Vinco Performance is a new sports eyewear brand that claims to be offer the first fully renewable eyewear. They also feature a unique aesthetic, excellent visibility, and are lightweight and comfortable to wear.
The unique frame material is made from Lingatura, a certified, carbon-neutral bio-resin. Manufactured in northern Italy, the materials are derived from a byproduct of paper production. Personally, I’ve never heard of Lingatura, so I ended up going down a bit of a rabbit hole to learn more about the wood-plastic composites being utilized in the construction of the Vinco frames.
And since I was already there, I had to look into the polyamide lenses as well. The UV-resistant material is commonly utilized in high end eyewear, and it turns out that yes, it can also be recycled, as its a thermoset material.
Sustainable marketing story aside, it wouldn’t matter to us as consumers if the eyewear didn’t look good and perform. Let’s break down the features and specs…
Features & Specs
Vinco sells the eyewear in two variations differentiated by the lens tint: the Sola, and Terra. The Sola lens has a darker tint for bright conditions and is positioned towards the road, with the Terra(tested) optimal for overcast conditions and in the forest.
The frames are available in two sizes, small and large. Based on the recommendations, we went with the size small.
- Measurements:
- Small: 134mm wide
- Large 138mm wide
- Listed Weight:
- Small: 27g
- Large: 29g
- Adjustable temple tips for fit adjustment
- Stainless spring-cam temple hinges
- Frame material: Lignatura bio-resin
- Lens material: Polyamide
- Panoramic-view cylindrical lens
- Stainless steel hardware for lens retention
(ANSI Z80.3 impact tested). - Colors: Slate black, Salt grey, Rhodonite pink
- Warranty: 2 years
On the trail
I’ve primarily utilized the Vinco Terra sunglasses while mountain biking. After a small bit of tweaking to the temple tips, the Terra fit well and were comfortable to wear with a light, barely there feel.
The optics of the Terra lens is excellent, providing good visibility and clarity. They also received a number of compliments with the unique look and wrap around design, which did a fine job on the protective front.
Our other testers also commented on the clarity and contrast of the lens, which was noticeably better than the photochromic models also in our rotation. Feedback was split between how they wore and the optics, with “Comfy, Great tint, Looks good, Feels good,” all positive all around.
We didn’t experience any issues with fogging, though being summer, it generally isn’t an issue until fall humidity rolls around.
Given the retail price of $249, they’re on the upper end of the pricing spectrum for performance eyewear. The price includes a microfiber bag as well as a padded carry case. The verdict is still out in terms of durability, but given the 2-year warranty, it seems to be a moot issue. I’m pleased to report mine are still scratch-free. (this tends to be a personal challenge for me with much of my eyewear, even being careful to rinse lenses off in the sink to remove micro particulates before polishing with the microfiber bags)
Considering Vinco invites owners to send them back at the end of their useful life, at which time they’ll recycle and replace them, that’s an added value. If you’re interested in supporting a sustainable new eyewear brand looking to shake up the status quo, check them out at www.vincoperformance.com.
