Light Smoke vs. Dark Smoke Face Shield?

[KeithInAurora]

Can anyone comment on whether the light smoke face shields are sufficient for riding in bright sunlight (i.e. midday or evening while riding into the setting sun) or do I need a dark smoke shield for that? I'm looking to purchase a tinted face shield for my full face helmet, so that I can ride in the sun without needing a pair of sunglasses.

The other question I have is whether I can ride after dark with a light and/or dark smoke shield? I'd really prefer to be able to ride with 1 face shield during the day and after dark, but I don't know if that's possible.

Any insights you can share would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Keith

[BajaRon]

Can anyone comment on whether the light smoke face shields are sufficient for riding in bright sunlight (i.e. midday or evening while riding into the setting sun) or do I need a dark smoke shield for that? I'm looking to purchase a tinted face shield for my full face helmet, so that I can ride in the sun without needing a pair of sunglasses.

The other question I have is whether I can ride after dark with a light and/or dark smoke shield? I'd really prefer to be able to ride with 1 face shield during the day and after dark, but I don't know if that's possible.

Any insights you can share would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Keith

Here is my 2 cents.

The light smoke shield doesn't do much for sun light. You can get by with it at night but a clear is really the way to go there.

The dark smoke is great in bright sun but can be a pain if you're going from sun to deep shade or you ride into an unlighted tunnel (been there done that! )

My recommendation is to get a mirrored shield. They cost more and you have to be a bit careful with them but they are worlds better than any smoked shield. They give you a brighter, clearer view, you can ride them in much lower light situations than a dark smoke, they cut glare better than a smoke shield. You still need a clear for night time.

[MidLifeCrisis]

If you're contemplating a new helmet purchase, a flip down visor is pretty handy too. Mine has a switch on the left side and pops up or down with a flick. I sometimes leave the clear one up and use the tinted one only. Keeps the bugs off and the air flowing.

[OldCowboy]

How about one of the new helmets with the clear shield and the drop-down dark smoke sun visor? Like the Nolan N43 Trilogy or Nolan N44? That way you've got the best of both worlds without having to change anything when the lighting changes.

[Chupaca]

many helmets are now going for the drop down visor because of the changes from day to night/dark. I use sun glasses and a clear shield. Want to see the best I can in both instances and the glasses are easy to remove and pocket even while ryding. When I need a new helmet I will be getting one with the drop down visor. Then there is the rear view video cam helmet..!!

[MrLooney]

Here is my 2 cents.

The light smoke shield doesn't do much for sun light. You can get by with it at night but a clear is really the way to go there.

The dark smoke is great in bright sun but can be a pain if you're going from sun to deep shade or you ride into an unlighted tunnel (been there done that! )

My recommendation is to get a mirrored shield. They cost more and you have to be a bit careful with them but they are worlds better than any smoked shield. They give you a brighter, clearer view, you can ride them in much lower light situations than a dark smoke, they cut glare better than a smoke shield. You still need a clear for night time.

ONE UP

[Pirate looks at --]

[QUOTE=KeithInAurora;698178]Can anyone comment on whether the light smoke face shields are sufficient for riding in bright sunlight (i.e. midday or evening while riding into the setting sun) or do I need a dark smoke shield for that? I'm looking to purchase a tinted face shield for my full face helmet, so that I can ride in the sun without needing a pair of sunglasses.

The other question I have is whether I can ride after dark with a light and/or dark smoke shield? I'd really prefer to be able to ride with 1 face shield during the day and after dark, but I don't know if that's possible.

Any insights you can share would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Keith
the light smoke is almost useless. There are times ryding west into the sun that even the dark smoke isn't dark enough. You would be better off with a clear shield and the sun glasses.

[bikeguy]

I use a dark smoke shield and it is sufficient for anything except riding directly into a low morning or evening sun. I have a darker strip across the top of the shield which works until the sun is right above the horizon, then nothing works. It is too dark for night riding. I either change to a clear shield or leave the shield open (not recommended but I very seldom ride after dark because the deer are just too bad). Cotton

[Highwayman2013]

I have a Scorpion helmet with the drop down inner shield in light smoke but many options are available with this brand .

[SNOOPY]

How about one of the new helmets with the clear shield and the drop-down dark smoke sun visor? Like the Nolan N43 Trilogy or Nolan N44? That way you've got the best of both worlds without having to change anything when the lighting changes.

I have a Nolan N104, it has a drop down shield I believe w a light smoke shield. I'm looking to change the drop down to a darker smoke or mirrored because I have to use sun glasses in the late afternoon w the factory smoked drop down lens.

[Bob Denman]

Dark smoked shields are about as useless at night; as clear shields are in bright sunlight.

[Flanker]

I've ridden with clear shields and sunglasses for 30 years.

[boborgera]

I've ridden with clear shields and sunglasses for 30 years.

Same here, But as my eyes get older i have to get darker sunglasses every year or so..

[GuitarPlayer]

I ride my Spyder 55 miles into Cedar Rapids where I work when the weather is nice. The trip to work is mostly riding into the rising sun and the trip back home is riding into the setting sun. I use a clear shield and sun glasses. The glare can get a bit bright but it's not that bad. The ride in this morning was so nice I didn't even care about the sun in my eyes.

Tony

[bcoulter19]

Do the drop down visors come down to teh bridge of your nose. If they don't come that far down then they wouldn't work for me. The glare coming under tehm would get to me. I mostly use a Clear shield with sunGlasses in the winter because it is dark when I leave teh house in the morning. I have been using a dark smoke shield in the summer here because we have so much sunlight but I may try a mirror next year thanks to these recommendations.

[Bob Ledford]

Once again the answer really is "it is up to the buyer." I use two helmets, summer with a dark smoke adjustable shield, winter with a clear outer shield and a internal dark drop down shield....

[jwulf74]

Do the drop down visors come down to teh bridge of your nose. If they don't come that far down then they wouldn't work for me. The glare coming under tehm would get to me. I mostly use a Clear shield with sunGlasses in the winter because it is dark when I leave teh house in the morning. I have been using a dark smoke shield in the summer here because we have so much sunlight but I may try a mirror next year thanks to these recommendations.

My drop down has a couple of positions so I can keep it off my nose easy...

I am more of a light averse cave-dweller... I use a combo of the clear, drop-down and sunglasses depending on the lighting conditions. On really bright days, even the combo of sunglasses and drop-down doesn't cut it and I really wish for a visor...

[KeithInAurora]

Thanks for all your comments. I wasn't looking to get a new helmet, but I think that might be the best route if I get a good one with the inner sun shield. In the interim, sunglasses it is......

[HedonismBot]

I think it's Bell that offers a shield that is basically a Transition lens for glasses. In the light, they tint and at night they are clear. If they made a 3XL helmet that fit my head, I'd gladly plunk down the money for that shield. I wish everyone would offer one---looking at you HJC!!!

[billrob71]

I have a scorpion EXO 900 modular it has a dark flip down sun visor inside the helmet along with a clear flip down face best of both. Also is dot and ECE CERTIFIED. Both inner sun visor and outer flip face is removable and can be swapped for darker or lighter shades

[ARtraveler]

I have four different helmets and a slightly different setup on each. I like the light stuff for the shields, (lt. smoke, lt. yellow, lt. blue, lt. grey). All are Nolans, so they also have the drop down visor inside. A combo of the two usually makes it okay for those bright sunny days. The lighter outer shield is sufficient for when it gets shady. I do not have to contend with night time riding as the sun does not set in the summer. By late Sept. when it is dark after 7:00PM-- its a little on the chilly side to ride--so I don't.

[SteveMac]

I found on long trips and my full face with a clear shield, I protected my eyes with sunglasses, but my nose and cheeks would sunburn under that clear "magnifying glass" shield.

So, I opted for a dark smoke shield. Why? 90% of my riding is in day time and I primarily use the full face on longer rides. For the 10% of time I ride in the dark, I just flip up the shield an use clear safety glasses to keep bugs out of my eyes. Plus I am behind a big ol windshield that catches most bugs anyway. ConnieMac doesn't mind the dark shield at night. She never drives and is most likely asleep anyway!

Then, for short runs around town and the five minutes to work, I just use a half helmet and sunglasses.

Works for me.

[CurtG]

I ride with a Bell Revolver and am seriously considering the photochromic face shield. The drop down shade is okay, it could be darker and it could come down just a bit more but it works except for the really low angle setting or rising sun. As I understand it the transition effect is a coating, I wonder if a local optical shop could get a face shield coated. Might be something to look into.

Ride and ride safe,

[OJ UK]

A while back I reported on my new Lazer Monaco Pure Carbon 'flip-up' helmet.
It has a face shield (visor) with a very nice photochromic action. It
will get really dark in around thirty seconds and although if you suddenly
drive into deep shade or a tunnel you can quickly raise the shield a bit
and all is OK.
In the UK it's a major slap on the wrist getting caught by the police riding at night
with a tinted shield and they can give you an on-the-spot fine so you have to either
carefully plan your journey or carry a clear shield as well.
The Lazer's shield has meant that I can ride without sunglasses for the first time in
quite a few years and just wear my normal spectacles.
Of course another solution for spectacle wearers would be to have spectacles with
photochromic lenses.

[Spyder ri]

I have a Bell Vortex with the Photochromic shield. It's pretty good in bright sun and I like the fact that it is clear at night, keeps the bugs off me, those rhinoceros beetles really hurt at 55 mph...