Ryders Eyewear Incline Fyre Glasses

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Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
First Ride: Ryders Incline FYRE Glasses
Stylish, crystal-clear, fog-free vision for those without budget constraints.
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Vital Review
s1600 rydersA 448979

Choosing sunglasses for riding can be as much about personal style preference as it is about performance. If you don't like the way glasses look, you won't really care about how they perform. Knowing this, Ryders Eyewear offers their high-tech, constantly-adjusting FYRE lens technology in a variety of frame styles. Vital was sent the Incline and the Roam MTB models to investigate. We spent some time in the Incline which feature a grey FYRE lens and is considered the "invert" version of the Ryders Seventh sunglasses.

Ryders Incline FYRE Features

  • NXT Lens: Superior optics compared to traditional lenses / Extremely impact resistant
  • Varia: Vast photochromic range (Category 1-3) / Lens changes color instead of simply getting darker or lighter and is fast acting in all temperatures
  • antiFOG: Military-grade fog resistance, permanently bonded to lens
  • Color Boost: Enhances color perception / Boosts the most important tones and creates a more vibrant environment
  • MLV Mirror (Multi-Layer VARIA Mirror): Reflects additional light away from lens with no negative effects on photochromic performance
  • Weight: 32g
  • Frame and lens color options available
  • MSRP: $219.99

Initial Impressions

The first thing we noticed right out of the box is the lack of weight when we picked up the Ryders Incline glasses. Ryders claims a 32-gram weight and that's what our scale displayed, too. Sliding them on, there was no discomfort or pinching from the adjustable nose piece or the arms. Looking at the review photos, the glasses look a little crooked on our tester, but that's because of his un-level ears and reflects how his regular glasses sit on his face. Our tester was particularly fond of the almost-clear included grey lens as he prefers to ride in clear, tint-free lenses with goggles or glasses, so these were chosen over the Roam models also sent over.

Ryders says the Varia technology of the lenses that we had (grey on the Incline and yellow on the Roam) can increase detail and color recognition by up to 20% when moving from shady to sunny areas. Understanding that the FYRE technology is constantly reacting to light and contrast, we wanted to see if the changes in lens darkness and color were something we could actually notice, so we ran inside and outside the office with the glasses on. It didn't really surprise us when we couldn't visually see the lenses running through their range of light to dark, like in the diagram above. With that said, while looking at the photos of the glasses on the scale inside compared to the photos of the glasses on the wood outside, the lenses are darker outdoors which means the adjustment is subtle and won't interfere with riding and visibility.

Ryders Incline FYRE weight. This is the model we chose to ride in.
Ryders Roam FYRE weight.

On The Trail

Prior to riding, we tried on the glasses with both an open-face Troy Lee Designs A1 helmet and a full-face Fox Proframe helmet. The glasses fit nicely with both helmets and there were no interference issues with the straps or the helmet impacting the position of the shades. We chose to ride in the Fox Proframe, which is a breathable all-mountain full-face, not a DH helmet. We wanted to best test the breathability and anti-fog properties of the Ryders Incline glasses, so the full face was the play.

Ryders Incline glasses in a Fox Proframe helmet.
Ryders Incline glasses in a Troy Lee Designs A1 open face helmet.

We set out on our go-to trail which starts out at sea level, right next to the ocean. On this particular May morning, it was typical cool and foggy conditions at the start of the ride. The moisture and lack of sunlight stuck around through the first half of the slow, fireroad climb. Even with the full-face on, some sweat building and still conditions, the glasses did not fog up. Visibility was uncompromised, indicating to us that the antiFOG coating works as promised. We did try the heavy-breath-on-the-lens test at home (like Ryders does in one of their videos) and noticed that the coating must only be on the side of the lens that sits closest to your face. The outside would fog up under our breath though it would clear up quickly. The inside of the lenses would not fog up, however, and this makes perfect sense to us knowing that's the side of the glasses getting less air flow and are trapped against sweating skin. If this is standard in the industry, cool. We just wanted to point that out if you try the breath test at a local shop.

The sun broke through the marine layer for the top of half of the climb (typical conditions for the time of year) and the glasses continued to be fog free as the heat rose. Again, we didn't experience a noticeable "darkening" of the lenses when we hit the sun, but the fog-to-sun jump was subtle. The descent was a fun singletrack rip, our reward for the 1,200-foot climb, and the glasses performed well. Visibility was unobstructed, detail was clear and wind, bugs, head-high weeds, and grass hanging over the trail thanks to a wet winter were blocked from hitting our eyeballs despite smashing through them head-on.

What's The Bottom Line?

The performance and style of the Ryders Incline with FYRE lenses checks all the boxes for our tester. The look is modern and clean without being overly sporty, the clarity of the lenses is exceptional and the anti-fog performance was flawless. The price, however, is a little on the steep side. At $219, they are cutting-edge eyewear that rival other top-of-the-line brands and models. There are, however other sunglass options on the market with photocromic lens features that come in at half the price. These cheaper options may not be direct comparison to the Inclines with FYRE, but our tester feels like he could get a solid-performing pair of riding glasses while socking away some coin for a lift ticket or overnight riding adventure. If fogging eyewear is a problem for you on the trail, but price isn't an issue for your wallet, the FYRE line of mountain biking glasses from Ryders is a must-try, as they are a very high-performing piece of eye protection for your rides.

Ryders Roam FYRE Sunglasses. Another option in the Ryders FYRE line up.

About The Reviewer

Shawn Spomer has been mountain biking since 1998 and has been involved in mountain bike media since 2001. He has been with Vital MTB as Content Director since 2009. While he may be more keyboard jockey than talented rider these days, his experience on the bike gives him the insight to investigate how a product will relate to the majority of consumers.

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Specifications

Product
Ryders Eyewear Incline Fyre Glasses
Rider
Unisex
Style
Sport
Features
Lens Features:
NXT – Advanced impact protection and superior optics.
antiFOG – Military-grade fog-resistance.
COLOUR BOOST – 20% faster color recognition.
VARIA – Fast-acting, wide-range photochromic technology.
MLV MIRROR – Allows VARIA to perform at its full potential.
100% UV400 Protection
Hydrophobic and Oleophobic Coating
Scratch-Resistant Coating

Frame Features:
Adjustable nose pads and temple tips
GRILAMID TR90 thermoplastic material is flexible, durable, and light weight
Hydrophilic Nose Pads and Temple Tips

32g with Fyre lens
Colors
Light Grey, Black with Red, White with Grey
Miscellaneous
This model is the Invert version of the critically-acclaimed Ryders Seventh. As a patented Invert design, the frame runs along the bottom of the lens instead of over the top. This improves your field of vision, combats fogging and provides protection for your face in the event of a crash. Just like the Seventh, the Incline has fully adjustable nose pads and temple tips for a custom fit.
Price
$219.99
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Where To Buy
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
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