Coast Optics Nita glasses were designed in the mountain biking mecca of Whistler, to be used on trails all over the world. The small Canadian start-up specialises in riding glasses and goggles, and puts sustainability high on their list of priorities alongside cool looks and performance. How did the Nita glasses fare in our long term test?
As the world’s undisputed mountain biking mecca, Whistler B.C. is packed with trails and MTB enthusiasts, and is also home to countless ingenious start-ups. Coast Optics is one of them: its two founders have been working in a bike store for years, which gave them the opportunity to get familiar with the huge offering of MTB products available on the market. The small start-up specialises in eyewear, which is designed and developed in Whistler B.C.. Coast Optics are committed to keeping their carbon footprint as low as possible without compromising on performance and looks. The Nita goggles we tested are made from recycled materials for maximum sustainability, but also combine a wide field of vision and good anti-fog properties, thus covering a wide range of applications. The Nita glasses retail from CA$ 99.95 and can be bought directly on their online store, with Coast Optics offering free shipping within Canada, and also to the USA for purchases over CA$ 200. If you don’t live in the MTB mecca, that’s not a problem either, because Coast Optics also ship outside North America.
The Coast Optics Nita stands out from the crowd with a rather unique look, which is both elegant and very discreet. Despite sharing a similar design language as some other glasses currently available on the market, the Nita distinguishes itself through its fully enclosed frame, which ensures a unique look, rounded off with simple branding on the sides. The available black and moss green colours are very subtle – a good match for the understated look. The frames can be combined with 5 types of lenses: Clear, Pink Crystal, Black Sun, Gold Sun and even a photochromic lens, which automatically adjusts to the light conditions. Prices start at CA$ 99.95 for the version with clear lenses, while the models with coloured lenses cost CA$ 129.95 and also include a clear replacement lens. The photochromatic variant of the Nita doesn’t include the clear spare lens and retails at CA$ 149.95.
The lenses can be changed easily in just one minute, meaning that you can swap them out just before dropping into a trail – provided you carry the other lens with you. To do this, you just have to pull the nose clip and upper frame section apart, remove the lens from the small groove in the frame, and replace it with the other lens. Now you just have to press the frame onto the lens to snap it back into the grooves – job done! The glasses come standard with a small pouch to stow them safely away while pedalling uphill and store your spare lenses – and it can also be used to clean the glasses on the go!
Our Coast Optics Nita glasses were tested by several different riders and with different helmets. As soon as you put them on your head, you’ll notice the short arms, which prevent them from hitting against the back of the helmet – a problem you get with many other glasses with longer arms. However, they’re still long enough to ensure a comfortable fit even for riders with bigger heads. The rubberized temples and removable nose piece ensure a comfortable, secure fit, positioning the glasses close to the face without slipping, even if things get rowdy on the trail. The Coast Optics Nita has an impressively large field of vision, meaning that you don’t see the frame unless you roll your eyes at roadies ;) The photochromic lens adjusts quickly to different light conditions, brightening up rapidly when you roll into a dark forest, without making you feel as if you were swallowed into a black hole. When the woods spit you out into the light again, the glass quickly darkens again. In mixed conditions, the lens remains pleasantly bright, with details like rocks and roots popping clearly through the grey light. As a result, both the glasses and photochromic lens are perfectly suitable for winter riding. Even on foggy days, both lenses we tested always ensured a clear view without fogging up.
Our conclusions about the Coast Optics Nita glasses
The Coast Optics Nita glasses are a real eye-catcher and stand out from the crowd with an elegant, stylish look. The lenses are available in different colours and can be exchanged in no time, with the photochromic variant ensuring excellent light adaptivity. On the trail, they impress with a large field of vision and excellent fit with all standard helmets and different head shapes – and fogging up isn’t an issue! The Coast Optics Nita is a good all-rounder, both in summer and winter.
Tops
- Excellent fit
- Lenses can be swapped quickly and easily
- Photochromic lens quickly adapts to changing light conditions
- Doesn’t fog up
Flops
- None
For more info, please visit coastoptics.ca.
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Words: Mike Hunger Photos: Peter Walker
