Test / Photochromic cycling glasses: At under €80, the Cratoni Skyvision is by far the cheapest pair of glasses in our extensive comparison test. On the trail, it surprises with a thoroughly solid performance and an unobtrusive yet secure fit. However, it loses points for its feel and build quality, where the low price is noticeable. Find out here if this price-performance tip is right for you.
Cratoni Skyvision: Dimensions and build quality
At first glance, the Cratoni Skyvision makes a really good impression. The design is timeless yet modern, and you'd never guess its competitive price of €79,95. It doesn't look like a pair of glasses that costs less than half the price of some of its competitors in this test. The build quality is solid, even if you can tell where corners were cut here and there. The frame seems robust, but it creaks audibly when you twist it slightly in your hand. The overall feel is very plasticky, which makes us doubt its durability in a fall – it feels like it's more likely to break than to deform.
With a width of 132 mm and a lens height of 56 mm, the Skyvision is clearly one of the narrower models on the market. This is important information for you: If you have a rather narrow face, the glasses will sit extremely securely and close to your face, which we found very comfortable. However, they are less suitable for cyclists with wider heads, as the frame could obstruct their peripheral vision. Rubberized temple tips and a similarly rubberized nose pad ensure a non-slip fit.
Cratoni Skyvision: Glass
Cratoni specifies a VLT (Visible Light Transmission) range of 15% to 60% for the photochromic lenses. This means that even in the brightest conditions, the glasses already have a relatively strong base tint. This makes them ideal for tours in good weather, from sunny to partly cloudy. However, when it gets really dark on a heavily overgrown trail in the woods, the tint might be a bit too strong for some, although it didn't bother us excessively during our testing. The tint's reaction time was perfectly acceptable and more than fair for the price. The lenses deserve high praise for their easy-care properties: sweat and dirt were surprisingly easy to remove without leaving any residue, in some cases even better than with some more expensive competitor models.
On the trail: Our test impressions
In practice, the Cratoni Skyvision was above all else: unobtrusive in the very best sense. And that's probably the highest compliment for goggles in this price range. Once on, they performed their function flawlessly. Thanks to their slim design and rubberized contact points, they sat rock-solid and didn't budge an inch, even on rough descents. The lens offered clear vision and reliably adapted to changing light conditions. However, this solid performance on the trail contrasts with the rather cheap feel of the materials. The fact that a hard case isn't included at this price point is perfectly forgivable.
