Article by Jeremy Marie
Rudy Project Turbulence ImpactX Photochromic 2 LaserRed Sunglasses (269€/$285)
I rarely run with sunglasses, despite being hindered by sun (sometimes) and wind, very often, which causes me to shed tears like I’m crying. And put in some winter temperatures and it gets even worse.I’m used to wearing shades when riding. So…why not when running ? My usual gripes about shades when running are frame movement, especially for trail running, and fogging, as I tend to heat a lot.
When Rudy Project proposed the Turbolence for test, I was eager to see how they fare and if a modern pair of sunglasses could overcome both my usual issues when running with glasses and ... running without.
Rudy Project has an environmentally-conscious approach, and builds the frame using Rilsan, a Castor-bean based plastic for instance, and works on its sourcing to minimize the carbon footprint of the materials used.
Their lens lineup is quite extensive, with the photochromic line (ImpactX), Polar3FX (polarized lenses) and more standard RP Optics, all offered in different tints.
Plus, they offer optical solutions for prescription glasses wearers, be it clips or inserts.That’s a pretty broad lineup, considering that they offer sunglasses specifically for Running, biking, watersports, MTB, Alpine Skiing…
For the review, I chose the ImpactX 2LaserRed photochromic lens with 76-16% visible light transmission, so the vast majority of my usual conditions, with the slightly red tint which enhances brownish, white and greenish tints. This sounded perfect for general running, trail running, road and gravel biking. The semi-rigid ImpactX lens is also resistant to scratches, and promoted as “unbreakable”: I did not test that !
The “Laser” moniker indicates that the lens also improves clarity and micro-contrast, in the same way as a Oakley Prizm, or 100% Hiper.
The Turbolence aims at being the one-stop answer for every activity: road running, trail running, road riding, gravel, and even watersports. Of course, specific shades for each sport might (might !) work a bit better for a specific purpose, but costs could quickly pile up. So Turbulence targets “active people”, doing many different sports.
To achieve this, they come with some clever additions.
First, what Rudy Project calls Agile Interface. This is a curved piece of plastic that clips on the upper frame, against the eyebrows, and backed with a generous absorbing foam padding.
The aim is simple: absorb sweat before it gets in the eyes or on the lenses. The foam part is removable so that you’re not forced to use it.
The other more classicl feature is the SecureFit strap, an elasticated bungee strap which firmly clips to the temples’ ends, and can be adjusted either to let the glasses hang around the neck, or to add a very secure hold on the head.
The lanyard being stretchy, it does not put too much pressure on the adjustable nosepiece, so that comfort is not impaired.
This hook securely clips to the temples
This strap is reflective, a welcome addition even if use cases are limited: namely, running when it’s getting dark and using the shades as a wind protection).
They come with a very sturdy hard plastic case, offering a great protection, as well a soft pouch when on the go.
It is a very complete package which is welcome considering the price is on the upper end of the spectrum.
In action, the Turbolence clearly delivered the goods.
The tint proved to be ideal during autumn and winter months, be it on the roads, on trails, through fields and on forest paths, and no matter the overall light levels. Contrast was clearly improved and helped to better discern terrain, and especially on snowy trails.
The ImpactX tech has been pretty much faultless, and the reactivity touted by Rudy Project worked perfectly when going from under woods to open sun. I did not measure it precisely, but I’ve never been bothered by an overly slow VLT (Visible Light Transmission) adaptation.
The sweat protection feature is a nice feature: it effectively greatly limits the amount of sweat that falls on the lens or intothe eyes, something I’ve encountered with the other shades I’ve run with (Oakley Flak 2 and Julbo Aerolite).
As I tend to be a heavy sweater, I tend to saturate it quite fast, but even then , it still acts as a gutter to direct sweat to the sides due to the curvature. So, all in all, a very nice feature that I appreciate a lot.
The fit and hold is top notch, and I have far less movement with the Turbolence than with the Aerolite, thanks to the adjustable nosepiece.
The elasticated strap brings even more security if needed. I’ve tried it on some outings, but never really felt the need for it. It is still a nice touch.
The large lens brings lots of protection against the wind, for which I’ve also tested on the bike. I usually prefer even larger lenses (yeah, roadie style !), but should I have only one pair for both riding and running, I’d have no issues in using the Turbolence.
I now clearly reach for them on many outings due to the many benefits and “just forget about them” factor, thanks to the large lens (something that bothered me with the Flak or the Aerolite).
The Turbolence ImpactX Photochromic 2 Laser Red
Available now at Rudy Project HERE
Tester Profile
Jeremy MARIE, French, 44y/o. Running since 2013 and quickly transitioned to trails, focused on ultras since 2015 : TDS, Maxi-Race, “100 miles du Sud”, 90 kms du Mt Blanc, GRP 120 kms, Some shorter more mellow races (Saintelyon 45 kms, Ecotrail Paris 45 kms…) with always in the mix road and flat running, but not many road races. Also active cyclist and 70.3 Ironman. Recovery/easy runs ~4’45/km - 4’30/km. He has an un-official marathon PR of 2h54 (solo) and 10K PR of 36’25. He does few timed road races.
Samples were provided at no charge for review purposes. RoadTrail Run has affiliate partnerships and may earn commission on products purchased via shopping links in this article. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content. The opinions herein are entirely the authors'.
3 comments:
Could they put force in their lens?
Sorry: I see optical solutions in your text…
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