Rudy Project Cutline sunglasses review

Rudy Project’s Cutline sunglasses stand apart from the current and ever-growing crop of retro-inspired shield lenses – a wave that first started with Peter Sagan’s 100% Speedcraft endorsement and has spread like wildfire ever since.

Rather, Rudy’s new flagship model takes the one-piece shield lens and develops it into something of a multi-featured technical marvel.

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The Cutline comes with myriad lens options, ranging from photochromic through to transparent, and also offers RX-insert compatibility for those who need corrective lenses.

I chose the Multilaser option because its grey base tint with a mirror-finished, multi-toned orange layer makes it an excellent all-round lens for those more variable days that drift from bright sunshine to cloudy and dark.

The lens does an excellent job of dialling down any glare when it’s bright, as well as ramping up the contrast when the light is flat and dull.

The 62mm-deep lens is beautifully shaped, curving both horizontally and vertically to maintain a constant distance between your eye and the lens for distortion-free viewing.

They didn’t fog at all, thanks to four vents across the brow and the lower bumpers having vent ports. The hydrophobic coating on both sides of the lens also helped control condensation and stopped rain from streaking the surface.

The lens is interchangeable (though they only come with a single lens) and the lower bumpers are removable, too. Where they really score high, however, is in the lens replacement. The hinges have metal, spring-loaded buttons on the inside that push the retaining stem out of the way and allow the lens to simply slide out without any fear of damage.

Fit-wise, the Cutline holds in place well, although I would say that its dimensions are best suited to medium to large heads.

The nosepiece is wire-cored, so it offers fantastic levels of adjustment and is a feature mirrored in the ends of the arms.

At 36g, they are a little heavier than the lightest full-shield lens glasses currently on the market, but with a fit this tuneable and lens quality this good, I can certainly forgive a few extra grams.