It's taken a long time to get this review together and for once I'm going to blame an act of god rather than my own lackadaisical standards; there simply hasn't been enough of the right weather (ie sunshine) to justify wearing sunglasses for a large part of the year so far.
We're now in mid June and even in Ireland the sun has put in a couple of appearances: so with that, here are some impressions on the Vinco Terra cycling glasses.
Handmade in Italy with an emphasis on renewables - the frame is made of Lignatura, a proprietary carbon-neutral bio-resin, with stainless steel fittings - the Vinco Terra retail at an aspirational £201.
Cycling eyewear is a competitive market, but the Vinco Terras stand out immediately thanks to the highly customisable, flexible arm tips: these can be bent to secure a bespoke fit, no matter how weird or asymetrical your face and/or ears may be.
I took this to the extreme by bending the arms almost into a full semi-circle: the result was a fit so secure that I struggled to get the glasses off at the end of the ride, and for a few seconds feared having to style it out on the school run, despite the weather having taken a turn for the torrential.
So, a positive feature for sure but maybe don't take it that far.
The lens meanwhile is a fetching one-piece polyamide affair: it doesn't boast any fancy photochromic qualities - so it will not adjust to ambient light conditions, as some other cycling glasses will - but it actually throws shade pitched at just the right level for typical UK/Irish conditions.
"Terra lens filtration is ideal for forest canopy coverage and overcast conditions, while enhancing the contrast between foliage and soil," claim Vinco.
They aren't too dark, in other words, meaning you could probably use them in spring and autumn as well as the height of a European summer if only it wasn't raining all the time.
The lens is "specifically tuned to enhance trail conditions, gravel, and surface details imperceptible to the naked eye," and in fact my first couple of rides were something of a revelation; I kept having to flip them up to check if the enhanced views I was enjoying were real or if, like my photos of the recent Aurora borealis visitation, they owed much to the tricksy magic of filters.
The field of vision is also top notch, with no chunky frame to obstruct those sideways glances at passing drivers, ride mates or frolicking fauna.
Apart from enhancing the scenery, the other job of a pair of cycling sunnies is of course to protect your eyes, both from UV damage and from the more immediate danger of bumblebees crashing into your face.
I've taken a few sizeable hits from punchy members of the insect community already this year, it's safe to say I wished I was wearing a pair of specs on each occasion.
Although commendably insect-proof, I've found the lense a little susceptible to smudging in use - that said, when it comes time to wipe your eye-armour clean at the end of a ride, they scrub up well.
They ship with a nice protective case and a drawstring pouch to keep them safe and clean, and the overall impression is of a premium product.
Two sizes are available, with the small tested weighing in at a scanty 27g. They are barely noticeable in use, and only in warmer conditions - a rarity - while putting in an effort on a climb (also rare) did I notice the beginnings of a head of steam building up.
Overall, these are a lovely lightweight yet durable pair of shades that seem very well pitched to UK conditions.
At this price point they face stiff competition from photochromic rivals, but if you like the pared back style and the eco credentials make a date for your face with the Vinco Terra.
Vinco Terra, £201 from www.vincoperformance.com
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