Tifosi Moab Lite: Final Review

 Note: Tifosi Optics sent the Moab Lite model eyewear to Guitar Ted Productions at no charge for test/review. I am not being paid nor bribed for this review and all opinions expressed are my own.

A couple of months ago I received the Tifosi Moab Lite glasses to review. If you missed the introduction, please go back and read it HERE. In the first review I gave my thoughts on this new model in Tifosi's range  Then I sent the Moab Lite off to my friend,, Morgan, to get her take on the glasses. 

Morgan is a recreational cyclist who does a few gravel events and used these on several rides on gravel and pavement. She also took them on the most recent RAGBRAI event, a week long trek across Iowa with approximately 20,000+ other cyclists. 

Now that RAGBRAI is over, I asked Morgan to write up her impressions on the Moab Lite glasses. I did not edit or guide her in any manner concerning these thoughts of hers. These are Morgan's own thoughts and opinions on the glasses from Tifosi.

With that, read on for her thoughts and I will come back with a final verdict at the end. 

Tifosi Moab Lite Review by Morgan Osgood

These are great quality, affordable glasses, and with all the extras included, you definitely get more bang for your buck. The set comes with three interchangeable lenses, a hardshell case, and a cleaning bag. 

Morgan wearing the Tifosi Moab Lite glasses standing in front of a vintage White Farm tractor.

I’ve been wearing them on rides for about a month now, and they’ve quickly become my go to pair. I love that they’re super lightweight but still offer solid shield style coverage. They’re also really comfortable. I’ve worn them on long rides and even all day without any issues. The frameless bottom gives you a nice, uninterrupted line of sight, which I appreciate.

The interchangeable lenses are great for different lighting conditions, but I’ll admit I never think to swap them out before leaving the house. It’s usually a grab and go situation. If you're like me and don’t plan ahead, maybe the Fototec lenses might be a better fit. That said, I do plan to make more of an effort to actually use the lens options in the future.

The only small issue I ran into was removing the nose piece when changing lenses. It was a little tricky the first few times, but probably just something I’ll get used to.

Overall, I’m really happy with these glasses and would recommend them.

Morgan, center, with friends at RAGBRAI

Final Verdict:

It should be plain to see Tifosi has the value/budget balance pretty well figured out. Three lenses, pretty great optics, and fashion styling at a decent price which is on-point for today's riders adds up to a pair of glasses which is hard to go wrong with.

One thing Morgan brought up which I had forgotten until I read her review was the difficulty in removing the nose piece. I think it may have been one of the most difficult ones I've come across to remove. This may be an anomaly specific to our review sample, so without a larger sample size, it is but one data point. Still, something of note, I think.

Bottom line here is the Moab Lite is another hit in a long line of hits from Tifosi.  Of course, if the Moab Lite is not your cup of tea, many of the same features can be had in other models from Tifosi's diverse range of offerings. 

Thanks to Morgan Osgood for taking the time to try these out and write up her impressions afterward.  

You can check the Moab Lite, or any of the other Tifosi eyewear products at www.tifosioptics.com 

Tifosi Moab Lite: Review

 Note: Tifosi Optics sent the Moab Lite model eyewear to Guitar Ted Productions at no charge for test/review. I am not being paid nor bribed for this review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Tifosi Moab Lite with Interchangeable lenses.

Tifosi eyewear has a long history in cycling and with Guitar Ted Productions going all the way back to the beginnings of this blog twenty years ago. Tifosi just released a new model called the Moab Lite and they sent over a pair in the Trail Pine color with Interchangeable lenses for me to check out.

Last year I reviewed the Tifosi Moab, a full-framed model with the same Interchangeable lenses. The Moab Lite is a frame-less model. Like the Moab, you can purchase the Moab Lite with different lens types. The Interchangeable models come with three lenses: A main, high-Sunblocking type, AC Red, and Clear. You can also get the Moab Lite with Tifosi's Clarion lens, which is a moisture rejecting lens which is paired with Fototec, which is a feature that adjusts to light conditions on its own.

The Moab Lite is offered in seven colors/configurations. The Trail Pine, as seen here with Interchangeable lenses has a Smoke primary lens. I will list the other colors with their primary lens, and if they are Interchangeable models, which all have the AC Red and Clear lens options, here:

• Matte Bronze with Clarion Red Fototec lens only
• Matte White with Light Night Fototec lens only
• Sahara with Clarion Gold Fototec lens only
• Speed Yellow with Clarion Sunset Pink lens (Interchangeable)
•  Satin Vapor with Silver Mirror lens (Interchangeable)
•  Glacier Blue with Clarion Blue lens (Interchangeable) 

Prices are set at $79.95 for all models. See these and other Tifosi eyewear products at www.tifosioptics.com

Impressions:

Like most Tifosi offerings, you can buy with guidance to how your head will look with any certain model by using their measurements on the site for each offering in their range. The Moab Lite fits into my preferred range so they do not look too small on my face or so large that they look comical. (Although finding eyewear too large for my noggin usually isn't a problem!)

The interchangeable feature is useful and  I've covered how the AC Red works and Clear should be obvious. The Clarion and Fototec features are offerings I have no experience with, so I cannot comment intelligently on those features here. 

The Review:

I've reviewed  several Tifosi eyewear offerings and I feel this might be a more compelling review if I do something different. I have an opportunity to get an "outside opinion". This time I'm going to be passing the review duties on to another tester, who I'm pretty sure is one of two people living in N.Y. Roll's house. (I'll let them fight that out!). After one of them has given these a fair trial I will get their opinions down and return with a final review. 

So Far... Tifosi has had a steady, high level of quality for decades. I expect nothing less than a good report here with the Moab Lite. The value is certainly there, and Tifosi eyewear performs quite well at a price which is not too dear.  This has been their calling card for cyclists for quite some time now. Let's wait and see what we find out from our reviewer later this Summer! 

Tifosi Moab Eyewear: Final Review

Note: Tifosi Optics sent the Moab model eyewear to Guitar Ted Productions at no charge for test/review. I am not being paid nor bribed for this review and all opinions expressed are my own. 

The Tifosi Moab eyewear has been put through its paces here and now it is time to give my final verdict on the these shield style glasses for cycling. My introduction and first take can be found HERE. 

Okay, now on with the review! This October has been weird from a weather perspective. We have not received much rain at all, and we have had copious amounts on Sunshine accompanied by hot, dry, and windy days. While that doesn't bode well for a lot of other things, it was great for reviewing Sun glasses. I was able to use these enough to get a good feel for how they work out on the gravel and on some pavement riding as well. 

First off, I wanted to share my experiences with swapping lenses. Thankfully Tifosi ships the glasses with a paper showing the procedure for how the Moab glasses are to be handled when you swap lenses. It went just as the instructions showed it to me. I was very glad to have had that resource because I doubt I would have gotten it right had there been no guidance and I may have possibly damaged the lenses, frames, or both.

The AC Red lenses are my favorites.

I switched out to Tifosi's AC Red lens and found that to be very similar to my previous experiences with the Rail glasses I reviewed last year.This lens tint lets a bit more light in, which my old eyes prefer, but it also seems to bring out the contrasts in the road surface in a clearer way. 

The mirrored lens, in my opinion, doesn't seem to have the clarity of the AC Red lens. I find that the mirrored lens makes things a bit duller and a bit less defined, but this could boil down to my eyes and your eyes may see that differently. Literally and figuratively. 

In terms of comfort, the Moab frames are unobtrusive and easy to forget about while you are riding. The nose piece helps the glasses to stay put on your face and I did not feel compelled to poke at the glasses to keep them in place often as I have with other eyewear. This is especially useful when the gravel is chunky or the road is rough and the bumps and vibrations are making your head shake a bit. 

Final Word: I like the Moab's looks on me and Tifosi's AC Red lens is a winner for riding on gravel where discerning the "good line" is hard to do if you cannot make out contrasts in the road surface. The mirrored lens might work best for someone riding mostly paved roads and for those with more light sensitive eyes than I have. The bonus clear lens will work great on rides at night or during cloudy weather, so you have the versatility you need to make these glasses work in all conditions, At Tifosi's asking price ($79.95) the value is definitely there.

It is hard to find any negatives with Tifosi's Moab eyewear, and this might be just me, but the mirrored lens seems a bit less optically clear to me. But other than this, probably personal, issue, I can highly recommend Tifosi's products to anyone. The Moab's style is hot in cycling now, so this is a great choice for those looking for such eyewear styling for cycling needs. 

Review: Tifosi Moab Eyewear

 Note: Tifosi Optics sent the Moab model eyewear to Guitar Ted Productions at no charge for test/review. I am not being paid nor bribed for this review and all opinions expressed are my own. 

The Tifosi Optics Moab in the Sahara colorway.

Tifosi has been around quite a while now. I first came into contact with the brand when Tifosi sponsored the first Trans Iowa in 2005 by providing each entrant a free pair of glasses. Since then Tifosi has been a brand I have used off and on for my eye protection needs on the bike. Last year I was able to review their Rail model glasses, and now comes the brand new Moab model which I am reviewing here. 

What It Is: In typical Tifosi style, the Moab is available in several colors and with a couple of options in lenses including Fototec, Tifosi's photo-chromatic lens technology, Interchange, which includes three lenses for varying light conditions, and the Clarion lens which has a water repellent enhancement to prevent excessive moisture build-up. The frame is made of Gryllamid and has hydrophobic ear and nose pieces which get grippier with moisture build up and are also adjustable for a premium fit. The Polycarbonate lenses are scratch-resistant, shatterproof, and on the Moab, have ventilation spaces to allow for anti-fogging. The Moab weighs a claimed 31 grams and is recommended for Medium to Large faces. The price for the Moab is $79.95

The two optional lenses which come with the Interchange package.

I received the Interchange package with my Moab frames which includes a mirrored lens, a reddish colored lens called "Red AC", and the clear lens for night time or low-light conditions. 

The lenses are not too bad when it comes to exchanging them, but you will have to clean them each time you do this since it is nearly impossible not to switch lenses without touching them in the process. Fortunately Tifosi's included bag for the storage of the Moab doubles as a cleaning cloth. There is also a soft case in the box which you can stash the two unused lenses in, and which holds the Moab frames. 

Fit And Function: 

The Moab is a "sheild" style of eyewear that is popular these days with cyclists and the lens bridges across both eyes in one piece. This provides excellent peripheral vision without obstruction. I found I could only see tiny portions of the frame while wearing the Moab, despite its full-frame design, and even that was no distraction at all. 

The Moab looks okay on my large face, if I do say so myself. Others thought they looked good on me. So much for that. This doesn't matter while riding, really, but it was nice to know that people thought these enhanced my appeal, I suppose. 

As for riding, yes, they do the job. I did notice less air turbulence behind the lens and around my eyes. The day I tried these was a very windy one with gusts up to and over 30mph often during the ride. This did not deter the Moab in its mission to keep my eyes from dealing with that. Plus it was full-Sun out and the Moab did a bang-on job of helping me discern which lines were best in the gravel as I rode. 

The day also happened to be well into the 90's for temperature and the nose piece and ear pieces did their job of keeping the Moab on my face where I wanted the Moab to sit. No sliding down the nose at all. 

So Far... Tifosi does it again with a great style for cyclists and with their typical value-packed, feature-rich glasses. I do like this style of eyewear and it is nice to see it offered at a reasonable price. I'll be trying out the Red AC lens next and I expect similar results as I experienced with the Red AC lens in the Rail model last year. 

Stay tuned for a Final Word coming in a few weeks.

Tifosi Rail Sunglasses Reviewed

The Tifosi Rail model.

 NOTE: The Tifosi Rail model sunglasses were provided at no charge for test and review. I was not paid, nor bribed for this review and I always strive to give my honest thoughts and opinions throughout. I am not affiliated with Tifosi in any way and I do not receive any monetary reward for posting this review.

Now that we've made the FTC happy, let's move on....

These sunglasses from Tifosi were mentioned on these digital pages back in June HERE. You can check that out for a bit more context regarding how I felt about these glasses initially. 

This review will be a little more in-depth now that I have used these regularly over the course of nearly two months now. I used these on rides, of course, but I also used them casually as well whenever I was out and about in the Sun. I also compared these to other eyewear I have such as Oakley, Spy, and Rudy Project to see how Tifosi measures up to these giants in the category of eyewear. 

The Rail model comes in several configurations. I received the Smoke lens, the Red AC lens, and a clear lens to try out. Obviously a clear lens needs no description, so I will leave that out here. However; I did use both the Red AC and Smoke lenses extensively over the past weeks. 

The Red AC lenses are for low light conditions or cloudy days and are supposed to help you discern contrasts better. The Smoke lens has a higher level of light blockage and is recommended for bright, Sunny conditions. I tried using the Red AC in bright Sun and on cloudier days and I did find that this lens was somewhat effective at bringing out contrasts. However; on bright, Sunny days the way that lens muted the colors of flowers, the sky, and whatever you were looking at was not appealing to me. 

This muting of color was subtle, but in comparison to the Spy Optic glasses I have with their "Happy Lens" technology, the Tifosi's seemed dull and lifeless in comparison in regards to what you are looking at and its effects on your brain. If you enjoy bright, vibrant colors, the Red AC lens should be relegated to those lower light conditions days, in my opinion anyway. And to be sure, these are my eyes, not yours, and you may see things differently. Both literally and figuratively. 

For bright, Sunny days, the Smoke lens was really quite good.

The Smoke lens, on the other hand, did not have a similar effect on colors as the Red AC lens. Colors were not enhanced and saturated, as with the Spy glasses, but they were reproduced accurately, in my opinion, and so I could easily live with that. As far as clarity and distortion, the Tifosi glasses were very clear and distortion free. I had no issues with that at all. 

When looking at comfort, I look at how sunglasses feel on the head during cycling. Do these feel good? Do the stay where you put them with no creeping down the nose or movement? Do you get "fatigue", the feeling that these start to hurt at pressure points or do they cause any discomfort at all after wearing them a while? 

On all counts the Tifosi Rail was great for me. They were pretty much forgotten as I rode. I would occasionally poke at them out of habit, because my go-to pair of Rudy Project glasses do creep down my face and I have to occasionally poke them back into their place. But the Rails weren't moving much if at all. So, I give them a pass in this category. I imagine that given enough time my habitual poking at the glasses would cease. 

The Red AC lens in the foreground.

The blade style lens does a great job at protection from light, dust, wind, and insects. The lenses are easily exchanged once you learn the technique for swapping out the lenses. So, you are covered for most conditions as well.

The bows are not overly long, but they are not short, so smaller, rounder heads may see an issue there. The blade style lens is big. I have a pretty big head, so you can see that the Rail does a good job of covering my eyes and that they look "right-sized" for me. Smaller faced people might look a bit silly behind these spectacles. 

The lenses are easily cleaned with the provided pouch and I had no issues with any signs of scratching or marring of the lens. In this I felt that the Tifosi's were on par with the nicer sunglasses company's offerings. In fact, these compete quite well with high-end glasses such as the ones mentioned above. For what you pay for a Rail, ($79.99 for this example), you get a lot of bang for the buck. A lot. 

What don't I like about the Rail glasses? They do not have a progressive light blocking lens, although Tifosi does offer this in another configuration for the Rail. I really like progressive light blocking lenses and this is why I have worn the Rudy Project glasses I have almost exclusively since getting those for a review a couple of years ago. I have a hard time finding anything else to complain about with the Rails beyond that though. They fit me great, they show my world correctly without distortion or any haziness. They fit well, and they wear well for long rides.

Conclusions: Yeah, it is hard not to like the Tifosi stuff for the value, but value wears thin if the product does not hold up and perform well. I like these Rail glasses and I do feel confident that they will hold up over the long haul for me. I can see well with them on bright, Sunny days, and with those Red AC lenses, I think Fall riding or Winter riding on cloudy days will be enhanced by these, but I'll have to wait and see on that. So, yes. These are pretty good.

Note: Thanks to Tifosi for providing the Rail glasses for review. 

Tifosi Rail Sunglasses Reviewed

The Tifosi Rail model.

 NOTE: The Tifosi Rail model sunglasses were provided at no charge for test and review. I was not paid, nor bribed for this review and I always strive to give my honest thoughts and opinions throughout. I am not affiliated with Tifosi in any way and I do not receive any monetary reward for posting this review.

Now that we've made the FTC happy, let's move on....

These sunglasses from Tifosi were mentioned on these digital pages back in June HERE. You can check that out for a bit more context regarding how I felt about these glasses initially. 

This review will be a little more in-depth now that I have used these regularly over the course of nearly two months now. I used these on rides, of course, but I also used them casually as well whenever I was out and about in the Sun. I also compared these to other eyewear I have such as Oakley, Spy, and Rudy Project to see how Tifosi measures up to these giants in the category of eyewear. 

The Rail model comes in several configurations. I received the Smoke lens, the Red AC lens, and a clear lens to try out. Obviously a clear lens needs no description, so I will leave that out here. However; I did use both the Red AC and Smoke lenses extensively over the past weeks. 

The Red AC lenses are for low light conditions or cloudy days and are supposed to help you discern contrasts better. The Smoke lens has a higher level of light blockage and is recommended for bright, Sunny conditions. I tried using the Red AC in bright Sun and on cloudier days and I did find that this lens was somewhat effective at bringing out contrasts. However; on bright, Sunny days the way that lens muted the colors of flowers, the sky, and whatever you were looking at was not appealing to me. 

This muting of color was subtle, but in comparison to the Spy Optic glasses I have with their "Happy Lens" technology, the Tifosi's seemed dull and lifeless in comparison in regards to what you are looking at and its effects on your brain. If you enjoy bright, vibrant colors, the Red AC lens should be relegated to those lower light conditions days, in my opinion anyway. And to be sure, these are my eyes, not yours, and you may see things differently. Both literally and figuratively. 

For bright, Sunny days, the Smoke lens was really quite good.

The Smoke lens, on the other hand, did not have a similar effect on colors as the Red AC lens. Colors were not enhanced and saturated, as with the Spy glasses, but they were reproduced accurately, in my opinion, and so I could easily live with that. As far as clarity and distortion, the Tifosi glasses were very clear and distortion free. I had no issues with that at all. 

When looking at comfort, I look at how sunglasses feel on the head during cycling. Do these feel good? Do the stay where you put them with no creeping down the nose or movement? Do you get "fatigue", the feeling that these start to hurt at pressure points or do they cause any discomfort at all after wearing them a while? 

On all counts the Tifosi Rail was great for me. They were pretty much forgotten as I rode. I would occasionally poke at them out of habit, because my go-to pair of Rudy Project glasses do creep down my face and I have to occasionally poke them back into their place. But the Rails weren't moving much if at all. So, I give them a pass in this category. I imagine that given enough time my habitual poking at the glasses would cease. 

The Red AC lens in the foreground.

The blade style lens does a great job at protection from light, dust, wind, and insects. The lenses are easily exchanged once you learn the technique for swapping out the lenses. So, you are covered for most conditions as well.

The bows are not overly long, but they are not short, so smaller, rounder heads may see an issue there. The blade style lens is big. I have a pretty big head, so you can see that the Rail does a good job of covering my eyes and that they look "right-sized" for me. Smaller faced people might look a bit silly behind these spectacles. 

The lenses are easily cleaned with the provided pouch and I had no issues with any signs of scratching or marring of the lens. In this I felt that the Tifosi's were on par with the nicer sunglasses company's offerings. In fact, these compete quite well with high-end glasses such as the ones mentioned above. For what you pay for a Rail, ($79.99 for this example), you get a lot of bang for the buck. A lot. 

What don't I like about the Rail glasses? They do not have a progressive light blocking lens, although Tifosi does offer this in another configuration for the Rail. I really like progressive light blocking lenses and this is why I have worn the Rudy Project glasses I have almost exclusively since getting those for a review a couple of years ago. I have a hard time finding anything else to complain about with the Rails beyond that though. They fit me great, they show my world correctly without distortion or any haziness. They fit well, and they wear well for long rides.

Conclusions: Yeah, it is hard not to like the Tifosi stuff for the value, but value wears thin if the product does not hold up and perform well. I like these Rail glasses and I do feel confident that they will hold up over the long haul for me. I can see well with them on bright, Sunny days, and with those Red AC lenses, I think Fall riding or Winter riding on cloudy days will be enhanced by these, but I'll have to wait and see on that. So, yes. These are pretty good.

Note: Thanks to Tifosi for providing the Rail glasses for review. 

Review Briefs

 As many of you know, I get in a fair amount of stuff to review on Riding Gravel and sometimes just to give feedback on/test for others. I figured I may as well shoot a few words this way on some things being currently tested and reviewed by giving a few, brief thoughts on those items. As always, The Standard Disclaimer applies. 

Cedaero Tank Top Pack

Cedaero Tank Top Pack:

Mrs. Guitar Ted bought me a nice present when we were in Emporia last week. It is a Cedaero Tank Top Pack in a waxed canvas purple color. 

This bag can also be had in a Cordura Nylon or in what I have here which Cedaero calls a "Martexin Waxed Canvass". The waxed bags weigh a bit more, if that matters to you, and this one weighs in at 176 grams. 

The price for this was $79.99 and Mrs. Guitar Ted purchased it a Merchant Cycles (Formerly Gravel City Adventure and Supply) in Emporia KS. 

Okay, so I am replacing a Revelate "Mag Tank" bag with the magnetic closure top. I was using that bag on my Singular Gryphon Mk3 and I thought it was a bit of a kludgy bag in that is has a top that doesn't cover the interior well at times and the top magnetic closure is fiddly and doesn't hold its contents securely. 

The Cedaero bag has a proper zipper closure which is easy to use and doesn't cause you to have to use two hands to start to zip it shut. The zipper pull feels beefy without being annoying and it should be easy to find in a 'no-look' fashion while riding. That's important to me. 

There is a side mesh inner pocket, useful for trash, or smaller items, and otherwise the inner cavity is not divided nor contrasted in color. The Revelate bag has a inner contrasting color which is a bit nicer in my opinion. 

The two hook and loop straps on the bottom of the bag are not capable of being re-positioned as they are permanently sewn in. The front hook and loop strap can be re-positioned though. 

The bag was easily mounted and initial testing shows good results, so I am hopeful this passes the ride test. 

For context, the Cedaero Tank Top Pack is almost identically sized to the Revelate Mag Tank, but the Mag Tank weighs about 30 grams less and is cheaper at $59.99. These compare to my all-time favorite top tube bag, the Bike Bag Dude "Top Tube Garage", which is significantly larger and has a dual inner side pockets arrangement, contrasting inner fabric, multi-position straps, and is lighter overall. It costs about a C-note plus shipping from Australia, but these bags are totally worth the money. 

More soon......

Tifosi "Rail" Sunglasses:

Recently I received a pair (why are Sunglasses called "a pair"? Weird...) of Tifosi Rail Sunglasses with three interchangeable lenses. There is a high-light blockage "Slate Mirror" lens, a Red AC (All Conditions) lens, and a clear lens. The retail price for this model is $79.99. 

Tifosi and I go way back. Little known factoid: Tifosi sponsored the very first Trans Iowa and gave each rider a free pair of Sunglasses! (I wish I had kept mine, but they are long gone.) 

Anyway, Tifosi's "MO" is to offer the rider a set of glasses with a lot of value and high performance at a low cost. In the past I was "mostly satisfied" with their wares. I mean, you could tell that Oakleys and Spy, and Rudy Projects were superior in terms of optics, and so the resulting price differences between those brands and Tifosi made some sense. 

Is this still the case? 

Well, I think that Tifosi has upped their game since the days I was a regular user of their products. The overall optical experience with the Rail has been really good. "Oakley" good? "Spy" good? Yeah....pretty darn close to that good, for sure. 

And you get three very usable lenses. The Smoke Mirror lens is great at blocking out really bright Sun and glare. The Red AC lens is what I would call perfect. I like the ability to see contrasts and they block enough light to keep me happy while not being so dark that going under the branches of a roadside tree does not leave you in the dark. 

And clear lenses need no explanation. 

The bows of these Rail model glasses are comfy, the adjustable nose piece is on par with any high-end glasses, and the Rail does not slip, nor cause any fatigue after wearing them a long time. They do have a large "blade-like" lens that is all the rage these days, so they cover a lot of facial real estate. Keep that in mind here. 

I'll have more to say in my Riding Gravel review. 

Base Layers:

Here is something you don't see a lot of chatter about - Base layers. Those garments that go between you and the jersey. It would seem counter-intuitive for hot, humid conditions to wear one of these and a jersey, but if you know, well.....you know.

I'll spare the apologetic of base layer usage and just say that I was amazed at the difference when wearing a base layer versus not wearing one. You can decide for yourself if it is worth the trouble. Now with that said, here are two base layer tops for men that I have found to my liking. 

Twin Six T6 Base Layer:

No techy mumbo-jumbo here. I like this one because it is relatively inexpensive at $21.60 and it feels pretty darn good. I have been wearing one of these on most of my rides for several years after having used another brand at first. This top launders well and stays nice and bright white wash after wash. Plus it does what it is supposed to do- wick away sweat and keep you cooler. The fabric is supple and decently soft to the touch, even after several years of use. It has more of a tank-top cut to it, so it doesn't cover the shoulders. 

Endura Translite S/L Baselayer: 

The Endura base layer (right in the image above) is the nicest base layer I have. I only have one, but I have had it for a few years as well. It also launders well and works great on the bike. The main differences are that the Endura fabric is softer to the skin and very supple. The other difference is that it is a sleeveless design, so this one has a tighter collar, more like a t-shirt than a tank-top, and it covers the shoulders. Cost is a bit more at $39.99 but the Endura base layer is like an "Ultegra" option whereas the T6 top would be your "105" option. (Or XT vs SLX if you are a MTB person) You can check out this one HERE, but I see the website says they are out of stock at the moment. 

The bottom line is that these are both great base layer tops for hot, humid weather or any riding, really. The T6 gets my vote as the workhorse option that you will definitely get your money's worth from. The Endura one is more of a luxury item, in my view, but it is definitely a great base layer. 

That's a wrap for this edition of Review Briefs

Review Briefs

 As many of you know, I get in a fair amount of stuff to review on Riding Gravel and sometimes just to give feedback on/test for others. I figured I may as well shoot a few words this way on some things being currently tested and reviewed by giving a few, brief thoughts on those items. As always, The Standard Disclaimer applies. 

Cedaero Tank Top Pack

Cedaero Tank Top Pack:

Mrs. Guitar Ted bought me a nice present when we were in Emporia last week. It is a Cedaero Tank Top Pack in a waxed canvas purple color. 

This bag can also be had in a Cordura Nylon or in what I have here which Cedaero calls a "Martexin Waxed Canvass". The waxed bags weigh a bit more, if that matters to you, and this one weighs in at 176 grams. 

The price for this was $79.99 and Mrs. Guitar Ted purchased it a Merchant Cycles (Formerly Gravel City Adventure and Supply) in Emporia KS. 

Okay, so I am replacing a Revelate "Mag Tank" bag with the magnetic closure top. I was using that bag on my Singular Gryphon Mk3 and I thought it was a bit of a kludgy bag in that is has a top that doesn't cover the interior well at times and the top magnetic closure is fiddly and doesn't hold its contents securely. 

The Cedaero bag has a proper zipper closure which is easy to use and doesn't cause you to have to use two hands to start to zip it shut. The zipper pull feels beefy without being annoying and it should be easy to find in a 'no-look' fashion while riding. That's important to me. 

There is a side mesh inner pocket, useful for trash, or smaller items, and otherwise the inner cavity is not divided nor contrasted in color. The Revelate bag has a inner contrasting color which is a bit nicer in my opinion. 

The two hook and loop straps on the bottom of the bag are not capable of being re-positioned as they are permanently sewn in. The front hook and loop strap can be re-positioned though. 

The bag was easily mounted and initial testing shows good results, so I am hopeful this passes the ride test. 

For context, the Cedaero Tank Top Pack is almost identically sized to the Revelate Mag Tank, but the Mag Tank weighs about 30 grams less and is cheaper at $59.99. These compare to my all-time favorite top tube bag, the Bike Bag Dude "Top Tube Garage", which is significantly larger and has a dual inner side pockets arrangement, contrasting inner fabric, multi-position straps, and is lighter overall. It costs about a C-note plus shipping from Australia, but these bags are totally worth the money. 

More soon......

Tifosi "Rail" Sunglasses:

Recently I received a pair (why are Sunglasses called "a pair"? Weird...) of Tifosi Rail Sunglasses with three interchangeable lenses. There is a high-light blockage "Slate Mirror" lens, a Red AC (All Conditions) lens, and a clear lens. The retail price for this model is $79.99. 

Tifosi and I go way back. Little known factoid: Tifosi sponsored the very first Trans Iowa and gave each rider a free pair of Sunglasses! (I wish I had kept mine, but they are long gone.) 

Anyway, Tifosi's "MO" is to offer the rider a set of glasses with a lot of value and high performance at a low cost. In the past I was "mostly satisfied" with their wares. I mean, you could tell that Oakleys and Spy, and Rudy Projects were superior in terms of optics, and so the resulting price differences between those brands and Tifosi made some sense. 

Is this still the case? 

Well, I think that Tifosi has upped their game since the days I was a regular user of their products. The overall optical experience with the Rail has been really good. "Oakley" good? "Spy" good? Yeah....pretty darn close to that good, for sure. 

And you get three very usable lenses. The Smoke Mirror lens is great at blocking out really bright Sun and glare. The Red AC lens is what I would call perfect. I like the ability to see contrasts and they block enough light to keep me happy while not being so dark that going under the branches of a roadside tree does not leave you in the dark. 

And clear lenses need no explanation. 

The bows of these Rail model glasses are comfy, the adjustable nose piece is on par with any high-end glasses, and the Rail does not slip, nor cause any fatigue after wearing them a long time. They do have a large "blade-like" lens that is all the rage these days, so they cover a lot of facial real estate. Keep that in mind here. 

I'll have more to say in my Riding Gravel review. 

Base Layers:

Here is something you don't see a lot of chatter about - Base layers. Those garments that go between you and the jersey. It would seem counter-intuitive for hot, humid conditions to wear one of these and a jersey, but if you know, well.....you know.

I'll spare the apologetic of base layer usage and just say that I was amazed at the difference when wearing a base layer versus not wearing one. You can decide for yourself if it is worth the trouble. Now with that said, here are two base layer tops for men that I have found to my liking. 

Twin Six T6 Base Layer:

No techy mumbo-jumbo here. I like this one because it is relatively inexpensive at $21.60 and it feels pretty darn good. I have been wearing one of these on most of my rides for several years after having used another brand at first. This top launders well and stays nice and bright white wash after wash. Plus it does what it is supposed to do- wick away sweat and keep you cooler. The fabric is supple and decently soft to the touch, even after several years of use. It has more of a tank-top cut to it, so it doesn't cover the shoulders. 

Endura Translite S/L Baselayer: 

The Endura base layer (right in the image above) is the nicest base layer I have. I only have one, but I have had it for a few years as well. It also launders well and works great on the bike. The main differences are that the Endura fabric is softer to the skin and very supple. The other difference is that it is a sleeveless design, so this one has a tighter collar, more like a t-shirt than a tank-top, and it covers the shoulders. Cost is a bit more at $39.99 but the Endura base layer is like an "Ultegra" option whereas the T6 top would be your "105" option. (Or XT vs SLX if you are a MTB person) You can check out this one HERE, but I see the website says they are out of stock at the moment. 

The bottom line is that these are both great base layer tops for hot, humid weather or any riding, really. The T6 gets my vote as the workhorse option that you will definitely get your money's worth from. The Endura one is more of a luxury item, in my view, but it is definitely a great base layer. 

That's a wrap for this edition of Review Briefs