ON TEST - Rudy Project Proflow

Do I really need dorsal stabilisers on my sunglasses? It’s not a question I would have considered before taking delivery of a pair of Rudy Project’s brand new Proflow. But then again, Italian designers flair for flamboyance often illuminates the most unlikely of places.

Constructed of Zinc-Alumnium-Magnesium alloy, the aforementioned Dorsal Stabilizers form one of the main features of these new high-end glasses. Hyperbolic names aside, the robust feeling alloy arms provide a customisable fit through flexible contact points at the nose bridge and ear socks. In practice, this provided a comfortable and secure fit, even during bumpier activities I put them through like trail running.

This sort of user-customisable flexibility has always been a hallmark of Rudy’s offerings, making them a great option for head shapes of all sizes. Other traditionally Rudy features included in the Proflow include support for clip-in subscription inserts, not to mention their high quality, impact resistant ImpactX lenses. More on those later.

Suspension included

Less traditional is the unique hinge design employed on the Proflow. The sculpted frame and arms are connected in what Rudy Project dubs a “suspended hinge”, a feature previously used on their Ketyum model. Coupled with the dark grey on black palette of our test pair, the industrial look gives the impression of something that might have been at home in the Batman costume department. Cosmetic features are certainly a personal preference thing, and like many Italian design quirks it grew on me as I spent a few weeks with them. Besides, I’m a Batman fan.

Air-con standard too

The hinge provides space for perhaps the Proflow’s most impressive feature, and the one with gives it its name. The separation between frame and arm makes room for sizeable vents, which extend a third of the way across the top of the lenses. The trademark applied to this feature – Integrated Air Conditioning – may induce an eye roll, but one thing it definitely eliminates is fogging. The effect is impressive. Pulled down from a perch on a sweaty helmet or head, the lenses clear within seconds as they gulp in air from the passing flow. The vent narrows towards the centre of the lens to keep eyes protected from that anti-fogging air.

One thing that certainly is a breeze is lens changes. Here Rudy’s Quickchange name does exactly what it says on the box. Lenses are removed and replaced with a reassuring click. Although that may be useful for those wishing to switch between tinted lenses, our test pair came equipped with the marque’s top-of-the-line ImpactX Photochromatic Polarized lens. The polarisation reduces the range of photochromatic tint – which adjusts automatically to UV exposure – however, they were perfect for all but night time and pre-dawn expeditions.

Crazy names, legitimate claims

While I might make lighthearted fun of Rudy’s penchant for overly elaborate feature names, I can’t fault the attention to detail put into the company’s latest flagship model, nor the real world results of their work. The Proflow looks good and is equipped with practical features, of which the lens ventilation is a particular stand out.

They’re comfortable, include high quality lenses and an equally first class finish, dorsal stabilisers and all. Definitely worth considering if you’re in the market for a new pair of quality sunnies, or at the very least try them on the next time you’re at your local bike shop.