The 661 Radia goggles are aimed to offer top performance at an affordable price and the brand appears to have hit the nail on the head. These goggles offer a wide and clear field of view combined with flawless comfort and almost everything you’ll need from the best mountain bike goggles. Although, it’s a shame that a second clear lens isn’t included.
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SixSixOne Radia googles – Technical details
The Radia goggle is built with all of the mod-cons including a 40mm strap and a mirrored smoke lens with Anti-Fog and Anti-Scratch treatments as standard. Speaking of the lens, it’s cylindrically injection moulded, which helps to filter out 100% of UVA and UVB rays.
Even though tear-offs are becoming increasingly frowned upon at grassroots-level racing and bike parks, the lens is complete with tear-off pegs should you require them. There is also a tear-off system available.
These goggles come with double-density foam for comfort and its strap has a strip of silicone to keep it in place. 661 also offers spare tinted and smoked lenses.
What’s especially cool is that the Radia comes in two sizes to fit most helmets and in four colours. Although the brand says that it provides a perfect fit with its Reset helmet, I tested the goggles with a MET Parachute MCR and Fox Proframe RS.
SixSixOne Radia goggles – Performance
I mostly tested the Radia goggles during races and, even though they’re more towards the budget end of the price range, I’ve been pleasantly surprised. Used with both of the helmets mentioned previously, the goggles worked well and I encountered no issues with integration or any knocking while riding.
The Radia’s field of view is impressively wide for a goggle of this price, with little of the frame interfering or getting in the way. There is a small portion of the edge of the frame but it doesn’t obstruct. The clear tear-off pegs are visible as they’re bonded onto the outer of the lens but I’m yet to find them distracting.
SixSixOne’s choice to spec the Radia with a smoke lens is a fairly wise one. It means that riders can benefit from some kind of eye-comforting tint in brighter and more exposed conditions, but the lens isn’t so dark that it’s impossible to see when the light eventually dims. I’ve mostly ridden with these goggles under tree cover and I’ve had no issues with visibility and the like. That said, a spare clear lens would have been a super addition to have. Clear lenses can be bought for an additional £12 which is on par with lenses from brands such as 100%. Spare mirrored smoke lenses come in at £20.
The tint is consistent across the lens, so there are no distracting fades or gradients. While it’s not as impressive as Chromapop tech or Zeiss-fettled lenses, for the money, it’s hard to beat in terms of value. There’s no sign of warping as the lens wraps around the face, keeping vision consistently clear.
The foam around the Radia’s interior edge is soft and comfortable and it does a great job of keeping sweat from soaking through. It wraps well around the nose, too, doing little to compress to keep breathing clear. It resists fogging very effectively.
SixSixOne Radia goggles – Value and verdict
At £40, the SixSixOne Radia goggles represent superb value for money. In fact, the aesthetics are indicative of a product of much higher value. It really is a premium offering.
Rivals such as the Kali Protectives Trinity goggles don’t cost much more. For an extra fiver, you’ll get a clear lens in the bag and a clever but easy-to-use lens swap system. However its field of view isn’t quite as wide and the tinted lens has a colour gradient, something that I don’t particularly like. Replacement lenses are hard to find, too.
Another set of goggles that’ll also set you back £45 (at least) is the Melon Optics Parker goggles. For £45 you are only getting a clear lens, but this option offers a raft of customisation options. Its padding is softer, too, and it offers a slightly wider field of view.
If you’re looking for a fantastic performance goggle system that doesn’t break the bank, you won’t go wrong with the 661 Radia. It looks great, its lens is clear and offers a wide, unobstructed field of view. However, you’ll need to fork out extra for a clear lens.
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Product purpose:
Performance is rather good, as is the price point.
Build extra:
Large and small sizes.
Perfect fit for 661 helmets.
Double-density foam comfort.
40mm strap with silicone grip for added security.
Anti-Fog & Anti-Scratch smoke mirror lens as standard.
Tear off pegs.
Spare & option lenses available.
Tear-off system available.
Product construction
Product performance
Product performance extra:
Product durability
Product durability extra:
Product comfort
Product comfort extra:
product value
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