MXA TEAM TESTED: SCOTT HUSTLE GOGGLE

WHAT IS IT? The venerable No Sweat Xi goggle has been phased out, and the Hustle is Scott’s new premium goggle. All the buzz is about its adjustable face contour.

WHAT’S IT COST? $54.95 (solid); $64.95 (graphics).

CONTACT? www.scott-sports.com or (800) 292-5877.

WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with the Scott Hustle goggle.

(1) Fit system. The new Scott “Fit System” is comprised of a cam-style screw in the bottom of the frame. As you turn it, the frame not only changes thickness, but shape as well. Each side of the goggle has four stops that make changes in one-millimeter increments. We used a dime to do the adjusting.

(2) Foam. We ran a prototype version of the Hustle for several months before Scott gave us the production version with the real face foam. The prototype foam was good, but the production stuff was even better. There are two layers of foam and one layer of fleece. It conformed well to the rider’s face and kept perspiration out of the equation.

(3) Lenses. Lens quality is paramount for durability and dictates the long-term cost of the goggles. Scott’s UV-protected Works clear Lexan lens with anti-fog treatment is very good. We scraped piles of dried mud off and kept using them; other lenses would have been too scratched to use. Scott’s lenses come with tear-off posts already installed.

(4) Mud blocking. Scott’s tear-offs are very thick. This makes them easy to use but limits how many you can install at one time (more than four made vision murky). Our solution was to use Scott’s laminated tear-offs. Even though Scott’s laminates come in stacks of three, we were willing to stack three stacks of three on a muddy day. For really muddy days, consider Scott’s WFS (Works Film System) system. WFS is just a fancy way to say roll-offs. The roll-off-equipped Hustle costs $84.95, and you can even put tear-offs over the roll-off for the first lap.

(5) Options/accessories. The Hustle is currently available in seven graphic designs. The goggle comes with an attachable nose piece that can come in very handy on a rocky track. It also comes with a goggle pouch for protection. There are seven different colored, mirrored or gradient lens options, most of which are available in vented, standard and double-paned thermal versions.

WHAT’S THE SQUAWK? Across the board, the MXA test riders felt that the Scott Fit System wasn’t a huge benefit from one setting to the next. Perhaps a greater than 4mm range would have been more noticeable.

The high-quality lens and excellent foam make the Scott Hustle a first-rate goggle (with or without the Fit System).