ROKA MATADOR

£190 Bold feature-packed design new for 2020

Roka have impressed the 220 team over the last number of years with their range of very light, tech-packed eyewear. New this year from the Texan brand are the Matador that, at a quoted 28g and with the now familiar ‘Geko Grip’ on the nose and arms, keep up that Roka quality.

The Matadors are available with three colorways, the black and gold mirror here designed for bright, sunny conditions. The wide-angle design with new ‘V-core’ temple at the juncture between arms and frame gives excellent visibility, enhanced by the single lens, while those grippy pads mean no slippage on a sweaty face.

On rides, the lenses were best (as stated by Roka) in brighter conditions and when riding into the sun, but still give good visibility under the trees (they’re perhaps not the best choice for murkier races, though). This tester did find the arms pinched a little aggressively against the side of the head, but those with a smaller bonce may not find this an issue! The glasses fit well under a helmet, nonetheless, and the slim arms ensures that taking them on and off when riding is straightforward.