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As a test editor, you’re constantly tempted. At the height of the season, your postbox is practically overflowing with new products. A new pair of trousers here. An innovative saddle there. Why not give our new trail shoes a go? Or perhaps you’re in need of a new pair of glasses?
Of course, curiosity usually gets the better of me. New products are exciting. And in a way, new products are also part of my job. However, once testing is complete, most of the items are sent back to the manufacturers – or find their way to our car boot sale at the BIKE Festival in Willingen, where discarded test products find a new owner – at a low price and for a good cause.
There are very few real highlights
However, very few products actually make it into my personal collection of cycling accessories. One such item for me is the Julbo Edge Reactiv photochromic sunglasses.
Why? Well, I’m not a fan of interchangeable lenses, nor do I need the perfectly matched filter class for every lighting condition. I want a pair of glasses that work anytime, anywhere – and the Julbo Edge is exactly that.
The lenses: photochromic and contrast-enhancing
One of the highlights of the Edge is its photochromic lenses. With a range from category 0 to 3, they work just as well in the glare of the summer sun as they do in the late twilight. What’s more, the Reactiv lens doesn’t simply fade to a dull grey; its reddish tint actually enhances the contrasts in the forest – perfect. Very few sports sunglasses offer such a wide range of uses.
Julbo Edge sports glasses – lightweight and comfortable
Another plus is the large panoramic lens, which offers a particularly wide field of vision. Although there is a slim, semi-transparent frame behind it, this is hardly noticeable in the field of vision. Weighing in at 24 grams, the Edge is also one of the lighter models of its kind. What’s more, the rubberised nose pads can be adjusted precisely, and the fixed temple tips – which are also rubberised – ensure a secure fit, even when the trail gets particularly rough.
Highlight: Panoramic window with magnetic system
The Edge’s standout feature is its MagneFix magnetic technology. This means the lens is held in place on the frame by magnets and can be swapped for a replacement lens in the blink of an eye. But the really clever bit is actually something else entirely: to clean it, you can simply remove the lens and hold it under running, clear water – or, when out and about, even dip it into a cattle trough. How handy is that, then!?
Unfortunately, it was precisely this feature that recently proved my undoing. A kamikaze insect had plunged between my helmet and goggles at full speed and stung me nastily on the forehead. When I reflexively tried to brush the little creature off my face, I must have wrenched the lens out of its mount as well. It wasn’t until ten kilometres and countless flies in my eye later that I realised I’d lost it whilst stopped at a traffic light. Bloody hell. Now I’ll unfortunately have to get hold of a replacement lens after all. But after a good three years of constant use, the Reactiv lens had already taken quite a bit of a beating – even though its durability is otherwise beyond reproach.
Julbo Edge Reactiv – Information & Price
- Reactiv photochromic lenses
- Light protection category 0–3
- MagneFix magnetic technology for quick glass replacement
- Wide panoramic field of view
- Effective window ventilation to prevent misting
- Adjustable nose pad
- Grip-Tech brackets for a secure hold
- Compatible with an optical clip
- Weight: 24 g
- Price: 239.90 euros (Reactiv version) >> available here
Stefan Frey
Editor
