Koo’s relatively expensive £110 Edge goggles boast a Zeiss Optics lens that’s been designed specifically for mountain biking, with its semi-rigid, curved and scratch-resistant durable construction.
Instead of using a traditional tear-off design, the Edge employs a stick-on protective film that adheres to the lens surface. Primarily, this is a lens protector, but can also function as a tear-off. A pack of five costs £13.99.
The lens is glued into a surround, with tabs that clip and slide into the frame. A quick-release clip on the frame’s left side secures and releases it.
Perforations in the upper and lower rims of the frame are claimed to channel air, reducing the chances of lens fog. The removable nose guard is claimed to “optimise [their] stability".
The 40mm-wide, length-adjustable strap has silicone beads to reduce slippage.
At 129g, the Edge goggles are impressively light.
Included for the price is a carry bag that acts as a lens wipe.
Koo Edge performance
Despite Koo’s claims, the Edge’s lens fogs up quickly and struggles to clear.
Even in relatively undemanding low-humidity conditions, it steams up. Set off with a partially steamed-up lens on a high-intensity descent and the fogging increases.
Only wiping their internal surface with the supplied carry bag fully clears the fog, but it doesn’t stop it coming back.
Like other mountain bike goggles, if the fogging is left too long without being wiped, water droplets condense on the inside of the lens, distorting vision.
The frame’s small, perforated airflow holes – rather than the larger, blocky openings seen on other goggles – restrict mist-clearing airflow.
Offering a balance between vision and size, the frame’s width and height mean it doesn’t enter into your field of view, but still works comfortably with Troy Lee Designs' A1 and A2 open-face helmets, Bell’s Full-9 full-face and MET’s Parachute MCR.
Their curved shape is comfortable and reduces nose pinching, even when the strap is pulled tight. The soft foam feels smooth against your skin and doesn’t irritate even when the goggles are worn for extended periods.
Stability is also commendable; the strap doesn’t slip, and they don’t bounce or wobble over rough terrain, helped by their low weight, even when set to only moderate tension.
The lens optics are commendable, offering a clear and undistorted view of the trail ahead. Despite the curved shape, no distracting hologram-style light reflections are caused.
Lens replacement is easy thanks to the single-clip system, which reduces the chances of greasy fingerprints. However, without first reading the instructions, it’s not obvious how it’s removed.
Koo Edge bottom line
Comfortable, light and with great optics, the Koo Edge goggles have almost all the right ingredients for a top-performing package.
However, their cost is high considering the anti-fog performance is lacklustre. Misting up in mild conditions is a major flaw their other features can’t compensate for.
MTB goggles | How we tested
Senior tech ed Alex took to the trails to test these goggles in his Scottish homeland, famed for its cold, damp weather.
Getting sweaty and hot racing to the trailheads, Alex donned each pair to see how quickly they steamed up before dropping into technical trails in low light.
Their ability to de-mist, provide clear, undistorted optics and enable all-day comfort were key metrics, along with how easy lenses are to change and the types of extras included.
The goggles were tested with a range of full- and open-face helmets to understand their fit.
Goggles on test
- 100% Armega review
- SixSixOne Radia review
- Fox Airspace X review
- Koo Edge
- Oakley Front Line MX
- Smith Rhythm MTB review
Product
| Brand | koo |
| Price | 180.00 AUD,110.00 GBP,130.00 USD |
| Weight | 129.0000, GRAM () - |
Features
| Features | Colour tested: Black frame, clear lens |
