Koo Hype sunglasses

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?

Koo states: 'The HYPE collection is our most innovative sunglass launch to date. Designed for sports performance and road cyclists, HYPE's squared shape and dual-lens appearance lend a sporty and eccentric appeal to the fashion-forward cyclist through advanced performance-oriented ergonomics, a wide field of vision, and wraparound temples for maximum stability when on the roads.' They certainly have a unique style compared to some other brands' current offerings, and the quality of the Zeiss lens can't be disputed.

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

Koo lists:

// Maximum Ventilation System

// Temple design engineered for maximum retention

// Dual curve toric lens for exceptional field of vision and optical clarity

// Interchangeable nose bridge pads

// Compatible with KOO Optical Clip for prescription lenses

The glasses are really well made. They feel very solid, with no play in the arm hinges. Zeiss lenses are some of the best optics out there, and Koo's frames and nose-pieces feel very sturdy and durable.

I really liked using the Hypes. They fit very well on my face despite limited adjustability in the arms, and the lens didn't get fogged up or particularly sweaty at all – even during harder rides. Retention in my helmet vents was also great.

It's only been about a month, but the glasses are still in great shape. No play has developed in the arms, the lenses have stayed scratch free, and the nose-piece hasn't fallen off or moved out of place.

The difference between 30g and 25g or 35g is basically imperceptible, so though not the absolute lightest, it's still competitive.

I genuinely think these are some of the most comfortable sunglasses I've ever used. They fit my face perfectly, offer a great field of view with no obstructions, and perform really well across a variety of riding conditions.

£180 is a lot to spend on a pair of shades, and positions these Koo Hypes right up there with the likes of Oakley, Rudy Project, or 100%. They include Zeiss lenses – which are definitely a premium optic – and the frame is really well made, but I'd like to see a solid case included for that money, at the very least.

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

The glasses performed really well. I tested the Pink Mirror lens with a filter category of 3 and a VLT of 13%, and this worked well in daylight conditions – both in shadier patches and direct sunlight. I stowed them in my helmet early in the mornings or as dusk started to settle, and they connected well with my Kask Protone's vents and felt very solid up there.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

How well they stowed in my Kask Protone's vents. This is a feature I really value, and find it infuriating when helmets and glasses of the same brand don't play well together.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

At first I wasn't a massive fan of the Koo's slightly "bug eyed" aesthetic, but it grew on me, and I ended up really quite liking the way they look.

The lack of solid case – for £180 this should be included, I think.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

You can spend a lot less than £180 on a pair of sunnies – BBB's Chesters are £54.99, for example, and Magicshine's photochromic Windbreakers are £49.99 (and currently £39.99), but the Koos are in line with the likes of Oakley, 100% and Rudy Project's premium offerings, such as the Rudy Project Tralyx (£189.99), Oakley Sphaera (£191), or 100% Aerocraft (£175) sunglasses – though they all come with hard cases.

Use this box to explain your overall score

Overall, I think they're very good. They're expensive, but not wildly out of line with the competition, the lens quality is really good, and they fit nicely in my Kask's helmet vents. I would like to see a hard case for the money, though, and I'm sure some would appreciate a bit more adjustability in the arms – but this is a feature a lot of their competitors also lack.