It’s easy to say any performance-oriented company should always be looking forward, but sometimes you have to look inwards to inspire innovation. And sometimes you have to look back. Like, to the ’80s.
Such history inspired Rudy Project to spend three years developing the Synform with a team of mechanical engineers and professional athletes. The result? A sporting pair of shades whose arms fold in half, swing inwards, then the lenses fold together to reduce their dimensions to a compact clam-shell shape.
The Synforms are ideal for stuffing into jersey pockets when they’re not needed or when riding in variable conditions… that is, anything their photochromic lenses won’t handle. I’d also suggest these compact sunglasses would be great for self-supported touring/adventure rides, or even riders who travel often and like to pack as light as possible. Get a better look after the break…
The Synform sunglasses are comprised of 33 individual parts, and alongside their ability to fold they still include many features found throughout Rudy Project’s eyewear line. The glasses utilize the brand’s vented interchangeable lenses, adjustable temple tips, and an Ergonose 8 anti-slip nose pad. The Synform also uses Kynetium alloy temples and a Grilamid chassis to achieve a sturdy frame with minimal weight at just 1.15oz (32.6g).
Most models of the Synforms come with Rudy Project’s proprietary photochromic Impact X-2 lenses, which unlike traditional photochromic lenses come in five different auto-adjusting colors instead of just clear to black.
The All-Around lenses auto-tint from clear to black, and were designed as the do-it-all model for any terrain or changing weather conditions. The Racing Red series adjusts from clear to red/Laser Red, to maximize color contrast and increase visual stimulation at high speeds. The Laser Brown lenses are optimized to reduce optical stress and offer excellent clarity for all-day activities, adjusting from clear to RP’s Laser Brown shade.
There’s also a golf-specific photochromic lens on the Synform Golf model, and if you don’t desire the auto-tinting feature, they’re also available with standard Smoke Black or Polarized 3FX Gray Laser lenses.
The Synform is also prescription-friendly, and the frames fit medium to large faces. With compact convenience in mind, every pair of Synforms comes with its own carrying case.
The new Synform series is available now, running $299.99 USD with Smoke Black lens, $349 USD with polarized 3FX Gray Laser lens. Frame colors are Matte Black, Matte White or Ice Graphite.
