Out Of Bot 2 Electric Bike Glasses

Anyone who has ever worn photochromic (self-tinting) glasses during outdoor sports would not want to be without this comfort anymore. Especially as a cyclist, one is often exposed to fluctuating light conditions and does not want to bother with changing lenses nowadays, nor forego protection by removing the glasses entirely. The only drawback of many self-tinting lenses, however, is that the change from category 1 (lightly tinted) to category 3 (darkly tinted) takes about 20 seconds, which is too slow for spontaneous changes in light, such as those occurring during tunnel passages or in the rapid play of light and shadow in the forest.

With the Bot 2, the Italian company Out Of launched the second generation of their electronic cycling glasses last year, which adjusts the tint of the Iridium filters within 0.09 seconds to the prevailing light conditions using an integrated LCD module. No batteries, no charging, completely automatic. Out Of claims an unlimited number of tints and aims to cover the entire transmission spectrum between S1 and S3 filters with their colorful IRID lenses. Note: The IRID clear lens, however, only achieves tints between S1 and S2.

We opted for a review sample of the Bot 2 with “IRID-Red” lenses including the adjustable “Adapta” temples and tested them for several weeks.

In terms of appearance, the Bot 2 has the sleek, sporty look of cycling glasses from other high-end brands. Apart from a rise in the middle, behind which one can see the photovoltaic cells shimmering through the red-violet iridium glazing upon closer inspection, and a wider shading inside the frame, the electronic Bot 2 is hardly distinguishable from ordinary cycling sunglasses.

The nasal wings and temple hinges are not adjustable in angle, but they do give a high-quality impression. Despite the high-tech features, the weight is also acceptable: at 34 grams, the "Adapta" variant does not really add bulk, and the glasses do not feel uncomfortably heavy even on the nose. This is aided by the flexible plastic temples with silicone ends, as they not only allow the glasses to be securely adjusted to fit the wearer's head, but also distribute the overall weight better than, for example, the 39-gram Evil Eye E-Sense.

Using an optical insert (Optical Insert XS050470), the Bot 2 can also be used with prescription lenses tailored to the wearer's visual acuity.

While the design of glasses is a matter of taste and the ergonomics also depend on the head and face shape of the wearer, there is no dry eye when it comes to technical function. The Bot 2 works flawlessly, and the cylindrical lenses transition seamlessly from a light (S1) to a dark (3) tint. In a direct comparison with the Evil Eye E-Sense, it is noticeable that the Bot 2 - although both glasses specify a range from category one to three - does not tint quite as strongly. No matter.

Apart from that, the darkening and lightening happen so quickly that we could not detect any difference despite different reaction times (Bot 2: 0.09 seconds vs. Evil Eye: 0.6 seconds). The "0.09" seconds is probably more of a marketing gimmick, as the direct competition advertises "0.1" seconds. They probably wanted to appear a bit faster on paper. But again: No matter whether you step out of the tunnel into dazzling sunlight or the forest delights you with a play of light and shadows - in the end, it makes no difference.

Of course, 349 or 359 euros are no small change, as the Austrians like to say. However, compared to the Evil Eye E-Sense (list price 649 euros), the Bot 2 cost almost only half and could therefore even be described as a bargain - it all depends on the perspective.

Regardless of the price, we find the brand of the three siblings, their approach, and also the product extremely cool: Made in Italy, high-quality craftsmanship, high comfort, distinctive look, 100% UVA/UVB protection with a fast and electronic tinting without a battery. Why condensation formed once inside the glazing over the solar cell, we do not know. However, it was gone as quickly as it came - we will continue to monitor it and report on it in the comments.

Bikeboard tip: For an optimal fit and a secure hold, we recommend the "Adapta" version, even though it weighs 4.5 grams more and costs 10 euros more.