NRC X1 RR Blackshadow glasses

The NRC X1RR Blackshadow glasses certainly look the business with their gold details and lenses, and thankfully they deliver top drawer performance and comfort too.

Really good sunglasses are a must for any cyclist, and while you can go down the cheap and cheerful supermarket specials or safety-glass routes to protect your eyes, you aren't going to get the kind of clarity and perfect field of vision that you get here.

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The X1RR is the 'Race Ready' version of NRC's X1, with the biggest change being the removal of the frame piece that sat at the top middle of the lens, and the gold colour coated brown lens.

Removing the top frame clip has left the lens with a slight cutout at the top of the nose. NRC says this has increased ventilation and reduces fogging up. Now, I haven't tried the standard X1 to know if there is an improvement here, but what I will say is that the RRs didn't get steamed up once, even in the rain.

The reason behind the gold over brown lens colouring instead of the usual grey base colour is, according to NRC, because: 'Several research shows that colours related to higher wavelength vibrations, such as red, improve both blood flow and muscular strength. The confluence of a specific concentration of red inside the brown lens makes this model perfect for speed competitions and for top six hours performance.'

And does it? No idea. I certainly couldn't detect any benefits from wearing them for long or short rides whatsoever. But what I can say is that the lens colour is great, giving a boost to low light conditions like a yellow lens that you'd use in the rain but without being overwhelmed when the sun is at its brightest.

The lens is made by Zeiss and it has done a very good job as I couldn't find a single flaw in them. There is no loss of sharpness, wherever you move your eyes, and thanks to having no actual frame your field of vision is completely unobstructed, allowing you to see everything that is happening in front and to the side of you.

Fit is another tick in the box, with the arms offering plenty enough grip without applying too much pressure to the sides of your head, plus those rubber NRC logos can be removed to aid ventilation. The nosepiece is adjustable too.

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The only real issue I have with the Blackshadows is that they sit very close to your face, so any sweat that runs down your forehead and doesn't drip away can run straight down inside the lens. It doesn't happen often, as your head is usually tilted when on the bike, but if it does it can affect your vision.

For the £109.99 asking price you get a lifetime warranty and a pair of glasses that weigh 32g on our scales, which is about the norm for a pair of performance glasses.

Price-wise they stack up well against some other favourites of mine, such as the Rudy Project Fotonyk, and while we've tested a lot around the £75 to £100 mark that are good, the almost flawless performance of the X1RRs means they still offer decent value for money.

Verdict

Stunning optics and comfort mean the X1RR shades can back up their bling