Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

review

Tifosi Amok sunglasses

7
£69.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Good all-round package including reactive lenses for the money, though sharper optics would be nice
Weight: 
31g

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.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

Tifosi's Amok sunglasses, tested here in Race Neon with Fototec Smoke lenses, offer some neat touches like lenses that adapt to the conditions and plenty of venting to reduce the possibility of fogging. There is quite a bit of frame material going on, though, and I wasn't exactly blown away by the optics.

  • Pros: Fototec lenses are subtle, comfortable fit
  • Cons: Frame can restrict vision

Fototec is the name that Tifosi has given its photochromic lenses, and they work by using microscopic particles embedded in the lens, which react to UV rays in bright sunshine by darkening optics.

> Find your nearest dealer here

The lenses come in a range of colours and the Smoke that we have here changes colour very subtly. They give everything a slightly grey tint and, unlike some photochromic glasses, the Amoks don't go fully clear when it gets dark outside.

Tifosi Amoc Race glasses-2.jpg

You can still wear them on overcast days without issue, and the speed at which they work means that travelling from shaded tree cover out into the sunshine is barely noticeable. I've had some glasses in the past that can struggle with the quick changeover.

The lenses offer a clear view of everything, with no distortion or anything, although the clarity isn't any sharper than using a basic pair of safety glasses in my opinion. Still, they do the job.

The frame that the lenses clip into is made from Grilamid TR-90, a thermoplastic polyamide which is tough and durable: perfect for a pair of glasses that are likely to get dropped or sat on at various point in their life.

Tifosi Amoc Race glasses-3.jpg

The arms include a rubberised section that gives more flexibility to aid fit without causing undue pressure on the side of the head.

The glasses stay seated no matter how or what you are riding, even when things get sweaty, helped by the hydrophilic rubber used on the adjustable nose-piece and arms.

Tifosi Amoc Race glasses-4.jpg

It's an all-round comfortable fit, sitting close to the face, and although the lenses are vented to avoid steaming up (and do a good job of it), there isn't a lot of airflow near the eyes – something I'll be thankful of when it gets to grass pollen season.

We've got the neon yellow colour here, which means that the frame is bright – especially on the inside – and it is quite noticeable all the way around when you are riding. There are other colours available: a Crystal Smoke frame (grey) with Fototec Light Night lenses, and Race Red with Fototec High Speed Red lenses.

Also, the drop of the frame from under the arms comes straight down where, if you usually just glance over your shoulder to check behind when changing lanes or turning at a junction, it can create a bit of a blind spot. I had to make sure I adapted to turning my head more to get a better view.

> Buyer's Guide: 22 of the best cycling sunglasses

Value-wise, it's good to see photochromic lenses on a pair of glasses that cost £69.99 and I'd say this is their major plus point.

Something decent like the Ekoi Perso Evo 9 glasses are £85ish but that jumps up to £110 if you want reactive lenses.

Another pair of glasses that I wear a lot are the Lazer Argon ARR with interchangeable lenses for differing conditions; effective, but not as efficient as the Tifosis.

The Lazers are very good glasses, though, and when I reviewed them I said that I would be happy to pay the £79.99 price tag – which further shows what decent value the Amoks are, average optics aside.

Verdict

Good all-round package including reactive lenses for the money, though sharper optics would be nice

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Tifosi Amok sunglasses

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?

Tifosi says, "A bold full frame design defines Amok. Side vents provide the airflow needed to prevent fogging at top speeds and scratch-resistant, shatterproof lenses protect your eyes from the elements. Run Amok. Ride Amok. Adventure Amok."

They're a solid pair of glasses that cover most of the bases.

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

From Tifosi:

Fototec lenses

Adjustable Nose Piece

Case Included

Glare Guard

Grilamid TR-90 Frame

Hydrophilic Rubber

Polycarbonate Lenses

UV Protection

Vented Lenses

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10

Sturdy frame plus scratch resistant and shatterproof lenses.

Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

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

A good all-round set of glasses for a wide range of conditions.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Fast working, subtle reactive lenses.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Distracting frame.

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

Taking into account the photochromic lenses, they offer reasonably good value against the opposition.

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

The Amoks have a lot going for them, like comfort and value, with just a couple of niggles nudging the score down a touch.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

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

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

Add new comment

2 comments

Avatar
simondbarnes | 4 years ago
1 like

If the lenses offer a clear view of everything with no distortion or anything, how can the clarity be marked down?

Avatar
Yorky-M replied to simondbarnes | 4 years ago
0 likes
simondbarnes wrote:

If the lenses offer a clear view of everything with no distortion or anything, how can the clarity be marked down?

I think he is refering to optical clarity. Better quality lens filter up to 80% of visible light to protect the eye and eyewear is classified. Most sunglasses for sports are Cat 2. Pound shop sunglasses are Cat one. 

 

Latest Comments