Everysight promise a "ride experience unlike anything else" using the Raptor glasses, with the Augmented Reality providing real-time data in front of you while you ride.
Garmin's new Varia Vision provides heads-up performance
Oakley partner with Intel for Radar Pace eyewear
They're certainly not the first pair of smart shades we've seen, with Garmin's Varia Vision, Oakley's Radar Pace and the Recon Jets all receiving mixed feedback from reviewers and customers. Everysight are promising a clearer display and more viewable data than their competitors, with the Patented Beam tech providing a sharp, semi-transparent display that can show your heart rate, cadence, speed, distance and power at all times. They've got Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity, GPS and GLONASS built in to ensure no drop-outs during navigation, and you get 8 hours of run time from a single charge.
Everysight say the semi-transparent display is actually safer than relying on looking down at a head unit when riding in traffic or on technical sections - it also gives message and call notifications from your phone, useful for those who may be tempted to try to grab their phone from a back pocket.
You can even use voice commands to alter the settings, or swipe and tap on the touch pad located on the right temple of the glasses (alternatively they also sell a handlebar controller separately) and there's a companion Raptor app to share all your data through Strava and social media. A built-in HD camera can also capture images and short videos, useful for any Relive fanatics.
The Raptors will come in three colours (black, black and green or white and blue) and are priced at €749 for 16GB versions and €809 for 32GB. Everysight are also running a special 'invitational' promotional price for early pre-orders of €579 for the 16GB and €639 for the 32GB - UK customers can register and will receive the invitations in January 2018, with the Raptors shipping out in April '18. Everysight will also sell accessories on top such as a handlebar control system, tinted visors and RX frames.
For more info, head over to Everysight's website.
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10 comments
Surely this is the future. Will be really odd in 10 year's time to think we'd look down at a tiny rain covered display on a separate box to see something you could have effortlessly in front of you. What possible advantages are there for head units?
In the here and now though, the big issues against are cost, weight and bulkiness so why would these guys include a built in camera? Might not add massively to those things but can't help.
What's the hardest part of cycling for you? If you're like me, it's glancing at your computer; I might look at it as many as six or seven times in a 90km ride! It takes me perhaps a quarter of a second each time - that adds up to almost two seconds per ride. Who has that kind of time to waste? Life is short.
Not to mention, I veer wildly all over the road when I glance at my speed, or my speed drops considerably in that quarter of a second. If only I could do two things at once!
Jet pilots and race drivers might need a HUD, because they are moving at great speeds, cyclists riding at 30 kmph do not.
Once again technology rescues those not in distress, and answers a question nobody asked.
Where will this nonsense end, for fuck's sake?
When we've consumed all of the available resources globally in order to satisfy the constant, idiotic, unsustainable need for growth.
I love the idea of a HUD and it's good to see someone doing one with the sort of battery life they need (8 hours for these according to the blurb).
Someone has to be the first to get it right before it'll get cheap enough for the likes of me and this is probably the first that doesn't fail immediately on battery so good luck to them.
At that price it would be a very risky purchase for me, given my ability to scratch, damage, and/ or lose specs. Photochromic lenses to extend versatility would have been good for those 'in the market'.
Depends - off road it'd be a massive pain, you simply don't need that sort of info on a screen in front of your eyes while trying to negotiate rocks, roots, drops etc but on-road (TTs in particular), it'd be fantastic. Similar to Head Up Display in an aircraft. You don't need it in a single engine prop thing but in a fast jet it's essential.
Don't agree, for one it's not essential at all and won't make an impact performance wise even on a TT (not withstanding any aero benefit of the unit itself) as the head is already down on a TT a lot of the time so will be not moving the head that much anyways.
Integrated data into the stem or even a portable/flexible panel (above the thumb on a glove for instance) would be better, less expensive and less likely to damage/cheaper to replace. You can easily get changeable readouts using voice, buttons or even combination of blinks/eye movements.
If someone thinks it's better, fine, I just don't think it really brings any advantages especially with wafer thin screen tech that can be attached anywhere.
A HUD on an aircraft isn't normally within the helmet IIRC.
Depends on the aircraft - Apache helicopters, for example, use a monacle display attached to the helmet.
I've used these Raptor sunglasses, in sunny conditions, in Utah. They are very good. I was most impressed with the turn-by-turn map graphic. It could be used off-road but probably best for on-road use.
The only bike I now have a computer on regularly is my daily, it's the same one ive had for well over a decade (Raleigh echo w-1)
For the last year or so I've decided I don't need any data, so similar in a way to the question being asked of pro cycling and power metres I'll just ride the bikes, as hard or as gently as I wish.
I'm enjoying riding fast and hard more, I'm able to sit up and not worry about attaining some figure/target.
I also don't know whether having the data in line of sight all the time semi translucent or not is safer than a quick look down, particularly as one's head is having to be lifted up to see ahead for sporting cyclists.
Good lucj to those getting then, just don't drop them or accidentally leave them behind