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Tifosi Alliant Sunglasses Review

Tifosi Alliance Sunglasses

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Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Very comfortable to wear for hours
  • Very reasonably priced compared to brands like Oakley
  • Adjustable nose pads and ear pieces
  • Hydrophilic nose pads and ear tips to keep them in place
  • Comes with additional high-constrast lens and clear lens
  • Grilamid TR-90 Frame is exceptionally durable
  • Polycarbonate lenses are shatterproof and scratch-resistant
  • Tons of vents for anti-fogging
  • Sharp looking
  • 100% UV Protection (UV400)

Cons

  • The nose piece is a little big so it’s actually in the corner of your vision

Current deals

REI
$69.95

 

There are few cycling glasses that can compete with the Tifosi Alliant on both the capability level and price level. In my opinion you are getting sunglasses that directly compete with Oakley for quality and features but at a fraction of the price. This is one of those hidden gems when you are looking for cycling sunglasses.

The Alliant has adjustable arms and nose piece that make it so you can dial it in to fit just right. If done correctly, you can adjust the arms so that they take the pressure off of your ears and they feel almost weightless.

Both the nose piece and arms are made out of hydrophilic rubber which is unique in that it just doesn’t get slipper no matter how much they get rained on or (more likely) how much you sweat on them.

The frames are made out of Grilamid TR-90, which is a nylon-infused plastic. It makes them strong, light, and able to handle different temperatures without becoming brittle. They can even withstand oil and the constant UV without an issue.

Tifosi Alliance Sunglasses Front View

Tifosi Alliance Sunglasses Front View

Now to the fun part, the lenses. The lenses on the Tifosi Alliant have a whole slew of vents as you can see in the above picture. Because of all of the vents, these sunglasses won’t fog up while you are riding

The lenses are made out of polycarbonate so they are scratch-resistant, and more importantly they are shatterproof. They are optically decentered as well, which is a fancy way of saying your view won’t be warped by the curved lens.

Like all of the best cycling sunglasses, these have 100% UV protection to UVA and UVB, also known as UV400.

With the Alliant, you also get a hardshell case. The real bonus is that you get 2 additional lenses for high-constrast riding such as mid-morning, and a clear lens for early-morning or night riding. It’s a real nice bonus especially at this price level.

The Tifosi Alliant cycling glasses are very capable and if you’re looking for the fit and features of the best glasses but at a more reasonable price, then the Alliant is perfect for you.

Comfort

One of the best things about the Tifosi Alliant sunglasses is how lightweight they are. Even though the frames are made from durable plastic, the sunglasses only weigh around 1 ounce. This makes them very comfortable to wear for hours without feeling any pressure on your nose or ears.

The Alliant sunglasses also have adjustable nose pads and ear pieces so you can tweak them to fit your face perfectly. The nose pads and ear tips are made of hydrophilic rubber which helps absorb sweat. This keeps the sunglasses from slipping down your nose on hot sweaty days. Overall, the comfort level of these sunglasses is excellent. You can tell Tifosi put a lot of thought into the design to make them easy to wear all day long.

Durability

Durability is always an important factor when purchasing sunglasses. No one wants their sunglasses to break after only a few months of use. The Tifosi Alliant sunglasses are built to last. The frames are constructed from Grilamid TR-90 which is an extremely flexible plastic that is also very impact resistant. TR-90 frames are known for their ability to snap back into shape even if bent or twisted.

The lenses are made from shatterproof polycarbonate material. Polycarbonate is a type of plastic often used for bulletproof glass because of how resistant it is to breaking. The Tifosi Alliant lenses won’t crack or chip if you accidentally drop them. The lenses also have a scratch-resistant coating to keep them clear of scratches which can obstruct your vision. Overall, both the frames and lenses of these sunglasses are very durable and built to handle rugged outdoor use.

Lens Quality

When it comes to sunglasses, lens quality is extremely important. Low quality lenses won’t block enough sunlight or might distort your vision. The Tifosi Alliant sunglasses come with high-quality lenses that provide excellent eye protection.

The polycarbonate lenses block 100% of harmful UVA and UVB rays. This gives your eyes complete protection from the sun’s damaging radiation. The lenses also have plenty of vents cut into them to prevent fogging when you sweat. Nothing is worse than having your sunglasses constantly fog up mid-activity.

Most importantly, the lenses are optically decentered to reduce distortion. What this means is that the lenses are precisely aligned in front of your eyes to minimize any warping of your vision. The end result is a crisp, undistorted view of the world around you.

Accessories

The Tifosi Alliant sunglasses come with some nice extras that add value to the purchase. The sunglasses include a microfiber pouch for safe storage when not in use. There is also a heavy-duty hard shell case for keeping the sunglasses protected when traveling.

Best of all, the sunglasses come with an additional smoke lens and a clear lens. The smoke lens is dark for very bright sunny days. The clear lens transforms the sunglasses into regular eyeglasses for use at night or low light conditions. Having the extra lenses included is a really nice perk that gives you more versatility.

Tifosi Alliance Sunglasses Full Package of Accessories

Tifosi Alliance Sunglasses Full Package of Accessories

Style

In addition to performance, style is important when picking out sunglasses. You want something that looks sharp on your face. The Tifosi Alliant sunglasses have a sporty design that looks good on both men and women.

The smoked lenses have a cool reflective mirrored look, almost like a fighter pilot helmet visor. The angular shape of the lenses and thick arms gives these an athletic style. There are also a variety of frame color options like black, red, and white so you can choose the look you like best. If you want sunglasses that make you look like an athlete, the Alliant model won’t disappoint.

Price

Considering the high quality and all the included accessories, the Tifosi Alliant sunglasses are very reasonably priced. They sell for around $60 to $100 depending on the frame color you select. This puts them at a lower price point than big designer brands like Oakley which can sell for $200 or more.

You are getting a lot for your money with the Alliant sunglasses. The comfort, durability, lens quality, and styling rival more expensive models. For shoppers on a budget who still want quality performance, the Tifosi Alliants are a perfect choice.

Potential Drawbacks

No product is perfect and the Tifosi Alliant sunglasses do have some minor drawbacks to consider. The biggest complaint from some wearers is that the nose piece is a little large. It can extend into your peripheral vision slightly and be distracting. However, the nose piece is adjustable so you can play around with sizing it to minimize the protrusion into your field of view.

The styling is also a bit masculine so female buyers who prefer more delicate frames may find these a little too rugged looking. Those with very small faces might find the sunglasses looking oversized.

Finally, the lenses can produce a slight fish-eye effect around the edges under certain lighting conditions. Overall though, most of the drawbacks with the Tifosi Alliants come down to personal fit and style preferences.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Tifosi Alliant sunglasses are an outstanding option if you want quality glasses without the designer price tag. They exceed expectations with their lightweight yet durable frames, distortion-free lenses, and excellent eye protection. The included accessories like extra lenses, cases, and pouches also add value. For shoppers looking for high-performance sunglasses on a budget, the Tifosi Alliants are definitely worth considering.

Current deals

REI
$69.95

About the Author

Tony K

Senior Technical Writer, MountainBikeExperience.com

Tony K is a technical editor at MountainBikeExperience.com. He has a focus on downhill bike riding but still loves xc bikes too.

With more than ten years of mountain biking experience and more than 5 years testing mountain bikes, Tony has ridden and tested hundreds of different bikes and products, everything from XC to enduro bikes. Tony regularly competes in mountain bike races while seeing how long those compontents can hold up which gives me a lot of insight.

When he isn't shredding down a mountain or camping out, he is writing reviews for Mountain Bike Experience.

Rides: Surly Lowside, Canyon Exceed