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review

Lazer Magneto M1 Glasses crystal clear frame crystal photochromic lens

8
£99.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Really innovative glasses, and the photochromic lens works perfectly
Weight: 
39g

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Possibly one of the most innovative designs available today, the Lazer Magneto M1 glasses, with a crystal clear frame and photochromic lens, have a unique attachment system using magnets that makes them very comfortable over long rides, as well as easily stowable, while the lens makes them useful in almost any condition.

One problem I get with almost any pair of glasses I use is that the mixture of sweat and movement makes them uncomfortable on the top of your ears and nose. Lazer has clearly noticed this too and come up with the Magneto M1s to combat this.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy these online here

Rather than using traditional arms (although they do come with a set in case you want to use them), they have magnets that attach to clips on your helmet straps. This means they stay in place without putting pressure on the tops of your ears, making them comfortable and secure even on the longest rides. The magnets are strong, too, so you don't get as much movement as you might expect, and they are comparable to traditional glasses in this sense.

Lazer Magneto M1 Glasses Magnet

As well as helping to alleviate pressure, this magnetised fixing system also allows for easy adjustment on the face. With two magnets on each arm, it is possible to put them closer or further away from your face – it's much easier than with traditional glasses, which will always naturally fall back into place because of how they sit on your ears.

Lazer Magneto M1 Glasses Side

The magnets also make it easy to stow the glasses on your helmet. Having been an Oakley man for years, I always found that they wouldn't slot into the vents on my Lazer helmet safely. But these come with magnetic pads that you stick on the helmet, which then hold the glasses more securely than just tucking the arms in. I tested their strength on the roughest roads I could find, even some mountain bike tracks, without them budging at all when stowed.

The photochromic lens is very useful, changing colour based on the intensity of the light. When you're indoors they look like a regular set of plain glasses, but get outside and they change colour subtly over time. You don't notice it happening really, until you take them off or suddenly go through a darkened area. In fact at first, riding in our lovely British weather, I thought these were faulty as they barely changed at all, but when there was a break in the clouds I began to notice how much they changed, going from completely clear to a darkness where I couldn't easily see my eyes in a mirror.

Lazer Magneto M1 Glasses lens With Arms

An important aspect of any cycling glasses is their propensity for steaming up. The M1s are essentially unvented, but being able to adjust the distance they sit from your face means that if they are steaming up, you just move them a bit further away and they quickly clear. That said, they only really tend to steam up when you come to a stop.

I think they look good too – you don't really register that they aren't traditional glasses until you look closely. Lotto Soudal rider Andre Greipel has been using a set on and off for a while without much comment in the pro peloton, and when you consider the hubbub surrounding shoe colour and sock length, that's saying something. With the arms on I'm less keen, because they force the glasses to sit strangely on your face, looking almost like the visor on a TT helmet. The arm length is also very long, which might not be particularly comfortable for long periods.

> Check out our guide to 14 of the best cycling glasses here

The particular models I've tested come with an RRP of £99.99, which seems reasonable bearing in mind you could easily spend double that on top end glasses. The magnetic fastening and photochromic elements alone give them the innovative elements that many would want at this price point.

The Magnetos are a really good pair of glasses. I really like the innovative use of magnets and the photochromic lens, which works well in changeable and wide ranging conditions, making the glasses ideal for all-day use all year round. The way they can be adjusted on the face and the ease with which they can be stowed are particular highlights. The arms are the only feature I would consider changing, but realistically they'll only be used off the bike anyway.

Verdict

Really innovative glasses, and the photochromic lens works perfectly

road.cc test report

Make and model: Lazer Magneto M1 Glasses crystal clear frame crystal photochromic lens

Size tested: n/a

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?

Performance sunglasses that are attached to magnets on your helmet strap to alleviate pressure on your ears and the side of your head. The lens is also designed to work in a wide variety of conditions, from total darkness to bright sunlight.

Lazer says:

"The fastest looking, and maybe the most innovative cycle specific sunglasses in the world?

Magnets imbedded in the sunglass temples secure the eyewear to the helmet strap

No temple pieces to interfere with helmet retention system

Increased cooling by removal of sunglass temples

Horizontal/vertical and forward/backward adjustability on the helmet straps allow the user ultimate comfort

Interchange System allows multiple lenses to be used for varying light conditions

3 lenses (smoke/brown, Lazer yellow, clear), or 1 standard photochromic, or melanin photochromic lens

Traditional temples can be attached to convert the Magneto to a normal sunglass for off the bike use

Optional RX adaptor available separately

As used by the Lotto Belisol team"

They do everything they need to; the magnets stick well, keeping them in place nicely and the lens darkens impressively. Comfortable and innovative.

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

Magnetic temples

Optional traditional temples

Ultragrip nosepiece

Hard case & cleaning bag

3 lens options or photochromic option

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Simple but effective. The single lens doesn't warp the world, the magnets are strong, and the arms are easy to put on/take off.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

They stay in place well, don't steam up excessively, and the photochromic lens works very well.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

They won't survive being run over, but with fewer things to actually break, the chances of breaking them reduces.

Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
8/10

With the magnets on they are supremely comfortable; with the arms on they are a bit awkward.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

With the photochromic lens it is easily worth more than two decent sets of glasses or replacement lenses. Plus the innovative design really turns heads.

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

Very well, they stay in place effectively and the lens changes colour easily. They keep out the elements while also offering fairly good steaming prevention.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The magnets. I was a bit sceptical about how effective they would be at keeping everything in place, but they hold everything well with no unnecessary pressure.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The attachable arms were far too long for me and make you look like a TT rider.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

An innovative design that works very well. The use of magnets and lack of arms means comfort is high, and the photochromic lens can be used regardless of the conditions. They score 8 across the board and an 8 overall.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 27  Height: 6 ft  Weight:

I usually ride: Cannondale Supersix Evo 6  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

George is the host of the road.cc podcast and has been writing for road.cc since 2014. He has reviewed everything from a saddle with a shark fin through to a set of glasses with a HUD and everything in between. 

Although, ironically, spending more time writing and talking about cycling than on the bike nowadays, he still manages to do a couple of decent rides every week on his ever changing number of bikes.

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12 comments

Avatar
The _Kaner | 8 years ago
0 likes

I'd wear with the legs...I don't have a lot of faith in the security of magnets alone...

Avatar
TypeVertigo | 8 years ago
0 likes

Great idea. The M1s don't look too far off from their previous Solid-State SS1 glasses, and they came with a photochromic option too.

Just a shame that Lazer's glasses have very little representation in my neck of the woods. Their photochromics are some of the most affordable around.

Avatar
dreamlx10 | 8 years ago
0 likes

Can we get this beards thing sorted out. Bradley Wiggins gets away with it, but we need to stop it spreading any further. Please, please, no more beards in cycling, unless you're a tourist of course.

Avatar
dave atkinson replied to dreamlx10 | 8 years ago
2 likes

dreamlx10 wrote:

Can we get this beards thing sorted out. Bradley Wiggins gets away with it, but we need to stop it spreading any further. Please, please, no more beards in cycling, unless you're a tourist of course.

I'm a fully paid up member of Audax UK and the CTC, so I'm allowed to have a beard of any length I choose

Avatar
dreamlx10 replied to dave atkinson | 8 years ago
2 likes
dave atkinson wrote:
dreamlx10 wrote:

Can we get this beards thing sorted out. Bradley Wiggins gets away with it, but we need to stop it spreading any further. Please, please, no more beards in cycling, unless you're a tourist of course.

I'm a fully paid up member of Audax UK and the CTC, so I'm allowed to have a beard of any length I choose

 

And as such you have a "Beard exemption"

Avatar
rkemb | 8 years ago
0 likes

How easy is it to shift the magnets -- on the straps and stuck on the top -- if/when you change helmets?

Avatar
dave atkinson replied to rkemb | 8 years ago
0 likes

rkemb wrote:

How easy is it to shift the magnets -- on the straps and stuck on the top -- if/when you change helmets?

it's simple enough. the strap loop is split so you don't have to unthread everything, you just wriggle them on. fitting them to the helmet above for taking the pics took a couple of minutes.

Avatar
Yorky-M | 8 years ago
0 likes

Od fact that will affect no one else.::: i get a cramp in the back of my head when i wear glasses. Smart people say the legs reduce blood flow in scalp . gonna give these a go

 

Avatar
Must be Mad | 8 years ago
0 likes

Remember those safty glasses you wore at school....

 

Avatar
mike the bike | 8 years ago
0 likes

So Lazer reckon they are the "fastest looking glasses ....".  Well, they're entitled to an opinion I suppose.

Avatar
ashfanman | 8 years ago
1 like

Nice to see a company thinking outside the box. The lack of arms would also solve one (admittedly pretty inconsequential) problem I sometimes find during the winter, when it can be a bit of a stretch (literally) to get glasses on over thicker, Belgian-style hats.

 

They do look a bit like cheap safety goggles, though.

Avatar
bikebot replied to ashfanman | 8 years ago
3 likes
ashfanman wrote:

They do look a bit like cheap safety goggles, though.

Yeah, but on the plus side cheap safety glasses now look quite a bit like expensive cycling glasses  3

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