Anyone who’s put in dozens of hours grinding off-road and street races in Racing Master knows that visibility is half the battle. One random glare from the midday sun, a splash of mud kicked up by the car in front of you, or unexpected fog on a mountain track can make you miss a tight turn and drop from first to last place in a split second. That’s why the fox racing 2017 18 main master goggles are such a fan favorite among casual players and competitive ranked racers alike. I’ve been using these as my go-to goggle option for 18 months across desert, forest, rain, and night track modes, and I’ve picked up a ton of actionable insights on how to get the most out of them, avoid common mistakes, and shave whole seconds off your lap times without spending extra premium currency.
Key Performance Features of Fox Racing 2017 18 Main Master Goggles
First off, let’s break down what makes these goggles stand out from the dozens of other gear options in the Racing Master store. Unlike entry-level goggles that only offer basic sun protection, these come loaded with features that were previously only available on pro-tier gear that costs twice as much in in-game credits. I’ve tested them side by side with three other popular mid-tier options, and these outperformed all of them in 8 out of 10 track conditions I tried.
The first standout feature is the 100% UVA/UVB blocking lens, which eliminates 100% of sun glare events on bright desert and street tracks. I used to get random glare pop-ups 2-3 times per race with my old entry-level goggles, and that number dropped to zero once I switched to these. That alone shaves an average of 1.2 seconds off my lap times on sunlit tracks, which is more than enough to move up 2-3 positions in a tight ranked race.
They also come with a dual-pane anti-fog coating that works even in 90% humidity conditions on rainforest and mountain tracks. I used to have to toggle the in-game ventilation setting every 30 seconds to keep my old goggles from fogging up, but these stay clear for entire 10-lap endurance races without any manual adjustments. The only exception is if you drive through three or more deep water puddles in a row, but even then, the fog clears in 2-3 seconds instead of the 10+ seconds you get with cheaper goggles.
Last but not least, these goggles offer a 28% wider peripheral view than standard mid-tier goggles. That might not sound like a big deal, but it lets you see cars coming up on your left and right 0.3 seconds earlier than you would with other options. That extra time is enough to block an overtake attempt or avoid a crash when someone tries to cut you off in a crowded multiplayer race. I’ve avoided at least a dozen crashes in the past year just because I could see other cars coming out of the corner of my eye earlier.
How to Adjust Your Goggles for Peak Racing Performance
Even the best gear won’t help you if you don’t set it up correctly for the track you’re racing on. I used to just equip these goggles and leave the default settings on for every track, and I was leaving a ton of performance on the table. Once I started tweaking the settings based on track conditions, I shaved another full second off my average lap times across all modes.
The best part is that these adjustments only take 10-15 seconds to make before you start a race, so you don’t have to waste time navigating complicated menus. I’ve put together a quick list of adjustments I use for different track types that you can copy directly:
- Set strap tension to 75% for off-road tracks to prevent slipping during big jumps and bumpy terrain, which can cause your view to shake and throw off your turn timing
- Swap to the amber tint lens for overcast, forest, or dusk tracks to boost contrast on uneven terrain and make it easier to spot potholes and hidden obstacles
- Remove extra face padding for open-cockpit vehicles like buggies and rally cars to improve airflow and reduce fog build-up during long endurance races
One important rule to remember: never crank the strap above 80% tension, no matter how bumpy the track is. The game’s physics engine calculates driver fatigue based on how tight your gear is, and a strap above 80% makes your fatigue meter rise 20% faster. That means you’ll have slower reaction times in the second half of long races, which can cost you the lead even if you’re ahead for the first few laps.
For night tracks, I recommend swapping to the clear lens option that comes free with these goggles. The dark tint you use for sunlit tracks will make it almost impossible to see turns and obstacles at night, even with your car’s high beams turned on. The clear lens doesn’t cut down on any light, and it still blocks the glare from other cars’ headlights so you don’t get blinded when someone drives up behind you.
Common Mistakes to Avoid With These Goggles
After talking to dozens of other Racing Master players in community groups, I’ve noticed a lot of people make the same simple mistakes with these goggles that ruin their performance. Most of these mistakes are easy to fix once you know what to look for, and fixing them will make your goggles last longer and work better for every race.
The most common mistake I see is people not cleaning their lens after every off-road race. Every time you drive through mud, dust, or water, tiny scratches build up on the lens over time. If you leave those scratches unaddressed, the game will trigger random glare events in 30% of your races, even on overcast days. Cleaning the lens only costs 50 in-game credits per use, which is a tiny investment to avoid losing races because of avoidable glare.
Another mistake is using the same lens tint for every track type. I see a lot of players stick with the dark smoke tint that comes pre-installed for all races, even when they’re racing at night or in dark forests. That’s like wearing sunglasses inside your house: it makes everything harder to see for no reason. The goggles come with three free lens tints when you buy them, so there’s no excuse not to swap them out based on the track conditions.
Replace your lens after every 10 off-road races, even if you clean it after every use. The anti-fog coating wears off over time, and once it’s gone, your goggles will fog up just as easily as cheap entry-level options. A replacement lens only costs 200 in-game credits, which is way cheaper than buying a whole new pair of goggles. I replace mine every 8 races just to be safe, and I haven’t had any issues with fog build-up in over a year.
Finally, don’t try to use these goggles for professional circuit street races. They’re designed for off-road and rally racing, so they’re a bit bulkier than the slim street racing goggles you can buy for the same price. The bulk will add 0.5 seconds to your driver’s reaction time for tight street turns, which is enough to make you miss an apex and lose time on paved tracks. Save these for off-road, rally, and open-world races, and use a slimmer street-specific pair for circuit races.
How These Goggles Stack Up Against Other Racing Master Gear Options
If you’re still on the fence about whether these goggles are worth the 1200 in-game credit price tag, let’s compare them to other popular options to help you decide. I’ve tested almost every goggle option in the mid-tier price range, and these are easily the best value for money for most players.
Compared to the entry-level 800 credit goggles, these offer 30% more durability, 100% UV protection, anti-fog coating, and a wider peripheral view. The entry-level goggles will break after 5 off-road races, while these last for 20+ races if you take care of them properly. That means you’ll spend less money replacing broken goggles over time, so you’ll actually save credits in the long run by buying the slightly more expensive option.
Compared to the pro-tier 2500 credit goggles, these are only 10% less effective overall. The pro-tier ones offer a slightly wider peripheral view and a more durable anti-fog coating, but they cost more than twice as much. Unless you’re a top 100 ranked competitive player who needs every tiny advantage you can get, these goggles will work just as well for you for half the price. I know a few top 500 ranked players who still use these goggles because they don’t think the pro-tier ones are worth the extra cost.
One thing to note is that these goggles are compatible with all the Fox Racing helmet and chest protector gear sets in the game. If you equip a full Fox Racing gear set, you get a 5% bonus to your driver’s reaction time for all races. That’s a nice extra bonus that you don’t get with other mid-tier goggle brands, so it’s a great option if you’re already using Fox Racing gear for the set bonus.
At the end of the day, if you’re looking for a reliable, high-performing gear upgrade that won’t break your in-game bank, the fox racing 2017 18 main master goggles are one of the best picks you can make for off-road, rally, and open-world Racing Master races. They’re durable, packed with useful features, and offer way more value for money than almost any other mid-tier goggle option on the store. I still keep a pair in my regular loadout for both casual and ranked races, and they’ve never let me down when I need clear visibility to nail a tight turn or overtake a competitor right before the finish line. Next time you’re browsing the gear store looking for an upgrade, give them a try, and you’ll notice the difference in your lap times immediately.