Koo Orion sunglasses

The Koo Orion glasses offer a secure fit and a fair amount of adjustment, which isn't always the case with shades. Most importantly the lenses deliver excellent clarity and vision, although the coloured tint on this version limits them to bright days.

The Orions are good sunglasses thanks to a frame with extendable arms and a good fit. I rarely wish my sunglasses' arms were a different length when I put them on, but if you do then the Orion – with its three length settings – could be a great choice.

It may also help them fit with different helmets from a clearance point of view. As per most glasses, the nose section is tweakable too.

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The frame itself is quite chunky, but that doesn't translate into any restriction on visibility. You can see the top of the frame when riding (and the arm when looking over your shoulder), but I wouldn't say it's enough to create any blind spots.

Koo has specced a pair of Zeiss lenses on the Orion, and they are very good. The curved shape doesn't cause any distortion and the clarity is excellent. In changeable weather – like showers on a warm day – I've found the anti-fog treatment does its job well, unless you're working very hard before being forced to stop, at traffic lights for instance. They do fog a little then, but clear straight away as you start moving.

The Orion is available in fourteen colours with a range of different lens colours. This white/black frame comes with the Milky Gold option with a filter category of 3, and a VLT (Visible Light Transfer) of just 17%.

This means they are great on bright sunny days, but less so on overcast ones. Also, if you go from sunshine into a heavily shaded area, there are a few seconds where you can't see anything until your eyes adjust.

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You can buy the other lens colours separately to give your glasses a bit more flexibility for year-round riding, including clear ones. They'll set you back £60 a pair. Overall I've found them durable; the lenses have resisted scratching, while the frame material can take plenty of abuse.

Value

For their £159 price tag though, I do find the design feels a bit plasticky, and it's not exactly the most refined when it comes to aesthetics.

Included in the package is a separate nose piece and a sort of soft/hard case amalgamation.

Price wise the Orions are similar to the 100% Speedcoupe HiPER Blue glasses, which cost £169.99. Here you're getting a set of clear lenses included in the price though, and a proper hard case for protection.

If you want a twin-lens set of glasses then you'd be sensible to include the Endura Singletrack glasses, which at £70 come with an array of lenses and do well on the anti-fogging front.

Conclusion

The Orions are an all-round decent set of glasses with very good lenses. They are a big chunk of money though, even given those quality lenses and their unusual adjustability.

Verdict

Great lenses and levels of adjustment, but not the most refined for the money