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The Nita XL glasses are the biggest Coast Optics offers for those with larger heads or anyone who wants goggles-like coverage on the trail.
The brand makes the Nita XLs out of a biodegradable thermoplastic, which it says can be recycled if damaged and turned into a new frame down the line.
At £109.99 / $108.95 / €149.95, they’re not cheap, but for the quality and performance on offer, they’re definitely some of the best mountain bike glasses I’ve tried and easily on a par with offerings from Smith and 100% at a lower price.
They provide a huge amount of coverage, a secure and stable fit, and plenty of comfort.
3 things you need to know about the Coast Optics Nita XL glasses
- Frame is made from an environmentally friendly thermoplastic material, which is recyclable
- Clear lens only option will set you back £79.99
- The Nita XLs weigh 38g
Eyes on the prize
Despite the chunky frame and overall size of the Nita XLs, they don’t feel bulky or uncomfortable once on. The inside of the flexible arms feature integrated rubber grippers which, combined with the spring in the frame, hold the glasses tight to your head for a secure fit.
The fit isn’t uncomfortably tight though, thanks to the flex in the frame ensuring they can’t pinch the sides of your head too hard. There’s also a malleable rubber nose piece, which further boosts the Nita XLs' grip on your head.
At 38g, they’re a reasonable weight, although inevitably a touch heavier compared to half-frame designs. I’ll gladly take a few extra grams for the reassuringly robust build on offer here.
When it comes to the lens, I switched quickly to the pink-tinted number that came in the box – a process that’s easy and quick to do, although it'll require a good lens clean once you’re done – and I’ve not looked back since.
Why? Well, this lens seems to work well just about all the time. If it’s bright, there’s enough tint to take the edge off and prevent you squinting or straining your eyes.
Jump into dappled forest where you’re flitting between bright sunshine and dark shaded patches and the pink lens is a good leveller between the two extremes.
While it’ll manage bright sunlight well, it’s not dark enough to prevent you picking out details in the trail as you weave through dark woodland patches. That means this lens has stayed put for the entirety of testing. It helps that it’s distortion-free and appears light enough even in low-light conditions.
While the frame itself is quite thick, the glasses are big enough that it never creeps into your field of view – something that can be an issue with some specs and become distracting from time to time.
Keep them covered
The Nita XLs quickly became my go-to glasses partly down to their comfort, partly down to the quality lens, but also because of the coverage on offer. At 70mm deep and 140mm wide, these are big. In fact, Coast Optics recommends them for riders with larger heads, although its standard Nita glasses – which it classes as ‘medium’ in size – are only 2mm shallower and 2mm narrower.
With coverage almost on the same level as MTB goggles, the Nita XLs do a great job of preventing mud and trail debris from getting in your eyes. The frames wrap around at the sides enough, and sit close enough to your cheeks that there’s little room either side or below for anything to make its way past them – a problem some glasses can have if the frames sit flatter across your face.
When the going gets rough, the Nita XLs are very stable. With some helmets that sit deeper on the head, though, the top of the frame can rest very close to your brow. That meant I could hear the glasses contacting the helmet whenever I was being really thrown around on the bike. That said, these instances were rare and didn’t dislodge the Nita XLs from their position.
Gorillas in the mist
On milder, muggier days, the Nita XLs stay fog-free. This includes riding at slower speeds on long climbs. When humidity peaked, I found the top of the lens started to fog a little, but this dissipates quickly once you start moving. That’s despite the fact that the lenses aren’t vented.
It’s worth noting that thanks to the relatively straight arms, it’s easy to stow the Nita XLs on helmets when not in use (assuming your helmet has glasses storage).
How I tested
To try to get the measure of the Coast Optic Nita XL glasses, I have ridden in them over the course of the last eight months in a wide variety of weather conditions and temperatures on different types of terrain.
I’ve then tried them with different helmets to see how well they work with different shapes, and if there are any issues when it comes to fit.
Coast Optic Nita XL glasses bottom line
The Nita XL glasses offer masses of coverage, a comfortable and stable fit, and a quality lens. They’re built to last and feel reassuringly solid – just as you’d hope from a pair of specs that cost over £100.
The full-frame design means they’re a touch heavier than some, but I’ll take a few extra grams for a more robust pair of glasses that can handle the rough and tumble of mountain biking.
While I noticed some interference with one helmet, it was rare and only when things got particularly rowdy. Other than that minor niggle, there’s a lot to like about the big Nita XLs and their goggle-like coverage.
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