Article by Sam Winebaum
Vinco Performance Terra Sunglasses ($249)
The Vinco Terra are ultra panoramic view sunglasses crafted from bio-polymers with polyamide lenses and stainless steel attachment hardware. Made in Italy, the Terra’s lens is designed for the in and out light conditions of trails. Other lens types are also available
The Terra features a 64.6% VLT (Visible Light Transmission) lens with a tint designed to amplify contrast in the brown green light spectrum.
Instead of going dark and low light transmission in shade or low light or photochromic which adjusts to light conditions on the go but with a delay, Vinco chose what I found in the forest and also on open unshaded ocean roads is a happy medium that kept them over my eyes no matter the light conditions.
Fit
Well I do things weirdly as while I have a prescription pair of Julbo their lenses due to my strong prescription they are very thick and heavy. So, most often go over my Oakley prescription regular eyeglasses. I have tried innumerable larger size lens options over the years to "go over".
The Vinco are very large indeed and fit over just fine with a wire Croakie in the mix as shown above. Even without my glasses on they have a huge field of vision as shown below
The temples are highly adjustable bending in all directions: down/up, in/out for secure fit including when wearing helmets
The big big styling is of the moment and for small faces mylarge version ( a smaller size is also available) may be too much,. but for me it is the ability to securely wear them over my regular glasses that is key.
Features
The star here is the combination of giant lens size, crystal clear optics from the polyamide lens, and high contrast tint with the all directions adjustable temples, soft but sticky nose piece and quality hardware including stainless spring cam hinges in key supporting roles.
I aslo appreciate the fully renewable approach which Vinco describes as follows:
“Vinco frames are made from a 100% organic biopolymer. This proprietary material is synthesised from the most “renewable” resource on the planet: wood fiber. Vinco products are also designed to be completely rebuildable, should any component ever require servicing."
Performance
I wore them for runs in a very shaded forest and along the coast in full cloudless sunlight. I was particularly struck by the “in the woods” performance as on the same trails, even with photochromic Julbo and others, they often end up on my head so I can see the trail. Not so here!
Along the coast in full sunlight,given their full 64.6% Visible Light Transmission, they are not dark dark (as say an <20% VLT lens would be) but are more than adequate. For extended snow and water uses or at high altitudes in full sun on open terrain, a darker less light transmitting lens would be better but I will go for the Terra’s versatility for in and out of varied light conditions for most of my daily run uses.
The optical clarity of the polyamide lenses is superb and seems to me to exceed the usual polycarbonate lenses in clarity. It is of course helped by the giant unobstructed glare free field of vision, even over my eyeglasses, a rarity, from what Vinco calls their “ultra panoramic” lens. True!
Long a fan of photochromic lens sunglasses, Vinco's middle of the VLT range approach and tinting along with giant field of vision has sold me for my road and trail runs as well as hiking and I expect low light nordic skiing (that testing to come). At $249, they are not a throwaway sunglass, that is for sure, but I think their quality build and performance to date make them a solid value.
Also please read our review of other Vinco Performance Sola sunglasses here
Vinco Performance Terra and all of Vinco
Tester Profile
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2025 Sam’s 54th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:43 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.
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