The Rudy Project Turbolence Sunglasses have a great photochromic lens and a lightweight bioplastic frame, and are touted as a multisport eyewear option. But at £239 they’re a pretty pricey prospect, and although that’s on a par with other premium options, they’re not without some issues.
The glasses arrive in a soft bag, stored inside a premium plastic case, which is always nice to have.
Aesthetically, they’re pretty standard. The “state-of-the-art spherical lens” isn’t quite as old school as Rudy Project’s Tralyx+, which I reviewed recently, but isn’t as oversized as something like an Oakley Sutro or 100% Speedcraft.
They’re marketed as a multisport model, with Rudy Project stating that they’re “the ultimate companion for outdoor enthusiasts tackling everything from trail running and cycling to beach volleyball, water sports, and padel”.
They come with a clip-on foam sweat guard that sits on the brow. This can be removed and reinstalled easily. I kept it attached for the first ride, but found it just made the glasses sit a bit further off my face and limited ventilation a little, so they fogged up slightly.
On the bike, the glasses felt comfortable, but adjustability is quite limited, especially compared with their Tralyx+ siblings. Fortunately they worked pretty well for me.
I also found they stowed nicely inside the vents of my Kask Protone helmet, which is something I really value in sunglasses – compatibility with other helmets might vary, of course.
As with the Tralyx+, the photochromic lens is great. Rudy Project says it has a wider field of vision for sharper detail recognition (wider and sharper than what, it doesn’t say), along with “optimal UV protection shielding your eyes from harmful rays”, and “minimized optical distortion”, and it does feel like a really well-designed product.
In fact I’d say it’s one of the best I’ve used, quick enough to change between bright and shaded conditions without the need to take them off. The guys at Saddleback – Rudy Project’s UK distributor – mentioned that unlike photochromic lenses from some brands, which have a photochromic coating that can wear off over time, the functionality is actually built into these lenses, so will never wear off. This is super cool, and means the lens should last a lot longer than other brands’ photochromic options. And helps justify the price, perhaps…
With the sweat band removed, fogging was minimal, though I did still experience a little fogging on slower climbs when the effort was quite high, despite their ‘anti-fog Power Flow technology’.
The arms have grippers on the end, which added a bit of security on the side of my head, but the arms are rigid and not adjustable, though the nose-piece is.
Value
Whether you think £239 is a lot of money to spend on a pair of sunglasses or not, it’s typically the case that a photochromic model will be a bit more expensive than a regular lens – for example, Oakley’s Jawbreakers cost between £190 and £210, while the photochromic option is £240, roughly the same as the Rudy Projects.
As I said above, the high quality of the lens goes some way to help justify it, but their lack of adjustability is a little disappointing.
The lenses might not be as high quality, but you can find some very good photochromic sunnies for a lot less from the likes of Melon Optics, MagicShine and even 100%, making the price quite hard to swallow.
For more options, our best cycling sunglasses buyer’s guide covers a wide range of quality shades.
Conclusion
Overall, I do really like the Rudy Projects. They’re comfortable, I like the aesthetics, and I can’t emphasise how great the photochromic lens is. However, they are a multisport design, and if you want the absolute best for cycling for your money, you might want to look elsewhere. Their excellent Tralyx+ siblings, perhaps.
Verdict
Good multisport sunglasses with an excellent lens but limited adjustability
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Rudy Project Turbolence Sunglasses
Size tested: One Size
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?
Rudy Project says: “The new Turbolence is the ideal eyewear for those who love to push their limits, whether on the road, on trails, or in the water.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
From Rudy Project: “Equipped with photochromic, polarized, and mirrored lenses, it adapts to any light condition, offering optimal vision and protection. The integrated Sweat Bar protects you from sweat, while the adjustable cord ensures maximum stability even during the most intense activities.
Made of sustainable bioplastic Rilsan, the Turbolence combines high performance with environmental respect.”
The frame feels solid, with no hint that they’re going to snap when stretching them into helmet vents or around your face. The photochromic lens is really high quality and reacts quickly to light changes; with most glasses, the ‘photochromic-ness’ is an added coating that can eventually wear off with cleaning etc, but we’re told Rudy Project embeds it within the lens so this will never happen. The clip-on brow pad feels secure when installed, though I don’t think it brings much to the party.
They’re light, comfortable, and don’t really feel noticeable during use. The lens fogged up slightly on slower climbs, but not enough to cause any real visibility issues.
All good so far, and there isn’t too much to go wrong. The clip-on brow pad could wear out over time, but it’s early days.
The guys at Saddleback – who are the UK distributor for Rudy Project – have told us that the photochromic functionality is actually baked into the lens rather than a coating that can wear off over time, so in theory these will continue to perform season after season, which is really cool.
At 32g, these are in line with other sunglasses around this sort of price. Plenty light enough to be virtually unnoticeable.
I found them relatively comfortable, but didn’t enjoy the feeling of the brow pad sweat guard, as it made the lightweight glasses feel a bit like cumbersome goggles.
Not cheap, but in line with photochromic sunglasses from Oakley.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
These glasses performed pretty well for cycling, but I would like to see adjustable arms similar to those you get with the Tralyx + we reviewed recently.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
I liked the photochromic lens, which is really high quality and adjusts quickly.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
They’re multisport glasses, but I found the sweat guard a bit superfluous for cycling, and made them feel more like goggles.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
They’re the same price as Oakley’s Jawbreaker photochromic option.
If the price is too salty, there are some cheaper sunnies out there worth a look: the Magicshine Rouleur sunglasses are just £59.99, and other photochromic options from the likes of Melon Optics, 100%, and even Rudy Project’s own Tralyx + are a good deal cheaper.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? No
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
In many ways the Rudy Project Turbolence sunglasses are very good, and I really enjoyed using the photochromic lens. However, even if the price is (perhaps) justified by the high-quality lens (and they’re on a par with Oakley), they have limited adjustability. If you want a pair of sunnies for multiple sports then they are very good, but for cycling they’re a 7.
About the tester
Age: 28 Height: 175cm Weight: 67kg
I usually ride: Road (Tarmac SL7) My best bike is:
I’ve been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, mtb, Occasional Ultra Racing
