Sunglasses Shop review on Rudy Project Rydon Matte Black ImpactX Clear. Photochromic.
Features. Impact X lenses are virtually indestructible lenses
developed for military usage. The lenses are photochromic meaning the
brighter it is the darker they become. This particular pair goes from
clear to dark. Sunglasses come in a hard case with a soft micro fibre
pouch. The lenses use NXT technology and come with a lifetime guarantee
against breakage (do not use as safety glasses though!)
One of the benefits of a sports frame having clear lenses that react
to the sunlight means you can keep the same eyewear on all day and all
night. This particular test we used them for cycling. For many riders
the wind dries out your eyes, can make your eyes stream with water and
when you are riding quick this is the last thing you want. Also the
impact X lenses means you can feel safe that you have some of the finest
protection against flies, stones and other things that may come off your
tyres at speed.
Fit
One of the most adjustable pairs of sunglasses in the market means
you can really mould the frames to provide a very comfortable fit. The
nose pads (Ergonose II) system are made from a durable metal and can be
squeezed and moulded to fit snugly in place. The rubber pads help
prevent slip. The arms are made from a pliable metal and can be bent
upwards and inwards so you can create your own skull fitting setup. The
frames themselves are made from a mix of Kynetium, a lightweight and
flexible alloy and plastic mixed with carbon. Overall their extremely
light-weight design means they fit snug and weigh next to nothing.
The sunglasses test
The sunglasses were put through a variety of conditions that a normal
rider may come across in day to day use and started with a down hill
test. When cycling down hill you maximise your speeds and potential for
wind and other objects in your eyes. As the sunglasses were moulded
around my face before setting off the lenses sat comfortably in front of
my eyes and gave excellent protection from the wind. The arms sat
comfortable under the straps of my cycle helmet and being rimless my
peripheral vision was not obstructed. Wearing rimmed sunglasses when
driving or cycling may interfere with your peripheral vision and on a
bike not knowing what is creeping up next to you may be potentially very
dangerous. There are no obstructions from the Rudy Project sunglasses.
For the downhill test the sunglasses performed perfectly.
Night Time
The impact lenses are more or less clear. Putting them on in the
evening has virtually no change in vision. Night riding in normal
sunglasses means you probably won't be able to see the floor. This of
course on a bike is extremely hazardous. Cycling a winding road with
category 2 rose lenses at night time under moonlight and bike lights you
probably won't be able to make out the floor. With the Rudy Project the
floor can be seen as well as if you were wearing no glasses at all. When
riding hard the sunglasses stopped the wind in my eyes. The very small
negative point is street lights seemed to have a glow left and right of
them. This did not become an issue at any point in the ride but is worth
pointing out.
Late afternoon winter sun
The sun is low in the sky and it is broken sunshine. Even though
there is not too much strength to the sunshine the sunglasses still
react enough to the sunlight to keep the overall viewing at a
comfortable level. When the sun dips behind the clouds and the day feels
like night the lenses are not too dark and lets a comfortable level of
light through.
Wet conditions
The lenses on this particular pair of sunglasses are not polarised,
although Rudy Project are one of the few manufacturers that offer
polarised and photocramatic in one lens. Polarising lenses remove the
glare so this was not a feature from this frame so when the sun came out
the road was slightly glary, although when the sun became bright the
lenses darkened and at no point did I find the light levels overpowering
as you would from a standard clear lens.
Other uses
These sunglasses are very lightweight and are perfect for many sports
and activities. The polarised versions would be ideal for fishing and
sailing. This particular lens reacts to UV light to they will not darken
in the majority of cars because of the UV screen in the car. Also Rudy
Project do not recommended them for night time driving so do not buy
this lens for a driving frame. For all round sporting activities then is
an excellent choice and the price point is very good for such a
technical frame.
At only £90 our online price is a must have.
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