Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

review

BZ Optics TOUR Photochromic Glasses HD Lenses

7
£94.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Smooth-reacting photochromic lenses and a great fit, so long as you don't mind seeing a bit of frame
Secure fit
Good range of light transition
Excellent clarity
Frame in eyeline
Weight: 
34g

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

The Tour Photocromic Glasses with HD Lenses from BZ Optics offer excellent clarity, a snug fit and a lens colour that works really well for those rides that shift between dawn and day, or day to dusk. They put a fair amount of frame in your eyeline though, if that kind of thing bothers you.

Available with either a graphite or matt white frame, the Tour glasses come with photochromic hi-definition copper-coloured lenses. If you haven't come across photochromic before, basically it means the tint changes from lighter to darker as the sunlight intensifies.

I found the change quite subtle on the Tours; you don't really notice it happening, which is a good thing, but neither did I find them sluggish moving from sunlight to shade or vice-versa.

The colour means the lenses are suitable for pre-dawn/low light (Cat 1) up to Cat 3 – strong sunshine – and they typically stop around two-thirds of visible light. This makes them ideal for long day rides or commuting in the autumn or spring, when you might be leaving or arriving with a lot less light.

2021 BZ Optics TOUR Photochromic Glasses HD Lenses - inside frame.jpg

The lenses themselves deliver some excellent clarity with no distortion, while still giving quite bold colours considering the tint. I had no issues with them steaming up, and they have resisted scratches.

BZ Optics also offer the Tour with bi-focal lenses (£119.99) with the magnification moulded discretely into the rear of the lens. Powers of +1.50, +2.00 and +2.50 are available.

As with most glasses on the market, the frame and arms are TR90-grade thermoplastic, which is very flexible and helps should you drop or sit on them.

2021 BZ Optics TOUR Photochromic Glasses HD Lenses - arm.jpg

I found the shape and fit of the Tours to be very good. The adjustable nosepiece and rubberised temple sections make them very secure, even when you are hot and sweating.

> 31 of the best cycling sunglasses — protect your eyes from sun, crud and flying bugs

The arms are attached with small screws instead of just clipping into place, which is something I like to see. There's a fair amount of movement there when you aren't wearing them, but it doesn't come through as vibration when you have them on.

2021 BZ Optics TOUR Photochromic Glasses HD Lenses - hinge.jpg

The only downside for me is that there's quite a lot of the frame in your eyeline, both top and bottom, and when you glance over your shoulder. It doesn't really give you any blind spots or anything; I just prefer a less restrictive view.

Value

For £94.99 though, I reckon the Tours offer decent value for money considering the top-quality lenses. The Koo Orion glasses I recently tested are kind of similar but don't come with photochromic lenses, although you can buy extra lenses and swap them over.

They are £159 though, and it'd cost you £60 for lighter lenses.

I recently tested the Tifosi Slice Fototec Light Night Lens glasses, which offer a similar level of photochromic range, but with a lot less frame. They are just £89.99, so a smidge cheaper than the Tours.

Conclusion

These shades are a good choice if you ride in a wide range of light conditions, and don't mind a bit of frame in your eyeline.

Verdict

Smooth-reacting photochromic lenses and a great fit, so long as you don't mind seeing a bit of frame

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: BZ Optics TOUR Photochromic Glasses HD Lenses

Size tested: One Size

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?

BZ Optics says, "Photochromic sports sunglasses, featuring high impact UV activated photochromic Hi-definition copper coloured lenses which transition from Cat 1 pre-dawn or low light to Cat 3 as the sun intensifies and UV increases.

The TR90 super lightweight hybrid frame has dual moulded non-slip flexible temples ideal for wearing under open or full-face helmets. The non-slip nose piece ensures optimum fit and comfort for all face shapes."

They offer a good fit and a good response to changes of light.

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

Lightweight flexible frame with dual moulded non-slip nosepiece and temples.

Adjustable non-slip nose piece for comfort and fit making them ideal for a wide range of face shapes and sizes.

Choice of frame colours: White or Graphite

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
7/10
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 choice if you ride in many different light conditions.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Very clear lenses.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

A bit too much frame in the eyeline for me.

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

They are decent value for a set of photochromic glasses, matching others like Tifosi. They perform better or on par with many other glasses that are up to twice the price, as you can see by looking through our review section.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes, although I would like a little less frame in view

Would you consider buying the product? Probably not, due to the point above

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

A good range of light conditions offered by the lenses, and well priced for the build quality and performance.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 42  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!

Latest Comments