Spring and summer in Utah mean mountain biking for many of us. And if I’m going biking you’re damn right I want to do it in style. I needed what my wife has deemed “robotron” glasses. The kind of glasses that make you look like you’re here from the future, Terminator style. You know what I mean. Well, the good news is that Tifosi Optics had just released the Sledge, and if you want robotron, baby they are it! I have been cyborging around the trails in them all summer and here is how they have performed.
Nuts and bolts of the Sledge sunglasses
The Sledge shades are oversized in all the right ways. They allowed me to have full, unblocked peripheral vision. The field of view through these glasses is monstrous. And they pull off the oversize styling with minimal weight. The Sledge feel lighter on the face than my casual sunglasses. The Grimalid TR-90 frames are to thank for this. What, you ask, is Grimalid TR technology? Why, it’s an amorphous thermoplastic prized for its high resistance to cracking and light weight. Boom, science. Tifosi topped it all off with 100% UV blocking, shatterproof and vented lenses, and away we go.
Outstanding trail performance
No ifs, ands or buts, the Tifosi Sledge sunglasses are great on the trail. First off, they come with three lenses (dark, high-contrast red, and clear) so you can swap out for whatever conditions the day has to offer. All three vent perfectly and never fogged up on me, even during intense uphills. I found myself using the dark lenses for most rides, and the optics are solid. No color changes or object distortion. Again I’ll point out that they are very lightweight and rest comfortably on my face. The hydrophilic rubber on the earpieces and nose kept the Sledge locked in place even on the bumpiest of downhill runs. These are built tough; after 4 months of riding in them, they still look brand new. Overall, I am very impressed by the performance of Sledge.
What’s not to love?
I have a few complaints about the Tifosi Sledge cycling glasses. First, it’s a little tricky to dial in the lens swap method. I thought I might break them the first few times I did it. Luckily, I have become more proficient at this. Second, I find that they are very smudge-prone. More so than almost any other sunglasses I have worn. They do come with a cleaning/storage cloth sack, so make sure you bring it on your rides. Finally, Tifosi states that these are adjustable for a custom fit, but I sure couldn’t figure out how to do it. The instructions didn’t say anything either. Good thing they fit great right out of the box!
The Verdict
I must say, if the robotron look is what you’re after, the Tifosi Sledge is it. They are great on the trail and have just the vibe I wanted. Once again Tifosi has managed to put together a great pair of glasses for a price well below their competition: you can own the Sledge for around $80.