off-road.cc

The Smith Optics PivLock Ruckus glasses are part of a new range of Smith mountain bike and road eyewear. They offer wide coverage, the crystal clear ChromaPop lenses and there is minimal fogging. They do come at a cost but you will get a versatile, quality pair of glasses in return.

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The Ruckus glasses might look very similar in shape to the Attack Max glasses but they are based on the PivLock lens changing system where the glasses arms pivot 90 degrees up releasing the arm, rather than the MAG system where you pinch the arm by the Smith logo and pivot it inwards, opening a jaw and releases the arm from the dock on the lens. PivLock tech rather than MAG means that the Ruckus glasses come in at £155 rather than £190, no small saving. The PivLock system has been updated meaning the nub that the arms pivot on is no longer inserted directly onto the lens itself, rather it is attached to a reinforced plastic corner piece. This new system works well and is secure, but then I haven’t had a problem with the old system either, this one feels sturdier than the last iteration though.

The Ruckus glasses come with two lenses in the box, in our case (literally) this was a black mirrored sunglasses lens and a rose tinted brightening one, both with ChromaPop tech. ChromaPop is Smith's own take on a polarized lens, both interchangeable lenses produce a stunning outlook on the world, they are crystal clear and produce great colours whilst still shielding you from the suns rays. It’s shame the Ruckus glasses don’t come with a clear lens for really dark days, the rose lens does a good job of brightening conditions but sometimes deep in the UK forests, a clear lens is the only one that is suitable.

Elsewhere there is a two-position adjustable nose piece, malleable rubberised arm pieces and an excellent hydrophobic coating on the lens, in the rain I always choose a pair of Smith glasses, I also find them to be extremely scratch resistant.

The lenses offer wide unrestricted coverage where nothing obstructs peripheral and where we moaned a little about the mud that made its way up behind the PivLock Arena glasses we tested last, this isn’t a problem with the Ruckus’.

As with the Arena’s the Ruckus glasses also offer a great fog free ride, only steaming when sat still in muggy or rainy conditions. At this price (£155) I'd like to see a third clear lens included in the pack but that said in a majority of conditions the Rose lens will be fine, not in very dark tree cover or for night rides though. These are a quality, staple pair of riding glasses for any wardrobe, they will look right at home on the road bike, the gravel bike or the mountain bike and will perform well in all situations.

• www.smithoptics.com

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