasses and helmets are created alike. Sound off!

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Jeff Barber

Jeff Barber has been mountain biking since 1992 and has tested hundreds of mountain bikes and components. He is the co-founder of Singletracks and serves as Editor in Chief. Contact him at [email protected].

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6 Comments

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Bham MTB Alabama // 2019
Jun 1, 2021

Legs under the straps. Many times I stop and pop my lid off to cool a minute but I don't take my glasses off in the process since they're also shading my eyes from the sun. If the legs were on top of the straps I'd have to take my glasses off too.

3 reply

Wish I Were Riding California // 2021
May 30, 2021

It depends on the helmet straps specifically. My mtn bike helmet requires under ther straps and my road helmet requires over the straps. Over is my preference in general.

1 reply

K1ZMT Massachusetts // 2016
Nov 1, 2021

I don't wear helmet. How about that?

0 reply

Eugene Nine Ohio // 2019
Jun 3, 2021

Do any of the helmet manufacturers have a recommendation? I would think if the glasses arm were under the straps and you hit your head on the side it would pull the strap tight pressing the arm into you. But I can't stand wearing glasses because the arms always hurt the top of my ears, always have ever since I was a kid and needed glasses.

0 reply

Chin Gao New Mexico // 2016
Jun 3, 2021

Well if helmet straps are tightened the way recommended one would think that the temples of the glasses would be irritating right above the ear especially during hot summer rides and potential dust particles between skin and temples. Now does everyone have a tad of slack on their helmet strap well probably. This is all contingent on how the temples are formed some are round some flat some triangled so as mentioned by Claude Bike
“what ever works best”

0 reply

Claude Bike Italy // 2019
May 30, 2021

in the way they interfere the least

0 reply

Tagged: beginners, sunglasses, survey, gear, eyewear

First published May 30, 2021 @ 2:24:03