Rudy Project recently provided their Soundwave and Momentum casual sunglasses for our review. Many readers may already be familiar with this brand, as they have been making make their exceptional eye protection in Italy for more than 25 years, and have quite the following with cyclists and triathletes. Of course, you can wear any of their glasses for whatever activity you enjoy, but these are made for days off the bike, water, or mountains. They are more at home at a park, sidewalk cafe, or the patio of your favorite Mexican grill.
Both models have the RP-D Centered Optics, which places the optical axis parallel to the main axis of vision. In simple terms, they do not have the distortion you might find in less expensive lenses that have the same amount of curve. This means more clarity, and less eye fatigue. The light transmission does vary from 12-20%, depending on which model you choose, so keep that in mind when selecting a color. Note that both the Momentum and Soundwave are part of the Rudy Project RX Collection, so you can order them with your prescription as well.
Our test pair of the Momentum were the Green Wood Matte with Laser Musk lenses. They have a classic Aviator shape, but with some fun, modern color options. The non-polarized lens is rated at 12% light transmission, so these are great for very bright days. Here in Utah, we don’t have the heat of the sun right now, but the glare off the snow can blind you, making this lens a good choice for more than just the beach. For comfort, the Momentum weighs a mere .88 ounces. Other color choices include Matte Black with Smoke Black lenses, Ice Gold Matte with Multilaser Gold lenses, Ice Rose Matte with Multilaser Rose lenses, and Ice Sky Matte with Multilaser Ice lenses.
The Soundwave model we were sent are the Crystal Gloss with Multilaser Ice Lenses. These also have a classic shape, and weigh a tad less, at only .86 ounces. If this combo or their Crystal Gloss with Multilaser Orange lenses is not your style, they also come in Matte Black with Smoke Black lenses, Ice Graphite Matte with Multilaser Violet lenses, and Lemon Green with Multilaser Lime lenses.
Testing sunglasses is easy. You either like the style, or you don’t. Then you put them on, go outside, and look around. Do they stay on? Are the optics clear, or do you get eye strain after a while? Straight temples with no bend and a lack of friction material at the contact points means these glasses are best for life at a slow pace. They did not slip off while testing, but if we went for a run or bike ride, they will probably not stay in place so nicely. That is expected for casual glasses. What got me was the optics. Edge to edge, I did not notice any distortion or blurriness. Cheap sunglasses give me a headache. Not these. And I could not find much on what the lens surface has been treated with, but they were easy to keep clean with the included microfiber cloth pouch. Overall, the design is neat and clean, with no flaws in the finish. If the MSRP of $174.95 scares you off, keep in mind that Rudy backs them with a 3 year warranty against defects in materials or workmanship on the frames, and lenses can be replaced any time for a flat $24.95. And you get Italian style and quality. RudyProjectUSA
– Brian