Ryders Eyewear Tarmac

Ryders Eyewear is best known for offering value-conscious sunglasses and goggles. And many of us welcome an alternative to companies that charge half a month’s rent for a pair of shades. Especially those of us who know that 99% of all sunglasses are made from the same two materials—polycarbonate for the lenses and nylon for the frames. And two primary factors weigh heavily on the price—where the glasses are manufactured (in this case, China) and how much the company spends on marketing.

I received a pair of Tarmac Photochromic shades from our local Ryders sales rep, and I’ve been wearing them daily for a couple of months. Photochromic means that the lenses darken when the light becomes more intense, allowing for a range of 15% to 45% visual light transmission. Although I like the concept of photochromic lenses, I really wish they became truly clear so that I could use the glasses at nighttime. In practical use, I would be just as well served with a pair of traditional yellow or amber tinted lenses.

The Tarmac’s are designed to fit medium to large faces, and I suppose mine is on the small side of medium, because they don’t seem to fit as well as I would like. But that’s no slight against them, just a personal preference. Ryders makes a number of models for small to medium sized faces. They still work just as well, and perhaps you can argue that the larger glasses make for better protection from airborne debris. I do feel that the Tarmac’s could be better ventilated. They have a tendency to fog up rather quickly. On hot and humid days, I’ve occasionally had to take them off.

One of my favorite things about the Tarmac’s is their styling. They simply look good, so when you get off the bike you don’t look like you’re wearing sports goggles. In fact, one of my friends in the fashion-design industry was particularly taken with them, and I might have to pass them his way eventually. Maybe.

The photochromic Tarmac’s retail for $69.99, as do the polarized model. If you’re into the styling but don’t need special lenses, the regular ones (with 100% UV protection) are only $39.99. Visit www.ryderseyewear.com for more information.