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review

Tifosi Slip glasses

6
£49.99

VERDICT:

6
10
Slim and stylish eye-wear at a fair price, although some riders may find the vents in the lenses are not 100% effective
Weight: 
26g
Contact: 

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Tifosi is a US brand producing an incredibly wide range of sports eyewear, and these Slip glasses share many features other Tifosi glasses previously tested on road.cc - but they also differ in a couple of important ways too.

First, the lenses. These are made from polycarbonate, a plastic designed to flex slightly, which is 'decentered' (meaning vision is not distorted). This seems to work. I've done a few miles in these glasses in varying conditions, and the view has always been 100% clear.

The Slips come with three interchangeable lenses, classed by Tifosi as 'Clear (which has a light transmission of 98%, so worn as protection from dust or rain rather than sun), 'Brown' (providing 18% light transmission, for sunny conditions) and 'AC-Red' (a contrast lens for overcast conditions).

The fame is made from a plastic called Grilamid TR-90 homopolyamide nylon, which is very strong but still flexible rather than brittle. Across the Tifosi range, frames come in many different shapes and sizes. On the Slip glasses, the frame is slender and nicely understated.

The sections of the frame that go over the ears are made from black rubber dubbed 'hydrophilic' (ie, water loving) which Tifosi claims grip better when wet - whether it's rain and sweat. I've tested these glasses on a few wet rides (it was June, so it wasn't planned) and they stayed in place. The ends of the ear-pieces can also be bent into shape according to shape of your schnoze to ensure personal comfort. Another good reason to bend them is so the ends of the ear-pieces do not touch the inside of the lens when the glasses are folded, which means no scratches in transit.

On the upper side of each lens, there's a ventilation gap (basically an open slot between frame and lens). This helps reduce fogging by funnelling a small amount of airflow behind the lens, but I didn't find it as effective as lenses with vents in the side. Also, in really dusty conditions, I also noticed a bit of dust coming through the vent into my eye. This didn't seem to happen with the glasses with side vents.

This test pair of Slips have a grey frame, but are also available in black or pink, and with blue or green ear pieces. The distance across the glasses from hinge to hinge is 150mm, so on the narrow side and good for cyclists with a slightly smaller face. Although they're on the small side, there's still plenty of room out front, so your eyebrows don't touch the frame, and your eyelashes don't scrape on the inside of the lens.

The recommended retail price is a penny under £50 (less at some on-line stores), which compares very well with the price of similar quality specs from the better-known high-profile brands.

Verdict

Slim and stylish eye-wear at a fair price, although some riders may find the vents in the lenses are not 100% effective

road.cc test report

Make and model: Tifosi Slip glasses

Size tested: Iron frame

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

The Tifosi website says: 'Tifosi is the Italian word referring to a super-fan, an enthusiast, and that is exactly who we are and who we make our eyewear for.' These glasses certainly have several excellent features, but overall the glasses were let down by the vents in the lenses. If you don't work up a major sweat when riding, and avoid dusty conditions, this won't be an issue.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
5/10

I found the glasses were let down by the vents, but this is a personal quibble and other riders may not find it an issue

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

with their slim frame, these glasses weigh in at under 30g

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
9/10

very comfortable and no slipping on the nose and ears

Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

I'm struggling here. Because of the vent issue, personally I'd get better value spend my 50 quid on another design

Did you enjoy using the product? many features were excellent, but the venting took the edge off for me

Would you consider buying the product? personally no

Would you recommend the product to a friend? only with the proviso about the lens vents

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

These glasses have many great features. For me personally, the vents were an issue. Other riders may not share my views, and will find these glasses an excellent good-value option.

Overall rating: 6/10

About the tester

Age: 50  Height: 5ft 10 / 178cm  Weight: 11 stone / 70kg

I usually ride: an old Marin Alp   My best bike is: an old Giant Cadex

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: touring, club rides, sportives, mtb,

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