Riddick Goggles
From LoveToKnow Sunglasses
Riddick goggles are dark black, rubber, and resemble swim goggles. In fact, some people who search for this type of goggle for costume wear opt for swim goggles simply because they're cheaper than the eyewear designed with Riddick in mind. Others make their own from paint, sunglasses, leather, and superglue (and some even sell them!).
The Original Riddick Goggles
The first "Riddick goggles" were custom made for Vin Diesel to wear as Riddick in The Chronicles of Riddick movie. The movie came out in 2004. The goggles were designed to protect Riddick's incredibly sensitive eyes. The amped up night vision he received in a trade caused his eyes to be intolerant of light, creating the need for extremely black lenses that would expertly block the sunlight.
As a side note, underneath these intensely dark goggles, Vin Diesel wore mirrored contacts that you may also want to pick up as part of a Riddick costume.
Why You Might Want a Pair
If you get into Cosplay, you may want a pair for your costume. If you're walking around outdoors at a convention on a ridiculously bright day, you will probably be exuberant about your costume choice. Being Riddick has its perks. Just as his eyes were sensitive to light (hence the goggles), your eyes will need protection from bright sunlight.
Another reason to search for your own pair of Riddick goggles is if you're a huge fan of the movie. In that case, any old dark pair of swim goggles absolutely won't do and you'll want to find the most authentic copy available. Expect to pay a hefty price, but it isn't impossible to find something very close to the original.
Find Your Pair
If you want some truly authentic Riddick goggles, it'll cost you! Here are a few places to check:
Reel World Props: This site has Riddick goggles that were modeled after the original pair. You get similar rubber and similar dark lenses with 100 percent UV protection. The straps match the original pair in width exactly. This is one of the most accurate replicas around. The downside is the cost: $129.00. Still, if you're a die-hard fan of the movies and you want to have a very believable costume (or just a collectible), it may be worth spending the money.
Another place to check is eBay. Not surprisingly, there aren't very many listed at one time, but if you search "Riddick goggles" you're bound to come up with a pair. If you don’t, check back periodically. Some artists list them sporadically and if you're not in a hurry to get a pair, you could find a great deal. Another way you might perform a successful eBay search is by entering "Vin Diesel sunglasses." Random-Soul from DeviantArt.com creates his own Riddick goggles from sunglasses, leather, dye, and superglue. He sometimes sells them on eBay.
If you only need the goggles as part of a costume you're only going to wear once, consider purchasing tinted swim goggles in the place of the ones that cost $129.00. You can pick those up online or in almost any brick-and-mortar store where they sell swim accessories. If you need prescription swim goggles (for those who wear glasses but never wear contact lenses), you can have those custom made or purchase a pair with a simple prescription, such as -1.00 or -2.00 (much how reading glasses are sold).
A Final Word
True Riddick goggles (those made with the Riddick movies in mind, that is) are available and more widespread than you might have imagined. However, there are cheaper alternatives—even prescription alternatives—if you're willing to opt for swim goggles to use as part of a costume. Movie buffs will want to be a little more discriminate in their searches but if you're willing to pay the price, you can get your hands on goggles that are modeled so closely to the real Riddick goggles, even the strap width is exactly the same.
Learn More
This page has been accessed 4,317 times. This page was last modified 17:56, 29 October 2008.
© 2006-2009 LoveToKnow Corp.
Print this page
Follow ltk on twitter
Visit us on facebook