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Disclaimer: I received the Rudy Project Fotonyk sunglasses to review as part of being a
BibRave Pro. Learn more
about becoming a BibRave Pro
(Ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review,
find, and write race reviews
I recently reviewed the Rudy Project Sterling helmet
(click
here for my review), which was facilitated through being a BibRave
Pro.
The Sterling is
an extremely safe helmet that is so comfortable you don’t even know it’s
there. I was completely impressed with
my first Rudy
Project product that I reviewed. I just received the Fotonyk
Sunglasses and a trucker hat to test. Just
like the Sterling
helmet, the Fotonyk
is loaded with premium features. Let’s
look at what makes up these sunglasses.
Safety
Rudy
Project wants to make products that will not only be functional, but
will keep you safe. Their helmets and
sunglasses are made to protect you when you take a spill. What good are sunglasses that look good, but
the temple piece will break off in a crash and cause serious injury? Rudy Project integrates its hinges and uses
soft, thermoplastic elastomers to protect you, even in the worst crashes.
Ventilation/Anti-fog
It is never good when you are running or
cycling and your glasses fog up. Fogging
up could result in hitting a pothole or tripping over a crack in the road. Rudy Project uses their trademarked Vent Controller that allows air
flow through strategic points in the lens.
This reduces thermal shock, which in-turn reduces fogging. I had absolutely no issues with fogging.
Customizable
The Fotonyk shades have bumpers that are made from colorful
rubber inserts that not only protect you from the edge of the lens, but looks
great too. There are four different colored
bumpers (black, white, orange flou, and lime) that you can choose from and they
are easy to switch. You can also swap
out the interchangeable lenses, which is also really easy to do. You can get a smoke black, multilaser blue,
or multilaser orange lens to swap out.
These are in addition to the lenses that come with your purchase.
Photocromatic
lens
I got the Fotonyk Black Matte ImpactX with Photocromatic
2 Black lenses. They are clear in low
light situations, but adjust to black in direct sunlight. The cool thing is that even when the lenses
are at their darkest, visibility is crystal clear. I love these for my early morning runs that start
in the dark as well as mid-day, sunny runs and rides. The light transmittal ranges from 9% to 74%,
which is the biggest range I have seen in a photocromatic lens.
Adjustable
Design
Everybody has differently shaped
faces. Rudy Project does a great
job of making shades that will fit different face shapes by utilizing
adjustable nose pieces. You can adjust
the glasses’ height as well as their distance from your face which will help
provide a completely personalized fit. I
love the way these feel, like they were designed for me.
Frame
Build
The frame uses Rudy’s Grilamid material,
which is a shock-resistant, hypoallergenic thermoplastic, which has several
great characteristics. They are light,
stable, flexible and extremely durable.
That makes for a very safe and comfortable set of shades.
Sunglass
Case
This is one of my favorite
features. Usually you get a bag or hard
case for your sunglasses, but Rudy Project has something I like better. Their “Sport Protector” is a cover that goes
over the lenses and has a Velcro enclosure.
It is very simple, but extremely effective in protecting your
sunglasses. I love it!
Analysis
and Conclusion
I have tested these on my bike rides,
early morning runs, and even in the middle of the day. I never had issues with the sun being too
bright in the middle of the day. I could
wear them in the dark without having visibility issues and never had any
fogging issues. The Fotonyk is great because it is customizable
and is super light. I have a hard time
finding sunglasses that look good on me, but I love the way these look and
feel. I would highly recommend them.
Right now, you can subscribe to get
special promotions from Rudy Project
and get 25% off your first purchase. Click here
to sign up and get the discount. That
will drop the price from $199.99 (regular price) to around $150. When you buy at the Rudy Project website you get free 2-way shipping, a low price guarantee,
and a 90-day return policy. You have a
full 90 days to return your unused sunglasses for a full refund.
Pros:
Looks awesome with the bright customizable
bumpers and lenses.
Light weight (under 1 ounce)
Anti-Fog Vents
Made to protect you during spills
Awesome fit
Rudy Project’s Social Media Links:
In the world of running and cycling,
there are tons of products to choose from.
There are several companies who claim to have the best products. I have been extremely impressed with Rudy Project and can’t wait to see what else they have to offer. From the fit to the
style, you really can’t go wrong with their helmets or sunglasses. Give them a try and let me know what you
think.
