Tifosi Marzen Polarised Sunglasses

Tifosi's Marzen sport-casual sunglasses are perfect for out of the saddle adventures but the average coverage makes them useful for only the most sedate of rides.

The Marzens are part of Tifosi's 'lifestyle' range, designed to take anything that you can throw at them on or off the bike. They're available in two sizes, three colours – smoke, tortoise brown or black – and with optional, polarised lenses which we have on test. They provide 100% protection against UVA, UVB and UV400 rays, which stood me in good stead for that one week of summer we had in June. They're made of Grilamid TR-90, a homopolyamide nylon that has a high resistance to bending, with hydrophilic rubber ear and nose-bridge inserts to prevent them falling over your handlebars or into your Campari.

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Tifosi have priced the Marzens to compete in both the cycling and general retail markets. For me the £75 RRP is about right. While you might find a pair of polarised glasses in the bargain basement of an online shop I doubt that you'll find a pair as well thought-through and executed as these. With two arms, a hard case and a wipe included it's easy to feel like you're getting quality here.

The stand-out feature of the Marzens is their Swivelink design. A quick twist and the arms pop right out. Tifosi include a pair of sport-focussed arms with long, straight rubberised ends and a pair of casual arms which drop behind the ear with a smaller rubber insert. Swapping between the arms is a cinch and the nylon construction is tough enough to resist imperfect technique.

On the face the Marzens feel snug, but not tight. The rubber nose-bridge keeps them in place over lumps and bumps and they wear well with or without a helmet. The lenses provide a clear view with no perceivable distortion and the polarised versions do a spectacular job of removing glare. The frames are sturdy enough to withstand plenty of abuse and the polarisation of the lenses is integral to the design rather than a coating so they too will stand the test of time. At 27g they're on the light side, pipping Rapha's sport-casual Classic glasses by ten grams.

While Tifosi market the Marzen as a 'go anywhere, do anything' pair of sunglasses I would put them firmly in the casual end of the spectrum. The Wayfarer-inspired styling means coverage is not ideal for riding. Wind-whip is an issue at anything more than a casual pace, and light leaks below and to the side of the eye can produce some reflection which can be troubling on the road.

For me the Marzens belong off the bike. Their classic styling, solid fit and crystal clear lenses made them a great everyday wear for the summer.

Verdict

Sport-casual sunglasses, perfect for off-bike use but the average coverage makes them only suitable for sedate riding