Scott has been in the goggle game for 50 years. Sure a lot has changed with eye protection since then, but Scott has pushed the development and evolution of goggle performance and design. With an extensive seven-model range from the Junior sized Buzz to the flagship model Prospect that we have here on test.
How does the Prospect fare against the best mountain bike goggles? We've been spending some hands-on time with it and have formulated an opinion. Read on to find out what we think.
Design and aesthetics
The Prospect has a huge field of view, Scott claims it is the largest on the market, using a curved lens to push the frame out past your peripheral. The 5cm wide strap with two lines of silicone locks the goggles into place and the unique pivoting outriggers will adjust to suit any size and shape of helmet, giving an even pressure to the rider's face.
On the inside, the Scott Prospect has a three-layer Face Foam system. Two layers of foam ensure a close fit and against your skin and there is the No Sweat microfibre layer to absorb sweat and to ensure maximum rider comfort.
The curved 1mm thick lens has been treated with NoFog coating and offers 100 percent UV protection. It is secured into the flexible frame with four pins and tabs are used to lock through the lens into the frame top and bottom. No amount of frame distortion will result in the lens popping out, a great safety feature in a crash scenario. When you want to swap out the lens, you pull the neat tabs out to enable the lens to be released from the frame.
The goggles will use the latest Scott 50mm Works Film System (WFS50) roll-off canisters and the supplied lens has posts for tear-offs (both sold separately). Either option is useful for when the conditions take a turn during your race day.
The Scott Prospect goggles are supplied with an additional clear lens, a microfiber bag and a nose guard for added protection should you feel you need it.
Performance
On opening the box it is immediately clear that the Scott Prospect is a top of the line, premium piece of equipment and deserving of the price tag, with well thought-out features, and a quality finish and feel to them.
Being an MX goggle, they are a tad on the large size, so they look funny with an open-face trail helmet. Yet despite their size, they are not the heaviest goggles I have ever used. The combination of the frame size coupled with the curved lens and the lowered nose bridge all contribute to the enormous unobstructed field of view. What this means for the rider is you get to see more of the line ahead and trail features rather than the frame and foam.
I like the feel of the microfiber layer against your face and the foam is up there with the best I have worn. The foam around the nose area has been scalloped out which is a neat design, not squashing my nose and allowing me to still be able to breathe on the climbs.
The CAT. S1 lens tint is perfect for mixed conditions and it works well on overcast as well as the sunny days. The NoFog coating worked a treat. I didn't suffer from any fogging, not even whilst sitting stationary on the most humid damp days.
Verdict
The Scott Prospect goggles offer a premium level of finish for gravity racers who require a high level of protection with all of the versatility to swap out between tear-offs, roll offs and tints on race day, whatever the conditions, whilst looking factory fast in the process.
Tech Specs: Scott Prospect Goggles
- Colors: 10
- Price: $99.95 / £90.00
