Test / Photochromic cycling glasses for mountain bikers: The Uvex Sportstyle 235V, priced at around €160, positions itself firmly in the middle of our test field. At first glance, it impresses with a modern, stylish oversized design featuring a striking blue tint. On the trail, it scores particularly well with its virtually unlimited field of vision and reliable performance. While the frame's feel isn't quite up to par, overall Uvex delivers a convincing all-rounder.
Uvex Sportstyle 235V: Dimensions and build quality
With a width of 140 mm and a lens height of 54 mm, the Sportstyle 235V is one of the larger pairs of glasses in the test. The close-fitting design ensures that, despite the nominally modest lens height, a substantial shield is created. At 31 grams, it is pleasantly lightweight and barely noticeable. The build quality is good: the temples click firmly and cleanly into place, and the glasses feel sturdy even when twisted. However, compared to some premium competitors, the frame material feels a bit more "plasticky" and doesn't quite have the same robust, high-quality feel. But this is nitpicking, as we couldn't find any functional flaws. The adjustable soft nose pads and rubberized temple tips ensure a secure and individually adjustable fit.
Uvex Sportstyle 235V: Glass
The heart of the glasses is the photochromic lens with Uvex's proprietary Variomatic technology, which seamlessly covers protection levels from category 1 to 3. Unfortunately, Uvex doesn't provide precise information on the percentage of light transmission (VLT). In practice, the lens starts with a slight, but stylish, blue tint and darkens reliably. The Supravision anti-fog coating does an excellent job: in testing, the lens almost never fogged up. Its susceptibility to smudges is also pleasingly low. Even if you accidentally wipe it with a sweaty jersey on the trail, your vision remains remarkably clear and streak-free.
On the trail: Our test impressions
Once fitted, the Uvex Sportstyle 235V reveals its greatest strength: its phenomenal field of vision. The wide monocular lens, combined with the discreet frame, ensures that you never have a distracting frame obstructing your peripheral vision. This is a huge plus for bikers who are sensitive to such things. Wind protection is also excellent thanks to the large lens coverage. The tinting speed of the Variomatic lens is decent. While it's not among the fastest in the test, the transition between light and shadow in the woods worked without any noticeable delay and without bothering us. The tinted area proved to be perfectly adequate for typical mountain biking conditions, from sunny dirt roads to dense woodland. The tint color itself is a matter of personal preference; we found it almost a touch too intense at full darkening, which, however, does enhance the contrasts effectively.
