Review: Tifosi Optics Stash Sunglasses
Mix bicycles with speed intervals and one little accessory becomes necessary - the sunglasses. Sunglasses without interference become important. We received the Tifosi Stash sunglasses and sent them out for testing with a specific focal point.
Sunglasses are part form, part function in a cyclist’s world. Big shield glasses are heavily pursued lately as riders demand a combination of aerodynamics, comfort, functionality, and coverage. Gone are the wrap-around glasses. Much like bike frames, sunglasses have become a race to larger products.
Tifosi has designed the Stash sunglasses to meet the demand of today’s cyclists. The contact points include fully adjustable hydrophilic rubber ear socks and nose piece. The material grips better the more the rider sweats. So long days of glasses sliding mid-ride.
Meanwhile Tifosi supplies three lenses: Clarion Orange, AC red, and clear. Per Tifosi’s calculations, the orange lenses report a variable light transmission of 13%, meaning they are ideal for day only riding. They also come in handy during shoulder season when the sunlight appears to hover on the horizon for hours on end. Alongside the day lens is the AC red which reports a VLT of 46%, making it an ideal option for low light conditions. The clear lenses have always been a dependable option for night riding or stormy weather such as rain or snow.
The Stash glasses certainly cover much of the face. One of the areas the Stash excelled was downhill headwind. There was an amount of turbulence behind the lens, but the reduction experience compared to other pairs of sunglasses was delightful. Those cold weather descents were tackled a little faster because the Stash provided stronger visibility.
Speaking of visibility, the Stash excels in one area. The construction of the sunglasses omits the top beam. This comes in especially handy during speed moments, when looking out of the top of the sunglasses is the last thing to worry about. Tifosi’s line of vision is unobstructed, allowing the rider to maintain a lower head position for those all-out sprints. Sunglasses companies taking niche requests demonstrate research, and the Stash sunglasses with their clear view out of the top of the frames supports this.
We enjoyed riding with the Tifosi Optics Stash sunglasses, particularly when testing them on the breezy downhills. The autumn foliage was hardly hindered by the Clarion Orange lenses, instead allowing all those colors to come through in a dramatic form. Plus the Stash looks great. They take up a large portion of the vision field which means there are no sunspots to lead to glare. We struggled to find a moment to cause the lenses to fog up, due to the strategically- placed venting. The Tifosi Stash has a price point that cannot be beat, coming in at nearly half the price of other brands of cycling sunglasses. Having Tifosi Stash glasses to make sprinting just became the easiest part of speed workouts; now we have to locate some actual speed.
