The Rudy Undertaking Spinshield Air. All images: iRunFar/Christin Randall
I’ve spent greater than a decade of my working profession making an attempt to shoehorn large, shield-style sun shades designed for cyclists right into a usable resolution for our a lot slower and fewer wind-producing sport, and the Rudy Undertaking Spinshield Air ($165 to $220, $220 as examined) is the most effective I’ve discovered.
In apply, biking sun shades can create a few points for runners: Sweat on a runner’s brow isn’t as simply transferred away because the evaporative impact of wind isn’t as sturdy as when on a motorbike, and the top motion of working could cause the body to slide down the nostril. These sun shades appear to alleviate these points for runners, and it’s due to a couple components: distinctive air flow, the relative weightlessness of the frames and lens, which weigh 26 grams (0.80 ounces), and the tremendous sticky nostril bridge.
Aesthetically, I’m a bigger-is-better particular person with regards to sun shades, and I merely just like the look of an enormous pair of frames, so I used to be enthusiastic about this feature. Even with the massive shield-style lens measurement, there’s sufficient air flow to keep up airflow to your face. If you add the photochromic excellence and the construct high quality for the price, Rudy Undertaking has created a pair of sun shades that give runners the cool look of an outsized body and an edge in any gentle situation.
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Rudy Undertaking Spinshield Air Match
The Rudy Undertaking Spinshield Air makes use of a pair of design components which are important to creating them great-fitting sun shades.
First is the very efficient non-slip compression match of the body, which makes use of safe wraparound geometry that isn’t too tight. The ear and nostril ergo-grip rubber items keep excellent adhesion even when moist with sweat.
Second is the dearth of options which are typically solely discovered on sun shades made for biking. Biking sun shades are inclined to have further width across the temple to accommodate helmet straps, after which further curve on the ear to forestall slippage. The Spinshield Air does away with each of those options, which makes it completely suited to a runner’s movement.
As a bonus, it makes use of much less materials for the body and is thus lighter. Since carrying a working hat doesn’t have an effect on the match or the best way the glasses sit in your face or towards your ears, this lack of body form doesn’t make any efficiency distinction. One does have to contemplate the lowered air flow attributable to carrying a hat, as there’s little or no room in your brow for airflow.
Rudy Undertaking Spinshield Air Photochromic Lens
A aspect view of the Rudy Undertaking Spinshield Air sun shades.
The Rudy Undertaking Spinshield Air is accessible with photochromic and non-photochromic lens choices, with a $30 worth distinction between the 2. For a lot of runners, it may be onerous to return to regular sun shades as soon as they’ve skilled the comfort of photochromic lenses, and the additional value is justified.
The transitioning photochromic lens on these sun shades finds a great compromise: They’re neither too darkish in brilliant gentle nor too muddled in flat gentle, starting from 13% to 62% gentle transmission, which equates to a Class 0 to three lens.* Plus, the transition between the 2 is quick and implausible. I’ve examined loads of different glasses that haven’t dealt with this transition as easily.
One other photochromic pair of sun shades I’ve used, the Dynafit Sky Evo, could make it really feel just like the lights have been turned out by turning a extremely sunny day right into a disorienting darkish expertise. I acknowledge that these sun shades are made intently to darken particularly brilliant circumstances, like glacier journey or desert use. They permit solely 3% to eight% gentle transmission, which is within the Class 4 vary.
The closest companion to the Rudy Undertaking Spinshield Air’s lens is the Julbo Fury with the 0-3 Reactiv lens possibility. It, too, is a quick-transitioning lens that spans Classes 1 to three for gentle transmission. Nevertheless, the Fury lacks the full-coverage safety and styling of the Spinshield Air.
A part of what makes Rudy Undertaking’s photochromic expertise distinctive is the pliability and form of the lens — it might nearly bend in half when manipulated together with your fingers. Evidently, this curve helps the lens make the most of photochromic particles. Photochromic lenses take advantage of sense within the winter and spring when runs usually tend to go from lightness to darkness, or the opposite method round, and this has been the majority of my testing window. I examined the ImpactX Photochromic 2 Laser Black lens, which transitions from clear to the suitable tint in seconds. In brilliant solar, they flip from clear to darkish black almost instantly.
*Sunglass lenses are sometimes categorized on a scale of 0 to 4, with Class 0 being largely clear at 80-100% seen gentle transmission (VLT), Class 1 at 46-79% VLT, Class 2 at 18-45% VLT, Class 3 at 8-17% VLT, and Class 4 because the darkest at 3-8% VLT.
Rudy Undertaking Spinshield Air Weight
One other view of the Rudy Undertaking Spinshield Air.
If you placed on these 26-gram (0.80-ounce) sun shades, you’ll instantly discover the place the “air” within the Rudy Undertaking Spinshield Air is derived. This can be a markedly decrease weight than the glasses I’ve talked about beforehand, typically by about half an oz..
It’s gentle sufficient to realize the oft-repeated advertising tagline, “You’ll overlook you’re carrying them.” Right here, you really do! Though it’s one gram heavier than the Julbo Fury, it has a a lot larger lens and thus offers way more protection. The Dynafit Sky Evo has a good larger lens however is noticeably heavier at 46 grams.
Rudy Undertaking Spinshield Air Total Impressions
Larger, cycling-inspired sun shades are fashionable with path runners proper now, and the Rudy Undertaking Spinshield Air is a really sensible possibility. It combines a excessive degree of safety with out sacrificing breathability. The prevalence of the photochromic lens efficiency renders carrying round a number of lenses a factor of the previous, and the disappearing, light-weight really feel gives no distraction.
Merely put, these are the most effective biking sun shades I’ve discovered that additionally meet the particular wants of path runners.
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