Vinco Terra Sunglasses Review

Sustainable, rebuildable and earth-friendly are top of mind with just about any product on the market these days. And, Vinco has taken that goal and infused it into their ethos as a company and it permeates through their products. The Vinco Terra sunglasses are a unique, Base-7 shield offering huge coverage in a rebuildable and adjustable design.

Vinco Terra Sunglasses Features:

• Optimized lenses for trail running and mountain biking
• Base 7 curve for wraparound performance
• Optically-correct in all angles
• Infinitely-adjustable temple tips
• Rebuildable design with stainless hardware
• Utilizes Lignatura bio resin instead of plastics
• 2-year guarantee (replace or rebuild)
• Available in two sizes and a handful of classic colors
• Weight: 27 grams (small) and 29 grams (large)
• Handmade in Italy
• MSRP: $249

Sunnies built for dirt

After extensive testing of the Vinco Sola sunglasses, I’ve been able to test out the Vinco Terra sunglasses on early morning rides and trail runs here in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains. The construction of the Vinco Terra and Sola sunglasses are identical, with one twist — the lenses. The shape and size are identical, but the lens color, tint and mirroring is optimized for the colors and lighting typically found on singletrack or dirt. In general, lens color should match the primary terrain, so the amber color of the Terra’s lenses are a match.

With large shields all the rage, the Terra fits right in. Where they stand out is the ultra-thin Lignatura bio resin frames. Not only is this material eco-friendly, it’s lightweight and allows solid attachment to the lenses with stainless hardware. There’s no getting around the industrial looks or the performance of these shades.

Lens materials vary across manufacturers — with each boasting the best optical clarity, protection and scratch-resistance. Polyamide lenses offer nearly the same clarity as glass and are stronger and lighter than polycarbonate lenses. It’s honestly incredible just how lightweight these sunglasses are. I can wear them all day without fatigue or pressure points.

An important part of that story are the adjustable temple tips. They bend like Gumby and adapt to my noggin like they are custom-made. Admittedly, it does take a bit of trial-and-error to get the curve just right, but they are easily-changed to match your preferred shape. In addition, they can be curved as needed to clear the retention systems on various helmets. Icing on the cake is that the ends screw off and allow replacement of the rubber sleeves should they ever get worn or mangled. The best fit is to allow those rubber tips to sit fully along the back of your head.

Once situated, they stay seated really well for trail running, mountain biking or gravel riding. The only time I ever noticed any movement was on particularly rough terrain until I got the temple tips situated just right. That said, I do wish the nose piece was a little more adjustable for various nose shapes. They do not currently offer an “Asian fit” but I still think they could be better at fitting more noses.

The lenses do offer excellent optical clarity on the trails at both low and high speeds. I can go in/out of shade  with continuous, high-quality vision. Obstacles are clear and angle-of-attack can be deciphered without a second thought. Where they don’t excel is in mid-day sun in open terrain, but that’s to be expected with such a bright lens color. With two small lens vents at the bottom-corner of the lenses, there is added airflow, but I can still fog them up on cold, humid mornings. Luckily, they do unfog after just a few steps or pedal strokes. Admittedly, the angular shape of the frames don’t really jive with helmet lines really well, but that’s just me being nit-picky.

I have definitely not babied these frames and you still won’t find a single scratch on them. Of course, nobody will spend $250 on a pair of sunglasses just to trash them, but just know that they can take serious abuse. Should any repairs be needed, the modular design easily allows for it. You won’t find a more repairable pair of sunglasses on the market.

Fit: I chose the small frame just to be sure they would provide the most secure fit. I wear a medium bike helmet, for reference. 

Buy Now: Visit VincoPerformance.com