For many riders, biking sun shadesare a mere accent and an extension of their model. Possibly you are rocking the daring, 80s-inspired aptitude of Pit Vipers, traditional Oakleysor the armless Ombrazwith their timeless allure. However for me, sun shades are greater than only a style assertion—they’re a medical necessity. After sustaining eye harm, my physician made it clear: eye safety on each trip, no exception.
I dwell with a relatively painful eye situation known as Recurrent Corneal Erosion (RCE), wherein the outermost layer of the cornea is coming free. Each evening, when my eyes are closed, my physique tries to reattach the loosening layer, however each morning, once I open my eyelids, the layer is indifferent as soon as once more—like opening a scab time and again. Wind, dry air, and dirt worsen the situation, which is why defending my eyes on the bike is so necessary.
Whether or not you’ve got a watch situation or not, biking sun shades are one of many smartest investments you can also make. Past the model factors, they’re there to guard—shielding your eyes from dangerous UV rays, particles and pressure whereas enhancing your visibility on the highway.
I’ve to put on sun shades on each single trip, whether or not the solar has been hiding behind gray skies for days or it is pitch black out. This implies I’ve many alternative glasses and lensesfor all climate situations, in addition to several types of driving and evening rides. However since I began utilizing Tifosi’s Rail XC sun shadesalmost two years in the past, most different sun shades at the moment are gathering mud as I attain for the Tifosis day in and day trip.
The Tifosi Rail XC sun shades have all of the options one has come to count on of a top quality pair of biking sun shades: a bendable nostril pad and arms for a custom-made match, good airflow to stop lens fog, a rim-free lens for a transparent visual field, and a light-weight 31-gram bundle. Additionally they have the additional benefit of a photochromic lens.
To make clear, the Tifosi Rail XC sun shades are available in two variations: one with interchangeable lenses and one other with a single “Fototec” lens. It’s the Fototec lens that has change into my absolute go-to—on the sunniest and greyest days alike. The photochromic lens gently adjusts to altering gentle situations. In restricted gentle, the lenses are fairly clear – not fairly clear sufficient for evening rides however good for even the greyest of moist days or into nightfall. In full solar, the lenses darken considerably and seem like some other dark-blue mirrored lenses.
The transition is gradual and solely noticeable if you’re not squinting into the gleaming gentle. But, in response to Tifosi, the sunshine transmission vary is impressively broad, starting from 14% to 74%. Which means I haven’t needed to swap lenses all 12 months. Clearer lenses are solely wanted at evening rides.
And when you will not be making any daring style statements with the Rail XC’s clear arms and non-oversized lens, I do assume the sun shades look good, go together with nearly each package or helmet, and, most significantly, present good safety.
And discounted for Black Friday to only over $60, you would be hard-pressed to search out such a high-performance and sturdy set of sun shades at that value.
In case you’re on the hunt for brand new biking sun shades, you should definitely additionally flip via our Sun shades Purchaser’s Information for the very best 16 pairs of sun shades we have examined.