Tifosi Moab "Cobalt Bloom" Review: The Best Cycling Sunglasses Under $100?
Get our in-depth review of the Tifosi Moab sunglasses, featuring the limited "Cobalt Bloom" Vegan Cyclist edition with Clarion Pink Fototec adaptive lenses.
When a brand’s name translates to "super-fan," you expect a certain level of passion to be baked into its products. Tifosi Optics—an American company from Georgia, despite its Italian moniker—has built its reputation on exactly that: creating high-performance eyewear for the fans, without the hefty price tag of its competitors. Their latest collaboration with Tyler Pearce, better known as the Vegan Cyclist, brings this ethos to life in the stunning new limited-edition Moab sunglasses.
Following up on last year's successful Sanctum collaboration, the 2025 VC Adventure sunglasses are a vibrant take on Tifosi's popular Moab frame. Dubbed "Cobalt Bloom," the crystal frame features a seamless blue-to-pink fade that is both stylish and eye-catching. It’s a design that feels perfectly suited for a cyclist known for his flair and endurance.
The Tech Behind the Style: Clarion Pink Fototec
What truly sets this special edition apart is the lens technology. The Cobalt Bloom frame is paired with Tifosi’s Clarion Pink Fototec lenses. "Fototec" is Tifosi's term for photochromic technology, meaning the lenses adapt to changing light conditions. They transition from a nearly clear state with 50% visible light transmission (VLT) in low light to a dark, reflective pink with just 12% VLT in bright sun.
This adaptability makes them a genuine "one-and-done" lens solution, ideal for long rides that start in the morning mist and end in the harsh afternoon sun. Like all Tifosi sports lenses, they are crafted from shatterproof polycarbonate, offering crucial UVA/UVB protection for your eyes.
Heading into fall these lenses are a lifesaver, it's still bright in the afternoon but my rides often end in twilight, these lenses allow me to see well the whole time.
The Moab Frame: A Closer Look
Beyond the limited-edition colorway, the Moab frame itself is a workhorse designed for performance. Here are the key features:
- Lightweight Durability: The full-frame design weighs in at a mere 31 grams, making it easy to forget you're even wearing them.
- Customizable Fit: The nose and ear pads are made from a hydrophilic rubber that grips better as you sweat. More impressively, the temple arms are made of a malleable material that allows you to bend and customize their shape for a perfect, secure fit against your head.
- Ventilation: Four integrated vents ensure consistent airflow, which dramatically reduces fogging during strenuous efforts or on humid days.
- Interchangeability: While the Vegan Cyclist edition is built around the Fototec lens, the Moab frame is designed for easy lens swapping. A few confident snaps are all it takes to release the lens and install a new one, such as a dedicated clear or low-light option.
On the Road and Trail: Riding Impressions
Having tested the Moab frame extensively, its performance lives up to its specifications. The wraparound fit provides excellent coverage, protecting eyes from wind and debris without impeding peripheral vision. The adjustable, hydrophilic elements work as advertised, keeping the glasses securely in place even on jarring gravel roads or technical singletrack. The anti-fogging is also effective; any mist that gathers during a standstill quickly dissipates once you start moving again.
Unbeatable Value and Quality
This minor comfort issue is quickly overshadowed by the Moab’s incredible value proposition. At a retail price of $80 USD, you get a feature-packed pair of sunglasses that competes with eyewear costing two or three times as much. For that price, most Moab models come with three interchangeable lenses, a hard-shell case, and a microfiber cleaning bag.
Tifosi’s claim that their lenses are "scratch-resistant" holds true. After plenty of riding, mud, and salty sweat, there are no scratches on my lenses.. And if you do manage to damage a lens, replacements start at an affordable $20. Backed by a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects, the investment is practically risk-free.
Vicky A
