Madison D'Arcs triple lens glasses set

This is a no-frills set of glasses, aimed at commuters and tourists, but absolutely fine for racers and sportive-riders, and anyone else not fixated on big-name brands.

There are three one-piece lenses - tinted for sunny days, orangey-yellow for dark and overcast days, and clear for eye protection any time of year (especially handy in winter). The lenses are slightly curved so they fit closely across the front of the face, but still leave room for airflow to prevent misting. They are also easy to fit in and out of the frame.

The nose-piece is very comfortable; it doesn't slip or pinch. The arms of the frame are straight, and grip nicely behind the ears without slipping or feeling too tight.

When the arms are folded they don’t touch (and therefore scratch) the back of the lenses. Seems obvious, but some glasses overlook this simple design requirement.

Another great feature is the hinges where the arms meet the front, which are more like ball-joints. Should you inadvertently twist the arms, there’s nothing to snap. The ball-joint just pops out, and you pop it back in again.

I tested the D’Arcs on a few shorter rides then used them in this year’s Etape du Tour. I sweat like a donkey going up hill, but these glasses didn’t steam up or collect droplets of sweat - not even on the top of the Tourmalet.

The glasses and spare lenses come in a big foam-lined box. You also get a little soft bag to put the specs in when you’re not wearing them, and a cord to hold them round your neck (if required). The RRP is £29.99 but you can pick them up for less than that online.

Overall it's a great value set that should cover all your riding. Perhaps the D’Arcs could have come with a slightly lighter tinted lens; as it is, the dark lens felt a touch too dark for 'normal' UK Summer outings. But that's a minor niggle.

Verdict

A very good pair of glasses at a very reasonable price.