Product news: With the Naked Optics Shyft, the manufacturer is pursuing an unusual approach to the development of sports glasses. Instead of working exclusively with classic one-size-fits-all designs, the width of the frame is adjusted to the individual face width of the wearer. The necessary data is determined digitally, and the front frame is then 3D-printed in Austria. According to the Salzburg-based manufacturer, the Shyft offers advantages primarily in terms of fit, stability, and wearing comfort.
Naked Optics Shyft – Digital measurement instead of classic size selection
The concept focuses not on the lens or its shape, but on the fit of the frame. Customers ordering Shyft glasses determine their face width directly on the Naked Optics website. This is done using the camera of a smartphone or computer; no additional app is required. The appropriate frame width is then determined based on this data.
On the product page, Naked Optics describes the scan in more detail. According to the website, it uses webcam-based facial recognition with a locally executed AI model. The manufacturer states that the camera image is not transmitted via the internet connection and no image data is stored. For the most reliable measurement, the eyes and ears should be visible, and the scan should be performed in sufficient lighting.
This approach addresses a well-known issue with sports eyewear: depending on head shape, identical frames can fit significantly differently on different riders. While models that are too narrow can be uncomfortable, especially around the temples, frames that are too wide may lack the necessary support. Naked Optics attempts to solve this problem with the Shyft by adjusting the frame width. However, statements regarding actual comfort compared to conventional sports eyewear currently come from the manufacturer and its athlete tests and cannot be equated with an independent practical test.
The frame is created using the multi-jet fusion process.
After digital measurement, the front frame is produced in Austria. The manufacturing partner is Voxel4You. The Multi-Jet Fusion (MJF) process is used. PA12 plastic powder is applied layer by layer and fused at the designated points. In this way, the frame is created layer by layer. Naked Optics uses PA12 polyamide as the material. The manufacturer cites low weight, high stability, and suitability for everyday use as key features. The Shyft is also CE certified. However, Naked Optics does not specify a concrete total weight of the glasses in the underlying information. After the actual printing, post-processing takes place. The nosepiece, temples, and selected lenses are then mounted before the finished glasses are inspected and shipped.
This means that the Shyft differs from a conventionally produced model not only in its measurement process. Naked Optics has also shifted part of the value chain for the glasses to Austria. In this context, the manufacturer points to shorter supply chains and regional production, in addition to individualization.
Adjustable nosepiece and rubberized temples
The customized frame width is just one part of the fit concept. The Shyft also features rubberized temples and an adjustable nose piece. These components are designed to provide extra stability, especially when the glasses are worn during intense physical activity. Visually, the model follows the currently popular concept of large-area sports glasses with a lens that extends far down the face. The comparatively wide field of vision positions the Shyft particularly well for activities such as road cycling, gravel riding, running, or other outdoor sports, even though its key technical distinguishing feature is not the lens geometry, but the 3D-printed frame.
Individualization as the real innovation
Technically, the Shyft doesn't completely reinvent sports eyewear. Interchangeable lenses, an adjustable nose piece, and rubberized contact surfaces are now standard features in other performance models. What's truly interesting is the combination of digital measurement, automated frame width determination, and local additive manufacturing. This is precisely where the conceptual difference to classic sports glasses lies: the manufacturing process is more closely linked to the individual user. Instead of first selecting a pre-made frame and then checking whether it fits their head shape, the ordering process for the Shyft begins with facial measurements.
Naked Optics employs an interchangeable lens system. The manufacturer offers a total of nine interchangeable lenses, distributed across five light categories from CAT.0 to CAT.4. This ranges from very clear lenses for low-light conditions to heavily tinted options for intense sunlight. Lens changes are achieved via a plug-in system. According to Naked Optics, the lens can be replaced in just a few seconds. This allows the Shyft to be adapted to changing conditions with different lenses, eliminating the need for separate pairs of glasses for different lighting situations.
