I’ve tried kind of all of the finest biking glasses in the marketplace at this level. Winter is clearly a little bit of a downtime for biking glasses testing, and I have a tendency to only chuck a set of clear lenses into one thing and go from there. The 100% S3 is normally my go-to, however just lately I’ve been testing the Protect from Spatz and it’s definitely given extra meals for thought for winter testing.
The Protect is Spatz’s first foray into the world of biking glasses, and the model half-arsed it. They’re large and durable, however not like most premium glasses that normally both include only a clear lens or no spare in any respect, these include a photochromic choice to complement the primary solar lens.
Often, photochromics don’t do it for me; I discover they will’t react quick sufficient to speedy gentle modifications, and in precise daylight, they will’t match a devoted solar lens. Testing the Protect although they actually got here into their very own on overcast days, making them a first-rate possibility for spring and autumn rides.
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You’ll be able to have any color body you want so long as it is clear, clear plastic.(Picture credit score: Will Jones)
The hinges are tremendous sturdy and chunky.(Picture credit score: Will Jones)
The Protect glasses are so large the arms need to kink again in to grip the pinnacle.(Picture credit score: Will Jones)
Design and aesthetics
The protect is up there with the largest of all of the biking glasses I’ve examined. It’s not fairly as large because the POC Devour, however it ain’t far off. The frames, obtainable solely in clear gray, are chunky and angular, and the hinges too are a load thicker than anything. It’s not a lot the peak that makes them look massive, however the width too. The POC Aspire is an excellent large set of glasses, however the Protect is a full centimetre wider. Such is the width that the arms need to kink inwards by 1cm on both arm to cut back the width on the head.
The principle lens gives up a blue base tint with a crimson iridescent outer coating to cut back the sunshine transmission, however within the field, you additionally get a photochromic lens. This has a slight purple tint to it, which in actually low gentle is harking back to my blue-light blocking studying glasses, and makes issues really feel hotter, in distinction to the blue forged of the primary lens. You too can buy a blue lens, a transparent lens, and a prescription lens insert must you want imaginative and prescient correction.
Each lenses are vented, with a decently sized cutout at every nook, and whereas the forehead of the body is thick, rising barely to the center, the centre has a cutout in it which I presume is to encourage venting ought to the body sit flush in opposition to the brim of your helmet.
The arm grippers are respectable sufficient, although not essentially the most cheesy. The arms hug the pinnacle nicely although, and haven’t got ear hooks as is turning into the usual. The nosepiece might be swapped, and two sizes can be found out of the field. As will turn into related later the nosepiece itself can also be deeper than most.
So, mega massive lens, respectable aesthetics, spares within the field. All wanting good up to now, and straight out of the trendy biking glasses playbook. Are they any good whereas driving although?
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As you’ll be able to see, there is not a lot wiggle room between glasses and helmet.(Picture credit score: Will Jones)
The hinges are chunky sufficient to be in peril of additionally fouling on helmets.(Picture credit score: Will Jones)
Should you do not thoughts the tight tolerances, the protection on provide is exceptional.(Picture credit score: Will Jones)
It is solely while you put them on and not using a helmet although you could actually respect the scale.(Picture credit score: Will Jones)
Efficiency
The principle lens is okay. It’s adequate in full solar and performs OK in low gentle however it’s definitely not going to bother the large gamers just like the POC Readability lenses or the Oakley Prizm vary for efficiency. The photochromic lens although is great, and from my standpoint, you need to most likely consider these as a photochromic set of glasses. Swapping the lens, by the way, is simple sufficient. The sturdy frames don’t make it essentially the most simple, however the lenses just do come out. One factor to concentrate on is in case you’re pushing the glasses again up your face or into your helmet vents it’s finest to push the frames as you’ll be able to pop one aspect of the lens out in case you push it.
The photochromic lens nonetheless is great. The purple hue does go some method to making issues really feel just a little hotter, however greater than that it appears to extend the distinction a contact, one thing that’s usually missing in ‘plain’ photochromics. In low gentle, this can be a profit. The lenses go surprisingly darkish even beneath heavy clouds, however I solely actually seen this wanting again at footage; on the time I really assumed they have been primarily nonetheless clear.
The dimensions of the Protect glasses does lend them nicely to winter use – extra protection means much less rain hitting your face. What the images don’t present you is that they really sit noticeably additional out of your face than most different biking glasses, and so there may be vital airflow in behind them. It’s not fairly sufficient to turn into bothersome like it’s with the Oakley Kato, however it does imply they resist fogging very nicely.
It’s really feels akin to viewing the world by way of a windscreen. The little additional distance means you do really feel you’re looking by way of a pane, slightly than merely wanting, however as ever with the qualms I’ve with respectable glasses it’s solely actually after I focus on it.
I do not need an enormous head, however I did usually discover the Protect began to foul on the forehead of my helmet. I couldn’t really put on them in any respect with the Trek Ballista, so in case you are a small-headed individual then I might counsel these aren’t for you. This brow-bouncing, coupled with the very fact the nosepiece isn’t that squishy, meant I felt some discomfort on the bridge of the nostril after average driving occasions.
The photochromic lens has a purple-blue coating which helps enhance the distinction in overcast situations. (Picture credit score: Will Jones)
Worth
Within the context of recent biking glasses, the RRP of the Spatz Protect (£164.99 or approx. $207) may be very affordable. It’s in regards to the excessive finish of mid-range, and for that, you get rather a lot within the field, and construct high quality that’s among the many perfect in the marketplace.
Given the flexibility supplied by the combo of the solar lens and an honest photochromic, you’re mainly coated for each eventuality, so I do suppose these signify respectable worth.
The principle lens is okay, however the photochromic possibility is de facto the star of the present. (Picture credit score: Will Jones)
Verdict
In order for you a photochromic set of biking glasses then these are about pretty much as good as you’ll doubtless discover. They aren’t pretty much as good within the solar as others, and the scale really begins to deliver some drawbacks, however as a primary foray, they’re wonderful, significantly in winter.
I’ve stopped in need of recommending them as one of the best biking glasses for winter as I tended to succeed in for my 100% S3 with a transparent lens, which sat nearer to my eyes felt extra protecting, and was extra comfy too, however it was a detailed run factor.
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Testing scorecard and notes
Attributes
Notes
Ranking
Design and aesthetics
Good wanting, nicely thought-about vents, however no actual color choice
9/10
Visual field
They’re so massive you may barely discover the chunky frames
10/10
Lens efficiency
The principle lens is just a little lacklustre, however the photochromic possibility makes up for it by being wonderful
8/10
Consolation and retention
They held on nicely sufficient however the nostril was just a little uncomfy
7/10
Worth for cash
You may be coated for all gentle situations, and with the superb construct high quality these are a superb purchase
