Tifosi Crit £74.99
Weight 31g
The Tifosi Crit glasses are one of the few pairs on test that are available in different sizes. With the smaller pair sitting at 150mm across and with proportional 74mm x 42mm lenses, they are perfect for riders with a smaller head size.
The end of the arms are even adjustable, allowing for a custom fit, and wrapped in hydrophilic rubber, they’re not only soft, but actually increase in grip the more they get wet, with sweat or rain. The same rubber is used on the nosepiece, which is also incredibly adjustable, meaning the glasses stayed put whatever direction I looked in.
Of course, it’s not just rubber that keeps the Tifosi Crit sunglasses in place. The frame is made from an incredibly light nylon, Grilamid TR-90, and weigh in at just 31g. Tifosi says the material is also durable and resists chemical and
UV damage, so is ideal for the construction of sunglasses.
The Smoke Fototec lightreacting lenses are vented, so they remained totally fog free when riding. There was a bit of misting up at the top of the lens when stopped, but no more than any other pair of glasses. Tifosi says that the lenses are also made with a scratch-resistant, shatterproof polycarbonate and are ‘optically decentered’, which apparently eliminates distortion and prevents unwanted magnification – I have to say, they met with my need for total clarity.
They are so swift at swapping from light to dark and back again that I didn’t even notice. Even at the entrance of a long mountain tunnel they did their thing so rapidly that there wasn’t that usual few seconds of blackout.
During winter light I found these exceptional, and they coped well with the constant strobe-like effect of the sun popping out, or even just riding in the hills where it’s hidden, creating quite dark shadows, only to crest or descend the other side and find yourself staring the sun full in the face. These glasses really offer exceptional value when taking into account the usual cost associated with photochromic lens technology. Lenses: Smoke Fototec, Light Night Fototec Colours: Matte Smoke, Crystal Black www.zyrofisher.co.uk
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