In my seasonal quest to round up all the best cycling glasses in one place, I’m revisiting a pair that I’ve had in my regular rotation for almost two years now. 100% as a brand appeared on the scene a few years ago now with high profile sponsorship from Peter Sagan (anyone remember catwalk glasses?) and a young but still prolific Mathieu van der Poel .
Today the brand has calmed down somewhat, becoming a market staple rather than a newcomer, and sponsors the Movistar team. Two of its models, the S3 and the Hypercraft, have made it into my general guide, and today we’re going to cover the older of the two, the S3.
After almost two years of summer and winter use, I am confident enough to assure you that this is a quality set of glasses. Where do they shine and where, if at all, have they been found wanting?
Design and aesthetics
Despite Geraint Thomas’ best efforts, large single-lens cycling glasses are here to stay. The 100% S3 fits this presentation, with a half-frame setup, although the nose clip extends further along the base of the lens than most, purely for an aesthetic touch.
The lens itself is one of the largest I’ve tested. It is slightly larger than the Oakley Sutro but remains dwarfed by the truly titanic POC Devour. The bottom half of the lens is angled, much like the Sutro Lite Sweep, but not quite to the same degree.
Visually, it’s a much more angular package than the Sutros, which in my opinion is its main competitor. There’s something about them that seems reminiscent of the brand’s motocross heritage; you could imagine this shape but with a big strap around the back of your head.
Like the majority of Oakley cycling glasses, the temples are straight, designed to wrap around your head rather than hanging over your ears. The arm and nose clips themselves are actually smooth rather than sticky, but we’ll see how they grip later. The entire frame, at least on my test pair, has a “soft tact” finish, which is another way of saying that it has a smooth matte finish rather than a glossy one, rather than implying that they are particularly diplomatic when delivering bad news. It’s lovely and makes them feel more upscale, so if you can opt for it I’d recommend it.
The colors here are clearly an unabashed nod to the classic Gulf Racing livery of yesteryear. But there are myriad other options to choose from, although the lens you get will vary. Here I have the HiPER Silver Mirror lens, which is a classic modern lens using an orange base tint to add contrast and a less transmissive outer coating. reduce the brightness. Whichever one you get, you’ll also get a clear lens in the box.
Performance
A big lens means big coverage, and that’s what you get here. They sit relatively high on the face, with the forehead as high as it could be before they start bouncing off the edge of my helmet, which I absolutely hate. The brow actually had a tendency to touch my eyebrows if I brought it up to the top of my nose, but not enough that it became a nuisance. Lower them by a fraction and the problem is solved.
In terms of grip, they are rather tenacious, despite my initial reservations about the material of the grips. They’re not as secure as Oakley’s “Unobtanium” clamps, but the frame itself and the arms are stiff enough that the S3 will grip your face well enough that you never think about ejecting unexpectedly, even from my little head. The arms, while long enough to interfere with some headset mounts, are flat enough that when this happens it’s not an issue like with other glasses.
The hinges remained smooth after two years and don’t snap so the glasses themselves don’t feel too stiff. Everything still looks pretty new despite the abuse I’ve put them through – they’re as used to dirty gravel rides as they are to pristine roads. The matte finish of the frames traps mud a little more, but not so much that it was ever a problem, and nothing a run under the tap wouldn’t fix.
The coverage and wind protection are excellent. Given the height of the lenses, they work well even in extremely aggressive positions. The HiPER lenses are also excellent, although despite all the good features they don’t perform as well in low light as the reference Oakley Prizm Road lenses.
The downside is that they come with clear lenses, which many glasses these days eschew, which has allowed me to use them year-round where I would eventually have to swap out other glasses. The clear lens is also excellent for muddy winter rides, even in broad daylight, where I would worry about scratching the main lens coating. The process of changing lenses, I am also happy to report, is extremely quick and easy. Simply remove the nose piece, then pull the lens down while gripping the frame and pop out.
That being said, my lenses are quite dirty and the outer coating of the lens has remained scratch-free. Aside from a few mud spots, they are essentially like new, which is a testament to their durability.
Value
The price of cycling glasses tends to fluctuate a bit. Newer models are usually quite expensive and disappear quite quickly as they are replaced by newer models. Even at full price (around £130/$150) I think they represent good value for money, given the year-round usage proposition, but you can buy them these days for less than £80 in some colours.
I’d say the HiPER lenses are the ones to go for, and it’s worth paying a little more for them if you’re torn between pairs.
Verdict
Not yet an elder statesman in the world of cycling eyewear, but it definitely deserves to be described as a mainstay. Excellent coverage, quality aesthetics, comfortable and durable. The lenses aren’t quite premium, but with the included clear lenses, you’ll get more out of them if you’re still riding outside when the sun has dropped below the horizon. Of all the glasses I’ve tested, the 100% S3 is probably the best option for winter.
Technical specifications: 100% S3 sunglasses
- Price: £149.99/$149
- Weight: 34.6 g (real)
- Color/lens options: 19