6 Summer Sunnies
Glasses for riding in the hot sun
Glasses for riding in the hot sun
Smith Pivlock Asana $210
A
While you’re likely more familiar with Smith’s Arena performance glasses, the Asana has many of the same features and technology as the flagship glasses, but in a different look. The Asana has a smooth lens shape, unlike the more angular Arena. The Asana lens also has Chromapop, which ensures that the colours that come through are sharper. Smith says that Chromapop cuts out the crossover between colours – for example the overlap between the blue and green light wavelengths – giving you more clarity and detail when you scan the road. With a rating of Cat. 3, the sun green mirror lens is strong, only letting through nine to 12 per cent of visible light. It’s quite impact resistant, too. ( smithoptics.com)
Shimano S71R-PH $120
B
Shimano’s photochromic lens darkens when the sun comes out from behind a cloud. If you are expecting clouds throughout your ride, pop in the yellow lens that comes with the S71R. It will sharpen your view when the skies are grey. Should some rain start to fall, that hydrophobic yellow lens will shed the drops. Both lenses keep out harmful uvb rays. The frame is made of the durable Grilamid tr90 polymer, while the temples are tipped with injection-moulded thermoplastic elastomers. ( shimano-lifestylegear.com)
Oakley Crossrange $225
C
While the Crossrange may look more like specs for aprèsride, they do have some performance features. You can swap out the standard temples and nose pads for ones with extra grip to keep the glasses from slipping while you’re sweating. The lenses use Oakley’s Prizm technology, which enhances the colours and gives you a crisp view of the road ahead. And there’s nothing wrong with looking good both on and off the bike. ( ca.oakley.com)
POC Crave $290
D
The Crave stays true to the poc look, but with a twist. The frame doesn’t continue across the top of the lens. This openat-the-top frame design does a good job of letting steam escape so, when you pause after some hard efforts, you won’t fog up. A treatment on the Carl Zeiss lens also keeps moisture and dirt from building up. The visible light transmission is rated at 24.8 per cent, making the glasses ideal for days with a mix of sun and clouds. ( pocsports.com)
Bollé Flash $180
E
If you’re already a four eyes, the B-thin Active Design RX technology offered for the Bollé Flash can allow your prescription to get dialled into the polycarbonate lenses. This pair is polarized to manage glare from the road and even puddles left after the clouds have moved on. To keep clouds from forming in front of you, the lenses have an anti-fog treatment. Everything stays secure on your face thanks to the temple tips and nose pads. They’re made of Thermogrip, a hydrophilic material that slurps up moisture, even when you’re out of the saddle bashing the bars back and forth. ( bolle.com)
BBB BSG-43 $66
F
The bsg-43 glasses give you a lot of choice. Not only do they come with three interchangeable lenses – dark, yellow and clear – but you can swap out the temple tips for just the right colour that will tie everything together. The frame is made from Grilamid tr90, which means it can take a lot of abuse, from high heat to serious bending. To protect everything when you’re not riding, a durable case keeps the glasses and lenses safe. ( gwbicycle.com)—mp