Nike Vision Show X2 Pro sunglasses

The Show X2 Pro glasses from Nike are open framed glasses, made for general sport use. We see how they fare on the road bike.

Our test set came in 'Matte Obsidian' - dark blue to the uninitiated - featuring a white Nike tick on the temple and gray grips. These glasses are a more petite shape that seems to suit those with smaller heads. I find glasses often overwhelm my face a little but these fit well. The lenses are smaller than most open-frame glasses but still provide a wide enough covering to adequately shade your field of view. They don't look too silly without a helmet like many cycling glasses and I could see myself using them for other sports.

Both the nose bridge and the ear grips have a bendable metal structure below the rubber grip that can be used to customise the fit. It works well to create the perfect pressure, avoiding any pinch points. Due to this and very grippy thick rubber, the glasses hold extremely well but without any discomfort. I had no problems wearing the glasses for long periods on the bike, nor did I suffer from any fogging.

The Nikes come with two pairs of lenses. The tint changes depending on the colour scheme you buy, with our set including dark gray and 'max outdoor' lenses The latter are a yellow shade to enhance contrast in lower light. It still has quite a dark tint to it, so it's not ideal for really overcast days or areas of shade, more for the evening sun.

The lenses are a sensible selection for most road cycling but I'd want something lighter for any other disciplines. Most importantly, they attenuate the sunlight well and provide the clear vision that you'd expect from high quality optics.

Changing lenses is a simple affair: pull the lens down from the outer edge, put the new one in by slotting into the nose bridge and snapping into the top corner - no hinges or sections of plastic to unnervingly flex. When you're not using one set, there's a soft pouch for them so you can pop them in the included hard case.

Conclusion

The Nike Show X2 glasses are a capable set of glasses for road riding but should also suit those looking for a versatile set of sport glasses, for use beyond the bike. The only thing extra I'd want is a set of clear or yellow lenses. From my experience, I'd also recommend them to those who may have trouble finding a set of open frame glasses to suit a smaller head.

Verdict

Capable road cycling eyewear that can be used for other sports too and that fit nicely on smaller heads.