TRAVERSE Issue 02 - October 2017 | Page 82

We're ugly, we don't really care! Ugly Fish is a company that has been around for a while, in fact coming up for 15 years, and there's a reason they have survived in the ultra-competitive world of eyewear ... they make damn good products. They make glasses for a number of applications, most interchangeable however, the Riderz range, as the name suggests, is more suited to that of motorcycling. The Riderz range has seven models or styles to choose from, and while all look good, you'd be best to try a pair on first as some seem to fit certain heads better than others. We at Traverse have used both the Glide and Slim models, and both fit ex- tremely well. Why is fit so important? If you're a rider who wears an open face helmet or even do a bit of dusty riding, the fit can be extremely important in ensuring wind doesn't creep around the outside of your glasses, we all know what it's like to feel like we're crying. And dust, well, what can be said that you don't already know? Ugly Fish glasses come with a foam insert in some of their range that clips onto the face side of the frame creating a positive seal and therefore turning ordinary glasses into goggles. They work, they really do work. We've used them with a wide open visor - the result, no dust in the eyes. Meeting all Australian Standards of safety and protective equipment Ugly Fish lenses are said to be impact resistant, we can confirm that they do work well with smaller flying stones and insects however, can't comment on larger objects. The lens is constructed from Polycarbonate Decentred Safety Lens (PC-DS), said to be shatterproof. Two other claims made by Ugly Fish are that the lenses are anti-fog and anti-scratch ... we wouldn't go that far, the lenses do fog as easily as any other lens and as for anti-scratch, we think that perhaps this is inline with how you treat them. If you're a wearer of prescriptions then Ugly Fish offer one recommendation. You purchase the lens gasket and have it made to your prescription. This then clips into the frame using the foam seal giving you two lenses to see through. It might seem minor but the truth is it's a major inconven- ience - fogging is increased, and if you're like one of us here at Traverse and you have long eyelashes they will no doubt flick the lens and you'll constantly be stopping to clean your glasses. Our solutions was to find a specialist optomotrist who can create new lenses for the glasses ... this could be cost prohibitive. A great feature with Ugly Fish glasses is the ability to interchange parts. Lenses, arms and even ear hooks can be changed - this goes as far as allowing for a strap to be used with ease making the glasses truly like goggles. As for looks, they don't get much better. A number of frame designs and colours will suit everyone while there's multiple choices for lenses; clear, yellow, brown, smoke and even photocromatic ensures all riding conditions are covered. Yes indeed! We're ugly! And we're quite comfortable in that knowledge. You'd be pretty hard pressed to find better glasses for the price of Ugly Fish. Further information can be found at www.uglyfisheyewear.com V E R TRAVERSE 82