Tifosi Optics

Ventoux Photochromic Sunglasses

Nicknamed the "Giant of Provence," Mont Ventoux in southern France is best known for its punctuated appearances in the Tour de France. Not as a picturesque backdrop, but as a grueling battleground for some of the greatest duels in the sport of cycling. One between a certain indefatigable Texan and a venerable Italian back in the 2000 tour, is the first that to mind. Ventoux is clearly an iconic symbol of cycling, so it comes as no surprise that Tifosi Optics would opt to name a hard-working, performance oriented piece in their sport cycling line after it. The Tifosi Ventoux Phototec Sunglasses are lightweight and multi-functional, and will quickly become a favorite.

Featuring a lightweight and flexible TR-90 Grilamid frame and Brown Polarized Fototec lenses, the Ventoux offers excellent coverage in a classic wrap. Streamlined and lightweight enough for long hours in the saddle, its bold profile and invaluable optical performance also keep it functional enough for more casual outings, without running the risk of that hyper-sportif look, like you just walked off a session at the Olympic short track.

Tifosi takes a thoughtful approach to their lens production, engineering de-centered, polarized lenses which are pressure-injected, to give you a lens that is more durable and offers superior optical performance compared to a typical acrylic or polycarbonate lens. In addition to their optical clarity, the performance of the Brown Polarized Fototec lenses offered on the Ventoux is actually two-fold. First, the polarization drastically eliminates eyestrain on long rides, by effectively removing glare reflected off of the road's surface (or any such surface that collects concentrated sunlight). Secondly, the Fototec lenses are also photochromic, meaning their tint adjusts according to how much ultraviolet light is exposed to the lens (this is why photochromic lenses are ideal for outdoor use, because most vehicle windshields block such UV light). At its darkest, the Brown Polarized lens goes from a dark 9% VLT in bright sunlight to a much lighter, contrast-enhancing 29% VLT. The transition from one extreme to the other is quite rapid - around 10 seconds, which is perfect if the road leads you under a dense, forested canopy on your descent. But the true beauty of a photochromic lens is not how it performs at the ends of the light spectrum, but everywhere in between. Ride from the bottom to the top of Mont Ventoux, and you could be treated to direct sunlight, heavy cloud cover, flat light, and an eventual sunset. The Tifosi Fototec lenses are designed for all of these conditions, optimizing tint and contrast for perfect clarity at nearly every hour of the day.

Thanks to its lightweight frame, the Tifosi Ventoux Fototec tips the lighter spectrum of the scale at only 25 grams, but provides excellent medium-to-large coverage with its wide, 143mm temple span. The hydrophilic nose and ear pieces become tacky when they come in contact with sweat, and are fully adjustable, allowing you to get a personalized, custom fit for optimal placement under your helmet or just for around town. And lastly, the Ventoux frame is available in 3 color options.

Proposition 65 Warning for California Consumers: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and/or birth defects or other reproductive harm.