Self-tinting sunglasses haven't just been around since yesterday. But the systems are often slow. This may be sufficient for jogging or cycling in the open countryside, when a few clouds are lazily pushed in front of the bright sun. However, such self-tinting systems are often unsuitable for rapidly changing light conditions, for example when biking in the forest. What makes the glasses from the Swiss label React different? They are said to be characterised by an extremely fast reaction time and do not require a battery, but are powered independently by solar energy.
Technology comes from welding helmets
React is part of the Swiss company Optrel. Since 1986, the Wattwil-based company has made a name for itself as a pioneer of auto-darkening welding helmets for the industrial and medical sectors. In 2022, Optrel launched the React brand to transfer the technology to the sports eyewear market. The Swiss company's unique selling point is its "Shadetronic" technology, which ensures that the lenses adapt to changing light conditions in a fraction of a second. According to the manufacturer, the lenses react to changes in light in just a tenth of a second. How? By automatically brightening or darkening the integrated liquid crystal display. The technology behind it: A solar chip inserted in the nose clip reacts to the infrared radiation in sunlight. A liquid crystal cell is attached to the inside of the glasses, which is aligned by electrical voltage from the solar cells. Depending on the alignment, sometimes more and sometimes less sunlight is filtered out. This brightens or darkens the glasses depending on the ambient conditions. With this sensor technology, the glasses are supposed to change their tint independently and continuously at lightning speed. The tint ranges from medium to very dark, from protection class 2 to 4 (like glacier goggles).
High-tech has its price
For the time being, there are two models of glasses available in many different colour styles: the Rev with fully rimmed lenses and the Optray with no rim at the bottom. Both models are extremely light: the frame of the Rev weighs just 24 grams, that of the Optray just 18 grams. The complete Optray weighs 36 grams.
Manufacturer information on React Rev & React Optray
- Shadetronic technology
- Response time 0.1 seconds
- Weight 36 grams (Optray)
- Rev in six, Optray in five colour styles
- Protection against UVA, UVB and UVC rays up to 400 nm
- Price: 329 euros (Rev) or 289 euros (Optray)
Exclusive technology has its price, and that price is steep. The full-rimmed Rev costs 329 euros, the super-light Optray 289 euros. Each pair of glasses is said to be handmade in Switzerland. Those with defective vision can also order the matching correction clip for optical lenses for 39 euros.
React sports eyewear is now available in Germany for the first time from specialist retailers. We were already impressed by the technology itself last year. The React Rev, which appears to be identical in construction Ekoi E-Lens glasses tested by us with super-fast darkening in real time. The sports glasses Eyerex eShades E1 works according to the same principle.
Josh Welz
Editor-in-Chief
