Science

The Cottle effect, on a goggle.

The narrowest, most collapse-prone part of the nasal airway is the internal nasal valve — the angle between the septum and the upper lateral cartilage. A small change there is a large change in airflow.

What goggles do to that valve

Lower foam and strap tension stack medially on the cheek and the sidewalls of the nose. That’s the opposite of a Cottle maneuver. Deep inhale, the valve walls suck in, the mouth opens, and humid air fogs the lens.

What Airtab does instead

The pad is an asymmetric wedge. Strap tension, which you already run, presses the cheeks laterally through that wedge. The valve angle opens. You can nasal-breathe on the gas. Mouth stays quieter. Lens stays clearer. Seal stays put.

Airtab is a riding accessory, not a medical device, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure nasal valve collapse or any other condition.