For the past couple of months, I have been using the POC Define Sunglasses both for riding and as regular sunglasses while off the bike. POC designed the Define’s so that you can get good performance both on and off the trail. Let’s take a look at how they performed and whether or not POC was able to deliver on that promise
POC Define Sunglasses Specs
From POCSports.com
Clarity lenses control the color spectrum for enhanced contrast and color definition for clearer vision in the environments you ride in. A lightweight and durable grilamid frame features on the Define glasses. A minimal frame on the bottom of the glasses reduces the visible frame for the wearer, supporting clearer vision.Snap in hinges can pop out in a fall, minimizing damage to the frame and prolonging the life of the sunglasses. Rubber grips on the nosepiece and the temples ensure the glasses sit firmly in place even during strenuous activity.
- Clarity lens technology
- Lightweight and durable grilamid frame
- Rubber nosepiece and temples stay grippy even when wet
- Snap hinges
- Complete UV protection (UV400)
- Corrective optical lenses will fit this frame
- Grilamid
- Lens: Polycarbonate
- As Tested –
- $180 MSRP
POC Define Fit and Finish
I’ll be the first to admit…99% of mountain biking glasses these days are hideous in my opinion. While they might provide great protection for your eyes on the trail and increase clarity and detail…most of them are designed in a way that they look ridiculous of you wear them without a helmet on. I don’t know when this design trend really took over, but the designs lately have really gone over the top.
When POC sent over these Define sunglasses, it was nice to see a pair of sunglasses that I wouldn’t be embarrassed to wear once my helmet came off. These do come in some crazier colors if you want to go that route but these matte black with the clarity lenses take more of a traditional design language that you expect out of a more casual set of sunglasses. The frames and polycarbonate lenses are surprisingly light and the ear pieces provide a snug fit without any pressure points. Overall, they feel like a quality set of sunglasses like you would expect from an $180 pair.
Whether or not you are going to like the design and how they fit your face is going to be subjective like any pair of sunglasses you wish to purchase. I personally like the more traditional look and appreciated how light they were.
POC Define Sunglasses – The Good
Let’s take a look at what the POC Define Sunglasses did well out on the trail and through general use.
The Clarity Lenses
POC developed the Clarity lenses with Carl Zeiss. They use this same tech in their googles and it is one of the main specs that are featured in their products. While they are not polarized, they do increase clarity and help with trail vision. The lenses that were tested provide enough tinting to be worn in sunny conditions but they also adapt well to wooded situations where you are going to run into darker shadows.
I really found they performed their best on sunny days where you are coming in and out of tree cover. On more overcast days or on rides where you are deep in the woods, I would rather use a clear set of lenses as any tinting at all can actually hinder vision by being too dark. I don’t find a huge need for polarization on riding glasses so that feature was not missed at all. I did like the increased contrast while riding and that allowed me to see more detail in the trail when highlights from the sun can wash them out.
The bottom of the frames also have a cutout that increases field of view towards the bottom of the glasses. It creates a “frameless” feel to them and it is something that makes the glasses almost disappear while wearing them out on the trail.
Weight and Fit
One of the things I liked the most about the Define’s is how light they were and how they stayed put on my face while riding. Even in rough, technical sections…the glasses did not move and the weight made it so that they were comfortable on longer rides.
The way POC designed the rubber nose rest and the rubber on the ear pieces provided enough pressure and grip to not move on your face without creating pressure points. This was great to see out of a pair of sunglasses that are more casually designed and not full wrap around glasses. I was really expecting them to move more than they did.
Price vs Quality
At $180, POC Define Sunglasses are not a cheap pair of sunglasses but they are also not nearly on the most expensive end either. The quality of the lenses and the fit and finish of the sunglasses are in line with that mid range pricing.
If you are the type of person that like a quality set of glasses with lenses that not only protect…but also perform…this is a great set of sunglasses for that purpose. If you typically trash your glasses, you are probably going to want a more disposable option at the sacrifice of some performance. The arms on the Define’s are actually designed to pop in and out (you know…for those times you have to use your helmet for its intended purpose!) so that creates a natural break away zone and allows the Define’s to hold up to hard hits without breaking.
POC Define Sunglasses – The Bad
While the POC Define sunglasses did a lot well, there are several areas where they do fall short for mountain biking so let’s take a look at those areas.
Overall Protection
The Define’s take a more transitional, casual design that looks good both on and off the bike. Because of this…you do not get as much protection from dirt, mud and water as you would from a design that is purposely built around mountain biking.
The lenses do not wrap around your face fully protecting your eyes. You do get gaps on both side and while it is hard for dirt to get around your face and in your eye like that…they do not help a lot in really dusty situations since they are not right up against your face. If you ride in areas that see a lot of dry dirt that you are constantly trying to keep out of your eyes, these are probably not the glasses you want to wear on your rides.
The Lenses
The lenses on these glasses are not interchangeable. If you run into changing riding conditions (start off sunny and end in clouds), there is no way to adapt the glasses to the conditions you are in. It would be nice to be able to pop in some clear lenses if needed as one of the primary purposes of riding glasses is eye protection.
POC Define Sunglasses – Overall Thoughts
When POC sent over the Define’s…I really wasn’t sure what I was going to think. They do not look like a mountain biking specific pair of sunglasses. When you get them out on the trail, it is obvious what the goal for POC was with this set. They wanted a pair of sunglasses that performed well on the trail that could also be worn around town during your after ride meal and drinks.
While they are not perfect, they did accomplish that goal and I have enjoyed wearing the Define’s both on and off the trail. At $180, you get a quality set of sunglasses that really do increase clarity on the trail in sunny and shadow conditions while providing enough protection for most rides. You also do not look like a complete idiot when you are wearing them at the brewery after your ride.