TIFOSI SLEDGE SUNGLASSES REVIEW

QUALITY GLASSES AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE

Words by Travis Reill  |  Photos by Sourpatch

Tifosi is a sunglasses brand that, up until recently, I had never tried. If I am being honest, I have been using sunglasses from other, larger brands that cost more than twice the amount of any Tifosi glasses. I don’t pay for these sunglasses; rather, they get sent to me for testing and review. And, if I am to continue in this vein of honesty, I am now not sure I would pay what those big brands are asking, especially after putting some miles in with the Tifosi Sledge sunglasses.

ABOUT THE TIFOSI SLEDGE SUNGLASSES

The Sledge sunglasses are offered in six different frame options, with two of those frames having a single Fototec lens, Tifosi’s take on photochromic lenses. This lens changes from light to dark as the sun gets higher in the sky or as you go in and out of shaded areas. Within the Fototec lenses, you can choose a Clarion Blue Fototec lens, which allows 46% light transmission in low light and only 13% light transmission in full sunlight. The other option is the Clarion Red Fototec lens, whose low light to full sun transmission is 64% and 14%, respectively.

Other than being able to adjust to how much light they receive, these two lenses are all made from scratch-resistant and shatter-proof polycarbonate material. The lenses are also optically decentered, helping eliminate distortion and magnification, and have a glare guard. Lastly, the lenses help protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays with UVA/UVB protection.

The lenses that come with the other four frames Tifosi offers in the Sledge line-up have all the same features. Instead of Fototec lenses that adjust to light, Tifosi provides three different interchangeable lenses for these frames—a full sun, low light, and clear lens. The frame and lens option I have been testing is the Sledge frames in matte black, with the “Smoke,” “AC Red,” and clear interchangeable lenses. Tifosi recommends the Smoke lenses for the brightest, full-sun days out on the trail and the contrast-increasing capabilities of the AC Red lenses on those partially cloudy days. All the lenses are vented at the top and on the sides.

Tifosi’s Slege sunglasses are made of a light but durable Grilamid TR-90 frame. The ear and nose pads have a hydrophilic rubber coating that supposedly increases grip the more you sweat, keeping the glasses locked in place. Cold or hot and sweaty days, I never had any problem with the Sledges moving around, so I cannot confirm how well this feature actually works. 

THE DIRT

Tifosi was one of the sponsors of our Budget Bike Roundup, so I got to spend a reasonable amount of time in the Sledge sunglasses. While I used all three of the different lenses that came with my Sledge sunglasses, I spent most of the time using the AC Red lenses, which became my favorite. These low-light lenses were a perfect choice for the vast majority of the riding I do, as it typically isn’t in too dense of forests where light isn’t getting through. The AC Red lenses made my vision crisp and clear while going in and out of shadows on the trail. 

The other lenses worked well, and I used them for their appropriate applications—the “Smoke” lens for full sunlight and the clear lens for overcast days. However, I found the AC Red lens to be versatile enough that I didn’t really need to switch between lenses. It shaded my eyes enough that I didn’t need a darker lens, but it wasn’t so dark that I couldn’t see the trail when riding through shady bits.

Not having to change lenses was a bonus because I found it was a difficult task compared to other riding glasses I’ve used. I was surprised with how much force it took to separate the lenses from the frames, being concerned I would break them. This all resulted in a very “hands-on” approach to changing lenses, and I wasn’t able to do it without getting many fingerprints all over both the lens I was removing and the one I was putting in. If you can, I recommend wearing your gloves for trailside lens changes.

The Tifosi Sledge frames fit comfortably and have an oversized look that has become more popular. They did not get uncomfortable on the bridge of my nose, squeeze my temples, or rub on my ears. The hydrophilic rubber that helps the frames stay in place was also comfortable against the skin, resulting in zero fitment issues. Despite the frames fitting nicely, they sat rather close to my face. This meant that sweat dripped down onto the lenses more easily, and the lenses often fogged over as soon as I stopped. However, I found that if I removed the glasses, they would de-fog quickly and were ventilated enough to stay fog-free once I got moving again.

The Wolf’s Last Word

Despite a few issues, the Tifosi Sledge sunglasses performed well on the trail. They have several different interchangeable or photochromic options and were impressive overall, especially for their relatively low price. Yes, you will be bummed if you accidentally drive off with the Sledge sunglasses sitting on your bumper, but at least you won’t have to take out a loan to replace them.

Price: $79.95
Website: Tifosioptics.com

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