Individual test: Ileve N.4 lite - high-quality cycling glasses from Switzerland

Ileve is the name of a young sports eyewear brand from Bern in Switzerland; the word comes from an old local Bernese dialect and refers to a bicycle. The brand's commitment to its origins is one of its key messages. It is also important to the makers to create sustainable products, which in this case means that the glasses are designed, constructed and manufactured in Switzerland - using 3D printing, which is known to be a production process that allows for precise and economical use of materials. The ideas of design and production intertwine, which the Ileve N.4 lite recognisably conveys through its minimalist approach.

Ileve pays attention to sustainability

Reduction to the essentials is not a sacrifice here, but emphasises the functionality and intended use. The hinges on the temples are robust and snap securely into place, neither the temples nor the nose bridge are rubberised, but are designed so that the glasses fit snugly, light as a feather and securely on the head. When folded in, the temple ends keep sufficient distance to the lens so that it cannot be touched and scratched from the inside. Silvia Nadenbousch from Ileve also sees the reduction to the essentials in connection with the brand's endeavours towards sustainability: "We deliberately avoid using silicone," she says. "We are aiming for recyclable glasses. In other words, at the end of the product's life, the glasses and their valuable material should not end up as waste. We want to take the glasses back, disassemble them into their individual components in just a few simple steps and professionally shred, process and reuse the material. That's why nothing is screwed or glued to our glasses, just plugged in."

Cycling idol Fabian Cancellara was involved in the development

Of course, the end of the product life cycle is the last thing you want to think about with these high-quality and inevitably expensive cycling glasses. The latest model from the Swiss company, the N.4 lite, is the result of a collaboration with none other than former Swiss professional cyclist Fabian Cancellara. It is the first Swiss model with a half frame. The classics specialist and time trial world champion contributed his ideas for an emphatically performance-orientated pair of glasses. For Cancellara, the three most important criteria for good racing cycling glasses are: "They have a large field of vision for unrestricted vision, they sit snugly on the face so that the eyes are well protected at all times and they have a contrast-enhancing lens so that you can easily recognise bumps in the road."

The Ileve N.4 lite protects very well against draughts

In our practical test, the N.4 lite proved to be a very good pair of sports goggles in view of these criteria. The fit, tinting and wind protection are excellent. The lens sits very close to the face; the lower edge can touch the cheeks, very long eyelashes could hit the inside of the lens, but this did not happen in our practical tests. Thanks to the anti-reflective coating on the inside of the lens, heat build-up or a tendency to fog up is not noticeable when you are on the move. Only when you are travelling at high intensity and then stop briefly can the windscreen mist up. If you keep rolling, the fog disappears again immediately. This indicates that the shape of the goggles provides very good protection against draughts, but are also well ventilated.

The nose bridge, although unpadded and angular at first glance, sits very comfortably. If the springy temples do not fit your head perfectly as standard, they can be adjusted within certain limits by carefully bending them. However, the manufacturer advises that this process should be repeated rarely and always with care.

Fabian Cancellara: "An unrestricted field of vision is important."

The violet tint of the lens (category 2) is relatively discreet compared to other sports glasses and gives the eyes a slightly cooler look. Fabian Cancellara also recommends photochromatic lenses for amateur athletes, which adapt their tint to the light conditions, but otherwise prefers single-colour all-round lenses - "they work in rain, cloudy weather and sunshine". Cancellara's attention to detail is also evident in the nose bridge, for example: "During the development process, we provided it with small air holes so that sweat and moisture can escape better." It is also thanks to the former professional cyclist that the N.4 lite has become Ileve's first half-frame goggles: "The unrestricted field of vision is particularly important in race mode," explains Cancellara, "so that you can keep a good eye on your rivals when looking sideways or over your shoulder."

At 18 grams, these feather-light glasses are available in two widths (136 or 144 millimetres frame width), the temples are 115 millimetres long. The version with a photochromatic lens costs 287 euros, the version with a single-colour lens 267 euros, and a case and storage bag are included. Ileve also promises a 30-day right of return with a full refund if the glasses do not meet expectations.

Ileve n.4 lite at a glance

+ large field of vision

+ pleasant tinting

+ very good wind protection

+ low fogging tendency

+ very light, good fit

- Relatively expensive