Salice 012 CRX sunglasses

The Salice 012 CRX sunglasses bring together some nifty design features with a photochromic lens that works well, plus decent ventilation. They also sit on the head comfortably and, overall, are very impressive.

At this time of year it can be a pain riding with sunglasses, especially if you use them for commuting. For me, it tends to be sunny on the way in (on a nice day!) and dark on the way back. This makes photochromic lenses particularly useful, so I was very happy to be testing out these Salice sunnies.

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The glasses are a half-frame design with a big lens that offers a good level of protection across the face and eyes. They are also close fitting around the head, creating attractive lines when worn. The luminous green wouldn't be my first (or second or third) choice, but they are available in a range of different colours for every taste.

One element I was really impressed with was the ventilation; there was a fairly decent breeze flowing over my ears and the lenses didn't really fog up too much, even when waiting at traffic lights; even then they cleared almost instantaneously. This ventilation comes from few visible vents too, with only two on the lens itself, but Salice has integrated a clever flare on the arms, which acts to push air inwards at speed, and it works really well.

The photochromic lens performed well, too, changing quickly in variable light conditions and offering clear vision throughout the review. Thanks to the half-frame design there is also very little that gets in the way; you can just about catch the arms right at the edge of your peripheral vision and you can just about see the tops of the frames if you really try, but overall it's an impressively clear view.

The lens is also large, which is really good for keeping out light and debris. The lens is replaceable, and two are provided. They're easy to swap, with the nosepiece just pulling off and the lenses doing the same.

Fit is good thanks to the soft nosepad and rubber on the arms. They keep everything in place well and help to alleviate any rubbing that can sometimes occur. A relatively sprightly 30g on the road.cc Scales of Truth helps.

The only downside of the rubber, oddly, is that it tastes disgusting, so holding the glasses in your teeth for any number of reasons (which I found I do more than I realised) leaves a horrible taste in your mouth for the next five minutes or so. It seems like an odd criticism of glasses – essentially, that they taste bad – but it made me realise I hold them in my mouth more than I realise.

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Coming with a spare clear lens, protective case and cleaning cloth, the RRP of £84.95 seems about right for a well made and strong performing pair of glasses. They offer clear vision, a quick-to-alter photochromic lens, and decent ventilation. It seems odd that my only real criticism is their taste, but it's probably testament to the fact that there is little else to criticise.

Verdict

Well made, with good ventilation and a good field of vision – just avoid holding them in your teeth