Quick Review: Vinco Sola Performance Eyewear
TL;DR – Lightweight, stylish sports sunglasses with a good lens and a nod toward ventilation. Eco credentials.
I’d somewhat given up looking at and reviewing sports sunglasses as I have a drawer full. I made the exception for Vinco just because they looked great, here’s what I thought summarised with some more details further down.
Disclaimer: I got a free pair, nothing else
Buy from: Vinco Performance (I get no commission)
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Look Good. Are Good. Nothing Unusually Different sets them apart.
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Price - 70%70%
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Build Quality & Design - 75%75%
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Aesthetics - 90%90%
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Lens - 85%85%
Lightweight, stylish sports sunglasses with a good lens and a nod toward ventilation. Eco credentials.
With a half-rim construction, Vinco’s sports sunglasses have several interesting details that look good including the metal screws, nose bridge and wrap-around shape. They keep the bugs out when cycling fast, they grip well and stay on and they seem to permit decent airflow to maintain fog-free vision, less so when you slow down.
Pros
- Nice aesthetics with interesting details
- Two width sizes (134/138mm)
- Lightweight (27/29g)
- 2-Year Warranty
- Decent ventilation but not perfect
- Eco: no plastic packaging, durable, repairable, recyclable, carbon-neutral materials.
Cons
- Certainly not cheap at $250/£200
- Unsure of hinge durability from snapping/twisting.
- I would like an option for a polarised lens that adapts to varying light conditions.
Some Design Details
The nose bridge is comfy and keeps the glasses relatively close to the face than other pairs I have. The ventilation duct above the nose bridge and the lens cut-out seems to keep the air flowing well over the lens and hence mist-free. I find that all wrap-around lenses reduce the evaporation effect on sweat from the forehead.
The stainless steel spring-cam hinge and the slender arm are pleasing to the eye. However, I’m not convinced about their ability to withstand twisting, snapping or occasionally being sat on. I guess that’s glasses in general for you. Either way, they have a manufacturer 2-year guarantee which will probably not cover misuse!
Eco Credentials
Vinco frames are manufactured from Lignatura, which is an own-branded carbon-neutral material. Vinco claims the glasses to be durable and rebuildable. I particularly liked the zero-plastic packaging.
In Use
I got the larger 137mm size for my big head.
They’re not super-grippy compared to other glasses I have, probably because other pairs I have feel too tight because of the aforesaid big head! That said, some Oakleys I have make good use of a sprung hinge which allows overflexing; they’re cool to fiddle with and I suspect the over-flexing makes them less susceptible but not immune to damage. Vinco could benefit from a better hinge.
Options
As well as options for head width, there are two lens colours and three frame colours
Guarantee
The company says this:
Renewable and rebuildable
When your Vinco frames get to the end of their useful life, we invite you to send them back. We’ll recycle them and replace them in a snap with a new one of your choice. 2-year guaranteed.
Buy from: Vinco Performance for £200/$250
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