GLADE RAMBLE SUNGLASS REVIEW

Words by Nic Hall|  Photos by Max Rhulen

Glade optics is fairly new to the eyewear scene and even newer to mountain biking. They started producing ski goggles to compete with the big names in the industry but always kept affordability at the front of their mission. As self proclaimed dirtbags, they want their product to be available to the common rider, but still deliver all the performance we expect from our eyewear. We appreciate any group that is willing to compete with some of the biggest marketing machines in the industry, and when Glade outfitted our entire team for the eMTB lite group review, we were stoked to get a few sets of their new Ramble photochromic riding-specific glasses.

THE LAB

The Ramble glasses feature a large one-piece lens with 100% UVA/UVB protection, a scratch resistant coating, and impressive optical clarity from a polycarbonate lens. The lens comes in red, blue, and gray/clear options, all which feature their Reveal photochromic light changing and contrast enhancing technology. The minimal frame is made from an environmentally friendly polymer produced using 58% plant content and biomass, with a co-molded TPU nose bridge and temple grips to keep them comfortable and in place. The arms are extendable to fit nearly any head and helmet shape. All of this comes wrapped in a very nice, ventilated glasses case with wipe cloth. Regardless of lens choice, the Glade Ramble glasses retail for $89.

THE DIRT

We put the Ramble glasses through their paces during our eMTB lite shootout in sunny and warm Klamath Falls. Often, it’s hard to pick a single set of eyewear for the long days of testing and filming, since we see so many different light conditions, often finishing the day in the dark. Due to that, I choose to go with the gray Reveal lens, as it is nearly clear when in darker conditions. I was impressed with the ability of the lens to change tint quickly when going into a dark shaded area and then riding into full sun. After a few rides, I didn’t even notice the tint changes, and was able to ride with very good vision the entire trip thanks to that light sensitive tech.

Glade has delivered a fit and finish that is on par with the big names, and I had no issues with build quality. The joints are firm, and the lenses seem to be well mounted within the frame. I have a fairly narrow face, so at 145mm wide, I was concerned there would be a large gap to the side of the frame, but I was impressed with the design as it curves just enough to eliminate extra space to the side of the face while still providing a huge field of unobstructed view.

Overall, the Glade Ramble glasses proved to hold up very well, however scratch resistance was not as good as I would have hoped, with some micro scratches developing over the week of riding when just cleaning the glasses.

The Wolf’s Last Word

With so many good options on the market for high performance eyewear, Glade comes into a stacked field. But to our surprise, the Ramble performs at nearly the same level as glasses three times as expensive. The gray photochromic lenses we tested were as good as any other photochromic we have used and transitioned quickly between light conditions. For $89, the Ramble is a top tier set of glasses with all the included accessories you would expect for a $300 set. 

Price: $89
Website: Shopglade.com