Review: Rad8 505 Photochromic MTB glasses
A few months ago, the lovely folk at Rad8 sent me a brand spanking new pair of their 505 photochromic MTB glasses to check out (side note: I’m on their test team).
I’ve since worn them in a variety of conditions (winter, spring, summer, full sun, dark woods, etc) so I reckon I’m now in a good position to let you all know what I think about them.
First up, the design.
I LOVE the purple detail on the inside of the frame. You might not be able to see it when I’m wearing them, but I know it’s there and it makes me happy! I also love the matt black on the frame, and the overall shape of the lenses.
The frame is lightweight and it has a rubber nose bridge, which is perfect for people like me who have a wider than average nose!
All in all, the design gets a big thumbs up from me.
How about the performance?
I can honestly say that these are the best MTB glasses I’ve worn. They have great clarity on a dull day, but the photochromic lenses do their thing when the sun shines and allow me to ride without squinting against the brightness.
A big test for the lenses is transitioning between bright sunshine into woodland. They’ve stood up well to the challenge and transition quickly enough for me to feel comfortable keeping them on. I’ve not done much in the way of night riding this winter, but there have been a couple of winter rides when we were coming home at dusk and the clarity was still good enough to keep wearing them.
They’re also remarkably good at staying fog free, even on climbs when there’s less air flow.
Honestly, I’m struggling for anything negative to say about these glasses and, if you’ve read any of my other reviews, you’ll know that I’m not shy at coming forward with comments on the things I don’t like!
At £89.00, they’re even a decent price!
Disclaimer: Rad8 provided these glasses free of charge as part of their Test Team scheme. However, as with all my reviews, this is a 100% impartial overview of my own thoughts, opinions and experiences.
Jacquie Budd provides content writing, copywriting & online marketing for businesses, particularly those in the wellness and outdoor adventure sectors.
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