Few things make me as happy as unboxing a new pair of cycling sunglasses. In an instant I feel stylish and elegant, and I’m motivated to get out riding.
After a few weeks testing Koo’s Alibi photochromic sunglasses, I can say confidently that they don’t just look good, but their performance matches their swankiness.
Half-framed with a coloured lens that changes depending on the light condition, the sunglasses are the choice of Bora-Hansgrohe, and while I may not ride with the power and panache of Primož Roglič or Jai Hindley, I can at least say I look as good as them. Well, maybe. I can dream, right?
Construction
Koo is the sister company of the Italian helmet brand Kask, set up in 2016. It’s unsurprising, therefore, that Koo sunglasses are made with premium quality and built for the premium market.
The unisex Alibi range comes in eight different colourways, and I tested the blue/green colour that is officially known as the Bora-Hansgrohe version. All colours have a half-frame design, are made from Grilamid polymer (basically a very strong material), and have rounded arms that fit into all types of helmets. There are also two ventilation holes at the top of the frame that stop the glasses from condensing.
Zeiss make the cylindrical polycarbonate photochromic lenses, and the full-faced size is typical of most modern sunnies. The lenses have a Visible Light Transmission range of 75% to 12% – in dark conditions, they allow in up to 75% of light which turns the lenses transparent; in brighter conditions, only 12% of light is let in, giving the lens a red/purple colour exterior.
Alibi is imprinted on the back of the upper frame, and a white Koo logo is engraved on both arms and printed on the centre of the lenses. Spare lenses are available to buy, and each set of sunglasses comes with a replacement nose pad. For those who wear prescription glasses, the Alibis are compatible with Koo’s optical clip.
Performance
The overwhelming sensation with the Alibi sunglasses on my head is that I don’t feel that they’re there. They are so incredibly light, topping my kitchen scales at just 24 grams. For comparison, the Oakley EV Zero Blades weigh 22g, and the Enduro Dorado II come in at 30g.
It’s not just the featherlight weight that’s impressive, though – they are extremely comfortable and stay in place. I’ve worn other glasses that move around, but these don’t. What’s more, the ventilation holes do a great job of preventing glasses from steaming up when riding hard.
The lenses adapt really quickly to changing light conditions, and they performed excellently in both heavy rain showers and cloudless, sunny skies. One smaller thing I was particularly impressed by was how even small smudges don’t obstruct the visibility, and although a tiny bit of paint has come away from the left arm after just a few weeks, it’s obvious that the construction is of a high-quality and these will be a pair of durable and lasting sunglasses.
Conclusion and value
These are a very versatile pair of sunglasses, suitable for all seasons. Not only that, but they are fashionable and get heads turning – almost everyone I have ridden with while I have tested the glasses has commented on how stylish they are. That said, some people did suggest that when transparent it looked like I was wearing safety glasses. I can't disagree, either.
For the price ($245/£180/€230) they are not cheap, but they are in the same ballpark as other premium offerings, such as the aforementioned Oakleys. It is possible to get photochromatic sunglasses for half the price, such as the Endura Dorado II, but few are as well-made, elegant and lightweight as these. If you can justify the outlay, invest in the Alibis.
Specifications
Price: $245/£180/€230
Colours: Alibi blue/green; black matt/gold; dark blue matt/red; grey matt/turquoise; harbour blue matt/copper; orange matt/green; green matt/orange; sand matt/gold; white matt/fuchsia
Size: all the same size
Website: kooworld.cc
