Review: With a price of around €260 and a weight of 44 grams, the POC Aspire marks the upper end of our test field of photochromic mountain bike glasses in terms of both price and weight. For that price, you get a pair of glasses that screams "high-end" – from the packaging and uncompromising build quality to the Carl Zeiss optics. We found out for you whether this statement piece can also impress on the trail.
POC Aspire: Dimensions and build quality
One thing is clear: inconspicuous is not its style. The POC Aspire, with its massive, wraparound frame, makes a real statement. With a lens height of 58 mm and a width of a whopping 147 mm, it's one of the largest pairs of glasses in the test and offers correspondingly massive coverage. The premium aspirations are evident from the moment you unpack it. Instead of a simple fabric pouch, POC includes a semi-transparent hard-shell case that is as robust as it is stylish.
The glasses themselves are incredibly well-made. Nothing creaks, nothing wobbles. The frame is extremely rigid, which on the one hand gives a very stable impression, but on the other hand raises the question of how flexible it would actually be in a hard fall. The temples have hydrophilic rubber grips at the back, which guarantee a secure hold, but cannot be adjusted further. One minor point of criticism is the nose pad: While it is adjustable, other manufacturers offer more flexibility here. If you have a particularly narrow or wide nose, you might find this limiting.
POC Aspire: Glass
The heart of the Aspire is undoubtedly the lens with Clarity technology, developed in cooperation with the optics specialists at Carl Zeiss. POC specifies a huge tint range of 18% to 84% visible light transmission (VLT), which corresponds to categories 0 to 3. In practice, this means that in the woods or at dusk, the lenses become almost completely clear and don't cause any distractions. The tinting speed is phenomenally fast – the Aspire handles changes in light and shadow with lightning speed and ease. In bright sunlight, however, we would have preferred the maximum tint to be a touch darker; the specified 18% feels subjectively a bit lighter. The optical quality, however, is beyond reproach: distortion-free, sharp, and with high contrast.
On the trail: Our test impressions
Once on your nose, the POC Aspire does a lot of things right on the trail. The huge lens offers an unrestricted field of vision and excellent wind protection, which is a real boon, especially at high speeds. Fogging was absolutely not an issue during our test rides. Its rapid adaptation to changing light conditions is one of its greatest strengths.
However, there are downsides. At 44 grams, the glasses are almost twice as heavy as the lightest models in the test, and you can feel it. Anyone sensitive to weight should definitely try on the Aspire before buying. The high weight, combined with the limited adjustability of the nose pad, made it difficult for us to find a completely secure fit for rough trail descents. Another drawback became apparent during strenuous climbs: the full-circumference frame allows sweat to collect in the small gaps between the lens and frame, making cleaning on the go a bit fiddly.
