Van Rysel RR 900 Perf photochrom NXT: Self-tinting sports glasses from Decathlon put to the test

A self-tinting Sports glasses for just 90 euros - that sounds tempting. You will hardly find sunglasses in this category cheaper than at the sporting goods giant Decathlon. What's great is that the huge panoramic lens alternates between categories 0 and 3. This means that a clear lens for cloudy days is already included. The transparent grey frame looks casual, but tends to creak a little.

Van Rysel RR 900 Perf photochrom NXT: hardly any equipment

Unfortunately, the features of the Van Rysel are rather meagre. Apart from a glasses bag, there are no accessories and the French company also skimps on the adjustment options. Neither the temples nor the nose bridge can be adjusted - it's a case of fit or no fit.

And the Van Rysel is more likely to suit sportspeople with a broad, long face, as the full-frame frame with its retro look is expansive and particularly tall. It extends from the cheekbones to well above the eyebrows. Caution: The Van Rysel could collide with many a flat-framed helmet.

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However, if the glasses fit you, you can look forward to a secure fit and almost unrestricted vision. The frame is sufficiently stable and has a good clamping force, although we would have liked a more generous rubber coating at the end of the temples. The Van Rysel sits firmly on a medium-width nose bridge, even with larger impacts. In contrast to some other full-frame glasses, the frame itself hardly disturbs the field of vision, which is partly due to the almost transparent frame colour - a clever move.

You might think that the Van Rysel is a bulwark against the wind simply because of its immensely large windscreen. But in fact, the protruding design is its downfall - at least for somewhat narrower faces. This is because the wind swirls sideways behind the goggles and creates a little draught. Wide faces are less likely to have a problem with this.

The Van Rysel is at the bottom of the list when it comes to fog protection. Its lens does not have an effective anti-fog coating and can therefore easily tarnish. The picture is similar when it comes to tinting speed: the Van Rysel darkens quickly. However, a lot of time passes before the RR 900 returns to its original tint. 19.1 per cent brightening after 30 seconds is not a convincing value.

Info & price of the Van Rysel RR 900 Perf photochrom NXT

• Price89,99 Euro >> available here
• Made inTaiwan
• Weight: 23,9 g
• Width / temple length: 141 / 135 mm
• Nose bridge width / lens height: 19 / 65 mm
• Adjustability: none
• Filter colour / filter class: clear to grey / 0 - 3
• Light transmission measured: 76 - 13 %
• Fitfor medium to wide and high faces
• Equipment / special featuresMicrofibre bag
• Alternatives: none
• Price: 89,99 Euro

Evaluation & conclusion

• Self-tinting (40 %): Grade: 2.8
• Visibility & protection (25 %): Grade: 1.9
• Fit & comfort (25 %): Grade: 2.6
• Equipment (10 %): Grade: 4.0
• Overall grade: 2.6

Poor features and sluggish illumination. However, protection and wearing comfort are fine.

If you don't want to spend a fortune on sports goggles, the Van Rysel is a solid companion with a wide range of uses. Despite the huge lens, the frame of the RR 900 is always easy to see. Due to the low curvature, the wind swirls past to the side. Thanks to the good clamping force, the inexpensive goggles also sit securely on less wide faces, but bounce on thin nose bridges. Wide tint range but slow brightening and low fog protection. Poor features.