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I’ve been driving within the Galibier Grand Tour optics sun shades for almost all of the autumn and winter and am prepared to put down my assessment of the Irish model’s sun shades. Cycling sun shades are usually fairly costly now, however this providing from Galibier represents , budget-friendly possibility. They are available at £66 / $82.10 / €79.25 for the costliest crystal / photochromic possibility, with the non reactive pairs even cheaper, lining them up nicely for a spot in our information to the perfect low-cost biking glasses.
The Grand Tour shades launched final yr and can be found in three variants: Crystal – photochromic, alongside black- or white-framed pink plasma lens variations.
I’ve achieved the vast majority of my driving within the crystal-photochromic model which react and darken relying on the sunshine, and that’s what I can be specializing in right here, however I’ve included photos and a few ideas on the white – plasma pair, which I’ve additionally been driving in. They share precisely the identical design and make-up, simply with a special lens and color.
These are mild, snug sun shades at simply 23 grams per pair. They function an ‘open’ frameless design paired with slender, light-weight arms and vents throughout the highest of every lens. If you aren’t notably taken with the styling of some big, outsized biking shades, like me, then the marginally smaller silhouette could enchantment to you as nicely.
Check out our greatest biking sun shades information for a best-of-the-best collection of biking shades.
Design and Aesthetics
I like the general form and dimension of the Grand Tour shades, and suppose they swimsuit my smaller head a bit higher total (Image credit score: Tom Wieckowski)
I just like the Grand Tour’s styling; the lenses are comparable in form to the favored Oakley Radar, just a bit deeper, which is a giant tick in my e book. The lenses have 4 holes in both sides for air flow and should not interchangeable. The crystal model arms have a shiny, see-through end, with Galibier logos on the arms and backside right-hand facet of the lens.
The skinny, folding arms of the glasses presumably look a contact old-fashioned, however they haven’t bothered me, they usually assist convey the GrandTour’s weight right down to a feather-light 23 grams; they are surely very mild, and solely a fraction of a gram heavier than one thing just like the POC Elicit, that are considerably dearer.6
The lenses have some curve inbuilt, and use a skinny, clean gripper on the ends. I believe the arm form is liable for a lot of the maintain on the pinnacle, I’ve discovered it creates a pleasant stability between safe and comfy, and I’ve fairly a small head.
In the field, additionally, you will discover a case, cleansing material and a delicate bag to retailer your shades in, which isn’t unhealthy in any respect for the cash. On the topic of money, the Crystal photochromic lens will set you again $82.10 / £66 / €79.24.
Galibier says the polycarbonate lenses have an anti-fogging, anti-scratch end, and the model features a lens certification report on its web site. The sun shades meet the ISO S12312 minimal normal for eye and face safety.
Performance
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For my first few rides, I felt the Galibier rubber nostril piece wasn’t as snug as my ordinary Oakleys, and niggled a bit, however I’ve just about ridden in the identical sun shades for years and the change was in all probability the trigger as a lot as something. After months of use, I’ve no complaints; they’ve been snug.
They are mild and comfy in your face, the curved arms grip my head nicely for a snug match. I used to be on a windy journey just lately when a rider’s sun shades have been blown off his face when he turned his head into the wind, which was a primary for me. The Grand Tour’s stayed put, nevertheless. The low weight presumably makes the glasses really feel a bit insecure at instances, however in actuality, they’ve been stable as a rock.
The photochromic lenses have labored nicely for me, permitting me to simply journey at evening, in unlit lanes utilizing the shades and on brighter days. I did a double-take just lately at a restaurant once I pulled up, seeing the darkish lenses on my face within the brighter situations. They do appear to work fairly nicely, and I haven’t felt they have been too gradual to react. Put it this manner: not as soon as have I struggled in a variety of situations. I’ll proceed to put on them in shiny summer season mild and see how they fare at that finish of the spectrum, although I do suppose a extra particular darker lens would be the better option in shiny, summer season sunshine, and the alternate Grand Tour fashions from Galibier are there for that.
Lots of cyclists I do know use a transparent lens for all-around winter and darkish driving, and in the event you simply need a set of shades with a transparent lens for darker days, they match the invoice properly.
Coverage gained’t be as massive as among the greater lensed shades available on the market now, such because the 100 Percent S3 fashions, which my colleague Will reviewed round this time final yr, however as I say, the lens is greater than an Oakley Radar, however not as deep or rounded as the larger ones available on the market, it hasn’t given me any trigger for concern. Though in the event you favor lenses the place the field of regard is uninterrupted, due to a big lens, they might not be for you, it is doable to look previous the top of those lenses when trying down.
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Value
I believe these sun shades supply glorious worth. Each pair comes with a case, delicate material and microfibre pouch. I’ve ridden so much in mine in every kind of situations on and off-road, they usually nonetheless look model new. I haven’t had a single concern with them. For the cash, I’m unsure you possibly can go mistaken, and there are three finishes to select from.
Here’s what is going to arrive within the field, not unhealthy worth all advised (Image credit score: Tom Wieckowski)
Verdict
There isn’t a lot to not like right here. I’ve discovered zero fault with these sun shades, they’re light-weight and comfy and have offered good lens readability and imaginative and prescient throughout a variety of situations this winter. You will simply have to determine if the model is best for you.
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Testing scorecard and notes
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Design and aesthetics
A trendy design, that jogs my memory of Oakley Radar’s somewhat, small, skinny arms doable look a bit old-fashioned
8/10
Field of imaginative and prescient
Very good, is feasible to look previous the top of the lens when trying down for a little bit of a 50/50. Haven’t brought on me any isses
8/10
Lens efficiency
Generally superb, my lack of cleansing has affected them extra at instances, keep in mind to scrub
7/10
Comfort and retention
A lightweight, but grippy match, the burden could catch you out at first, however i’ve had no points on my small head
