Review: Adidas Kentro Sport Sunglasses

Comfortable, grippy, with a modern wide lens, the Adidas Kentro is a versatile set of sunglasses equally suitable for on and off the bike.

While not specifically marketed as cycling sunglasses, the new Adidas Kentro work very well on the bike. I have lived with the ‘Bold Gold / Light Granite’ option of the Kentros for the last few months, including the 350km ride from Manchester to London.

The wide, full frame lens provides a panoramic, undisturbed view – so much so that you can forget you are wearing them. It’s only when you see cars approaching through the gold-tinted lenses that your brain sometimes wonders whether you have been transported to pre-1993 France when ‘selective yellow’ headlights were mandatory.

Adidas say the POWERVIZN lens is designed to optimise depth perception, and they do provide a sharp and bright field of vision for fast flowing descents. In line with other high-quality offerings, the lens is treated with a coating that repels water, sweat and dirt to keep your line of vision clear.

The Kentro works well in a range of daytime condition, even in the brightest sunshine; however, the lens does not possess the ability to adjust to ambient lighting in darker or shadier conditions like some photochromic competitors. 

In terms of fit, the size is on trend: relatively wide, but not excessive. The adjustable rubberised nose pads and temple tips are grippy enough that I never needed to re-adjust them. The new Adidas Kentro are reasonably lightweight at 34g on my scales, on par with most competitors such as the Bolle Lightshifter, but the Roka Matador are substantially lighter at 27g. 

Adidas claim that ventilation openings on the upper frame are designed to prevent the the lenses from fogging up. I can attest that in my two months of riding I had no issues with fogging up. 

The Kentro is available in other colours, in case you aren’t as much a fan of Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’ as I am, including smoke/blue mirrored, pink/mirrored, and brown/gold mirrored.

If you’re looking for a versatile pair of stylish sunglasses that will serve just as well on the bike as for running, general sport or all-round daily use, the Adidas Kentro might just tick all the boxes.

Adidas Kentro Sport Sunglasses, £130 – www.adidas.co.uk