Julbo Race 2.0 Glasses

Have you heard of Julbo eyewear before? Nope, me neither. When I was asked to review some Julbo glasses, I literally replied, “Who?” Julbo is a small, family run, French eyewear company that started in 1888. Yup, that’s 128 years ago. I figured I’d do the review in the hopes these glasses I’d never heard of were crap and I could write a comically scathing review (I’m way overdue for a comically scathing review). A week later I skeptically received a pair of Julbo Race 2.0 glasses with their Zebra Light lenses.

The Julbo Race 2.0 glasses with Julbo’s Zebra Light lenses.

The Julbo Race 2.0 uses a full frame, with a significant wrap around the temples, and a comfortable adjustable nose piece. My face is on the narrower side and the Race 2.0 fit great. As some people know I’m a picky bitch, and there are several areas where riding glasses really piss me off.

Item 1: arms that scratch the inside of the lenses when folded closed. How hard is it to design a product that doesn’t ruin itself when not actually in use? Thankfully the Race 2.0 passes this test.

Item 2: lenses that fall out. The Race 2.0 passes this test with a full frame, but the Race 2.0 also has excellent field of view. Why are half frame glasses a good idea again? Maybe I can see half frames for reading or looking down at your gentleman sausage, but you shouldn’t be doing either when riding.

Item 3: glasses that slide off your face when sweaty (I’m actually a sweaty picky bitch so this happens a lot). Even with my industrial strength levels of sweat production, and janky riding, the Julbo Race 2.0 glasses stuck to my face like dog faeces to a bike tire.

Item 4: frame designed to produce supersonic jets of air directly at your eyeball when riding. I wear contact lenses, and my eyes water if I travel any faster than walking pace. With most glasses as soon as I set off I tear up worse than Oprah Winfrey. However in the Julbo Race 2.0 I was able to ride fast trails at rapid pace without having much of a cry. In short the Julbo Race 2.0 appears to be a well thought out frame that I can’t fault in any way.

The Zebra Light lens seems to be all things at all times. Offering good light transmission when dark, yet reducing sun strikes, and offering adequate shading when in direct sunlight.

The Zebra Light lenses in the Race 2.0 are slightly mirrored, photochromic and anti-fog. The mirror is a yellow / red flare, but looking through the lenses colours the world with a slight blue hue. Most photochromic lenses I’ve tried in the past have had poor light transmissibility in low light conditions. My eyes are weak and I really struggle to see at dusk with any tinted glasses. All my riding glasses and goggles are clear, or for bright days maybe a light blue. Surprisingly the Zebra Light lenses offered excellent light transmission in the dank, dark shore at dusk. In contrast, out in the open on a bright day, and the lenses darkened appropriately to a comfortable level. The only issue I had was sitting on a bright fire road and then dropping into dense forest; it took a few corners for the lenses to lighten and for my eyes to adjust. The anti-fog layer worked well. I could ride all day without the insides fogging up. Unfortunately I’m a sweaty bitch and so drips of sweat are usually a bigger issue. The anti-fog coating is good, but not impervious to fog on those really wet, humid days. Pro tip; carry a bit of paper towel in a ziplock bag, pat the lenses dry at the top, and enjoy clear vision all the way to the bottom.

Sending it deep on the trail bike on a fast trail, and I barely remembered I had the Julbo Race 2.0 wrapped around my face.

The Julbo Race 2.0 are simply the best riding glasses I’ve ever used. They have been a fantastic addition to my regular riding kit. Since I can ride at a good pace with the Race 2.0’s without my eyes watering I don’t need goggles as frequently. Major bonus for half lid rides so I can avoid looking like a dingus with the goggle + half lid fashion faux pas. The Race 2.0 frames are nearly flawless and I think they look great. The Zebra Light lenses are the stand out here, which worked well through a wide variety of conditions.

I rarely leave home without the Julbo Race 2.0 these days, and that’s about the most positive review I can give a product.

The retail price of $195 CDN is not cheap, but it is in line with other premium riding glasses. I’m hard pressed to find any faults, and the Julbo Race 2.0 glasses have quickly become one of my favourite pieces of riding kit. Click here for more Julbo Race 2.0.

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