Review: Rudy Project Astral X Sunglasses
I was prepared not to like these sunglasses…
It wasn’t anything personal. I’ve just never had a pair of “no frame” glasses before, and honestly, I’m very picky. I don’t like sunglasses that are too dark, because it messes with my depth perception. I have a hard time finding glasses that fit my face and don’t pinch my ears giving me a headache.
So when I received these Rudy Project Astral X sunglasses, I was suspicious… but cautiously optimistic. I mean Rudy Project has been making high performance eyewear in Italy since 1985 (since I was born…). And all their models look really cool and have superhero-worthy names like the Spinshield, Cutline, and Defender. So I decided to keep an open mind and give these things a whirl.
Spoiler Alert: They’re my new favorite running sunglasses!
Read on for a review of the Rudy Project Astral X. Be sure to scroll to the end, because I have a gift for you… ;)
Review: Rudy Project Astral X- the pros
Cool color options
To start, they just look cool. While that’s not exactly a performance feature, “look good feel good,” right? The Astral X comes in five different color combinations. It was hard to pick just one, so I let Matt decide. He selected the Crystal Ash frame with Multilaser Green lens. You can also choose from a black matte frame with red lens, light teal frame with osmium lens, white matte frame with rose gold lens, and lilac frame with rose gold lens.
100% UV protection + prescription ready lenses
The lens on these glasses blocks 100% of UV rays, which is super important living here in the Sunshine State. The green version has a LTV (light transmission value) of 14%. This indicates how much light is transmit through the lens. Low values are great for sunny conditions and high values are good for less sun. I found the green color to be not too dark and not too light, so it didn’t mess with my depth-perception while working out. It’s like the Goldilocks of lenses.
Another cool feature is that these glasses are prescription ready. The Astral X has been designed so you can put an optical insert behind the existing lens, which is pretty cool.
Lightweight and adjustable
I was pleasantly surprised to discover these glasses are super lightweight- just 28 grams. I wore them while spectating friends at 70.3 Florida over the weekend, and I kind of forgot I was wearing them. I tested the Astral X while running, and I can confirm there’s no bounce whatsoever. This is probably due to the anti-slip nosepads you can adjust to accommodate your face shape. Also, the temple arms are coated in more anti-slip rubber to ensure they stay put. While they don’t move, they don’t pinch the sides of my head either, which I appreciate.
Eco-sustainable material
One of the most unique features of the Astral X is what they’re made out of. They have a Rilsan Clear frame, which is made from an eco-sustainable material. It’s a high quality, bio-plastic that’s derived from 45% castor oil. Seriously! The castor oil plants are grown by certified farmers in Gujarat, India, which is pretty amazing.
This aligns with Rudy Project’s pledge to use environmentally conscious materials. It’s part of their Ride to Zero initiative to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. The goal is to source sustainable and responsible manufacturing and create durable products that are long-lasting and eco-friendly. They’ve also eliminated plastic lamination on their paper products to preserve a greener future for our planet.
As a triathlete, I love to swim in rivers and oceans, ride on beautiful canopy roads, and run trails. Anything we can do to preserve these glorious outdoor spaces is worthwhile.
Review: Rudy Project Astral X- the cons
No transition lens option
What would put these glasses over the top is if they had a photochromic “transition lens” option. I like this feature for long distance racing, because the lens adjusts throughout the day in response to changing light conditions. A few months ago, I did a review on the Rudy Project Kelion- full-frame glasses that are my go-to for cycling. The Kelion has a photochromic lens option. Click here to read the review.
No hard case
My only real negative is that the Astral X comes in a microfiber pouch and not a hard-sided case. With all the training triathletes do, we can be hard on gear. I frequently toss my glasses into a duffel bag along with my cycling shoes and helmet. A hard-sided case would be great to prevent the glasses from getting scratched or damaged.
Might not be suitable for small faces
These glasses fit my face well, but the Astral X might not be suitable for smaller faces. The good news is Rudy Project has the regular Astral for more petite folks.
Final thoughts
This is an excellent pair of sunglasses for the $204.99 price tag. They’re my new favorite running sunglasses!
I like the cool color combination and that the lens blocks 100% of UV rays. I appreciate that they’re lightweight and stay put while running. The fact that they’re made of eco-friendly material is just icing on the cake. Although I wish there was a transition lens option and that they came with a hard-sized case, those are the only real negatives with the Astral X.
Rudy Project has a 90-day, money-back guarantee and free shipping for orders over $200 (in the lower 48 US), which is great. Also, there’s a 2-year warranty on sunglasses, eyeglasses, and helmets. They also have a 1-year scratch replacement policy for prescription lenses and a lens replacement program at discounted prices, because athletes are so hard on gear!
Rudy Project is known for their great crash replacement policy on helmets too. If you sustain a crash up to three years after the date of purchase, you can receive a discount on a new helmet. I don’t have a Rudy Project helmet… but I’m due for a new one pretty soon, so I’d be happy to review one. ;)
Now for your gift!
As a subscriber to the Triple Threat Life newsletter, you receive 35% off helmets and sunglasses at Rudy Project. This includes prescription eyewear. Also, you get up to 50% off sale items. It’s a crazy good deal and all you need to do is use the code: triplethreatlife.
Just create a free Rudy Project account at this link. Then, when you browse the website, discounted prices will show up automatically.
If you’re a member of the Triple Threat Life Club, you get our complete discount line-up: ROKA, Never Second nutrition, Torege eyewear, Apollo Neuro, Cool Mitt, Running Warehouse, Road iD, Firefly Recovery, and Precision Fuel & Hydration.
Sign up for the Triple Threat Life Club today.