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Reviews > Eye Protection and Binoculars > Sun Glasses > Tifosi Optics SLICE Sunglasses > Test Report by Gail StaisilTifosiSlice Sunglasses  Test Series by: Gail Staisil, Marquette, Michigan Initial Report - December 13, 2019
Field Report - February 24, 2020 Long Term Report - April 9, 2020 December 13, 2019 Tester Information Name: Gail Staisil Age: 67 Gender: Female Height: 5' 9" (1.75 m) Weight: 160 lb (73 kg) Location: Marquette, Michigan USA Email: woodswoman 2001 AT yahoo DOT com Product Information
Initial Impressions and Product Description The Tifosi Slice Sunglasses arrived in their own protective case. Inside were  the
sunglasses with two extra lenses (that were stored in a protective
double sleeve). Clarion Blue lenses were inserted into the top edge
of the sunglass "frame" and the extra lenses were AC Red and
Clear. There is also a microfiber storage bag that doubles as a
cleaning cloth. Instructions were included for changing out the
lenses. All was in good order. The Slice is also available in other
frame and lens combinations. They are: Black/White with Smoke/AC
Red/ Clear lenses, Matte White with Smoke/AC Red/Clear lenses,
Crystal Black with Enliven Bike lenses (red), and Black/White with
Light Night Fototec lenses.The Tifosi Slice would be considered frameless in that there are no side, bottom or top frame edges. This provides more of an unrestricted view as there are no frame edges to look through in those areas. The top corners are made with Grilamid TR-90. This material has great bending strength and a high resistance to chemical and UV damage according to the manufacturer. Reportedly the Slice sunglasses will fit small-to-medium faces. Since I definitely have a narrow or small face, they fit well with no big gaps. The ear and nose pieces are adjustable and made with hydrophilic rubber. The Clarion Blue lens is a mirror or reflective lens. This is my first experience with a mirror lens. I was impressed with the clarity of the lenses. The polycarbonate lens has a hydrophobic coating to repel water and sweat from accumulating on the lenses. The Clarion Blue lens is for sunny conditions. The AC Red lens can be used in sunny and cloudy conditions to increase contrast. The Clear lens provides low light protection from rain and debris. It also will provide 100 percent protection from UV/UB rays, but of course not protection from looking directly at the sun. There is a Lifetime Warranty for the original owner against manufacturer's defects. It does not cover things like scratches, but new parts can be ordered for glasses. As far as care, keeping them in their protective case when not in use is probably smart. The microfiber cleaning bag can be washed in cold water and dried on low to keep it clean. Summary The Tifosi Slice Sunglasses appear to be well-fitting and offer a variety of lenses for different conditions. Since receiving the glasses a week ago, I have worn them everyday for outdoor activities including lots of cross country and backcountry skiing. More on that in my next report; so far I will just say that I am pleased. Looking forward to a winter full of changing weather patterns. Top of Page Field Report: February 24, 2020 USA Locations and Conditions During the field test period the Tifosi Slice sunglasses were used on three cold weather trips in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA and Ontario, Canada. They were also worn nearly everyday during this time period mostly for cross country skiing. Elevation ranged from above 600 ft (180 m) to almost 2000 ft (610 m). Location of Trip #1: Keweenaw Peninsula, Upper Peninsula of Michigan Length of Ski Trip: 4 days, 3 nights (Jan 26-29) Distance: Cross Country skiing about 30 mi (48 km) Sky and Air Conditions: Cloudy, and some sun Precipitation: Several inches (6 in/15 cm) of new snow Temperature Range: 29 F (-2 C) to 21 F (-6 C) Location of Trip #2: Hiawatha National Forest  Length of Sledge Trip to Rustic Cabin: 4 days, 3 nights (Feb 3-6) Activity: snowshoeing, unknown distance Sledge Weight: 45 lb (20 kg) Sky and Air Conditions: Super windy and cold Precipitation: Light snow Temperature Range: 33 F to 17 F (1 C to -8 C) Location of Trip #3: Stokely Creek; Goulais River, Ontario, Canada Length of Ski Lodge Trip: 3 days, 2 nights (Feb 21-23) Distance: Cross Country skiing - 34 mi (55 km) Sky and Air Conditions: Sunny, unseasonably warm Precipitation: None Temperature Range: 40 F (4 C) to 6 F (-14 C) Trip Talk During the entire test period I wore the Tifosi Slice Sunglasses nearly everyday. I have worn them mostly for skiing (both track and backcountry) but also snowshoeing and traveling into ice caves (wearing crampons). I have also worn them driving my vehicle most days. I do prefer wearing the mirrored lenses as my eyes are very sensitive. Even when it is cloudy and snowing, my eyes like to be shaded. The mirror lenses are not super dark so that makes them great for cloudiness too. I think I only had one glimpse of the sun in January so cloudy is fairly norm. February has brought a few partly sunny-days but my latest trip had full sun days in Canada. They seem to work even with high wind conditions which here are usually in the 25-30 mph (40-48 kmph) range for gusts in the winter. My eyes still were protected. Also I haven't had any lens fogging issues with normal wear. I almost always wear a Buff around my neck. The only times that I have experienced any fogging was when the Buff was up over my nose and mouth. If it is bitter cold or the wind chills are way below zero (0 F/-18 C) I might start off skiing with the Buff in that position, but not for more than five minutes or so. As soon as I lower the Buff, the glasses are clear. This happens with any glasses I have ever worn as it is too much moisture all at once. The nose piece has never slipped and the ear pieces gently hold the glasses in place. I have mostly stored the glasses on my front seat of the car as I head out or drive to a trailhead almost daily in winter. The sunglass case is always there in my passenger seat. Changing out the lenses is no big deal but I like the mirrored lenses so much that I rarely use the others. Likely this is due to the season here where everything remains perfectly white with lots of reflection. The other lenses might work better deep in the woods especially when trees leaf-out. However that won't happen for months. I think if I could rave about the best asset of the sunglasses it would be their comfort. They are so lightweight resulting in no pressure points on my head. They flawlessly stay in place on my face and when I slide them up to my hat they stay in place there too. I have had many people express interest in them and they were amazed that they come with two other lenses. Looking forward to continued wear this winter season. Top of Page Long Term Report: April 9, 2020 USA and Canada Locations and Conditions During the long term period the Tifosi Slice sunglasses were worn on two more trips in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA; and Ontario, Canada. They were also worn nearly everyday during this time period mostly for cross country skiing. Elevation ranged from above 600 ft (180 m) to almost 2000 ft (610 m). Location of Trip #4: Hiawatha National Forest Sledge trip: 4 days, 3 nights (Feb 25-28) Distance: 18 mi (29 km) Sledge Weight: 40 lb (18 kg) Sky and Air Conditions: Windy and cloudy Precipitation: At least 8 in (20 cm) of new snow and heavy drifting in some areas Temperature Range: 28 F (-2 C) to 10 F (-12 C) Location of Trip #5: Stokely Creek; Goulais River, Ontario, Canada Length of Ski Lodge Trip: 3 days, 2 nights (March 11-13) Distance: Cross Country skiing - 30 mi (48 km) Sky and Air Conditions: Sun, clouds, snow Precipitation: Snow and rain  Temperature Range: 40 F (4 C ) to 19 F (-7 C) Trip Talk During the entire test period of four months I have worn the Tifosi Slice Sunglasses nearly everyday. As stated in my field report my eyes are very sensitive; I have worn the glasses with the mirrored lenses in all types of weather including very gray and cloudy days. Even though it is April and the snow levels are going way down in town plus the temps are rising, I can cross country ski a short distance away where there is still a solid 2 ft base (0.6 m). I am out there almost every day for 2-4 hours. One day I panicked for a few minutes as the nose piece on my glasses was missing. I had thrown them on top of my ski gear in a re-usable shopping bag. I often do this the night before I head out. Once in my vehicle I reached for my sunglasses and found the nose piece missing. I went through all the stuff in the bag and there it was. I wondered how it came off and made me realize that I will have to be more careful and should check if it is loose. The nose piece does comes off easily as it has to be transferred to any of the other choices of lenses. It certainly would be better if each set of lenses had its own nose piece. I still prefer wearing the mirrored lenses because of my sensitive eyes. In the last few weeks there have been more sunny days than I had seen all winter. With the snow reflection the glasses still worked well enough. I can however tell that they are not as dark as some of my other sunglasses. Luckily I live in an environment that seems perfect for the amount of light the lenses let in (cloudy and snow conditions). This will change some as the trees leaf-out but that won't be til June. I expect that I will need to change to the AC Red lenses for my forest walks. Only time will tell. The glasses have been easy to care for. I just wipe them with the cleaning cloth and a few drops of water. There are no visual defects that I can determine after everyday use. These glasses are a keeper and I plan to continue wearing most of the time. I love how they are so comfortable and have never slipped off my face even though I get quite hot doing winter activities. They have also stayed on my hat without slippage when I went inside the ski warming center. Pros
Tester Remarks Thanks to Tifosi and BackpackGearTest.org for this opportunity to test the Slice Sunglasses. This concludes my Long Term Report and the test series. Top of Page Read more reviews of Tifosi gear Read more gear reviews by Gail Staisil Reviews > Eye Protection and Binoculars > Sun Glasses > Tifosi Optics SLICE Sunglasses > Test Report by Gail Staisil | ||||||||||||||||||||