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review

Tifosi Altar sunglasses

8
£49.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Great optics for a good price
Weight: 
35g
Contact: 
www.zyro.co.uk

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 optics, an American company, prides itself in making top quality eyewear at a non-brand-name price. The Altar is another addition to their wide range, coming with 3 lenses, a hard and soft case for just £49.99.

The first thing you'll notice about the Altars is their chunky design. The frames are made out of strong Grilamid TR90, which is a highly flexible, yet tough plastic. The arms of the Altars can be adjusted, or bent, to any shape allowing the wearer to get the perfect fit for whatever activity they are going to be used for. The Altars also feature a half rim design; this means that the frames are open at the bottom increasing your field of view.

One key to any pair of riding glasses, other than the aesthetics of course, is the lens clarity. The Altars do not disappoint. The three tinted polycarbonate lenses that come with the Altar give you clear and undistorted vision. Coming with a smoke lens for sunny days, clear for low light and all-conditions red for everything in between, the Altar has all bases covered.

Riding, you soon forget that you are wearing them. Only weighing 34 grams and fitting my larger head well I was pleased with how these value-for-money glasses performed. Even when riding hard the hydrophilic nose and ear pieces stopped the glasses from shifting as I sweated. The lenses are ventilated to decrease the chance of them steaming up, but I did find that when riding hard on a chilly morning I did occasionally get some fogging of the lenses. Maybe an additional vent hole closer to the middle of the lenses would increase the airflow enough to reduce this.

Another feature I liked was the dipped ear pieces. This reduced the chances of them snagging on my rear helmet strap.

Changing the lenses on the Altars is a very simple affair. The flexibility of the frame and lens gives you the confidence that they are snapped into place, and are not going to snap as you try to remove or fit them. I'll be interested to see long term how the lenses hold up to many changes because their tangs do look rather small.

Overall the Altars are a pair of glasses that offer a lot for your money. Three lenses, a sturdy design to fit all head shapes, and you'll soon forget you are wearing.

The design is not super aggressive so they can be worn off the bike without the risk of you looking like a sports freak. Just a shame on the misting up.

Verdict

Great optics for a good price.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Tifosi Altar sunglasses

Size tested: Matte black

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?

Top optics for a good price. A design which works for many sports other than cycling.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Grilamid TR90 frame, highly durable.

Hydrophilic nose and ear pieces

3 lens shades

34 grams

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
10/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Performed well. Clear optic, light weight. Had some misting issues on a cooler morning.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Clear optics. Great value for money. Ability to use for more sports.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Issues with the glasses misting up.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? No.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

Great value for money optics.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 0  Height:   Weight:

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for:   I ride:   I would class myself as:

I regularly do the following types of riding:

 

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