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Glasses
Uvex Sportstyle 104 Glasses Uvex Sportstyle 104 Glasses Uvex Sportstyle 104 Glasses Uvex Sportstyle 104 Glasses
Uvex Sportstyle 104 Glasses

Uvex Sportstyle 104 Glasses

8
by David Arthur @davearthur
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Mar 31, 2014

3
£89.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Smart and comfortable cycling glasses with interchangeable lenses to suit different conditions
Weight: 
0g
Contact: 
www.uvex-sports.com
How we test

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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I wear contact lenses so always wear cycling glasses when riding my bike, to stop stray objects like grit or bugs finding their way into my eyes. They also stop your eyes watering so much as well, and reduce eye tiredness on longer rides. These Uvex Sportstyle 104 glasses are comfortable with a very good fit and the three lenses (clear, yellow and tinted) cover the full spectrum of riding conditions.

I've been using the clear lenses most recently, as the majority of my rides either see me starting before sunrise or riding into the dark of the evening. When it comes to riding in daylight, the contrast-boosting yellow lens is ideal for gloomy cloudy days. And if the sun makes an appearance, the tinted lens is a good option, cutting out just enough of the brightness without making things too dark.

Changing lenses involves pulling a small flap above the nose bridge out, which releases the lens from the frame. The instructions don't make it very clear and I initially struggled to remove the lens, simply because it wasn't clear how to operate the release mechanism. Once you're familiar with it removing lenses is at least easier than many glasses that involve twisting and flexing the frame and/or lens.

The lenses are coated with Uvex's own 'supravision' treatment, which prevents moisture from building up on the lenses. Small holes, or vents, at the top of the lens helps prevent them steaming up. They also provide 100% UV protection.

You get a hard case to keep the glasses in, and there's a soft bag in there that doubles as lens cleaner. There's also an optional brow sweat pad that can be clipped to the top of the frame, but I found this just added unnecessary bulk and weight, and didn't really prove that effective at keeping sweat from running down the lens anyway.

On the face the glasses fit really well. The soft nose piece can be adjusted to suit nose sizes. The glasses look good with a rather generic design similar to many other cycling-specific glasses.

Different colours are available. I tested the green ones which didn't match any of my cycling kit, but that aside I rather liked them.

Uvex sponsor Team Giant-Shimano this season and you'll see the team using these shades and many of the other styles in their range, along with their helmets too.

Verdict

Smart and comfortable cycling glasses with interchangeable lenses to suit different conditions.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Uvex Sportstyle 104 Glasses

Size tested: black mat green

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Scratchproof outer lens, fog-free inner lens – That is supravision® by uvex. It even gets better: With its flexible soft earpiece ends and nose pads, uvex sportsstyle 104 offers a non-slip fit, pressure-free hold and, most importantly, perfect fit. To guarantee a fog-free vision, it comes along with draft-free lens ventilation. 100% UV-protection guaranteed.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

interchangeable lens construction

direct frame ventilation

adjustable. cold formable

adaptable soft nose pads

soft earpieces

removable sweat blocker

optional optical insert

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Really good performance, doing everything you'd expect from a pair of cycling glasses. The three lenses caters for most light conditions.

Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10

They have a sturdy, well built feel.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
9/10

You don't notice them on your face after a few minutes, the shape is good, there isn't too much pressure from the arms, and the nose piece is adjustable.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

There are cheaper glasses with three lens options available, it's certainly a competitive market and there's a lot of choices to suit all budgets.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Ideal for year-round cycling.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Good coverage and protection from the lenses, and comfortable on the head.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Instructions lack clarity for removing lenses, once you know how to do that though it's just fine.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 31  Height: 180  Weight: 67

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, mtb,

 

Uvex Sportstyle 104 Glasses
uvex
David Arthur @davearthur

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes. 

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3 comments

Avatar
bikebot | 10 years ago
0 likes

Safety glasses are also the cheapest option for those of us without perfect vision. You can find bifocals with a reading lens area for around £10. That's fine for me and means I can read my Garmin, or check a map without changing glasses.

Avatar
IngloriousLou | 10 years ago
0 likes

At this time of year I wear a £2.99 pair of dewalt safety specs.
They're as tough as boots, I don't care if I lose them and they're probably stronger than any cycling specific glasses. Win, win, win.

Avatar
levermonkey | 10 years ago
0 likes

Uvex have an excellent reputation in the field of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) of which eye-wear is a part.

If your budget can't stretch to these sports safety glasses you do have the option of looking at their industrial safety-glasses/eye-wear. Don't get me wrong you will not get all the sports related and specific bells and whistles but they are still worth a look.

Trust me, the average person will not be able to tell the difference. The reasons for wearing safety glasses whilst cycling are pretty much the same as the reasons for wearing safety glasses on site.

However you do get what you pay for by and large.

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