Review: Scicon Aeroshade 2.0 Titanium Sunglasses

I wouldn’t mind looking like Tadej Pogacar on a bike – nor would most of the pro peloton, let’s face it – but so long as an FTP of 450W remains tantalisingly out of reach, there’s the next best thing: wearing his sunglasses.

The Scicon Aeroshade 2.0 Titanium glasses worn by Pogacar and several of his UAE team mates are a suitably premium set of sunnies designed to leave rivals in the…. well, shade. The new Aeroshade 2.0 Titanium is a refinement of the original Aeroshades which Scicon launched some six years ago and rapidly emerged as a favourite on the pro tour, supplying no fewer than four World Tour teams. The main change in the new model is the addition of titanium temples – the piece that connects the frame to the arms. Titanium is almost a cliche when it comes to premium cycling products, but it’s chosen for a reason: in this case, Scicon are drawing on the wonder metal’s mechanical and chemical resistance, elasticity and long-term durability – all very useful for a component that has to survive thousands of hours in hot and sweaty conditions perched on the bridge of an elite athlete’s nose.

Unlike some conventional temples bent or stamped from sheet metal, the arms used for the Aeroshade 2.0 are each crafted from a solid titanium rod and refined through more than 20 precision manufacturing steps. And when they finally arrive on your face, the results of all that shaping are manifest: this is a set of sunglasses that feels every inch a premium product befitting a generational talent like Tadej.

The glasses arrive with two lenses – one reflective and one one clear- complete with a pouch and a pleasingly tactile, soft “technical vegan leather” case that doubles as a saddle bag.

Impressions with the shades in hand are great. The Aeroshade 2.0 is not only lightweight at 40g, but the fit and comfort is top level: the arms can be adjusted by hand to fit your head, while the Flexifit 2.0 rubber nose pad can similarly be narrowed or widened to dial in the perfect fit. Once in place, the Aeroshades feel locked in: there’s zero movement or any sense that the glasses might slip out of position at a critical moment.

Aesthetically, the Aeroshade strike a contemporary, aggressive note with subtly scalloped edges to the bottom and side of the lens. Viewed in profile, the lens has a pronounced backward sweep that sits close to the face presumably for an aero fit; if it’s possible for a pair of sunglasses to look fast, these are unmistakably designed for speed.

Speaking of lenses, Scicon offer a range of Hi-Contrast mirrored and photochromic cylindrical optics for the Aeroshade 2.0 Titanium, specifically designed to meet the demands of high-performance cycling.

Multiple filter categories and VLT (Visible Light Transmission) values ensure you can find a lens to suit your riding conditions, whatever the season or weather. Scicon claim the Hi-Contrast technology enhances details in low-visibility conditions, improves terrain definition, amplifies contrast and reduces eye fatigue during long rides. All their lenses also feature a Nanotech hydrophobic and oleophobic coating, enabling the rapid shedding of water, oil and impurities that might obstruct the rider’s vision. And, for riders who need vision correction, an insert is available separately that allows for prescription lenses to be fitted.

We’ve been testing the Aeroshade 2.0 throughout summer and autumn and it’s impossible to be anything other than impressed. Throughout the hot summer, riding in Ireland, the UK and France, the Aeroshade 2.0 proved essential kit. 

For hot summer days, the Multimirror green lens offers an excellent level of eye protection against the glare of full sun. Clarity and detail is sharp, while the mini ventilation ports along the top help prevent overheating becoming an issue.

Now we’re into autumn, I’ve switched over to the second lens that came with the glasses: a clear pink lens that offers better vision in lower light conditions. Swapping lenses is a snap, literally – just clip out the existing lens from the frame, slide the new lens into place with a click and clip in the nosepiece.

The hydrophobic coating has been put to the test in a few showers, and it does work: rain drops seem to shed from the lens after a few moments without the need to wipe them clear. Ventilation is good, I would say better than average; I did find the glasses fogged up a little on humid forest climbs after rain, but the lenses quickly clear again.

The field of vision is simply excellent: the lack of a full frame means you can clearly see to the side and behind you at a glance, with no obstruction. I can imagine in a race environment this is vital; for the rest of us, it makes traffic checks at junctions etc that much simpler and safer.

As to value, the Aeroshade 2.0 with two lenses is currently on sale at £172.80 from the Scicon website, with an additional 10% discount using the code SCICON10. It is a premium price tag, but then it’s a premium product – and one that Scicon stand behind. The glasses come with a lifetime scratched lens warranty which means that if you accidentally scratch a lens, Scicon will replace it free of charge. Can’t say fairer than that, and having scratched lenses on other glasses in the past this policy alone bumps up the value of the Aeroshades several notches.

In summary, the Aeroshade 2.0 Titanium offer exceptional quality in a set of premium sunglasses. They may be designed for – and proven at – elite level, but for keen amateur level cyclists seeking the best design, aesthetics, materials and performance, these will repay your investment handsomely over many thousands of miles.

Scicon Aeroshade 2.0 Titanium Sunglasses, £172.80 from sciconsports.com