When it comes to essential pickleball gear, sunglasses rank right up there with paddles and court shoes. That’s because the best sunglasses for pickleball do much more than cut reflected glare off the court and ease eye strain from the bright sun. They also protect your eyes from shots deflected off your partner’s paddle or overhead smashes when you’re close to the net, protecting the kitchen. As such, your pickleball glasses deserve the same attention you give your choice in footwear or paddle.
Let’s look at some key features to consider when picking out the best pickleball sunglasses for you.
Rudy Project’s Rydon, Propulse, and Traylx+ sunglasses offer broad, curved lenses that cover your entire field of vision. Besides keeping your optics consistent from side to side, the wide lens also blocks distracting glare from entering through the sides of your lenses. It does the same for dust and debris, which is especially critical if you play outside.
All of Rudy Project’s sunglasses come in various lens tints to suit a range of activities and seasons. For pickleball, though, go with ImpactX® Laser Purple lenses if your games usually take place on outdoor courts in bright conditions. The Laser Purple tint is dark enough to block out direct sunlight while enhancing contrast and color saturation. Both attributes improve depth perception and make the yellow ball “pop” against the background.
Playing indoors or under artificial lights at night? Go with our ImpactX 2 Red lens, as it offers the vibrant contrast and definition you need to see the court — and the ball — clearly, even without the brilliance of natural sunlight.
When considering protective glasses, many players think about physical protection from the ball, and this is another area where Rudy Project’s ImpactX lenses really deliver. These innovative lenses are made from patented polyurethane optical polymers developed for military applications, which means they serve as an unbreakable barrier between a high-speed pickleball and your eyes.
In addition to the physical safety they provide, the UV protection offered by Rudy Project pickleball sunglasses is reason enough to wear them on the court. And it’s not just sunlight or reflected glare that’s the problem. Even intense outdoor lighting (think sports stadiums) can emit harmful UV rays. All of Rudy Project’s lenses offer 100% UV protection.
For pickleball players competing at a high level, any edge can make a difference between winning a point or losing the game. Sunglasses offer the advantage of shielding your eyes from your opponents. This makes it more difficult for other players to read your eyes, especially on service returns and deep shots from behind the baseline. For example, you can fake a return shot down the line but rocket a cross-court winner instead.
Even better, the broad coverage offered by Rudy Project’s lenses allows you to see clearly to either side of your glasses so you can exaggerate the misdirection with your head. Your opponents will never know.
From clarity in all conditions to protection from sun and errant shots, the best pickleball glasses are ones that you wear for every match. And if they deliver a confidence boost to your game on top of superior optical performance, that’s a bonus. Try it and see for yourself. Optics matter.
]]>Jared Ward, Olympic Marathoner and Rudy Project Athlete
Most people think of winter optics for bluebird days with the bright sun glaring off snow. Others hear the term and think of ski goggles, which do the double duty of physically protecting your eyes from the wind and snow as you head down the slopes. But the reality is everyone can benefit from sunglasses in winter weather, no matter the light level. Depending upon the lens tint and color, high-performance sunnies will heighten contrast and let you see more detail and depth no matter how weak or strong the ambient light is. Below, we’ve broken down the details behind the best sunglasses for snow, gray days, and sports.
Nordic skiers, runners, and cyclists generate tons of heat during their activities. As a result, their sunglasses must have the right balance of lightness, durability, facial coverage, airflow (into and out of the frame), and lens tints that work in all conditions. The Rudy Project Cutline fits the bill. Its wide lens keeps wind and glare out. Cut-outs in the lens and frame promote air circulation, which reduces the chances of the lens fogging up. Its adjustable temples and nose pad let wearers dial in the perfect fit, whether they wear the shades under a helmet or over a beanie hat. The Cutline also features swappable lenses so athletes can match the lens tint to conditions — orange or red for bright sunny days, ice blue for snow days, and yellow for low-light, overcast conditions.
Winter sun may appear weak, but its low angle in the sky usually means you spend more time staring into it than you would during the summer. Compound that with the reflected glare of harmful UV rays bouncing off snow and water, and it can be annoying at best and damaging to your eyes at worst. Snow blindness is a real concern. It happens when the glare off the snow and the brightness of the sun and sky are so intense that it physically hurts to keep your eyes open. Days like this are perfect for Rudy Project Kelion Sunglasses. Like the Cutline above, the Kelion features swappable lens tints, and its large lens covers the eyes from every angle, making it perfect for driving, snowshoeing, ice skating, or enjoying aprés beers on the deck.
Downhill skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling call for purpose-driven goggles, as they offer maximum coverage and crash protection with a shatterproof lens and a snug fit that keeps the cold out while letting body heat escape. Their elastic band wraps around hair, helmets, and hats and holds them tight to the head. And like the two options above, goggles come in a variety of lens tints. With Rudy Project Spincut OTG goggles, you can opt for mirrored orange lenses on intense, bright days or lightly tinted red ones for low-light days. Both colors heighten contrast, making it easy to see shadows and bumps in the ski run or trail ahead.
With Rudy Project ImpactX photochromic lenses, winter athletes can roll from shady settings to bright sun without changing their glasses. Within seconds of light rays hitting the lens, they transition from clear to just the right amount of tint. In bright sun, they turn dark black, purple, or red, depending upon the tint. And ImpactX lenses are incredibly versatile and available for all the sports performance eyewear featured above.
Click here for a complete list of Rudy Project winter sunglasses, goggles, and lens tints.
]]>Instead of blindly deciding to “ride more” in 2024, put together a SMART plan for your cycling ambitions. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound, the five elements of a successful training program.
The more SPECIFIC the goal, the clearer it becomes in your mind. So instead of saying, “I want to bike a 100-mile century ride this year,” say, “I want to ride the Life Time Big Sugar Classic on October 21.” This step sets a deadline to reach the goal, defines a location where it will occur, and adds some details to the type of training required.
Logging and charting your progress is crucial to sticking to any resolution. Thankfully, training for endurance sports such as running, cycling, or triathlons provides tons of MEASURABLE data. Mileage, speed, heart rate, and watts are the big ones. You can use a training app to track your journey or a journal. The more you log, the more you generate a positive feedback loop that propels your training momentum.
ACHIEVABLE focuses on picking a goal with a high probability of success rather than frustrating failure. For example, maybe you want to try the 100-mile course at the Big Sugar ride. But realistically, you can’t commit the time needed to train for that distance. So, understanding what’s achievable, you dial back our ambitions to the 50-mile route.
RELEVANT feeds off Achievable. It’s best to build your 2024 goals around activities you already do or have time to develop. For example, you may dream of competing in a half-iron-distance triathlon, but if you’ve never run or swam regularly, this isn’t the year for that goal. If you’re just starting out and want to try a triathlon, start with a short sprint race.
TIME-BOUND is simply assigning a defined deadline to your goals and resolutions. When you do that, you can work backward to the present and build out a training schedule and a step-by-step program that takes you to success.
Who wouldn’t want to start the new year with a new bike, like maybe that tri-bike you always wanted? If you can swing your dream bike, good for you! But to keep this list more relevant and realistic, we’ll highlight several key pieces of cycling gear you can add to your kit this year, ranked in no particular order.
UPGRADE: Photochromic lenses, such as Rudy Project’s ImpactX lens, change from clear to dark and back within seconds, depending upon the amount of ambient light. With or without a prescription, these specs will become your go-to choice for all-conditions riding.
2). Cycling Helmet
Most cyclists will choose a helmet based on fit and value, which are both legit considerations. If a helmet doesn’t fit, you won’t wear it. But comfort, in terms of weight and airflow, becomes paramount after more than an hour of riding on a hot summer day. Rudy Project cycling helmets have long put a premium on airflow and lightweight design, but not at the expense of safety.
UPGRADE: Get an appropriate helmet for the type of riding you do: Aero bike helmets offer “free speed” for racers and triathletes. The Rudy Project Nytron is the optimum blend of the aforementioned ventilation and aerodynamics. Want more “free speed”? Try Rudy Project’s Wing helmet. Its removable visor and adjustable front vent let you determine how comfortable or aero you want to go.
Mountain bikers should choose a helmet, such as Rudy Project’s Protera+, with a visor to block sun glare and protect against branches and debris. It also puts more impact protection over the rear of the head, ideal for backward tumbles on unpredictable hills and rugged terrain.
3). Cycling Shorts
Whether new to cycling or starting your 20th year, cycling shorts with a padded chamois crotch are as integral to your riding comfort as your saddle. And like a bike saddle, not all chamois shapes, fabrics, and pad thicknesses work for everybody. Find the one that lets you ride without chafing for hours.
UPGRADE: Bib shorts fit better, feel more comfortable, and hold their fit longer than cycling shorts. Thanks to the shoulder straps, bibs keep the all-important chamois pad right where it should be, tight against the skin so it doesn’t cause chafing. Since there’s no waistband cutting into your stomach, cycling bibs allow for easier diaphragmatic (belly) breathing during intense exertion. That means deeper and fuller breaths when you need them most.
4). Cycling Shoes
Like helmets, cycling cleats — and clipless pedals designed for them — are often chosen for fit and value. And like bike helmets, there are specific shoes for road cycling, triathlon, and mountain biking. Pick the right shoes for the type of riding you do.
UPGRADE: Invest in high-quality insoles for your cycling shoes. These will correct your leg drive, preventing your knees from flaring out or flaring in while applying downward force and saving those knees from a lot of extra wear and tear. This tip can make a world of difference, so work with an experienced bike fitter to dial in your pedal, shoe, and insole solution.
With a SMART training plan in place, you’ll be ready to start chasing your cycling goals. And when you upgrade your kit with premium cycling helmets and sports performance eyewear from Rudy Project, you’ll take on every ride with unrivaled protection, comfort, and performance. That is how you start the year strong.
]]>Water sports, winter sports, court games, or endurance sports — there’s a lens tint designed to enhance your vision and performance. Use the sunglass lens color guide below to help narrow your options and find the best sunglass color for your sport or lifestyle.
These colors enhance depth perception by adding contrast and saturation, which allows lighter-colored objects to "pop" and stand out. Brown offers the most contrast and a yellowish feel. Red provides contrast without making objects too bright, making it the best option for low-light conditions. Lighter, red lens colors excel in foggy and overcast conditions, providing excellent contrast despite the flat light.
Grey, the original lens color, delivers a neutral feel. Colors will be natural but slightly darker. Like all sunglass colors, grey lenses cut glare and reduce eye strain. They also block out the most light compared to the other colors, making them the go-to choice for extreme sunlight and sun glare scenarios. Although grey lenses do not add contrast, they are still the ideal generalists of sunglass lenses and the best choice for the brightest days.
Green lenses deliver the truest color perception. Green provides a happy medium between the extremes of grey and brown, making it a versatile lens that can be used in different lighting conditions and activities. They also provide respectable contrast on low-light, cloudy, or overcast days. This quality makes them a solid choice for snowsports participants who often set out on cloudy days.
On extremely sunny days, purple and blue lens colors excel at mitigating harsh glare from water or snow. The color also helps sharpen the contours of objects and scenery, making your surroundings look sharper and more focused. Bonus: blue tints enhance and boost color, so the world tends to look more vibrant through blue lenses. Purple is one of the newest and most versatile lens colors. True to color like green, purple lenses add saturation and contrast that can rival the depth perception of a red lens. Purple lenses further separate themselves from other colors with their performance on green backgrounds (courts or grass). Light-colored objects pop against the green, making the purple lenses the best choice for sports like pickleball, tennis, baseball, etc.
Lens options have evolved to offer colors for almost every activity, landscape, and light level. The best color for you depends on your chosen activity — and your personal preferences. (You may not like seeing the world through brown lenses but love seeing it through purple lenses). Whichever Rudy Project lens tint you choose, you can count on your sunglasses to reduce eye strain and protect your eyes from UV rays, wind, dust, and debris. You can also trust them to elevate your performance.
]]>Here’s what to look for when it comes to choosing pickleball sunglasses.
Rudy Project’s Propulse, Traylx+, and Astral sunglasses offer broad, curved lenses that cover your entire field of vision. Besides keeping your optics consistent from side to side, the wide lens also blocks distracting glare from entering through the sides of your lenses. It does the same for dust and debris.
For eye health, the number one reason to wear sunglasses — or any glasses — is the UV radiation protection offered. Protection comes from a micro-thin coating on the lens that blocks damaging rays from reaching your eyes. Even intense outdoor lighting (think sports stadiums) can emit harmful UV rays. All of Rudy Project’s lenses come with 100% UV protection. Playing pickleball matches indoors and outdoors? No problem. Rudy Project’s photochromic ImpactX® lenses instantly change from clear to dark in direct sunlight, allowing you to wear one set of glasses for superior UV protection anywhere and anytime.
As the name implies, there’s more to ImpactX® lenses’ appeal than just featherweight UV protection. They also serve as a shatterproof barrier between the world and your fragile eyes. The lens is made from patented polyurethane optical polymers developed for military and aerospace applications, which means they’re more than ready to protect you from an overhand smash on the pickleball court.
You may not need to consider prescription sunglasses if you’re a pickleball player who wears contacts under your sunglasses. But if you have more than two vision corrections, you likely need to wear prescription glasses. And here’s where the beauty of Rudy Project’s ImpactX® photochromic lenses truly shines. Pickleballers, even those with progressive corrections, only need one pair of glasses to complete their pickleball gear collection. Even our prescription ImpactX lenses will turn clear for indoor and night-time play, then dark for outdoor matches under the bright sun.
Since pickleball can be played both indoors and outdoors, you may be wondering which lens color to choose for the different lighting conditions. While any of our photochromic lenses will adjust when you go from outside to inside and back, we recommend two distinct lens colors based on where you’re playing.
If your match takes place on an outdoor court in bright conditions, our ImpactX 2 Laser Purple lenses can be dark enough to block out direct sunlight while still enhancing contrast and color saturation, both of which improve depth perception and make the ball “pop” against the background.
Playing indoors or in low-light conditions? Go with our ImpactX 2 Red lens, as it offers the vibrant contrast and definition you need to see the court — and the ball — clearly, even without the bright sunlight.
At first glance, pickleball may not look like a game where eye injuries happen. But as the sport continues to explode in popularity, it’s just a matter of time before stories of injuries become more common. With that in mind, keeping your eyes safe during play should be as important in your eyewear decisions as the quality of optics and lens color you choose.
]]>Road Cycling
The best road cycling helmets will be ultralight and well-ventilated — not to mention ultra-safe to maximize protection in high-speed crashes like those that happen in a sprint to the finish line of a race. With a perfect fit, the rider should almost forget it's on their head. The Rudy Project Egos helmet is designed for just this type of rider. On the flip side, road cyclists looking for a competitive advantage or those who want to go faster on their solo rides can turn to the Nytron aero-road helmet, which offers a quantifiable boost of speed versus classic ventilated helmets.
Mountain Biking
Mountain bike helmets, such as Rudy Project’s Protera+, feature more protective coverage than road helmets, especially across the back of the head. In addition, they also offer a removable visor that serves two purposes: pushing branches, bushes, and other obstacles away from your eyes and blocking sunlight that can compromise vision. This shaded vision is vital when riding through dappled sunlight. Without the visor, your eyes will constantly readjust to shadow and sun in split seconds, eventually leading to eye fatigue.
Gravel Biking
Either road cycling or mountain biking helmets are appropriate for gravel riding. Your choice depends on the type of gravel you ride. Spin along dirt farm roads, mostly? A road helmet will work well. Grind up Forest Service roads in the mountains? A traditional mountain bike helmet will likely be more appropriate.
Triathlon
Triathletes seek out any gear advantage possible with aero-bars and wind-tunnel-tested bikes and wheels. The same goes for their triathlon helmet. Aerodynamic efficiency takes precedence over comfort. Or at least it did. With The Wing, Rudy Project produced one of the most aerodynamically efficient and comfortable tri helmets ever. A removable vent plug opens up the helmet to let air flow through the lid, while an exhaust port in the rear further dissipates heat and helps diffuse the turbulent air rolling off the back of the helmet.
Commuter
Lightweight and enough ventilation to make the helmet comfortable are key considerations. But robust construction and value — like you find in the Strym Z — is what you really want in an everyday commuter helmet. That’s because most will get dinged, scratched, and bashed from being thrown in a bag, locked to a bike, or hung off the rear of a backpack. In short, they lead a rough life, but they still need to be durable enough to protect your head in a crash. When you find that perfect combination of comfort, protection, and durability, you’ve found the ideal commuter helmet.
But not all aero helmets are equal. An aero design aims to drive down a helmet’s coefficient of drag area (CdA) number. The closer it is to zero, the better. At the same time, an aero helmet must fit comfortably and stay comfortable for hours and hours of cycling in warm-to-hot environments (The bike leg of an iron-distance triathlon is 112 miles.) Figuring out how to do both would be the crowning achievement for aero bike helmet designers. With the Wing, Rudy Project just might have pulled it off.
Rudy Project teamed up with the aero geeks at Swiss Side, utilizing computational fluid dynamics and wind tunnel testing to create the Wing. Who is Swiss Side? They made a name for themselves in Formula 1, the absolute top of motorsports engineering and design, helping create the fastest race cars on the planet. By partnering with their designers, Rudy Project was able to build a fast helmet that stays fast in various head positions.
Previously, a triathlon helmet was most aerodynamically efficient when the rider held their head in the optimum position. Easy to do for a couple of minutes; hard to do for hours. Wind-tunnel testing confirmed that the Wing’s “chopped” rear end and exhaust port incurred no penalty in straight-line cycling, and, unlike traditional aero helmets, it didn’t punish the wearer for turning their head or looking down.
One of the primary benefits of an aero helmet designed by a leader in sports optics and cycling helmets reveals itself in the smooth integration of the Wing’s helmet with its visor. Understanding the importance of optimized vision with top performances, Rudy Project didn’t cut corners with the Wing’s visor. It blends almost seamlessly into the helmet line for maximum aerodynamics yet still gives the wearer a full field of vision for optimal clarity and safety.
Vents and air channels in a bike helmet do a simple yet important task — they help the wearer stay cool. Staying cool is critical to an athlete’s ability to send power through their legs to the pedals. If the athlete starts to overheat due to an aero helmet with no ventilation, their body will move blood away from the legs and lungs to the skin, where it can better release heat through sweat (This is why you look red in the face when you get overheated). Over time, the body’s inability to keep the head cool will cut the amount of power an athlete can put into the pedals.
Conventional wisdom holds that vents and air channels are not aero. However, a strategically located vent can draw airflow around the wearer’s head while still lessening the aerodynamic negative impact. With the Wing, the center vent, when opened, reduces the helmet CdA by a minuscule amount — less than 1% — as this independent video review and test from ERO Sports demonstrates. In addition, the Wing’s chopped rear vent hole does double duty: it helps hot air escape from the wearer’s head, and that airflow acts as a diffuser to reduce turbulence off the rear of the helmet and settle that airflow’s continued path across the cyclist’s back. The overall benefit of that ventilation port will well exceed any aero penalty in terms of sustained performance over time.
]]>Any activity performed in bright sunlight brings exposure to UV rays, even sitting in the backyard enjoying the sun’s warmth. But snow, water, and beach sports increase exposure to those damaging rays due to the glare and reflected light that bounces off these surfaces straight into your eyes at a more direct — and dangerous — angle than the overhead sun. Snow blindness, in particular, is caused by the reflected UV light effectively sunburning your eyes. Fortunately, the symptoms are temporary, but over time, repeated exposure can lead to cataracts and macular degeneration.
Even indoor sports lighted by intense floodlights, such as those used in stadiums and arenas, produce UV radiation. In some cases, professional athletes will wear UV protection lens filters on their helmets or goggles to not only protect their eyes from impacts but also to protect their eyes from radiation.
UV Myth #1 - The Darker the Lens, the Better the UV Protection
There is no correlation between lens color and UV protection. Clear, everyday glasses can have 100% UV protection, while dark, mirrored sunglasses can have none.
In general, lens manufacturers apply a thin, transparent, and clear UV coating to the lens. The coating both absorbs and reflects UV light. All Rudy Project lenses, from prescription photochromic ImpactX® lenses to HDR polarized lenses and everything in between, block 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Even everyday clear lenses can — and should — come with UV protection for the lens. Fortunately, the UV coating doesn’t wear off or degrade over time, although deep scratches can damage the filter and allow UV rays to reach your eyes.
It’s worth noting that the effectiveness of your UV coating is only as good as the lens shape of your sunglasses. One-piece wrap-around lenses work best (think of Skermo goggles or Kelion sunglasses) since they block reflected light from sneaking into your eyes from the sides and bottoms of the lenses. In short, the bigger the lens, the better.
UV Myth #2 - Polarized Lenses Equal UV Protection
Not true. Polarized lenses cut glare and reflected light but don’t block UV rays.
Everyone. However, people with lighter-colored eyes (blue or green) are more susceptible to UV light damage. Also, those who live between the Tropics and close to the Equator will face more UV radiation than those living in northern climates. In fact, Puerto Rico and Hawaii are the most intense spots for UV radiation in the United States. Those living at high altitudes are also at heightened risk as they’re closer to the sun than those at sea level.
So whether you’re an Ironman triathlete, a casual water skier, or someone who simply enjoys being outdoors whenever possible, protecting your eyes from harmful UVA and UVB rays is essential for optimal vision and long-term eye health. Regardless of your sport or lifestyle, Rudy Project has sunglasses that provide the superior protection you need.
]]>Cloudy days that reduce or block shadows from forming on uneven terrain, snow, or road surfaces can be a hazard. An athlete’s inability to correctly read the terrain in front of them can lead to a fall or worse. Any downhill skier or snowboarder who’s experienced the problem firsthand wears their ski goggles on those days. But the advantages extend beyond snow sports. Cyclists, runners (both street and trail runners), and even car drivers and motorcycle riders will all benefit from the improved clarity, contrast, and safety of low-light sunglasses.
The classic lens tint color choice for flat light is yellow. Hunters have worn yellow-tinted glasses for years to help them better spot birds against the backdrop of a cloudy fall morning. While Rudy Project offers yellow spare lenses for select eyewear models, the Racing Red and ImpactX Photochromic 2 Red lenses are excellent for boosting contrast and sharpness, making them ideal for darker dawn or dusk scenarios or any match taking place under the lights of a tennis court or outdoor hockey rink.
Sunglasses lens tints are rated by Light Transmission Value (LTV). The higher the percentage, the more light filters through the lens. For example, Rudy Project’s Grey Laser lens only lets in 10.8% of light, making it one of the darkest lenses available from Rudy Project. Conversely, Rudy Project’s Photochromic 2 Red Running Lenses let in up to 76% of light. At first glance, they look almost tint-free. A good rule of thumb: If you’re active after dark, try lenses with LTVs of 50% or higher.
Those of you cycling, running, skiing, or skating under the lights at night should also consider a lens with an anti-reflective coating on the lens. This coating will reduce eye strain and cut the glare spots from oncoming cars and overhead floodlights.
The easiest solution to finding the perfect sunglasses for every light level — even night — is to go with a pair of photochromic lenses. The more natural light hits the lens, the darker they become, and in the absence of natural light, the sunglasses turn almost transparent. And the transition happens in mere seconds. Rudy Project’s extensive selection of photochromic lenses in various tints means you don’t have to give up the high-contrast, sharper vision offered by the yellow, amber, or rose tints above. For an example, see the Photochromic 2 Red Running Lenses mentioned earlier.
Even as the days grow a little darker this winter, you can see better with a premium pair of low-light sunglasses. It may sound like an oxymoron, but it’s true. See for yourself.
]]>It makes sense that a company started by a former pro cyclist would focus on ergonomics. Rudy Barbazza wanted to outfit the best riders and endurance sports athletes with high-quality optics that would stay put comfortably, even during the most intense effort: an all-out sprint, a high-speed descent, or even a crash or collision. Today, Rudy Project wearers benefit from the evolution of those original ergonomics and enjoy the specialized eyewear features listed below.
Lenses
All glasses and sunglasses start with their lenses. Rudy Project’s proprietary ImpactX lens is featherweight by design. The result is glasses you see but don't necessarily feel when wearing them.
Frames
Making lightweight sunglasses frames is easy. Making frames that are light, flexible, and nearly unbreakable is harder to pull off. Rudy Project does it with Grilamid, a lightweight, long-lasting, high-performance polyamide that's impact-resistant and maintains its strength in extreme temperature conditions. To boost flexibility and maximize coverage, removable comfort pads allow wearers to add light and debris shields to their temple pieces. Taking design innovation even further, Rudy Project recently strengthened its RidetoZero commitment by releasing multiple sunglass models that feature durable frames made with Rilsan® Clear, a sustainable bio-plastic made from 45% castor oil.
Adjustability
To allow athletes to customize the fit of their glasses, Rudy Project employs adjustable nose pads (one of the first in the performance sunglasses market to do so) that accommodate a range of nose sizes. They also allow wearers to create more space between their face and the sunglasses, a strategic design feature that helps reduce fogging of the lenses. Adjustable temple tips let athletes torque the glasses to stay in place without being too tight.
Airflow
Ventilation may not seem to matter to ergonomics, but it does. Long-term comfort and physical efficiency are two hallmarks of ergonomic design, and good airflow through and around sunglasses provides just that. Lens angles, frame cut-outs, and signature features — like the Rudy Project logo over the nose bridge that doubles as vent holes — are just some of the ways Rudy Project’s PowerFlow design can look cool — and keep you cool.
Once you find your perfect fit, you should be left with sunglasses that you can wear 24/7 during any activity and in all conditions without enduring irritation, pain, or eye strain. And if you need some help determining the perfect fit, you can find a local Rudy Project eyewear specialist here.
]]>Start with Rudy Project’s ImpactX® lenses. These patented polyurethane optical polymers come from the military and aerospace worlds and are shatterproof, lightweight, and remarkably durable. The lens is lighter than — and optically superior to — traditional polycarbonate options. Popular frames such as the Rudy Project Propulse, Tralyx+, and Cutline feature wide lenses, which protect the eyes from sideways glare, dust, and wind. Rudy lenses also provide UVA and UVB protection from direct sunlight or glare off the court, further shielding your eyes from damage.
ImpactX lenses are the height of photochromic lens technology. They immediately change their light transmission level (LTL) based on the amount of UV radiation hitting the lens. The result is one lens for all conditions, a critical cost-benefit for players who wear prescription glasses. Rudy Project photochromic sunglasses will be the only sports sunglasses they need, no matter when or where they play.
Lens tint and mirroring also play a significant role in sunglasses’ performance. The right color will enhance sharpness and contrast; the wrong color won’t be as effective. For lens tints that work best against the green backdrop of the pickleball court, go with ImpactX Photochromic 2 Red or ImpactX Photochromic 2 Laser Purple. Mirrored lenses further cut glare from fatiguing the eyes.
All ImpactX lenses come with High Dynamic Range (HDR), which processes lightwaves unrecognized by the naked eye but still perceived in terms of color and sharpness. The result is the clearest on-court vision possible.
Pickleball is a sport that moves at high speeds, making clear vision absolutely critical. To help players who require prescription lenses, Rudy Project has partnered with MAXIMUS Optic to offer the cutting-edge Rx Shield for the Cutline and Tralyx+ sunglasses. With ghost oculars that are invisible from the outside, the Rx Shield uses advanced technology to emphasize mid-range and distance vision — ideal for players who want to see clearly whether they’re smashing a forehand from the baseline or executing the perfect dink from just outside the kitchen.
Level up your vision — and your pickleball game — with an eye exam and an updated prescription. Then, head to Rudy Project’s website to build your ultimate pickleball glasses. Choose a frame, lens color, coatings (anti-fog, anti-scratch, mirrored lenses), and enter your Rx. With that information, Rudy Project will let you know whether or not your frame and lens choice can be fulfilled.
Another option: Go to your nearest Rudy Project dealer/optometrist to try on frames and lenses in person. Then, have the optometrist fill out your order and confirm the glasses’ fit upon delivery.
Thanks to Rudy Project, prescription eyeglass wearers no longer need to suffer from poor vision on the court due to glasses better suited for watching a game than playing one. With shatterproof lenses, enhanced lens tint choices and coatings, and seamless prescription optics, Rudy Project eyewear and sunglasses have pickleballers covered.
]]>Rudy Project’s Propulse Sunglasses rank as the top choice for pickleballers —the ultralight wraparound design stays secure and comfortable, even during the most intense rallies. Even more important are the available photochromic ImpactX® lenses that adjust to changing light levels automatically, providing sharper images and higher definition in any playing conditions. From first serves to long rallies, seeing the ball is critical. These lenses enhance details and depth perception, allowing the ball to stand out from the background. For green courts and bright days, the Laser Purple tint adds the perfect contrast while keeping the background true to natural color, enabling you to see the ball more clearly. For low-light conditions — early morning and late evening matches — the ImpactX 2 Red lenses adjust to the background colors and the color of the ball, making the ball pop visually.
For players who face a wide range of outdoor temperatures and conditions, the Tralyx+ Sunglasses provide the perfect blend of clarity, comfort, and ventilation. The lightweight, shatterproof ImpactX® lenses come with an anti-fog coating inside the lens to mitigate fog during hot, humid play or during cold spring and fall games. The large one-piece curved lens offers a full range of vision and superior protection from dust, wind, and glare. Vent holes along the edges provide optimal airflow behind the lens. Best of all, a photochromic version of the lens can do it all: working flawlessly under an intense desert sun or harsh flood lights. Its photochromic properties will switch the lens from dark to clear in seconds, depending on how much sunlight is present.
Both Propulse and Traylx+ frames move air through the sunglasses with specially designed cut-outs along the bridge and temple arms that make it easy for air to move onto and off your face. Adjustable nose and temple grips hold the frames comfortably snug on your head, staying put during the most intense rallies in the kitchen.
Propulse and Tralyx+ are top-performance choices for pickleball, but you have multiple options. Rudy Project’s line of pickleball sunglasses lets you select the frames and lenses that fit your game and suit your style. From the Rydon’s 26 different lens color options and signature swappable lens kits to the heightened physical protection offered by the Agent Q’s, Rudy Project has you covered when you step on the court.
]]>Lens:
Look for full-coverage lenses to keep wind and rain out and protect from potential bugs and debris striking your shades. A one-piece shield works best here, providing a wide field of vision.
Lens Tints:
Choose gray tints to see the true colors. Copper, red, or brown tones offer heightened contrast and sharper vision. Yellow is best for low-light conditions, while photochromic lenses offer dynamic clarity for those who ride on cloudy days, in the rain, at night, or during dawn and dusk.
Frames:
Lightweight frames with adjustable nose and temple pads ensure a snug yet comfortable fit. Frames should also fit nicely under your bike helmet, so make sure to have your helmet on when trying out frames. Ideally, the frame arms are skinny enough to let you stow your sunglasses in your helmet on long climbs on hot days.
Lens:
Runners choose smaller lenses than their cycling brothers and sisters because there’s less need to protect the eyes from debris or wind and because runners need more ventilation through their glasses to prevent fogging. Look for lenses with vent holes and anti-fog coatings on the inside of the lenses.
Lens Tints:
Runners should choose their tints along the same lines as cyclists: gray for true color, warm red, orange, and brown for better contrast and sharpness. Photochromic lenses also work well for these athletes.
Frames:
Optimal ventilation, lightweight design, and a snug yet comfortable fit are all desired. Look for air channels in the frames, which help move cool air into the lens area and help expel hot air. Lightweight frames (and lenses) reduce the chances of the sunglasses bouncing off your nose with every stride.
Lenses:
One-piece shield lenses are ideal for watersports as they provide superior coverage and stop glare off the water from sneaking in through the sides of the lens. Look for hydrophobic coating on the outside and anti-fog coating on the inside of the lens to help keep vision clear. In addition, polarized lenses mitigate glare and let you see under the water's surface.
Lens Tints:
Blue, mirrored lenses are best for water and bright sunny days. The least effective are gray lenses. Other colors will be effective at offering sharper contrast compared to gray lenses.
Frames:
Unless you participate in a high-intensity sport like rowing, sprint canoeing, or sprint kayaking, ventilation isn't top of mind for water sunglasses. Any frame will work. However, a frame that does not wrap around the bottom of the lens works best; that way, water that hits the lens can drip off rather than pool at the bottom of the frame.
Lenses:
One-piece shield lenses work best for snow sports (think ski goggles). The exceptions are high-intensity snow sports such as cross-country skiing or speed skating. For those sports, follow the lens criteria for runners above and look for maximum ventilation.
Lens Tints:
Blue, green, and gray lens tints work best in snow-packed terrain and on bluebird sunny days with intense glare off the snow. Mirrored lenses further enhance vision by cutting down glare.
Frames:
High-intensity winter sports athletes should, like runners, opt for lightweight frames that induce airflow through the lens and help push hot air out. Otherwise, you can go with sunglasses of any shape and size, but make sure the frames fit under your go-to winter beanie or ski helmet.
Lenses:
Lenses of any shape and size work for golf. For court sports such as tennis or pickleball, a one-piece shield or two-piece lenses with extra coverage over the side of the face work best. Dissipating heat is critical for court sports, so picking lenses with ventilation cut-outs will help ensure fog-free vision.
Lens Tints:
Any lens tint from the red, orange, or brown family will work well. Green lenses will sharpen the contrast on the fairway and greens. The same goes for the tennis court. Gray or blue lenses ease eye strain but won’t enhance your vision like other tints. One thing to avoid: Polarized lenses. The polarization can mess with depth perception, making the ball harder to hit.
Frames:
Lightweight, snug, and comfortable sunglasses are ideal. You want frames that allow for maximum ventilation and airflow over your eyes.
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A mere two years after launching the company, Rudy Barbazza introduced the Explorer sunglasses and two signature design elements still featured in Rudy Project’s high-performance sports sunglasses. The first was hiding air vents in the company logo on the nose bridge. This small innovation helped reduce lens fogging and helped with cooling. The second was adjustable nose and temple pads, which allowed wearers to achieve a custom, comfortable fit that stays snug and secure on any ride.
Elements introduced in the Explorer 38 years ago appear in the popular Cutline frames and lenses launched in 2020. Their Powerflow ventilation design lets cool air in and channels hot, moist air out. Interchangeable lenses on the Cutline allow you to don the perfect lens tint for the weather, time of day, and terrain. Adjustable nose and temple pads deliver a custom fit, and an anti-fog coating on the inside of the lens further enhances their ability to stay clear in all conditions.
The radical aerodynamic Sweeto time-trial helmet married Rudy Project’s decade of expertise in optics with its then-new helmet line. The helmet incorporated sunglass lenses to minimize aerodynamic drag and produce the most efficient bike helmet of the era. Five-time Tour de France champion Miguel Indurain wore the Sweeto during the time trials at the race in 1996, cementing Rudy Project’s position as a game-changer in the sport. That approach — incorporating the fit and needs of sunglasses to fit under a bike helmet — has driven Rudy Project ever since. It’s also been copied by other optics companies who have spun off their own line of helmets.
Today, the mantle of “fastest helmet” goes to The Wing, introduced in 2021. Wind-tunnel tested, the Wing prioritizes aerodynamics, but not at the expense of comfort over long hours on the bike. Its revolutionary air-flow design, highlighted by its rear “exhaust port,” allows it to be worn comfortably by iron-distance triathletes during their 112-mile-long bike legs. And while the Wing still carries over the Sweeto’s integrated optics, Rudy Project made the lens shield removable for ultimate flexibility.
Rilsan Clear is a bio-plastic made from 45% natural material sourced from castor oil, and it signals Rudy Project’s commitment to #RidetoZero. The goal of the initiative? To save the endangered environment by producing less waste throughout its manufacturing and design processes. Rilsan Clear can be found in the new Kelion sunglasses and several other models of Rudy Project sports performance and lifestyle sunglasses and glasses frames.
]]>Rudy Project’s new line of sustainable sunglasses uses Rilsan® Clear bio-plastic for the frames. This plastic is 45% castor oil sourced from certified farmers in India who are dedicated to reducing farm waste. Nice!
But sustainable products aren't only about content and ingredients. They also come from making durable, long-lasting products that don't break easily and get tossed in the trash. And that quality doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from purposefully producing and stocking replacement parts for each product for years, even decades. The idea is to educate Rudy Project customers to repair their sunglasses and stop them from getting tossed.
Chasing trends and fashion may be cool, but it generates tremendous waste. Waste can result from many factors, from a risky, fashion-forward style that failed in the market to a design that chased a fleeting trend only to arrive on the market too late. As part of the #RidetoZero push, Rudy Project designs products that stand the test of time. How? They focus on performance over trends because world-class performance never goes out of style.
Product packaging is a customer's first physical interaction with Rudy Project’s #RidetoZero initiative. To that end, the company no longer uses plastic laminations on its boxes or paper. It manufactures sunglass cases out of recycled plastic and continually works to eliminate single-use plastics.
This approach to materials, design, and packaging syncs with the company’s commitment to evolve into a sustainable, environmentally friendly business. Doing so feeds into its commitment to maintaining a natural environment that inspires and nurtures a passion for outdoor sports. Cycling, running, skiing, swimming, and racquet sports are more enjoyable in a pristine, natural environment. So come along and enjoy the #RidetoZero with Rudy Project.
]]>For cyclists, the best gear is crucial for maximizing performance. Protecting the eyes from the elements and hazards is essential for both comfort and safety. Sunglasses that combine superior protection, performance, and style can elevate the athlete experience. Add in a streamlined design, made with sustainable materials, and you have performance eyewear everyone can feel good about.
Introducing Kelion, Rudy Project’s newest line of premium, Italian-crafted sunglasses. Designed to provide superior style, unparalleled protection, unrivaled performance, and industry-leading sustainability, the Kelion is perfect for any athlete — especially road, gravel, and mountain biking enthusiasts — seeking the best eye safety and eye-catching style.
For too long, anyone looking for performance sunglasses had a choice to make. Do they want a pair that will stand up to course conditions, or do they want a pair that reflects their personal style? Do they want them to protect their eyes or protect the planet? Thanks to Kelion’s innovative eco-friendly design, athletes no longer have to choose function over comfort or durability. The Kelion is a prime example of our #RidetoZero philosophy and commitment to actions that will minimize the environmental impact of our products, design, and organizational processes.
Kelion is revolutionizing the sports performance eyewear industry. It doesn’t matter whether you’re an elite athlete, a weekend warrior, or just someone who appreciates premium eyewear and Italian craftsmanship. If you’re looking for sunglasses that combine comfort, functionality, and sustainable design in a single pair, your search is over. Kelion has it all.
At some point in their training journey, many runners discover the joys of running at night. Soon after, they uncover its benefits. Some see night running as a de-stressor, while others simply like that it works with their schedule. Many claim they are more in tune with their body when running at night, and some simply enjoy the peaceful combination of cooler temperatures and quiet atmospheres.
Whatever the reason, night running remains popular with athletes of all ages and skill levels. However, as wonderful as running under the night sky can be, it’s important to note that running at night can be risky with the low light and lack of visibility. Staying seen is the key to safety. Let’s look at a few tips to remember while night running and go over the gear you need to stay visible and safe.
Staying visible is one of the best things that you can do for yourself while night running. This not only improves your safety, but it can also ensure the safety of others. Especially if you are running on the road, staying visible will let oncoming vehicles see you in plenty of time to avoid you. An easy way to make yourself visible while running at night is to wear reflective and high-visibility gear. This way, if a vehicle comes by, you will stand out against the low lighting and reduce your chances of getting into an accident.
Now that you know the type of gear needed for safe and visible night running, we need to talk about a few other aspects of night running safety. First, it’s crucial to plan your route. Try to avoid high-traffic areas, and if possible, try to stay on well-lit sidewalks. Stay aware of your surroundings and the people around you, and obey traffic rules wherever you are. If you have another running friend, it’s also a good idea to run with a buddy. Additionally, it’s always a good idea to carry identification, your cell phone, and some kind of protection, such as pepper spray, with you as an added layer of safety.
With all the benefits that running at night offers, it’s important for runners to take the proper precautions before hitting the pavement after the sunset. By staying visible, wearing reflective gear, and planning ahead, runners can safely enjoy night running for years to come.
]]>Pro and amateur bike racers log thousands of training miles to make themselves as cycling fit as possible. Power meters, strict diets, equipment upgrades, and sacrifice all go into making them the best cyclist they can be. You may think you need to do the same to get faster, but there are much easier and less time-consuming ways to go fast on a bike. Our list here is far from complete, but it’s a great start if you want to go faster without really trying.
Every athlete is different, so you have to find the approach that works best for you. That said, if you start with the basics above, you’ll see quick improvements that fuel your training — and excitement! From there, you can dial in your preparation routines and race-day techniques to see your performance rise and your times drop.
It’s simple to design and build a bike helmet for maximum protection. But how do you engineer one that maximizes airflow and lightness for all-day riding comfort? One that cheats the wind to provide a boost of free speed? And fits your head so well that you may even forget you’re wearing it? These are the forces pushing and pulling at helmet manufacturers such as Rudy Project, who are ceaselessly bringing progressively safer, lighter, and faster helmets to cycling. Here’s how they do it.
European and U.S. bike helmet safety ratings and certifications are based on forward crash tests. But real-world crash scenarios rarely play out as specifically as they do in a lab. Side impacts happen. While these crashes may not look as dramatically dangerous as a front impact, their potential for injury can be just as great. Enter Rudy Project’s rotational impact testing, performed in cooperation with accredited and notified bodies. By testing and measuring the performance of our helmets against rotational impacts, we address a critical cycling concern and lessen the chances of severe head injuries.
Rudy Project uses the wind tunnel to design helmets that cheat the wind yet maximize airflow through the helmet. With removable plugs to regulate aerodynamics and ventilation depending on environmental conditions, a Rudy Project helmet, such as The Wing, will draw fresh air through the helmet and hot air out the back, boosting the evaporative cooling effect on the head.
The human head is one of the larger masses that cyclists push through the air, and it’s the body’s leading edge when pedaling with your hands in the drops of a road bike or in the aero position on a TT or triathlon bike. The holy grail for helmet designers is to create a helmet that slices through that air and will make a cyclist go faster without any additional effort. In fact, Rudy Project calculates that a top ironman-distance triathlete can shave almost 4.5 minutes off their bike leg simply by wearing their Wing helmet.
With Rudy Project’s RSR 10 retention system, riders can dial in their perfect fit, adjusting the helmet size horizontally and vertically to accommodate a cycling cap, thermal beanie, or even a new, much shorter haircut. The beauty of the RSR 10 system is that adjustments can be made in seconds, even while on the bike.
Take care of Steps 1-4 above, and you end up with a stellar bike helmet. But Rudy Project wanted to give riders more. Hence, their thoughtful touches, such as the ability to hold sunglasses in the helmet if you’re on a long, hot climb and want to free up more face space to keep cooler. The touches continue with Rudy Project’s swappable helmet straps, an exclusive feature of the Protera+ MTB helmet, which make it a snap to wash the sweat and salt out of your straps and change colors to match your kit.
Together, these five steps to a better bike helmet produce lids that actually elevate your riding comfort and performance. As a critical piece of cycling gear, that’s a proposition that’s hard to beat.
]]>With the summer months come family vacations, longer days, and of course, warmer weather. And in many locations, the hot, humid conditions don’t end just because summer turns to fall. If you’re a runner, this means you need to take extra care to stay cool, hydrated, and comfortable when running in the heat. To make sure that you are fully prepared for your warm-weather runs, we’ve compiled a list of 10 essentials that you’ll want to have before you hit the pavement.
1. Performance Sunglasses
High-quality sunglasses are a must if you plan on running in the hot sun. The best pair will protect your eyes from harmful UVA and UVB rays without feeling too heavy on your face. Rudy Project’s performance sunglasses are ideal for runners thanks to their lightweight frames, adjustable features, and comfortable fit. Our photochromic ImpactX® lenses take eye protection to another level, offering clear vision and enhanced contrast while adjusting darkness levels based on variable light conditions.
2. Running Hat
A good hat is a must-have for anyone who wants to protect their scalp and keep the sun off their face while logging the miles. With its adjustable fit, moisture-wicking band, and laser-cut panels, our Technical Trucker hat fits the bill, offering UPF protection along with refreshing ventilation to help you stay cool and comfortable during your run.
3. Moisture-Wicking Shirts
When you run in the heat, sweat is inevitable. That’s why a moisture-wicking shirt can make a difference by simply keeping you dry and comfortable. Available in men’s and women’s models, Rudy Project’s moisture-wicking running shirts are designed specifically for those hot days. Sweat-wicking fabrics, breathable designs, and vibrant designs make them the ideal running shirt for those sweat-inducing training sessions.
4. Running Shoes
If you ask a group of runners to recommend the best running shoe, you’ll likely get a different answer from each of them. It’s no secret that running shoes are an intensely personal choice. During the hottest months, it’s crucial to get a pair that provides lightweight comfort and support while also fitting your running style and preferences. An excellent shoe that’s loved by performance athletes and hobby runners alike is the Saucony Guide, which provides the perfect blend of cushion and responsiveness for a comfortable run.
5. Running Shorts
When picking the best pair of shorts to wear in the heat, you want to ensure breathability and freedom of movement are at the top of your features list. It also doesn’t hurt to have built-in briefs and side pockets to add ease and convenience to your wardrobe. Looking for recommendations? Consider the Janji 3” Multi Shorts for women or the Tracksmith Session Shorts for men.
6. Running Socks
For maximum comfort while you’re pounding the pavement, invest in high-quality running socks. And since excessive heat can be brutal on your feet, look for a pair that provides cushion and wicks away moisture. This combination will help ensure that your feet stay comfortable and blister-free. Swiftwick’s MAXUS™ Zero Tab running socks are designed to minimize unwanted friction and moisture and provide ultimate comfort during your run.
7. Running Belt
If the pockets in your shorts aren’t cutting it for holding all of your essentials, a running belt is a must-have for your run. Many running belts have convenient features such as adjustable straps, water-resistant materials, and reflective accents. The Salomon Pulse running belt offers a minimalist, lightweight option many runners swear by.
8. Reflective Gear
Running in the evening is a great way to beat the heat, but low-light conditions make it even more important to stay visible. If your shirt, shorts, and belt aren’t already reflective (or have minimal reflection), accessories like reflective vests and armbands can make it easier for motorists and other runners to spot you. The Amphipod Xinglet Reflective Vest and HiVisible reflective bands are both effective options to help you stay visible — and safe.
9. Sports Watch
Add a sports watch or smartwatch to your running essentials to stay on top of your running stats and performance. These watches can track your progress through GPS, heart rate monitoring, pace tracking, and measuring distance — all of which are critical in high-heat conditions. The Garmin Forerunner® 255 and Fitbit Sense 2 both offer these features and many more, which explains their popularity with so many runners.
10. Hydration Bottle
Staying hydrated during your run is one of the most important things you can do. To maintain proper hydration and increase your water intake, especially during your hottest runs, make sure that you have a convenient handheld or waist-mounted hydration bottle. The Peak Hydration Waist Pak by Nathan ranks as one of the most popular waistband models on the market.
Whether you’re new to running in the heat or a seasoned runner who lives for the sweat sessions that the warm weather brings, these essentials will help you stay cool, hydrated, and healthy during your high-temperature training.
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Hands down, switching to one of the new aero helmets on the market is the most cost-effective equipment upgrade any cyclist who wants to go faster can make. Traditional bike helmets have long put a premium on lightweight and ventilation—and penalized cyclists’ aerodynamic efficiency. However, today’s high-tech aero helmet designs for time-trial events and triathlons are more ventilated and comfortable than ever. At the elite level with a time-trial or tt helmet, this efficiency translates to shaving 30-60 seconds off an hour’s effort as demonstrated in a 2020 study out of Portugal.
And a new class of aero road helmets combines all-day comfort with proven efficiency gains over traditional lids. The result is a generation of helmets engineered to deliver free speed to any rider who wears them. But which helmet—aero triathlon or aero road—works best for you? Below we break down two offerings from Rudy Project: the Wing and the Nytron.
Ever since Greg Lemond shocked the world with his come-from-behind, final-stage victory in the 1990 Tour de France, time-trial helmets have been required equipment for any such race–and they quickly became adopted by top triathletes looking to shave minutes off their Ironman-distance races. But for the helmets to work, they required the rider to hold their head up and position the teardrop rear as close to the rider’s back as possible. They also sacrificed ventilation for reduced drag, making them hot. This limited their use to shorter races.
The designers and engineers at Rudy Project thought there had to be a better way. Working with the aerodynamic specialists at Swiss Side to test their ideas in the wind tunnel, Rudy Project developed the Wing aero helmet to work in a variety of conditions and riding positions. The massive rear and front exhaust ports ensure a constant airflow inside the helmet. The scientific combination of helmet geometry and air ports accelerate the internal ventilation to cool riders head while enhancing the sweat evaporation process. This allows a competitor to enjoy better ventilation during hotter and longer events or switch to full aerodynamic efficiency for shorter, more intense competitions. According to Rudy Project’s calculations, closing the front vent reduces effort by 12.6 watts of power at 28 mph. Impressive!
At first glance, an aero road helmet appears to have more in common with a traditional road cycling helmet than an aero helmet like the Wing. There’s no teardrop tail and considerably more cut-outs for venting heat and facilitating airflow. But aero road helmets incorporate aerodynamic efficiencies where it counts to produce that free speed. Take the Rudy Project Nytron helmet. Like the Wing, the Nytron was developed with SwissSide and underwent wind-tunnel testing. It uses strategically placed air vents to channel air into and through the helmet instead of creating turbulence and drag. In a half-Ironman triathlon, the Nytron should shave almost 30 seconds off your bike time according to Rudy Project’s calculations.
In longer multi-hour bike legs in longer triathlons that invariably take place in hot conditions, the Nytron has its appeal. The trade-off of keeping your head cooler and body temperature better regulated versus pursuing maximum aerodynamic efficiency tilts decisively toward an aerodynamic road helmet over a TT helmet.
Aero TT/Triathlon Helmet: Best for serious competitors entering Iron-distance triathlons and time trials on the road or velodrome where the length of the bike leg and split seconds of time saved add up to minutes. These helmets are appropriate for shorter Olympic and sprint distance triathlons, although the all-out intensity and shorter time on the bike place a premium on ventilation and cooling over marginal time gains from a full aero helmet. Half-Ironman distance competitions if the weather conditions are favorable. A versatile helmet such as the Wing can even be considered for training rides.
Aero Road Helmet: Best for sprint triathlons where ease of putting on the helmet in the transition area matters. Also more comfortable for full-Ironman distances where ventilation and staying cool are critical. And aero road helmets are ideal for training rides.
Road cyclists can also benefit from aero road helmets as their versatile shape doesn’t penalize wearers for looking up, around, and changing body position throughout a group ride or race.
]]>The sport of triathlon revolves around 3 pieces of equipment: a bike–ideally an aerodynamic tri-bike, a trusted pair of running shoes, and a wetsuit that keeps you warm and more buoyant in the water. Beyond that, you can do a tri with whatever other gear you need or have on hand. But there are a few items that shouldn’t be overlooked. In fact, they could shave seconds (or minutes!) off your overall race time and make your day a little easier. They are an aero bike helmet, cycling shoes/cleats and pedals, sports sunglasses, swim goggles, and a transition bag. Certainly, other triathlete gear could be considered necessary, but our list is a solid place to start building out your race day kit.
You don’t necessarily need a full aero helmet like the Rudy Project Wing, worn by top triathletes and time-trial bike racers. But choosing to wear an aero road helmet such as Rudy Project’s Nytron still brings time-shaving aerodynamic benefits to the wearer. Based on Rudy Project’s calculations, wearing the Nytron could shave as much as 30 seconds off the bike leg in a half-Ironman triathlon (56 miles). That may not seem like a lot, but in a big race, that could mean moving past several competitors thanks to your helmet.
Before you opt to put aero bars on your road bike or even consider purchasing a dedicated tri-bike, invest in cycling cleats and pedals. Like ski bindings, cycling cleats snap into the pedals and stay put. This ensures you can deliver power throughout the pedal stroke: pushing down, then pulling up. This makes every pedal stroke more efficient and smoother since you use almost your entire leg motion to propel you forward.
In an iron-distance triathlon, you may spend 10-12 hours or more in the heat and sun of the day on the bike and on the run. A high-quality pair of sunglasses will protect your eyes from wind, dust, UV rays, and glare—all of which will reduce eye strain throughout the race. Even better, prescription sports sunglasses allow wearers to forgo contacts and enjoy clear vision throughout the event. Adjustable and flexible specs like Rudy Project’s Cutline glasses feature strategic ventilation holes to let air flow through the lenses and expel heat. A wide lens provides clear vision in all directions, and customizable and flexible nose and temple pieces allow wearers to dial in a perfect fit.
Like sunglasses, swim goggles protect your eyes and help you see. And like sunglasses, different lens colors work better in different conditions. If you’re swimming in bright sun in a lake or ocean, blue lens tints will cut glare and help you see better. Amber is best for low light—think an overcast morning or dawn start. Mirrored lenses of any color further cut glare. On race day, bring two pairs in case one breaks while pulling it on.
Months of hard training and intense efforts on race day can be undone in seconds with a poorly organized transition bag. Fumbling around trying to find bike gloves or socks or the necessary amount of sports gels for your run means precious seconds lost for no good reason. The solution: Use a duffel bag or a couple of simple gym bags (one for each sport) to organize your gear. What bag you ultimately use is up to you. The key is to keep it organized by keeping each leg (bike, run) separate and complete to minimize your time in the transition area.
The gear not mentioned here: nutrition, water bottles, spare tubes, clothes, hats, socks, and gloves, are all critically important for race day. But the short list above singles out five items that will help your performance–and boost it in some cases. As you build out your own triathlon gear kit, keep this checklist handy as a pecking order of gear to acquire and use in your training and racing. You’ll be glad you did.
]]>Sunglass technology can and should offer so much more than clear vision. They should also serve as a kind of superpower, one that delivers, yes, clear vision, but also better vision through improved visual clarity in all directions and reduced eye strain and fatigue. They should protect the eyes from impacts, moisture, dust, and wind, not to mention the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB radiation. They should adapt to changing light conditions and intensity. In short, they should perform like Rudy Project. Come with us as we go through the full range of lens and frame tech that make Rudy Project eyewear a go-to choice for individuals seeking their best performances.
Rudy Project’s ImpactX® lenses are made from patented polyurethane optical polymers that result in a shatterproof, flexible, and lightweight lens. Developed originally for the military and space programs, ImpactX® lenses, in addition to being 10-16% lighter than competitor lenses, also feature lower chromatic dispersion. Translation: sharper vision and definition.
Photochromic lenses automatically switch quickly from clear to dark and back again depending upon a change in the light present. Rudy Project’s ImpactX® photochromic lenses fuse these photochromic particles into their lenses for superior optics and long-lasting durability. Bonus: even in cloudy or low-light environments where the lenses look clear, a slight tint in the lens will help wearers see sharper details and enjoy improved depth perception over lenses without photochromic properties.
Polarized sunglasses technology has long been the go-to lens treatment for water- and snow-based activities. It filters out all UV wavelengths and eliminates glare from headlights, the sun, or reflected light bouncing off wet or icy surfaces. Rudy Project tunes the High Dynamic Range (HDR) filter in its Polar 3FX HDR polarized lens to refine the intensities of various light waves to produce a lens with enhanced visual perception and contrast definition.
A rainbow of lens tints from Rudy Project ensures wearers have the right color for the right environment: Copper lens for all around conditions; brown for bright sunlight; blue for variable light conditions, especially on the water; rose or pink for low-light, shady terrain; green for lush vegetation such as a forest or golf course; and yellow for cloudy, low-light to no light activities. And for traditionalists, the neutral properties of gray lenses allow the wearer to see true colors.
To make glasses easier to live with, Rudy Project developed its 3FX Coating to make them easier to live with and more durable. The coating creates a hydrophobic barrier on the outside of the lens to minimize smudges from finger and water spots. It also makes wiping the lens clean a snap.
Anti-fog coatings on the inside of lenses reduce the ability of heat from the skin to fog up the lens. An anti-reflective coating on the inside of a lens—mostly used with gray lenses—mitigates the visual distraction of refracted light off the face from obscuring vision through the lens.
Athletes who wear prescription glasses don’t need to sacrifice optical performance thanks to Rudy Project’s ImpactX® Rx lenses. In addition to the lens’s impact resistance, lightweight, and flexibility, Rudy Project digitally maps the prescription into the lens, compensating for its wraparound design so that the wearer enjoys a full field of vision with no distortion toward the edges of the lens.
Rudy Project has even thought of active folks with strong prescriptions that won’t work with their thinner lenses. Their Optical Dock system allows users to swap their clear lenses for prescription sunglass lenses and still enjoy Rudy Project’s lightweight, stylish design.
]]>High-quality mountain biking helmets share their structural foundation with road cycling helmets and a variety of safety features and technical specs. To wit: Both will carry a safety rating/certification from the Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CSPC), and some will also meet European safety standards (EN 1078).
This system allows the helmet to rotate inside itself thanks to a low-friction layer that disperses lateral forces; rather than subjecting the head and brain to absorb all that rotational force. Beyond these key safety elements, mountain bike helmets look and function much differently than their roadie brothers and sisters. Generally speaking, MTB lids fall into three categories: cross-country, trail or all-mountain, and downhill.
These helmets look much closer to road cycling helmets than to trail or downhill lids. They usually have a lower rear than roadie helmets but a heavier, beefier hard shell and thicker foam layer. They come with noticeably more ventilation holes than trail or downhill lids, which makes them a better choice for long rides in hot climates or long, multi-hour climbs up mountains.
Choose If: You ride fast over varying terrain or compete in ultra-endurance events such as the Leadville Trail 100 or a 24-hour race.
Bike Type: A lightweight, hardtail mountain bike built for speed and racing.
As the name implies, a trail or all-mountain bike helmet does it all. These lids, known as half-shell helmets, offer more protection behind the ears and across the back of the neck, with the foam and hard shell outer layer wrapping around the back to the head. This form better protects against backward falls. These all-rounders use fewer but strategically-placed vents to boost protection over ventilation. Last, a trail helmet will have a wide visor across the front to block the sun, rain, or even some bushes or branches from hitting your eyes. Some, like Rudy Project’s Protera+, make the visor adjustable, letting it move up or down to integrate easily with goggles. The Protera+ even adds a goggle retainer in the back to hold goggle straps in place.
Choose If: You tackle any mountain bike adventure: singletrack, pump track, or downhills–these helmets are the go-to for fun days on dirt.
Bike Type: Anything from a hardtail to a dual-suspension trail bike.
Downhill or freeride mountain bike helmets look more like motocross helmets than bike helmets. They feature full-face protection with a chin guard, few ventilation holes, and full coverage over the ears, jaw, and around the back of the head. Since many downhill bikers use a ski lift or shuttle to ferry them to the top of the mountain, staying cool from arduous climbs is not an issue. Maximum safety is.
Choose If: You live for lift-served mountain biking featuring big jumps, drops, or high-speed technical descents over rocks and roots. The same goes for big jumps at a freeride park.
Bike Type: Downhill/freeride dual-suspension bikes built for big hits.
The best mountain bike helmet for you fits you comfortably and stays comfortable over hours and hours of off-road riding. That’s because you’ll wear it. Once you find the perfect fit (link to previous blog post about helmet fit?) figure out what works for you. You may be a dedicated cross-country mountain biker who wants the added protection of a trail helmet. Conversely, you may love lift-served downhill mountain biking with its big jumps and high speeds, but not enough to invest in a full-face helmet over a half-shell helmet that's compatible with goggles. No one knows better than you what type of riding you do.
]]>The number one job of high-performance sunglasses is protection. You want 100 percent protection from UVA and UVB rays. You also want wrap-around lenses that provide full face coverage to prevent dust and wind from getting into your eyes. That full coverage coupled with a curved lens lets you see clearly to the sides and underfoot without distortion. Shatter-resistant lenses such as Rudy Project’s ImpactX lenses add even more protection against errant branches, rocks, or other debris that could damage your eyes.
Do you run on shaded trails or forest paths? Urban parks or roads with very little shade? At dawn or dusk, or in the middle of the day in the bright sun? The right lens color matched to your favorite running environments will let you see sharper contrasts and spot troublesome roots, pavement cracks, snakes(!), or other obstacles that could trip up your stride. In general, brown, red, and copper colors are best all-around. Green works well in lush environments, and gray or black lenses are best for seeing true colors.
The ideal pair of running sunglasses shouldn’t feel like you’re wearing them. They should fit snugly but not so tight that they give you a headache or so loose that you constantly push them back into place. They should be featherweight-light. If you’re looking for a pair that checks all these boxes, check out Rudy Project’s Propulse sunglasses. They use proprietary Hi-Grip rubber on the temple tips and the adjustable nose piece to keep them in place. The frames and the lenses feature strategically placed vents that prevent fogging by pulling cool air in and drawing warm air out and away from the eyes. The lack of a frame around the bottom of the lens allows rain and other moisture to roll off the lens instead of pooling along the bottom of the frames.
For a running sunglass lens that does it all, consider a photochromic lens, especially if you’re a runner who wears Rx eyeglasses. These lenses respond to UV rays hitting the lens, swiftly darkening in bright sunlight and turning nearly clear just as fast in shade or an underpass. They can be your go-to sunglasses for sunrise runs and pre-dawn marathons that finish in the late morning under a bright sun. Photochromic lenses offer an ideal solution for runners who wear prescription eyeglasses. They’re the only pair of sports glasses you’ll need, whether you wear prescription glasses or not, no matter the conditions or time of day.
]]>Fast-paced ball sports such as racquetball, squash, and handball have long required eye protection to play. Tennis, Pickleball and baseball are also prime sports for sports glasses. But proper eyewear can save your game in contact sports such as football and basketball as well. Did you know basketball — not a racquet sport — is the leading cause of sports-related eye injuries in the U.S.? A poke in the eye while playing hoops is a real threat. Turns out Kareem was ahead of the curve all along.
But even athletes who play non-ball sports can benefit from proper sports sunglasses or goggles. Skiers and snowboarders need them to see more clearly in bright conditions with high-intensity glare reflecting off the snow. They also need them to keep their eyes from watering due to the speeds they reach while traveling downhill. Cyclists need protection from wind, dust, pebbles, and bugs. Mountain bikers need protection from eye-level branches and bushes crowding the trail.
Start with the lens material. It should be made from polycarbonate, a featherweight shatter-resistant material. Rudy Project does one better with its ImpactX® lens constructed of patented polyurethane optical polymers originally developed for military and aerospace applications. While we’d never recommend testing this claim, these lenses can take a 90 mph fastball to the face and not crack.
The sunglass or eyewear frames should also be indestructible, bending or flexing but not snapping. To make this possible, Rudy Project uses advanced polymers that are extremely lightweight and flexible by virtually indestructible In addition to durable lenses, you want frames that fit a wrap-around lens for full coverage of the eyes in all conditions. Look for adjustable nose grips and temples, which will mitigate slippage during intense play or hot conditions. Last, the best sports sunglasses and protective glasses work with, not against, other protective gear, namely helmets. For example, ski goggle frames will accommodate ski helmets. Cycling glasses will fit inside of chin straps but close to the head at your ear.
Beyond keeping your eyes safe, wearing sports glasses will quantifiably improve your game through sharper vision thanks to tinted lenses that deliver high-contrast sight. This allows you to see the ball faster, spot obstacles in a trail quicker, and react a split second sooner. Plus, UVA and UVB protection stops harmful radiation from reaching your eyeballs.
For athletes of all types and abilities who wear prescription eyeglasses, sports glasses outfitted with their Rx allow them to compete at the highest level without sacrificing sight. For the best possible experience, try photochromic prescription protective eyewear. These lenses quickly change from clear to dark and provide competitors with a go-to pair of protective glasses for all sports — outdoor and indoor.
]]>In 1984, ANSI codified safety standards for bike helmets in the U.S., which have remained relatively unchanged. By the 1990s, the modern bike helmet was established. It features a thin, hard plastic shell and an expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam liner. For the next two decades, the push to design lighter, more ventilated, and more aerodynamic helmets — that meet ANSI standards — continued.
But there was a problem with the ANSI-rated helmets or, more specifically, with the ANSI standards. These helmets had one job: to prevent a crash from cracking your skull open — an injury usually resulting from a direct impact. The problem is that most bike crashes and falls occur at speed, with the head hitting the ground at an angle and sliding or twisting on contact with the ground or other objects (like a tree, boulder, or car).
These real-world crashes cause rotational shearing forces on the brain, which could lead to concussions and other significant brain trauma. Fortunately, experts were thinking about it in the early aughts. The MIPS system, or Multi-Directional Impact Protection System, was inspired by the brain’s natural shock absorber, the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain. A helmet with a MIPS system features a layer between the hard outer shell and the EPS foam liner. Upon a side or angled impact, the MIPS liner allows for 1-1.5 cm of 360-degree movement, significantly reducing the impact forces reaching your brain.
Since roughly 2010, hundreds of helmet brands across the globe have incorporated MIPS liners into their helmet designs. Other brands have developed proprietary solutions for protection from rotational impact forces. And science has shown that the tech works. A 2021 study from Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, which compiled all available research on bike helmet safety, found that the new technology backs up its safety claims. Helmets that protect against rotational impact forces are significantly safer than helmets without. However, the study concluded with the need to set international safety standards for rotational impacts, much like it has for direct hits.
Into this arena came the WG11, a European body that finds the MIPS concept valid but disagrees with how MIPS conducts its testing. In short, the difference comes down to the head form used. MIPS uses a Hybrid III head shape — the same one used on vehicle crash test dummies. The WG11 group considers the Hybrid III an unrealistic head form that doesn't mimic the impact forces on a human head. Instead, the WG11 test uses the EN 960 head form, recently adopted in Europe as the head form standard for motorcycle helmet safety tests.
This new standard is why Rudy Project helmets must pass WG11 testing standards for rotational forces, even if they feature MIPS liners. The WG11 rating means that the Rudy Project helmet line, which already exceeds international direct impact safety standards, offers wearers the next level of safety assurance.
From styrofoam to EPS foam to MIPS liners, bike helmets are slowly but assuredly getting safer, lighter, and more comfortable. The next frontier might be a helmet’s outer hard shell. Scientists in Singapore have developed a proprietary resin and carbon fiber shell called Elium. Upon impact, the Elium shell cracks, absorbing impact energy and reducing the total force reaching the helmet's EPS foam liner from 75 percent to 35 percent, according to Elium’s developers. If true, the result could be future helmets with thinner EPS foam liners that are more aerodynamic and sleeker than current lids but still offer exceptional protection.
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Decades ago, eyeglass treatments such as UV protection and lens tints were layered onto a clear lens. Now the treatments are infused into the lens itself. The ImpactX lens from Rudy Project uses a proprietary polymer that's lighter than traditional polycarbonate lenses and shatterproof. Various lens tints let users select the perfect color for their activity, whether they enjoy snow sports, water sports, mountain or trail sports, or even indoor sports like basketball or pickleball. And the tint is baked in. Same for its photochromic properties, which allow the lens to lighten or darken depending on the amount of UV radiation present.
In addition to leading-edge tech lenses, high-tech coatings further enhance eyewear. Anti-fog and hydrophobic coatings keep the lenses clear from water drops and moisture during water sports and in high-humidity settings. Some coatings even help reduce eye strain from the blue light given off by our ubiquitous personal digital screens.
Prescription eyeglasses wearers enjoy some of the most impactful breakthroughs in performance lens technology. Progressive lenses — lenses that contain multiple gradients of a prescription to address both nearsighted and farsighted vision issues without bifocals — are now offered in a variety of lens colors with photochromic capabilities and polarization for anti-glare, high-contrast vision. And these Rx lenses are just as light, durable, and shatterproof as non-prescription lenses.
The superior flexibility of lenses today allows manufacturers to fit them in nearly any frame. Now a lens designed specifically for triathlons can be slotted into a chic pair of street frames. The result is a pair of sunglasses that lets you enjoy superior optics, UV protection, and reduced eye fatigue — all without looking like you’re about to compete in a triathlon. Conversely, the latest lifestyle frames, such as those from Rudy Project, are durable and light enough to work as possible stand-ins for training and racing specs. They’re that good.
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Rudy Project, the official helmet and eyewear partner of the Life Time Grand Prix Series, is dedicated to providing athletes of all levels with premium cycling gear. Driven by their passion for endurance sports, Rudy Project also serves as an official helmet sponsor of the Life Time Garmin UNBOUND Gravel race. The famous race will take place on Saturday, June 3rd, in Emporia, Kansas, and as the athletes tackle the terrain, they’ll count on Rudy Project gear to protect them and help them perform their best.
UNBOUND Gravel began in 2006 with just 34 riders who wanted to explore the beautiful terrain of Emporia, Kansas, on two wheels. Since then, it has become the “World’s Premier Gravel Event,” with 4,000 riders coming to the Flint Hills of Kansas each year. Riders choose between the original 200-mile distance and other 25- to 350-mile-long routes.
The race’s mission statement sets the tone for the event: UNBOUND Gravel is a grassroots event, organized and managed by folks who are passionate about cycling, and have done so for the primary purpose of providing life-enriching cycling experiences for our event participants.
Rudy Project is proud to support a race that provides meaningful riding experiences for athletes. With their expertise in cycling and dedication to creating premium cycling gear, Rudy Project’s sponsorship of UNBOUND Gravel just makes sense. Their goal is to create equipment that enhances athletes’ experiences at these amazing events.
“UNBOUND Gravel is really the experience of a lifetime,” said Heather Jackson, a Rudy Project athlete and elite gravel racer. “To be surrounded by so many amazing athletes as you ride through legendary gravel terrain … there’s just nothing else like it.” Jackson will participate in the race this weekend and plans to race the Western States 100 at the end of the month.
The Garmin UNBOUND Gravel Venger is available for a limited time in honor of this legendary race. Designed for athletes who conquer the most challenging terrain, this helmet provides advanced protection and lightweight comfort while displaying an eye-catching graphic design.
Rudy Project helmets like the Egos give gravel cyclists the confidence to embrace the thrill of the ride with maximum comfort and protection. Sunglasses like the Spinshield keep athletes’ eyes safe and vision clear so they can focus on a distraction-free ride and enjoy the views as they fly by.
With co-branded helmets like the UNBOUND Gravel Venger, athletes can take a piece of the race home with them, a unique addition to their kit that will serve as a meaningful memento they can wear with pride.
As Life Time says, “To be unbound is to be free.” Athletes who race this weekend while wearing Rudy Project will experience that freedom thanks to the revolutionary comfort, safety, and performance their gear provides.
]]>Finding one pair of sunglasses that doubles as casual shades and performance eyewear is easier than ever today. Lightweight frames and a host of high-quality lenses and lens colors mean choosing a pair of lifestyle sports sunglasses over a pair of specialized sports sunglasses will take care of the most critical reasons for wearing sunglasses: to see better in the bright sun and to protect your eyes from UV rays. And let’s be honest; the sunglasses you want to wear in any situation are the ones you’ll wear the most.
Let’s take a closer look at why well-designed sport sunglasses can bridge the gap between athletic performance and personal style.
When you’re choosing a pair of lifestyle sunglasses to wear in multiple settings, quality matters. Lifestyle sports sunglasses feature the same premium lens technology and manufacturing as specialized sports sunglasses. In terms of vision and lens options, there’s no sacrifice. Polarized lenses, photochromatic lenses, and prescription options for all of them make them highly versatile.
Of course, depending on the settings and situations where you’ll be wearing your shades, style can be just as important. Thanks to designs that are less performance-aggressive than their predecessors, modern sport casual sunglasses can be worn more often. From recreational activities like boating, golf, hiking, and fishing to social events and friendly get-togethers, these sunglasses are the perfect choice.
For even more versatility, casual sports sunglasses such as Rudy Project’s Spinair 57’s feature rubber nose pads and adjustable temple tips to dial in a custom fit and hold the frame securely on your head during activities. They come in a variety of lens sizes to satisfy your need for more lens coverage — or less, depending on your personal style.
Your eye health is too important to risk because of a fashion choice or performance preference. The last thing you want to do is leave your sunglasses behind simply because they’re not stylish enough or not appropriate for your sport. Whatever factors you consider when choosing between sunglasses for sports and casual everyday wear, just make sure you go with the shades that you want to wear. That makes all the difference.
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