I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with sunglasses. I want nice ones, but I’m very penchant for breaking or losing them.

One brand I’ve been leaning towards lately is Tifosi. In the world of cycling, the tifosi is the italian word for their fans. It literally means those infected by typhus, so you could consider them to be rabid fans.

Expensive Sunglasses

At one point I decided I’d get a nice pair of sunglasses for cycling to the tune of $80. I got some Tifosi Dolomite specs that have vent holes in the lenses. I liked them so much I bought a second pair with polarized lenses.

Then I lost them on trip to New York. The sun was setting, I took them off and left them somewhere, never to be seen again.

Feeling despondent, I went back to crappy $10 sunglasses because I felt I didn’t deserve nice sunglasses.

Reasonably Nice Sunglasses

Then I was at the bike shop last month and they had some nice, casual looking Tifosi sunglasses on the rack in fun colors. I tried them on and thought they looked and fit great. I assumed they’d at least be $50. To my suprise, they were only $25 🤔

I realized this is how I can have decent sunglasses without the guilt or shame that I’m burning Benjamins if they get lost or mistreated. I’d only be burning Jacksons

So if you’re looking for a set of inexpensive, but well-designed sunglasses, head to your local bike shop and check out these lines from Tifosi:

Smoove
Svago
Swank
Swank SL
Swik

They’re all $25. I found the best selection at Freewheel Bike where I live, but you can also find them at REI and many other local bike shops.