The Tifosi name has become synonymous with “high-performance sunglasses at an affordable price,” and their Duro glasses are no exception to this mantra.
Specs
The Duro glasses, weighing in at 32 grams, are a squarish, full-framed pair of glasses that feature casual styling, yet quality performance features. The frames are “made of Grilamid TR-90, a homopolyamide nylon characterized by an extremely high alternative bending strength, low density, and high resistance to chemical and UV damage,” according to Tifosi. These glasses guarantee a near-perfect fit thanks to adjustable arms and nose pieces, with an overall size of large/medium. Folks with small faces, unfortunately, need to look elsewhere.
My version of the Duro came with smoke-colored frames, Clarion Blue reflective lenses for bright conditions, AC Red rose-colored lenses for cloudy conditions and flat light, and clear lenses for night riding. All of these lenses are “decentered shatterproof polycarbonate lenses [that] virtually eliminate distortion, [and] give sharp peripheral vision,” according to Tifosi. They also feature vents to prevent against fogging, and are highly durable and scratch-resistant. Click here for more on Tifosi lens technology.
Out on the Trail
I took to the Duro glasses very naturally. The light weight, solid coverage, and sporty features combine with a rather casual styling quite nicely. But don’t get confused: these are performance glasses through and through. Since I picked them up at Interbike in September, I’ve ridden well over a thousand miles with these on my face.
These glasses have meshed superbly with all of the helmets I’ve tried them with. Thanks to the relatively thin arms, they’ve worked both under and over helmet straps (whichever makes the most sense, depending on the helmet).
The Duros have proven to be very durable: I’ve taken numerous tumbles with these on, dropped them on the ground countless times, almost sat on them… but they still keep trucking! The only issue I’ve had is a very faint scratch on the lenses from when I dropped them face-first on the ground–definitely not the glasses fault. In fact, I was surprised at how small the scratch was: I expected it to be bigger! These have definitely stood the test of time.
Probably my favorite feature is the ease of lens swaps. With many glasses, swapping lens requires a secret trick or a little lever you have to trip, or you have to tug on the lens in a specific direction. Not so with the Duros! Simply push straight out on the lenses to pop them out, and shove the new lenses straight back into the frames. When it comes to technology, and most things I suppose, I’m like a bull in a china shop… but a bull-in-a-china-shop approach is exactly how these lenses are exchanged out! Despite a seemingly violent transition, I’ve had no issues with lenses breaking or cracking, or with with damage or wear the frames.
I have really appreciated the array of different lens tints, and have used them to the full. For classic, sunny, Colorado conditions, the Clarion Blue can’t be beat. There’s also a tangible benefit of looking pretty BA, thanks to the awesome lens reflection. On occasions when it does get cloudy, however, the AC Red lenses are perfect for adding a touch of dimension back into the surroundings. And being able to switch to clear in a high-performance pair of shades for night riding? Convenient, and exceedingly functional!
Bottom Line
The Tifosi Duros are as at home under a helmet on the mountain bike trail as they are under a hat, in the truck, on the way to the trail. Thanks to the three different sets of lenses, this one pair of durable shades can be your one-stop-shop for all of your glasses needs, and at a price that will leave plenty of cash for other, more important bike upgrades!
MSRP: $69.95
Thanks to Tifosi for sending the Duro Glasses over for review.
