Salice 016 RW Sunglasses

The Salice 016 RW glasses offer good coverage to protect your eyes and plenty of vision, and three different lenses mean that you can easily modify them to suit the conditions.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy these online here

First, let me tell you what you get here.

* There are three different lenses: one clear, one orange, and one with a multi layer mirror coating designed to cut glare and increase contrast.

* As well as the main frame, you get two different rims that fit to the lower section of the lens. One of these is matt black, the other is gloss orange. Apart from that, they're exactly the same, you just fit the one you think looks best.

* There are two rubber nosepieces that clip into place.

All that lot, along with a little lens cloth, comes in a neat protective case that zips closed. The case is quite large, but it has to carry a lot of stuff.

Next up, switching the lenses. Salice has kindly stuck up a video on YouTube to show you how, which is useful because there's definitely a right way and a wrong way to go about it. I'm usually pretty nervous the first few times I swap lenses with new glasses, afraid that I'll break something by being a klutz, and there's certainly scope for that, but it's a straightforward process when you know how. Everything just snaps into place securely.

So, you have the glasses set up the way you want them. I found the fit to be good and there's enough inherent flex in the frames and arms that they'll suit a wide range of different head shapes.

The nosepiece and the arm tips are made from Megol rubber which does a good job of holding the specs securely in place, even when damp. I've been doing some super-sweaty rides lately and these glasses haven't budged a millimetre. They're excellent in that respect. I can't be doing with glasses that slide around as soon as you start working hard.

As mentioned, you get three different polycarbonate lenses and they provide very good coverage. Big glasses are very much in vogue these days and make a lot of sense for protecting your peepers.

The clear lens is exactly what you'd expect while the orange heightens contrast on overcast/low light rides. The highlight is what Salice calls the 'multilayer rainbow lens' (as shown in the photos) which is designed for sunny days.

For a start, it looks badass! Viewed from outside, it reflects back mostly with a fiery yellow or red tinge. From the inside, it increases contrast in bright conditions. It also reduces glare from water, ice and snow, although that's probably of limited value for most of us when we're out on the bike.

I usually prefer glasses without a lower section of frame – in other words, ones where the lens simply hangs from the top of the frame – because there's nothing to interrupt your vision. You can wear these without the lower lens rim fitted if you prefer, but I must say that it's in no way intrusive anyway. I didn't even notice it in use.

The one negative aspect of using these glasses with the lower lens fitted is that sweat that gets onto the inside of the lens can sometimes find it difficult to roll off. I found that when I was on the drops, head down and really giving it the beans, sweat would sometimes drip onto the lens and pool there. Fair enough, when you sit upright gravity shifts most of it, but it's just a little off-putting at the time.

The 016 RW glasses don't fog up easily thanks to little vents at the top of the lenses. You can get them misty if you work really hard and then immediately stop, but these slots certainly help.

> Buyer's guide: 21 of the best cycling sunglasses

In terms of value, £90 is pretty good for the package; BBB's Summit glasses also come with three lenses and are a tenner cheaper, while you can pay another £100 for Oakley Radarlocks...

The 016 RW glasses are available in other frame finishes and lens options, including photochromic lenses (they darken on exposure to specific types of light).

Overall, I've got on well with these glasses over the past few weeks. They provide great coverage and swapping lenses is easy when you know how – and if you live in Britain or anywhere else where weather can vary hugely from day to day, you'll need to do this a lot. 

Verdict

Secure cycle-specific specs that provide plenty of protection and a choice of three different lenses