Dual Eyewear S4
Quick Take Review
Having a hard time reading the digits on your cycling computer? Well then, Dual Eyewear is for you. Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, the guys at Dual recently introduced a series of sport-specific sunglasses with built-in magnifiers to solve the problem. Although they were designed for cycling, they work just as well for reading a handheld GPS, ABC watch and other electronic gear (and maybe a fishing knot or two).
We had the chance to check out two Dual Eyewear products – the S4 and the V6. They are aggressively styled with a wrap-around look reminiscent of Oakley’s Jacket line. Red rubber accents the earpieces and keep the glasses from sliding around. Definitely not your Grandfather’s bifocals.
Specs
Weight: 0.75 oz
Frame: Flexible nylon
Lens: Polycarbonate
Dual builds the S4 for small to medium faces and the V6 for medium to large. Choose from two lens colors – smoke and brown – and three lens powers (+1.5, +2.0, or +2.5) to customize your pair. Polarized lenses are not available and frankly not preferable for the application that Dual targets. Polarized lenses cause moiré patterns and other viewing problems when looking at LCD screens.
For my tests, I went with the S4 and a +1.5 power lens and found the fit to be perfect. The V6 also fit well, but just a tab larger than I prefer (but definitely not as big as some glasses that are also designed for larger faces). The +1.5 magnifier is discretely placed in the lower section of the lens and hardly noticeable when looking at the glasses. They focus at normal reading distance (roughly 15 inches or so) which should work fine for most people. I found that to be just a touch closer than I’d like for outdoor use. For me, something in the 18 to 20 inch range might be better.
Overall, Dual Eyewear is a welcome addition to the outdoor arsenal. Aggressive styling, almost invisible placement of the magnifier, and a bargain price of $50 (under $40 at some online retailers) make these perfect for almost any outdoor activity. Distribution is still somewhat limited but if you can’t find them in your local bike shop, visit www.dualeyewear.com to buy direct from the company.