The KOO Hype is the eyewear model’s newest range-topping product, which it claims to be its most modern pair of glasses so far. With lots of the finest glasses for biking promising distinctive efficiency pushed by technological developments, it was fascinating to see how these premium-priced shades would examine.
Development
The Hype glasses use a Grilamid body for affect safety, with the arms designed to wrap across the head to offer higher safety; rubber grips are included on the arms to help this.
A brand new function is the Most Air flow System, which is basically a central frontal port on the glasses and temple vents to enhance airflow and scale back fogging, particularly when climbing in humid situations.
Rubber grips on the arms assist hold the Hype glasses firmly in place.
(Picture credit score: Future)
To permit for the vent, the lens encompasses a cutaway, making it appear to be a two-lens design regardless of it being a single piece. Once more, it is a new providing. KOO have lengthy been utilizing the Zeiss lens expertise, however the Hype makes use of the model’s new Toric lens with a double curvature design. Most lenses are cylindrical, and wrap across the horizontal airplane, whereas these are spherical, and in addition wrap across the vertical airplane. That is designed to supply higher protection, particularly on the high and backside of the lenses.
The Hype encompasses a central vent to advertise airflow and scale back fogging.
(Picture credit score: Future)
The equipped Tremendous Pink Mirror lenses have a light-weight filtration of 13%, making them class 3 lenses. 9 body color mixtures can be found together with 9 completely different lenses; the lens is interchangeable so you’ll be able to change primarily based on the climate situations. An optical clip will also be hooked up internally for prescription lenses.
The glasses additionally include a number of nostril items to permit for a extra tailor-made match, in addition to a tender case to retailer them in.
The trip
The spherical nature of the lens is shortly noticeable in comparison with cylindrical lenses. The primary distinction is the good protection in the direction of the bottom of the glasses and across the periphery. A cylindrical lens tends to depart extra space in the direction of the highest or the bottom of the lens because it doesn’t curve down with the form of the pinnacle.
The slight spherical curvature of the Hype lenses signifies that the highest and base have higher protection, which has a twofold impact. Firstly there isn’t a unique tone of sunshine seen and the glasses cowl the total field of regard much better. Secondly, there may be much less undesirable airflow that goes via the lenses when your head is in a extra dropped place.
It’s usually a bit dearer to make lenses like this, resulting from how they’re minimize, and the decrease curvature can imply sweat is extra prone to drip onto the lens quite than fall behind it. Nevertheless, it’s a lens form that I feel is much better because of the better protection it gives.
The Zeiss Toric lens encompasses a spherical design geared toward delivering higher protection.
(Picture credit score: Future)
Except for the spherical ingredient, the lens is similar Zeiss optic as utilized in earlier KOO fashions. These provide incredible readability and an honest degree of hydrophobic efficiency, as found throughout some pretty moist and windy rides.
Early morning begins with low daylight additionally confirmed off how efficient the glare safety is. The Tremendous Pink Mirror lenses equipped are for brighter situations, letting in 13% of transmittable gentle, however carry out properly even in murky or cloudy climate because of the excessive readability.
As talked about, whereas they appear to be a double lens design, they’re in truth are a single lens so are just a little simpler to change out. KOO additionally gives an optical clip for use with any of their lenses, which permits the usage of prescription lenses while not having to pay extra for a number of prescription lens choices if you need darker or lighter lenses.
My solely challenge at current is that there isn’t any photochromic possibility obtainable. It is a disgrace because the KOO Fuchsia Photochromic lenses are fairly probably the perfect changeable lenses I’ve used. Their inclusion would make these glasses an excellent all-year, all-weather possibility.
The Tremendous Pink Mirror lens are designed for brighter situations however labored properly throughout cloudy situations too.
(Picture credit score: Future)
The body of the Hype glasses is one other space that has been closely up to date from the Alibi and Demo fashions. The arms function extra of a wraparound design on the arms for added safety. And it really works. They stayed securely in place even when worn over head and ear heaters with no pores and skin for traction. This makes them just a little more durable to retailer in some helmet vents, however for probably the most half it was pretty simple and in some instances safer.
For added venting, KOO have launched what they name the Most Air flow System. This contains the centre port between the eyes, and two ports on the arms of the body. I personally didn’t actually discover a lot airflow across the arm vents, nevertheless it’s price stating that I have not examined them in hotter climate as but. On the entrance nonetheless, the unobtrusive centre vent labored very properly to scale back lens fogging, which I usually discover occurs in winter climate. Nevertheless it did not present sufficient airflow that my face felt noticeably cooler when working at increased intensities.
Worth
At £180 / $215, that is definitely not an affordable pair of glasses. It does nonetheless hold it according to choices from Scicon, 100%, SunGod, and Oakley which all sit in an identical value vary relying on the choices and lenses that you simply go for. Missing a devoted laborious case, quite than a sturdy cardboard field does detract just a little in comparison with the Oakley Sutros, however they don’t function a spherical lens form. There’s additionally no spare clear lens equipped as normal such as you get with Scicon glasses.
Nevertheless, for the extent of efficiency, anti-fogging, and very good lens high quality, I feel the KOO Hype glasses signify cheap worth when in comparison with different high-end biking sun shades obtainable. When you don’t need to spend that cash, there are cheaper alternate options, however you’ll possible need to accept lesser lens high quality and fewer options.
Conclusion
The KOO Hype glasses are an impressively sensible and high-performing pair of biking sun shades. The Zeiss Toric lens is incredible in its readability, glare safety, hydrophobic properties and protection. Add to that the up to date body design, which is safer than earlier fashions whereas including efficient air flow and anti-fogging parts, and you’ve got a well-rounded pair of glasses. They’re costly, and a tough case and spare clear lens can be significantly appreciated at this value level. However in comparison with different high-end choices they signify respectable worth.