Julbo Aerospeed photochromic sunglasses

The Julbo Aerospeed photochromic sunglasses are a sophisticated and very well-made set of sports glasses. The lenses automatically adjust to changing light and offer CAT 1-3 ratings for ultra-violet protection. Better still, should a lens, arm or similar component break, replacements are readily available. I don't like triple lens systems, so they've delivered in every respect through a wide range of riding conditions.

Pros: Superb optics, extremely comfortable
Cons: Price tag to match

Specification

The lenses are made from NXT, a kind of plastic originally developed for helicopter windscreens. It has several properties that sound ideal for glasses. Aside from being lightweight and shatterproof (which goes for polycarbonate), it has the lowest distortion of any plastic so there's no bending of light or warped vision. Now, this comes with a cost implication, since the lens is cast, and so takes longer to produce than an injected type.

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I'm told the reactive element is a dye, produced to Julbo's standards. This is activated by ultra-violet light and will steadily darken, from clear to a dark shade, in around 15 seconds. This is also cast into the lens, so cannot scratch, or otherwise deteriorate. From a performance perspective, it's reckoned to react further and faster than anything else presently on the market.

The other features are pretty much what you'd expect from high-end sports sunglasses. The inside and outsides feature anti-fogging and water-repelling (hydrophobic) treatments and the frame is made from Rilsan G85 polyamide and features silicone grippers for a secure, unobtrusive fit. There is also a standard version available for £75.

Fit

To some extent, technology is only one factor. If a pair of glasses doesn't fit properly, its technology and performance benefits are academic. For these reasons, I'd always recommend trying a few pairs, rather than simply adding to cart. The Julbo Aerospeeds have sat perfectly at all points, gently caressing my nose ears and head. I've had no problems with my eyelashes scraping the lenses, or other discomfort, even after 8-10 hours continuous wear.

I do a fair bit of mixed terrain riding and even when tackling dirt roads at 20-25mph. the frames have held steady. I haven't needed to slide them back into position, which extends their usefulness to mountain biking, cross and gravel riding, and rough stuff touring.

The wraparound design seals out annoying, sometimes painful wind blast, bugs, dust and mud or anything else that would impair comfort and vision were it to sneak past.

Performance

I was expecting something special for this price and for the most part, they've delivered. For the most part, you ask? Well, during our formative snowy rides, with the temperature in minus figures I'd donned my Northwave Balaclava. With this drawn up to my nose, I noticed some misting under moderate effort. Exposing my nose proved an immediate cure. Response to changing light is extremely subtle, as you'd hope, but very prompt. I've worn them on night rides with no problems either.

More importantly, the lenses respond in sync with my pupils. Really intense, low sun left my pupils struggling for a few seconds, so the change doesn't happen at quite the pace you get from, say, modern, self-actuating welder's dark shields but the same goes for others in my collection, including these Uvex Gravity Zero glasses, which are still going strong almost eight years on.

At the other extreme, during some extremely heavy rain of the sort that taxes car windscreen wipers, the lenses' hydrophobic properties saw water, sleet and slush slither away, leaving me to concentrate on a decent tempo and conditions ahead.

The lenses have taken a few direct hits, protecting my own from stones, flints and glass. Despite considerable force, they remain completely unscathed and the reactive component is doing its thing impeccably.

Similarly, aside from muddy spatter, they also do a decent job of self-cleansing – there's been little hint of water staining or similar residue these past few weeks.

Conclusion

I've been very impressed with the Julbo Aerospeeds and so far they have lived up to the hype very convincingly. No less than I'd expect from this end of the market. Rather like the ten-pound head, ten-pound helmet saying, we only get one pair of eyes, so it pays to protect them.

That said, they are quite an investment. If you are looking for a single pair of glasses that will perform consistently well across the board, these are well worth a closer look. There are several designs, including the Uvex glasses mentioned previously that deliver very good performance for half the outlay. In this respect, they may represent better value for some riders, but if you want something better, the Julbo Aerospeeds command your attention.

Verdict

Premium quality photochromic eye wear but with a price tag to match