FIA and Track Day Helmets When You Wear Glasses: Our Advice

If you wear glasses and need a track day or FIA-approved helmet, you are very much not alone. This is one of the most common questions we get both in store and online, and it is a topic that comes up again and again on track day forums and motorsport groups. Drivers are usually dealing with the same set of frustrations, regardless of experience level.

The main issues are practical rather than technical. Getting a helmet on without twisting or bending your frames can be awkward at first. Some drivers notice pressure around the temples where the arms of their glasses sit, especially in a brand-new helmet. Fogging is another regular complaint, usually when sitting in the pits, queuing in the pit lane, or during longer sessions where heat and moisture build up inside the helmet.

What is reassuring is that these are well-known problems with well-proven solutions. Most drivers who stick with track days long term find a routine that works for them, and once they do, glasses become a non-issue. The key is understanding what to prioritise and what not to compromise on.

The advice below is based on three things. First, what we see work in real life when customers try helmets on in the store. Second, the experiences shared by drivers who wear glasses and regularly attend track days and race events. Third, our own hands-on testing with different helmet fits and setups. The aim is to give you clear, practical guidance that keeps safety first while making the whole experience far less frustrating.

The Straight Answer for Glasses Wearers Using Track Day and FIA Helmets

If you wear glasses and are looking at a track day or FIA approved helmet, the good news is that it is absolutely possible to make it work comfortably and safely. Many drivers do it every weekend. The issues tend to come from setup and expectations rather than the helmet itself.

From customer conversations, forum discussions, and our own in-store experience, the same advice keeps coming up. You do not need a special helmet just because you wear glasses. What you need is the correct size helmet, the right routine when putting it on, and a plan for managing heat and fogging.

Most problems reported by drivers come down to rushing the process or trying to solve comfort issues in the wrong way. Once you understand how helmets are designed to fit and how glasses interact with that fit, the whole process becomes far simpler. For the majority of drivers, glasses stop being something they even think about once they are strapped in and focused on driving.

If you remember nothing else from this guide, remember this. Fit comes first, safety comes first, and comfort follows once those two are right.

Why Helmet Size Is Non Negotiable, Even If You Wear Glasses

This is the most important point in the entire discussion, and it is where most mistakes happen.

We see it regularly in store. A customer tries on the correct size helmet, feels pressure at the temples because of their glasses, and immediately assumes they need to go up a size. On paper, that feels logical. In reality, it is the wrong move.

Through our own helmet testing, we found that sizing up almost always creates more problems than it solves. A helmet that is too big may feel easier to put on, but it will move more on your head. Under braking, cornering, or in an impact, that movement reduces stability and protection. That is not something you want to compromise on, especially in motorsport.

Customer experiences online back this up. When glasses wearers discuss helmet fit on track forums, the consistent advice from experienced drivers is to stick to the correct size and work around it. Very few people recommend buying a larger shell. Instead, they talk about technique, ventilation, and patience while the padding beds in.

A correctly sized helmet should feel snug all the way around your head, including the sides and temples. It may feel tight when new, especially with glasses, but modern helmet liners are designed to compress slightly over time. That initial tightness is part of getting a secure fit.

If a helmet feels painful rather than snug, that is a different issue and usually points to helmet shape rather than size. In those cases, changing model or brand makes far more sense than changing size.

In short, never compromise helmet size for convenience. The helmet should fit your head first. Your glasses need to adapt to the helmet, not the other way around.

The Correct Way to Put Glasses On with a Motorsport Helmet

This sounds like a small detail, but it makes a huge difference to comfort and frustration levels.

One of the most common reasons drivers think helmets and glasses do not work together is simply the order they put them on. Putting glasses on first almost always causes problems. The helmet catches the arms of the frames, pulls them forward, and presses them into your temples as the helmet slides on. That is when things feel tight, awkward, and uncomfortable.

The approach that works, and the one repeatedly mentioned by experienced drivers online, is simple. Put the helmet on first, make sure it is seated properly, then slide your glasses into place.

When the helmet is already on, the padding naturally guides the arms of the glasses into position rather than trapping them. It also reduces the risk of bending your frames or damaging the helmet lining. Most drivers find that after doing this a few times, it becomes second nature and takes no longer than putting on glasses normally.

If the glasses feel like they are catching, do not force them. Pull them back out and try again at a slightly different angle. Small adjustments make a big difference.

Temple Pressure and Comfort Issues Explained

After sizing, temple pressure is the next most common concern raised by glasses wearers.

Customers often describe a tight or dull pressure where the arms of their glasses sit, especially during longer sessions. This does not usually mean the helmet is the wrong size. In most cases, it is simply the interaction between helmet padding and the shape of the glasses frames.
From forum discussions and customer feedback, there are a few clear patterns. Thicker, straight frame arms tend to cause more pressure. Thinner, flatter arms generally work better inside helmets. This is why some drivers find one pair of glasses works fine while another does not, even in the same helmet.
It is also worth remembering that helmet padding is designed to bed in over time. A helmet that feels tight around the temples when new often becomes noticeably more comfortable after a few days of use. That break in period is normal and expected.
If pressure is genuinely uncomfortable rather than just snug, the solution is usually a different helmet shape rather than a different size. Helmet internal shapes vary by brand and model, and some naturally suit glasses wearers better than others.

The key takeaway here is not to panic if the fit feels tight at first. A snug fit with manageable pressure is correct. Pain or sharp pressure is not, and that is when trying a different helmet model makes more sense than changing size.

Glasses Fogging Inside Helmets and Why It Happens

Fogging is the most common complaint from glasses wearers, and it is something almost every driver experiences at some point. It is not a fault with the helmet or the glasses, it is simply basic physics combined with a close fitting environment.

Inside a motorsport helmet, warm air from breathing and body heat builds up quickly. When that warm, moist air hits cooler glasses lenses, condensation forms. This is why fogging is usually worst when you are stationary rather than when you are driving at speed.

From customer feedback and forum discussions, these are the situations where fogging is most likely to happen:

• Sitting in the pits waiting to be released
• Queuing in the pit lane before a session
• Climbing into the car and strapping in while breathing heavily
• Cooler or damp weather where temperature difference is greater

Once you are on track and airflow increases, most drivers report that fogging improves or clears completely. The frustration usually comes before and after sessions, not during hard driving.

The important thing to understand is that some level of fogging risk is normal when wearing glasses in a sealed helmet. The goal is not to eliminate it completely, but to manage it so it does not affect your driving.

Practical Fogging Solutions That Drivers Actually Use

There is a lot of advice online about fogging, but some solutions come up far more often than others because they actually work. Based on customer experiences and forum discussions, these are the most effective and realistic options.

Ventilation and Visor Management

Use helmet vents properly, especially the chin and brow vents
Crack the visor slightly when stationary to let heat escape
Close the visor fully once moving and airflow increases
Do not sit fully sealed up in the pits if fogging is already starting

Anti-Fog Treatments for Glasses

Anti-fog wipes or sprays can significantly reduce lens fogging
Many drivers use the same products they use for skiing or motorcycling
Reapply regularly, especially on longer track days
These products work best when combined with good ventilation

Breath Deflectors and Breath Guards

Breath deflectors redirect exhaled air downwards
This reduces warm breath hitting the glasses lenses directly
Customers who struggle with fogging often find these make a noticeable difference
Especially useful in cooler conditions or during slower sessions

Helmet Fit and Headwear Choices

A thin balaclava or moisture wicking head sock can help manage sweat
Less moisture inside the helmet can reduce fogging risk
Avoid thick cotton layers that trap heat

Realistic Expectations from Experienced Drivers

Fogging is usually worst when stopped, not when driving
Most drivers say it becomes a non issue once focused on the session
Managing the pits routine is just as important as managing the helmet

The key takeaway from customer experience is that fogging is manageable, not a deal breaker. A combination of good habits, ventilation, and simple accessories usually solves most issues without needing to change helmet or glasses.

Our Best Practice Checklist for Glasses Wearers

Buy the correct helmet size. Do not size up for glasses.
Helmet on first. Glasses on second.
Keep visor cracked when stationary if fogging starts.
Use an anti fog treatment on your glasses if you regularly fog up.
Consider a breath deflector if your breath is hitting the lenses.
If you get pressure at the temples, try thinner frame arms and look at fit and padding options rather than changing helmet size.

Final Thoughts: Getting the Fit Right Without Compromising Safety

Wearing glasses with a track day or FIA helmet is absolutely doable, and most drivers make it work without drama once they have the right routine. The main traps are upsizing the helmet and putting glasses on before the helmet.

Stick to the correct fit, put the helmet on first, then glasses, and plan for fogging control in the pits. That is the safe and realistic approach, and it matches what we see from experienced customers and what drivers say in the forums.

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