Review: The Alpina Turbo Pro V is a pair of glasses that aims to impress not with flashy designs, but with its inner qualities. Priced at around €140, it occupies a solid mid-range position and is aimed at cyclists looking for functional and understated eyewear. The review reveals that it excels in terms of fit, but falls short in terms of feel and lens maintenance.
Alpina Turbo Pro V: Dimensions and build quality
At first glance, the Turbo Pro V appears almost conservative. If you don't want to hide your face behind a huge shield but prefer a classic look, this is the right choice. With a lens height of 58 mm and a width of 136 mm, it offers good coverage without appearing oversized. We would describe the build quality as "solid." While the frame creaks audibly when twisted and the lens has a bit too much play for our liking, overall the goggles make a robust impression. The frame itself feels like functional hard plastic, which is perfectly acceptable in this price range.
A real highlight is the comfort. Here, Alpina fully utilizes the strengths of its "two-component design." The nose pads are not only softly rubberized but also adapt perfectly to virtually any nose shape. The same applies to the temples: the entire rear section is flexible and rubberized, ensuring a secure yet comfortable fit, no matter how rough the trail gets. The included hard-shell case is a welcome bonus, not a given in this price range.
Alpina Turbo Pro V: Glass
The heart of the Turbo Pro V is the photochromic Varioflex lens, which covers protection categories 1 to 3. Its spherical shape ensures distortion-free vision. Particularly impressive is how bright the lens becomes when unlit – it's almost completely clear. This makes it ideal for riding through dark wooded areas or at dusk. It tints reliably in sunlight, though it doesn't quite achieve the same level of darkness as some other goggles in the test. However, the tint range is optimal for most mountain biking conditions.
Alpina equips the lens with a Fogstop coating to prevent fogging and a hydrophobic layer designed to repel water. While the anti-fog protection worked flawlessly in practice, a clear weakness was revealed in the dirt-repellent properties, but more on that later.
On the trail: Our test impressions
Once on your nose, the Turbo Pro V is pleasantly unobtrusive. Thanks to its excellent adjustability, it sits securely and doesn't slip. Wind protection is adequate, but due to the relatively moderate lens height, we did notice a slight draft around our cheeks and lower eyes at higher speeds. The field of vision is pleasingly free of any distracting frame elements at the edges. However, the bridge is quite wide and prominent, which can sometimes obstruct your view depending on your seating position and direction of gaze.
The biggest drawback became apparent when the first sweat started to fall: the lens smeares quite easily and is difficult to clean while riding. Sweat droplets leave stubborn streaks that significantly impair visibility. The tinting speed itself is good and reliably adapts to changing light conditions.
