Namsan Dog Goggles Review: Does This $22 Eyewear Protect My Pup’s Eyes?

Introduction

Last month, I took my dog Max biking with me, like I do every weekend. We were going 20 mph down the trail, and halfway through the ride, he started shaking his head like crazy, and rubbing his eyes on his paw. I pulled over immediately, and there was a tiny gnat stuck in his eye! He was squinting, his eyes were all red, and I felt so terrible. The wind was blowing so hard, and all that dust and debris was just hitting his eyes, and I had no idea. That’s when I realized, he needed eye protection. I ordered the Namsan Dog Goggles, and after using it for a month, I put together this full Namsan Dog Goggles review to share everything I learned.

Before this, I’d never even heard of dog goggles. I thought they were just a silly fashion thing, you know, for people to dress up their dogs. But after that bug incident, I realized, they’re actually useful. I was skeptical, because I’d heard so many mixed things about them, like dogs hate wearing them, but I was desperate, so I decided to give it a shot.

Namsan Dog Goggles: A Namsan Dog Goggles Review of Its Design

So, what exactly are these, anyway? These are the Namsan Dog Goggles for Large Dogs. They’re dog sunglasses, built to protect your dog’s eyes from UV rays, wind, dust, debris, all that stuff. They’re made for medium to large dogs, the ones with longer snouts, like Golden Retrievers or German Shepherds, which is perfect for Max, who’s a Lab.

They have ultra-hard lenses, that block 100% of UV rays, so they protect his eyes from the sun. They’re windproof and waterproof, too, so they keep wind and water out. They have anti-fog vents, so the lenses don’t fog up when he’s breathing. And they have two adjustable elastic straps, one for the head, one for the chin, so you can adjust them to fit your dog perfectly. The frame is soft PVC, so it’s not hard, it doesn’t press into his face, and there’s a little foam padding inside, to make it more comfortable.

My Story: Putting the Namsan Dog Goggles to the Test

When the goggles arrived, I was excited to try them, but I was also nervous that Max would hate them. I’d heard so many stories about dogs hating goggles, so I wasn’t getting my hopes up. I tried to put them on him, and he immediately started shaking his head, and scratching at them with his paw. He looked so miserable, I almost took them off right away. I saw a review from a woman who said her dog did the same thing, so I decided to take it slow.

I put them on him for a minute, gave him a treat, then took them off. I did that every day, for a week, until he got used to them. And after a week, he stopped fighting them! I put them on, and he just forgot they were there. We went biking, and it was amazing! The wind didn’t blow in his eyes anymore, he didn’t squint the whole time, and no more bugs in his eyes. I saw a review from a guy who takes his dog motorcycle riding, and he said these goggles saved his dog’s eyes from the wind, which is exactly what I saw.

We went to the beach last week, too, and they worked great! The sand didn’t blow in his eyes, the sun didn’t bother him, it was perfect. The water splashed on them, and they were fine, they’re waterproof, so they didn’t get ruined. I was so happy, I didn’t have to worry about his eyes anymore.

But it wasn’t all perfect. After a few uses, I noticed the lenses were all scratched up. I didn’t drop them or anything, just normal use, and the coating on the lenses scratched off. A lot of other reviewers said the same thing, the lenses are easy to scratch, they’re not very durable.

And then, the little foam padding inside, the one that’s supposed to make it comfortable? It fell off. After two weeks, the glue came loose, and the foam just fell right off. I was like, what? That’s supposed to stay on, right? A lot of reviewers said the same thing, the foam padding falls off after a few uses, it’s not glued on very well.

Also, the straps are okay for Max, who’s a medium-large Lab, but my friend has a Great Dane, and the straps were way too short for him. He couldn’t get them to fit, even when he adjusted them all the way. A lot of reviewers said the same thing, they’re too small for extra large dogs, like giant breeds.

And when we went swimming, I tried putting them on him, and water got inside. They’re supposed to be waterproof, but they’re not sealed that well, so water still got in, which was kind of a bummer. I thought they would work for swimming, but they don’t really, they work for rain, but not for swimming.

What I Liked and What I Didn’t Like About the Namsan Dog Goggles

After using these for a month, I’ve gone through all the pros and cons, and I checked out hundreds of other reviews to make sure I wasn’t the only one with these experiences.

What I Liked

• They actually protect his eyes: That’s the best part. No more bugs in his eyes, no more wind squinting, no more sand at the beach. They work exactly like they’re supposed to, they keep all the debris and sun out of his eyes.
• They fit my medium-large dog perfectly: The adjustable straps fit Max perfectly, he’s a 70lb Lab, and they fit him great, they don’t slip, they stay on, even when he’s running around.
• They’re really cheap: They’re only $22, which is way cheaper than other dog goggles, which can be $50 or more. For the price, they’re a great deal.
• They work for biking and the beach: They’re perfect for outdoor activities, biking, hiking, the beach, all that stuff. They keep his eyes protected, which is exactly what I needed.
• They’re anti-fog: The vents work, the lenses don’t fog up, even when he’s breathing hard, which is great, I was worried they would fog up, but they don’t.

What I Didn’t Like

• My dog hated them at first: It took a whole week of training to get him used to wearing them. At first, he fought them, he scratched at them, he shook his head, it was a hassle. If you don’t have time to train your dog to wear them, they’re useless.
• The lenses scratch really easily: After a few uses, the lenses were all scratched up. The coating is so easy to scratch, they don’t last very long.
• The foam padding falls off: The little foam padding inside fell off after two weeks, the glue wasn’t strong enough. Now it’s just hard plastic against his face, which is kind of uncomfortable.
• They’re too small for giant breeds: If you have a really big dog, like a Great Dane or a Mastiff, the straps are too short, they won’t fit. They only work for medium to large dogs, not extra large.
• They’re not fully waterproof for swimming: They work for rain, but if you go swimming, water gets inside, they don’t seal that well, so they don’t work for swimming.

Is the Namsan Dog Goggles Right for Your Dog?

So, are these goggles right for you and your dog? For me, absolutely— but that doesn’t mean they’re right for everyone.

If you have a medium to large dog, and you like doing outdoor activities with them, like biking, hiking, or going to the beach, and you need to protect their eyes from wind, sun, and debris? This is a no-brainer. They’re perfect, they work, they’re cheap, they do exactly what they’re supposed to. I don’t have to worry about bugs in his eyes anymore, I don’t have to worry about him squinting in the wind, it’s perfect.

On the other hand, if you have a giant breed dog, they won’t fit. Or if your dog is super stubborn, and you don’t have time to train them to wear the goggles, then they’re not for you, because your dog will just fight them and take them off. Or if you want something to use for swimming, they don’t work that well for that. But if you’re like me, with a medium-large dog, that you take biking or to the beach, and you’re willing to spend a week training him to wear the goggles? They’re 100% worth it.

If you’re interested in trying them out, you can check them out here: [buy link: Namsan Dog Goggles] (affiliate link)

Common Questions About the Namsan Dog Goggles

I got so many questions from my friends after I posted about these, so I wanted to answer the most common ones here:

Will my dog ever get used to wearing these?

Most dogs do, if you take it slow. You have to train them, put them on for a minute, give them a treat, then take them off, and do that every day, until they get used to them. It takes a little time, but it works.

Are these waterproof enough for swimming?

They’re water-resistant, so they work for rain or splashes, but they’re not fully waterproof. If you go swimming, water will get inside, so they’re not really good for swimming, they’re better for rainy days or the beach.

Do these work for large dogs with long snouts?

Yes! That’s what they’re made for. They fit dogs with longer snouts, like Labs, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, perfectly. The adjustable straps let you fit them to your dog’s head.

My Top Takeaways on the Namsan Dog Goggles

All in all, these goggles have been a total game-changer for us. It’s not perfect— they take a little training, the lenses scratch easy, and the foam falls off after a while— but the pros way outweigh the cons. They solved all my biggest problems: I don’t have to worry about Max’s eyes getting hurt by wind or bugs anymore, I don’t have to worry about him squinting the whole time we’re biking, and I don’t have to worry about sand getting in his eyes at the beach.

They’re not the most durable goggles out there, but for $22, they’re a great deal. They work exactly what I need them to work, and they’re perfect for outdoor activities. I don’t have to stress about his eyes anymore, which is the most important thing.

Final Thoughts on the Namsan Dog Goggles

I can’t believe I waited so long to get these. Before this, every time we went biking, I was worried about his eyes, I was stressed, I was scared he’d get something in his eye and get hurt. Now, I can relax, I can enjoy the ride, I know his eyes are protected.

Do you take your dog biking or to the beach, and worry about their eyes? Have you tried these goggles before, or were you skeptical about dog goggles like I was? Tell me your story in the comments!

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A Quick Disclaimer

I’m not a vet or professional trainer. This is just my personal experience.