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The Product...
Shields Sport Sunglasses
Lexan TrueSphere Optic Lenses (comes in a variety of colors)
Patented Control Cord Retention System (no frame)
Nose Piece, Brow Pad, Floater, Anti-fog Rub
2-Year No-Questions-Asked Breakage Warranty
Manufactured by Intellitec in Switzerland
MSRP: $89 available direct from Shields for $62
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The Product Tester...
Jesse Hoffman, Gravity Slave
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 175
Vision: 20/20
Style: Slow & Steady
Background: Product Development Engineer with a Masters Degree from
Cornell University.
Avid outdoorsman thats been mountain biking for over 8 Years.
Also the President of GravityFed.
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The Completely Biased Review...
Category: Eyewear
Photos: Gary Marcoccia
With just a lens and a cord, these glasses have a style all their own. I hesitantly
strapped them to my face, and was surprised by how well they fit. Not only were they snug, but they
were also very light and comfortable. I could tell right away that they would be great glasses to bike
with.
After a couple months of riding with the glasses in the Wasatch, I am happy to report
that the performance and comfort were as excellent as I anticipated. The patented Control Cord retention
system kept the glasses locked to my face over some of Utah's most technical singletrack. The cord was also
very comfortable underneath my helmet, where as the arms from regular framed sunglasses dig into my head.
Peripheral vision and object clarity were also first-rate. The only problem I had with the glasses was
with the floater getting caught on my Camelbak. Simply removing the floater easily rectified this situation.
Overall, these are great mountain biking glasses, plus I believe they would work well
for other sports. According to Rob Klau, Shields Eyewear's Marketing Manager, "Shields Sport Glasses stay
snug on your face in extremes of wind, water and impact. Aerobatics pilots who wear Shields have pulled
12 Gs without their glasses moving."
As long as your not afraid of the retro 80's look, these glasses will be one of the
best functioning sport glasses you've ever worn.
More Biased Reviews Of This Product...
Name: Adrian Rothwell
Email: arothwell@yahoo.com
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Vision: For world peace (20/20)
Riding Style: Functional
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 155lbs
Review:
We recently used the Shields Eyewear in the Ecochallenge 2000 race in Borneo, where
lightweight and functionality were critical. I found the Shields to be surprisingly
close fitting, comfortable and featherweight. They provided great protection over 9
harsh days on land and water. Without the frame of most traditional sunglasses, fogging
became less of a problem ... although not eliminated. The float retainer strap was
especially handy for the water enthusiast. In summary, these were great glasses for
the sportsperson interested in lightweight, great protection, unmatched peripheral
vision and sporty looks. ;-)
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Name: Paul Jones
Email: pcjones@ozemail.com.au
Location: Sydney, Australia
Vision: 40/40
Riding Style: Pump Harder
Height: 165cm
Weight: 65kg
Review:
Windsurfing: I used my Shields during the recent 2000 Australian Windsurfing
Championships and while others battled the elements (heavy wind ocean event),
losing their sunnies and squinting through salt and sun, I was able to pick a
clean course to the marks with ease, and took the Australian title. The only
problem I found was keeping the opposition from stealing them back on the beach.
Hang Gliding: When you fly like an eagle, you need eyes like an eagle, and
that's how I describe my Shields. They're comfortable, snug, fog-free and fit
under a helmet. Depth perception is all-important at 10,000 feet and my Shields
provide crystal clear vision without any stress or distortion. They actually
make the terrain brighter while reducing glare. Amazing.
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Name: JANE HALL
Email: jhall@dlwc.nsw.gov.au
Location: Sydney Australia
Vision: pretty darn good for an oldie
Riding Style: looong, fast and adventurous
Height: 178cm
Weight: 67kg
Review:
They are exceptionally light and pack away to nothing if you need to carry them in your pack (along with food, water and gear for each discipline-so space and weight is very important!). But generally I found that once on - I left them on. The cord allowed the glasses to hang close by my neck so they didn't get in the way of gear or, for example, ascenders and ropes if night climbing.
When we would sleep for anything from 45 minutes to a couple of hours we don't want to spend valuable seconds adding up to minutes mucking around getting set up and packing things away. So I found no problem with leaving the glasses around my neck or on my forehead when I lay down for a power nap.
Ocean and river paddling was a breeze - the glasses cut the glare very well so that you could see each wave or rapid and work out your route, and because the glasses are so close fitting, splash couldn't get on the inside of the lenses. Impressive! In fact, I didn't usually wear sunnies when Outrigger Paddling but these are the only glasses I now wear and I recommend them to my club mates.
The arms of most sunglasses I've used before pinch a little on the temple - they have to be tight to hang on. After several days racing and almost continual use, this tends to become really uncomfortable and annoying. If they are not tight they fall off and I have lost innumerable sunnies during some of my more spectacular jungle trek or bike tumbles. But with the cord of the Shield Sport glasses, they are snug, not tight and hang on. Again impressive! They stayed on when abseiling, whitewater swimming, mountain biking (and were a comfortable fit under the climbing and mountain bike helmet).
I unequivocally recommend them to adventure racers, paddlers, and weekend warriors. They are great. Congratulations to the inventors of this unique concept, I am totally impressed with these sunnies and will continue to race with Shield Sport Glasses as long as they are available!
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Name: Marshall Ulrich
Email: straydogs@uswest.net
Location: Brighton, Colorado
Vision: 20/20 with contacts
Riding Style: The longer the better
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 155
Review:
I was impressed with the Shields eyewear because of the lightweight design and because they didn't fog up as easily as some of the other glasses I have worn. My first exposure to them was during the 2000 Eco Challenge in Borneo. I have competed in all seven of the Eco Challenges and usually wind up loosing at least one pair of glasses (and sometimes up to three), due to them not staying on my face during the capsizing of boats or torn off in brush. We had the misfortune of capsizing our outrigger after a rouge wave literally picked our canoe up in the air and set it upside down. Mark Macy's regular sunglasses with pop in lenses lost the lens, while Maureen Mohagan was wearing the shields and came up out of the water with them in place on her face! The lens tinting is excellent--not too light or dark, and after adjusting the head strap appropriately they are some of the most comfortable glasses I have worn to date. These glasses are ideal for the sports enthusiast or for anyone who would like a comfortable, lightweight, durable, and functional sun or shield eyewear.
- Marshall Ulrich
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Name: Alex Basile
Email: cyberslinger@netscape.net
Location: Santa Monica, CA
Vision: not perfect :)
Riding Style: Whatever the course requires.
Height: 6'
Weight: 210
Review:
Well I too was a competitor in Eco 2000 this year and like the others really like the sport shields. The thing that I especially liked is that I usually have a problem with fast downhills and contact lenses drying out. But the sheild really did have a nice seal on the face and really kept the wind out. Not to mention you put these things on your face and totally forget that they are there. I'll be using them again and again. They don't fall off, Good protection, light weight, good wind resistence, overall a great product.
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Name: Mighty Mo Monaghan
Email: Mightymo@airmail.net
Location: Earth
Vision: Good
Riding Style: All
Height: 5.3
Weight: 120
Review:
I recently got back from the Eco Challenge 2000 in Borneo where I tested The Shield Sport-Glasses. Being a Pro Mountain bike racer and Adventure racer I have tried out and used many different kinds of glasses and each have their strengths and weakness. I was a little skeptical about using the Shields without ear piece. These glasses have a lens and a string attached that pull around your head for a secure snug fit. I was impressed with the shier functionality. I wore these glasses almost the entire time in the Eco Challenge, which took us 8 day. The string made it very easy to hang around my neck while not in use. On more than one occasion we flipped out of the boat and the glasses were still on my face while my teammates glasses were gone forever. I was glad I carried 2 pair of Shields and was able to give my teammate a pair, and he was immediately impressed also.
All in all I thought these were functional glasses and the best for Adventure Racing especially water sports. There are not the best looking glasses that you can buy but if you are looking for something that works then The Shield Sport-Glasses is what I recommend.
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Name: keith murray
Email: andrea.keith.murray@clear.net.
Location: christchurch, new Zealand
Vision: normal
Riding Style: fast is fun
Height: 1.83m
Weight: 83kg
Review:
I used the Shields in the Ecochallenge in Borneo this year, as did the rest of our team. We had 9 previous Ecochallenge wins between the 4 of us (Keith and Andrea Murray, Neil Jones and John Howard). This year was not such a good result for us, but we were all highly impressed with the Shields glasses. They work well in all situations, they are comfortable, and surprisingly don't mist up too badly- which was a problem that I had imagined they might suffer from. The fact that they were ok in the Borneo rain forest, where heat and humidity is extremely high, is testament to that. We used the yellow lenses in the rainforest, which helped definition and also gave good eyeprotection. I would recommend them for all active sports, but in particular they are superb for kayaking, stay on your eyes when rolling or in white water, and if you do drop them, they float thanks to the foam floater.
Back home I have used the clear lenses for orienteering in the forest (for eye protection) and the dark lenses for backcountry ski touring. Again- they passed the stay on test when wiping out into good old NZ crust! Best thing about them is you never know they're on your face.
Keith Murray
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Name: Cathy Tibbetts
Email: cdtibbetts@yahoo.com
Location: Farmington, NM
Vision: 20/20 with contact lenses
Riding Style: Slow and steady
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 125
Review:
I have the distinction of being both an Optometrist and Eco-Challenge Sabah 2000 finisher. From both a professional and athletic standpoint I can say this is a great concept. The optics are superior, the material is the best, and they fit underneath helmets well. I also like the float that keeps you from losing them when you flip your boat. I have been recommending them to all my patients involved in sports.
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Name: Sandy Geisel
Email: SGeisel1@aol.com
Location: Atlanta
Vision: 20/20 corrected
Riding Style: practical yet still appealling
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 118
Review:
I tried the Shields eyewear for the first time at this year's Eco Challenge. I loved them and wouldn't trade them for the world. Among many other benefits I found were they are very light weight, extremely comfortable and they stay on! I have tried many different pairs of sports glasses and wouldn't wear them as they seemed too much of a hassle. I always forgot I had the Shields glasses on.
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Name: Chris "Robie" Robishaw
Email: IMRobie@aol.com
Location: Ft Benning, GA
Vision: 20/20
Riding Style:
Height: 69''
Weight: 155lbs
Review:
"Tools for your Face", That is how this product was described to me, and it is how I explain it to other people. I have been wearing Shields for 6 months now, and after having tried many makes and models, the Shields are the most versatile and practical on the market. They are very low profile and simply will not slip or fall off your face. If you want eye protection that you can count on, Shields are the way to go. I also wore them throughout the Eco-Challenge in Borneo and could not have asked for better eye protection. I am challenged in critiquing this product because I can find no flaws. The designers of these glasses covered everything: light weight, functional, versatile, and durable. The clarity they offer are second to none. In fact, on numerous occasions, I would poke my finger into the glasses accidently while wearing them, because I would forget that I had them on. I serve as a Ranger qualified Infantry Officer in the Army, and I never conduct night patrolling without throwing on my clear Shields for protection (in fact, I can still see through my night vision goggles with them on). They are scratch resistant also. Let's face it, God gave us only one set of eyes, and they are pretty fragile... they don't grow back. I say take care of those peepers, and they will take care of you. The best way I found to do so, is with the Shields...Tools for your face!
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Name: Edward Bugarin
Email: strended@aol.com
Location: Hawaii
Vision: 20/20
Riding Style:
Height: 68 inches
Weight: 155 lbs
Review:
I raced in Eco-Challenge Sabah 2000 which was in Borneo. I wore my Shields Eyewear during almost the entire race. Much of the course was on the ocean and fresh water, where we had to navigate great distances under diverse conditions. The Shields Eyewear held up great. The great design kept the eyewear in place in high winds, rains and while I was in the water without worry of losing them. At night I would slide them down to my neck where they were out of the way and put them back during daylight without missing a beat. Living in Hawaii, on the water, I do a lot of canoing and kayaking. The eyewear is great for water sports and protection from the glare of the awesome sunrises and sunsets. I've fallen in the water wearing the Shields Eyewear and they stay on. A little shaking of my head and the glasses are clear of the water and I'm ready to hele on (paddle on). While hiking and mountain biking on trails the trade winds can really blow hard. Because of the Shields Eyewear design, I never worry about my glasses being blown off. I have my own weight equipment at home, much of it outdoors. When I work out I wear my Shields Eyewear. Hey, protecting myself from the sun's glare allows me to pump out that one or two more reps. Isn't getting ripped important to you? If you are active and want a pair of sunglasses that are functional and look great, I recommend you obtain a pair of Shields Eyewear. Mahalo (thanks) to the makers of this great product.
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