Tech review: Four sets of cycling glasses with interchangeable lenses.
- By Zack Vestal
- Published Aug. 24, 2009
Interchangeable lenses are nothing new to performance eyewear. But historically, removing and replacing the lenses required a clenched jaw and careful application of force. Often, flexing the frame to pop out a lens felt like the frame was about to break.
A revolution in sunglass technology has changed all that, to the point that a number of novel solutions to lens interchangeability now share space in the marketplace. We’ve assembled several sunglasses to look at their approach to lens removal and replacement.
Smith Interlock Trace — $140
One of the first to seek a new approach to lens interchangeability was Smith Sport Optics. Their “Interlock” styles use a lens frame that is split at the outer edges, forward of the hinge where the temples attach. The frames are designed to flex open when the temples are twisted 90 degrees — the temples essentially act like a cam to pry open the frames by 2.5mm, just enough to easily remove and replace the lenses.
Smith Interlock technology is dedicated to casual, stylish sunglasses in the lineup. The Trace model might find a home in a bike park or commuting, but serious road riders are not likely to pick it out of a lineup. However, it’s got everything you would look for in a performance sunglass:
- •Polarized “Carbonic TLT” lenses are impact resistant and precisely shaped to reduce optical distortion
- •Comes with 2 replacement lenses (with 14 total different lenses and tints available) and a hard case
- •“Megol” grippy temple pads help retention
- •Prescription lens compatible.
The Trace is a medium-fit frame, and with a relatively narrow face and wide nose bridge, I find it to fit quite well. However, the temples curve in tightly to the rear of the ear, and create a bit of a pressure point. The upside is that these glasses will absolutely stay put on your face, which is a plus for more active usage. I would like to see the Megol grippy pads on the nose bridge, as the plastic of the frame alone becomes a little uncomfortable after a few hours.
Coverage is as promised — good but not as full as with a sport shield-type sunglass. I find the optical clarity to be just fine, but perhaps not quite as good as some I’ve tried. Lens replacement is as easy as promised, and the style of the frames looks sleek.
Overall, these are cool sunglasses that I would recommend for casual mountain biking, commuting, and even skiing.
Smith Pivlock V90 MAX –$120
On the other end of the spectrum from Smith is the new Pivlock V90 MAX. It’s a performance, sportshield-style sunglass that you would not likely wear around town, although you would not look out of place if you did. The approach with Pivlock is completely the opposite of Interlock: rather than removing lenses from a frame, you essentially remove the “frame” from the lens, then rebuild the frame pieces onto the lens tint of your choice. The V90 MAX has a larger lens silhouette than the smaller Pivlock V90.
The Pivlock V90 MAX is frameless, and the shield lens itself provides the structural element and shape to the sunglass. The hinged temples attach to the lens by way of a cam-shaped post on the temple, which fits into a receiver slot on the lens. Pivoting the temple 90 degrees up pops it free, and pivoting it down locks it into place. The nosepiece requires just a slight squeeze to free it from the lens. The hinge/temple piece is proprietary and patent pending, and has soft Megol grippers at the ears. The simplicity of the design is genius, in that there’s no wrestling with a plastic frame to pop a lens in or out. Plus, it makes for a very lightweight sunglass — about 28 grams.
On the road, the light weight is very noticeable, as is the comfort and stability. The soft, grippy “Megol” ear and nose pads grip comfortably and hold the Pivlocks in place very well. The curvature and size of the lens feels perfect as well. I’ve got a narrow face with a wide nose bridge, so sunglass fit can be a challenge, but these feel great. I felt that coverage and field of vision were very good, even when time trialing head-down and looking up through the top portion of the lens. Plus, the fact that there’s no top or bottom frame adds to field of view.
My only complaint is that the lack of an upper rim or sweat gutter seems to make them prone to sweat dripping onto and down the lens. Plus, on me, they fit very close to my face, which exacerbates the issue. I’d like to see an adjustable nosepiece, or the option for a wider piece, to allow the Pivlocks to sit just a little lower or farther from my brow.
Included with the sunglasses are two spare lenses and a foam-lined, rigid carrying case, making the Pivlock V90 MAX a relative bargain at $120
www.smithoptics.com
Giro Filter — $160
Giro is newer to sunglasses than some of its competitors, but almost immediately introduced a clever lens retention technology on the Filter model, called “Pop Top.” It’s a patent-pending system that uses a sleek lever built into the temples of the frame to release the lens. It permits possibly the easiest lens removal and replacement I’ve seen so far.
Other features on the Filter include Zeiss-certified lenses for optical clarity, “Super Fit” shape to match both the head and helmet, and rubber nose pads and temple tips for optimal retention. The Filter is styled to be a sport performance sunglass, best suited for riding. It comes with a set of clear lenses and a hard case.
I’ve been wearing the Filter all summer for both road and mountain riding, and I love it. On my narrow face, the fit is perfect and I find the field of view to be excellent. The temple/ear pieces wrap in behind the ear just enough to provide great retention. It’s quickly become one of my favorite riding glasses.
Another tester found the Filter to feel heavy, which may be a function of their fit on his face: they only weigh around 32 grams. The one complaint that I have regarding fit is that the soft rubber of the earpieces does not extend fully to the back. The very tip of the earpiece curves in toward the head, creating a hard bump, which becomes uncomfortable after a few hours.
www.giro.com
Oakley Jawbone– $195
Oakley’s latest is the Jawbone, which features yet another approach to lens swapping. The “Switchlock” system is as clever as anything out there, using a hinged frame that locks in place via a pivoting nosepiece. To change a lens, pivot the nose pad away from the frame, then swing the lower frame “jaw” away to release the lens. Oakley’s system rates next to the Giro “Pop Top” as the easiest to use in a performance glass.
As with most Oakley products, the styling is distinctive, and in the case of the Jawbone, includes the functional elements of the Switchlock system. This sunglass is performance-oriented, with fit and features designed for active use. The earpieces and nose pads are grippy rubber, and the lenses have a hydrophobic property that helps them shed water or perspiration. Each Jawbone is packaged with two interchangeable sizes of nosepieces, plus a transport case and one set of spare lenses.
I’ve spent the least time with this particular sunglass, but right away I noticed the security of the fit, optical clarity, and field of view. The frame itself is substantial in size, but the glass doesn’t weigh more than 33 grams, and it’s super comfortable. I am always impressed by the optical clarity of Oakley eyewear, which I would rate as the best in this bunch. Finally, the field of view was impressive, and seemed tuned perfectly for bike riding. I was concerned at first about the lower portion of the frame blocking my vision (the lack of which I like in the Giro Filter and Smith Pivlock V90), but it’s not at all intrusive when in the saddle.
Not surprisingly, the Jawbone is the most expensive of this bunch. But if you are serious about style and performance, you know who you are, and you won’t be disappointed with Oakley’s latest.
www.oakley.com
Photo Gallery
FILED UNDER: Bikes and Tech
Zack Vestal
Zack joined VeloNews in 2009, bringing 15 years of industry experience to the Tech Editor position. Most recently manager and mechanic for the Trek-VW mountain bike team (2004-08), he has an unused geology degree from Whitman College (and a well-worn Ph.D. from the school of hard knocks). Vestal covers the latest in cycling gear online, and brings in-depth perspective to the magazine.