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review

100% Speedtrap glasses

8
£184.99

VERDICT:

8
10
High-end eyewear offering a massive amount of coverage, adjustable arm length and two different lenses
Weight: 
38g

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The 100% Speedtrap glasses provide excellent eye coverage and plenty of uninterrupted vision via a single lens, although the fit worked perfectly for one of our reviewers and not for another, so try before you buy.

  • Pros: Huge coverage, adjustable arm length, simple lens swap
  • Cons: Polarising looks, big price tag

100% is a motocross brand that has recently made the leap into cycling, getting loads of coverage courtesy of three-time world champ Peter Sagan.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy these online here

The Speedtrap sunglasses feature a Grilamid TR90 frame that is lightweight, strong and shatterproof, while the thermoplastic elastomer tips of the arms (or temples, if you want to be a bit more professional about it) are adjustable for length. Pulling out or pushing in those end pieces gives you the choice of three positions covering about a centimetre. That might not sound a lot but it can make a difference if there's any interference with your bike helmet's fit system, for example.

100_speedtrap_glasses_3.jpg

The nosepiece is thermoplastic elastomer too, soft and a little squidgy to the touch. I found that this helped to keep the glasses securely in place. As you know, we had the hottest summer in about a billion years (or something) in the UK, yet despite all that heat and a helluva lot of sweating, these have never slipped in use – not even a little bit.

You can't change the nosepiece but you do get inserts that fit onto the existing nosepiece. These make the space between the two sides smaller and move the glasses higher up your face.

100_speedtrap_glasses_1.jpg

Although I loved the fit, fellow road.cc tech ed Dave Arthur could barely have felt more differently. Dave found the Speedtraps too large and they wouldn't stay put on his nose (he didn't have the option of adding the nosepiece inserts because they didn't come with our review sample). He just couldn't get on with them at all. They are large, there's no getting away from that, but they're not particularly wide across the temples. Obviously, when it comes to fit we're all different so it makes sense to give 'em a try before handing over your cash.

The polycarbonate lens is a single piece and it's large enough to provide plenty of protection. There's a lot of acreage here! I've not had any insects, gravel or other unwelcome intruders inside during several weeks of testing.

100_speedtrap_glasses_6.jpg

That lens provides 100% UV protection (it's UV400 so it blocks all light rays with wavelengths up to 400 nanometres) and it features both a scratch-resistant coating and what's called an Hyroilo treatment to repel oil and water. Sweat can still drip down the lens and leave a salty trail behind it, though.

The 100% glasses are available with various different lenses, all featuring small vents to help prevent fogging. The one I had was a HiPer blue multilayer mirror lens with light transmission of 13% making it suitable for sunny days, of which we've had plenty recently (thanks Mother Nature). It doesn't make everything look blue, it just takes away some of the brightness. You also get a clear lens for low-light conditions.

Swapping between them is pretty simple: there's a little clip that attaches the top section of the frame to the bit by the nosepiece (you can't see it in use because it's right between your eyes). Pushing that open allows enough movement in the frame to remove and replace the lens without any fear of damage. You never worry that you're about to snap something.

100_speedtrap_glasses_4.jpg

100% describes the Speedtraps as having 'aggressive futuristic styling'. They're certainly angular, distinctive and far from subtle. You can make up your own mind, of course, but I quite like the looks and it's not a case of style over substance – I really like the amount of coverage you get here. The one thing I would say is that there are a few little nooks and crannies where dirt and grit can lurk after a wet ride. You can get it all off, it just takes a bit longer than with some other glasses.

100_speedtrap_glasses_5.jpg

A price tag of £184.99 puts the 100% Speedtrap among the dearer options that we've reviewed on road.cc lately, although not as expensive as the Smith Attack Max, for instance, and virtually the same price as the Oakley Flight Jacket with a single lens. You get two interchangeable lenses here, a hard case, the nosepiece inserts I mentioned and a branded storage and cleaning bag.

> Buyer's Guide: 24 of the best cycling sunglasses

Overall, I really like these glasses. They provide a huge amount of coverage, they fit me very well – although they didn't fit Dave at all – you get a degree of adjustability and swapping lenses is simple. The quality is high throughout and if you like the distinctive looks might think the price is worth paying.

Verdict

High-end eyewear offering a massive amount of coverage, adjustable arm length and two different lenses

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road.cc test report

Make and model: 100% Speedtrap glasses

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?

100% says, "Our new expansive six base single lens shield increases peripheral vision and protection. We deliver enhanced vision and clarity by following the natural contours of your eye. Featuring cooling vents and uncompromising fit with three-way adjustable temple arms. The ultimate performance paired with aggressive futuristic styling."

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

100% lists these features:

1 – Vented spherical Shield

Lightweight high impact polycarbonate; 6 base.

2 – Lens System

New quick release lens system.

3 – Complete UV Protection

All our lenses provide complete UV protection. Blocking 100% of UVA, UVB and UVC rays.

4 – Grilamid TR90 Frame

Custom moulded Grilamid TR90 Frame to increase strength.

5 – Adjustable Temple Tips

Three way adjustable temple tips providing a secure comfortable fit.

6 – Thermoplastic Elastomer Nose & Temple Pads

Thermoplastic Elastomer Nose and Temple Pads help provide all-day comfort.

7 – Lens Tech

Scratch resistant coating and 'Hydroilo' treatment to repel oil and water.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

The frame is lightweight and the lens is good. I like the fact that you can adjust the length of the arms to avoid interference with the fit system of your bike helmet.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

You can't argue with the amount of coverage you get here – it's massive.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
7/10

They're a few grams heavier than some others but they're going to be because of their size. That doesn't lead to discomfort.

Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

£185 is a lot of money, even if you get two lenses.

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

I really like these glasses for the amount of coverage they provide. They do a great job.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The coverage they provide – which is huge! I know that other people aren't so keen on them because of their size.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

A lower price would make things a whole lot easier!

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

They're broadly in line with prices of glasses from brands like Oakley and Smith, although you can, of course, buy glasses with two or three different lens options for far less money.

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 overall score

You could argue that the price should drag these down to an overall score of 7, but the coverage and adjustability of the arms makes me stick with 8.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 43  Height: 190cm  Weight: 75kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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7 comments

Avatar
Yorky-M | 5 years ago
0 likes

Did they fog up when you are going full gas?

 

Current Rudy projects need a demister and always are in the back pocket at the end of a race

Avatar
TheHungryGhost | 5 years ago
0 likes

Makes me think of these

 

Avatar
Gourmet Shot replied to TheHungryGhost | 5 years ago
4 likes
TheHungryGhost wrote:

Makes me think of these

Hold that thought.......i'll be back

Avatar
Mungecrundle | 5 years ago
3 likes

You pays your money and you takes your choice, but personally I'd be moving these to one side as I rummaged through the "£5 end of line Managers clearance special bin" as I looked for something a little less hideous.

Avatar
Jetmans Dad | 5 years ago
3 likes

And, once again, a sunglasses review that is entirely unhelpful for those of us who wear glasses and need a prescription lens. How do these glasses deal with that? Do these glasses deal with that? Are they exclusively non-prescription, which renders them useless to people like me?

One short sentence giving that information would make these reviews so much better.  

Avatar
alexb replied to Jetmans Dad | 5 years ago
0 likes
Jetmans Dad wrote:

And, once again, a sunglasses review that is entirely unhelpful for those of us who wear glasses and need a prescription lens. How do these glasses deal with that? Do these glasses deal with that? Are they exclusively non-prescription, which renders them useless to people like me?

One short sentence giving that information would make these reviews so much better.  

I would assume that unless it says otherwise, any review of subnglasses will be entirely for non-prescription use.

If you are after new prescription sunglasses, I'd suggest that you search for any company that can manage a "direct-RX" prescription as these will be lenses which are prescription milled rather than a clip in insert inside the glasses.

Tifosi have a range of glasses that take these lenses, Optilabs in Croydon are a perennial favourite and even SpecSavers have their own prescription sports glasses.

Avatar
SteveAustin | 5 years ago
1 like

Cons: Polarising looks...

 lol i see what you did there!!

definantly on the side of being blessed with the ugly stick in the desgin studio

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