- About Rudy Project
- Rudy Project Glasses Review
- Rudy Project Cycling Glasses
- Rudy Project Cutline
- Rudy Project Defender
- Rudy Project Prescription Glasses
- Rudy Project Exception RX Sunglasses
- Rudy Project Rydon RX Sunglasses
- Rudy Project Shooting Glasses
- Rudy Project Helmets
- Rudy Project Clothing
- Rudy Project Reviews from Customers
- Popular Alternatives to Rudy Project
- Sign Up for Rudy Project
- Where to Buy Rudy Project Glasses
- Rudy Project Shipping and Return Policy
- Rudy Project Promotions and Discounts
- Contact Rudy Project
- Rudy Project Glasses: Editors’ Verdict
- Rudy Project FAQ
Many fashion brands cater to athletes and sportspeople in general. However, only a few brands understand that performance and style go hand in hand. The athlete’s gear needs to ensure that they stay focused and at the top of their game. Therefore, the main aim of the gear is to boost the athlete’s performance. Rudy Project is a famous online sports company that creates and sells various sports products such as sunglasses, helmets, prescription lenses, and other sports gear. This brand has existed for decades and it’s a household name amongst its wide consumer base. It has also gained great success as an established sports eyewear legend. Continue reading to learn more about Rudy Project glasses and eyewear. You’ll also find an informed review of some of the brand’s products and their operations.
About Rudy Project
For anyone who’s not familiar with the brand, it’s normal to wonder, what is the Rudy project? It is a globally recognized sports company that has managed to stay in the game for over 30 years. Founded in 1985 by Rudy Barbazza, the Rudy project prides itself as a sports eyewear leader. With products made in Treviso, Italy, it’s a worldwide distributor of various kinds of sports accessories.
Rudy’s project came into the limelight with their eyewear model “Air System” which sparked a revolution and introduced modern technical features. They also have a unique style and are recognized for their innovative designs in their helmets and eyewear. They ensure that their equipment is made with high-quality materials to help boost athletes’ performance.
The Italian eyewear brand creates and distributes memorable sports products to their worldwide consumer base. It is an established brand that provides affordable, user-friendly products created with high-tech materials. The company is currently being managed by Rudy’s two sons, Cristiano and Simone Barbazza.
- Performance glasses with highly customizable features and design
- Comfortable glasses suitable for various kinds of activities
- Quick delivery with a 90-day return policy
- Comes with interchangeable lenses and an anti-fogging kit
- Offers prescription lenses and sunglasses
- It is a bit pricey as there are several more affordable alternatives
- It does not provide any product exchange
- Complaints of poor customer service and manufacturing defects
Rudy Project Glasses Review
Rudy Project supplies various eyewear options including glasses, prescription sports lenses, sunglasses, goggles, etc. They have glasses for different uses with a focus on cycling eye gear for amateurs and professionals. Based in Italy, the creative process involves a lot of research, technology, and a resourceful creative team. Rudy Project is among the best eyewear brands.
The eyewear line mostly features products with adjustable frames, prescription lens compatibility, interchangeable lenses, and lens/frame warranty. They produce customizable eyewear that is perfectly suitable for the user. For people with eye impairments, the rudy project prescription lenses are made to ensure that you see crystal clear always.
Rudy Project also provides sunglasses to protect your eyes from the glare of the sun. There are many options for Rudy project sunglasses and the company releases new designs regularly. Some of the best Rudy project sunglasses models include Rudy Project Spanair, Rudy Project Horus, and Rudy Project Propulses.
Rudy Project Cycling Glasses
Rudy project is one of the top proponents and distributors of the cycling sunglasses movement. It introduced iconic models like Performance, Extreme, and Agressor, which are widely regarded as the Rudy Project brand’s foundation. However, the brand has since increased its portfolio of eyewear materials. But we’ll only focus on two classic models for the purpose of this review.
Rudy Project Cutline
The Rudy Project Cutline is the new headliner in the company’s ‘Performance Eyewear’ range, and it was unveiled at the 2020 Optimal Munich, an international trade fair for optics and design. It features a large wraparound lens and the Rudy Project chose to forgo the usual goggle style. It opts for a more pragmatic and performance-oriented design approach with the cutline.
While it fails in its wraparound style when compared with its competitors’ bold and express designs. But it’s a more refined-looking option that fits the contour of your eyes rather than a huge flat shield with holes in your surrounding vision. It comes in a variety of eight frame and lens colors with replaceable frame bumpers.
The fit is a very important feature in cycling glasses and it determines the riding experience. The cutline comes with an adjustable nosepiece and temple tips that can be controlled to give a more personalized fit. It also includes impactX 2 photochromic lenses which provide a sharp, clear vision. The lens can also be replaced with other options like the RP Optics Multilaser lenses.
It’s a perfect model for cyclists who value performance overlooks and it also retains a delicate minimalist style. It outperforms competitors in terms of performance and is built to handle any riding style or cycling goal. There are indeed more visually appealing options from Oakley, 100 percent but none can compare to the Rudy Project Cutline in terms of fit and comfort.
Rudy Project Defender
Being one of the older models amongst the Rudy Project eyewear line, the defender sunglasses are a popular option for many competitive cyclists. It comes in seven available color schemes with a classy, elegant design. They have a more traditional outlook with a fairly sized lens which offers enough room for coverage.
It comes with two lens options and can be exchanged with the impactX2 photochromic lens which offers protection from UV radiation for up to 400 nanometers. The glasses can also be customized and personalized with interchangeable frame bumpers. It weighs one gram less than the cutline model which allows it to offer more glass protection and ventilation.
Like many Rudy project eyewear, it features a nose pad and arm tips that can be manipulated to fit the contours of your face. It works well with different helmet designs and the zig-zag arms are built to shape away from the helmet flanks to minimize any interference with the retention operator. It has a performance fit that increases eye protection and proper ventilation while riding.
The defender model offers the cyclist effective eye protection, the field of view to boost the riding performance. It offers unmatched functionality which sets it apart from other models and options. It is suitable for both competitive racers and contemporary casual riders. It’s much cheaper than other Rudy project star models like the cutline.
Rudy Project Prescription Glasses
Rudy project offers prescription sunglasses that offer protection against wind and obstacles. They provide glasses with the regular frame and prescription lenses which work well for lower prescriptions. However, it also offers alternative designs for moderate to a high prescription. Below is a comparative review of the two main Rudy project prescription glasses.
Rudy Project Exception RX Sunglasses
The Exception RX glasses feature corrective lenses which are built into the glass frame directly and join a flip-up sunglass unit with a wraparound nosepiece for the smaller prescription lenses. It comes with polar 3FX brown lenses which have a 15% light transmission rate. It also includes flip-up shades that are useful in extremely dim-light conditions.
Another important feature is the flip clip which serves as a rain shield and can be removed leaving a regular pair of RX glasses. There is a wide number of sunglasses lens options and it also has adjustable nose pieces. The exception model weighs about 35.7g and the temples wrap towards the back of the head to ensure a secure fit.
A downside to the Rudy Project Exception RX model is that the flip-up unit wears out after a while and does not work properly. The clip-on feature and large RX lenses also give the glasses an extra weight so it’s on the heavier side. It also comes with multiple color options for the lenses and the glass frame, alongside a special in-built safety feature.
The Exception RX glasses can be purchased in different online eye care stores worldwide with the correct prescription lenses. It is mostly suited for cyclists with high prescription lenses who can’t see without glasses and costs about $305. It is also very easy to clean and maintain.
Rudy Project Rydon RX Sunglasses
The Rudy Project Rydon sunglasses come in an adjustable nose piece to ensure a perfect fit. It also includes interchangeable lenses to suit different light and weather conditions. The Rydon offers three options for cyclists who need prescription lenses. There are frame designs with prescription lenses which are great for riders with low to moderate prescriptions.
The Rydon RX sunglasses come with an ImpactX grey, polarised photochromic lens at a 12-30% light transmission rate. Like the Exception RX, it also has adjustable nose pieces and temples to ensure a secure fit. It weighs about 25g and has super lightweight which provides the wearer with comfort.
It offers excellent visual acuity and the lenses are made with strong, high-tech materials which makes them unbreakable even in a crash. The major downside is that the ImpactX photochromic lenses can’t be worn in extreme low light conditions. The Rydon RX insert also collects sweat at the bottom of the frame and it is harder to clean.
The Rudy Project Rydon RX is much cheaper than the Exception RX and it costs about $175. However, the total cost of the glasses depends on the choices of lens and insert. It is a suitable prescription glasses for cyclists with low to moderate to high prescription lenses.
Rudy Project Shooting Glasses
Shooting glasses help to offer eye protection from a gun explosion during a shooting session. Rudy project shooting glasses are versatile and can be worn in other locations apart from the shooting range. The Rudy Project Rydon Performance Kit Matte Black Frame with ImpactX photochromic lenses is unlike your average shooting glasses.
It has the classic Rudy project features, like their interchangeable lens systems, adjustable fit, and multiple color options for their frames and lenses. It’s also built with high-end materials and can withstand any impact without fogging.
The Rudy project shooting glasses look like regular sunglasses and are worn for motorcycling, hiking, and other purposes. While they cost more than simple shooting glasses from other brands, they offer value for money with their quality. The Rydon shooting glasses come with anti-fogging and also include prescription options.
Rudy Project Helmets
The brand also offers a range of helmet designs and products including road bike helmets, bicycle helmets, time trial helmets, etc. Not only do they offer your eyes protection but they also ensure that there’s something to protect your head in case of a fall. Rudy Project offers premium quality helmets with a lightweight aerodynamics design.
The helmets are designed with high-end materials with a combination of EPS and polycarbonate shock absorbers. They come with ventilation systems to ensure cooling as well as adjustable units and comfortable padding. Rudy Project helmets are super light and are built for comfort. Popular rudy project helmets include Nytron, The Wing, Strym amongst several others.
Rudy Project Clothing
To complement their eyewear and helmet products, Rudy Project also launched its own line of clothing and sports gear. The Rudy Project clothing includes options for professional to casual cyclists and athletes in general. Following the brand’s rep, it offers clothing items focusing on performance and functionality.
It also incorporates stylish fashion trends into its designs and offers a wide range of clothing accessories. Rudy project’s clothing line includes cycling jerseys and running shirts with male and female design options, Trucker hats, beanies. They also have a collection of travel bags and water bottles in their clothing catalog.
Rudy Project Reviews from Customers
Although there are no customer reviews or ratings on the brand’s actual website, we consulted with other review sites. The brand has mostly positive reviews on trusted review sites and scores a total of 4 out of 5 stars.
On Facebook, Rudy Project has a 4.6/5 star rating out of 331 reviews. The customer reviews attest to the brand’s fine quality and performance. The negative reviews are complaints of poor customer service. There are also a few complaints by customers who got products with manufacturing defects.
Popular Alternatives to Rudy Project
From the customer reviews, it’s clear that Rudy Project is a well-respected sports brand that has left a majority of its users satisfied. The few negative reviews highlight some of the brand’s shortcomings and defects. However, it’s up to you to decide if this Italian eyewear brand has what you’re looking for.
Sign Up for Rudy Project
You can choose to be a part of the Rudy Project family by creating a customer account. Simply click on the menu option of the brand’s official website and you’ll be directed to a sign-up page. All you’ll need is to add your name, email, and password to secure your account.
Where to Buy Rudy Project Glasses
To buy your Rudy project glasses, you can go to the website directly to find a dealer near you. For instance, if you’re based in the states, you can input your location to find Rudy project USA dealers or distributors near you. You can also purchase your glasses from online shopping outlets like Amazon or eBay. There are also many eyecare stores and sports shops that sell Rudy Project glasses.
Rudy Project Shipping and Return Policy
The brand’s official website provides standard shipping to the West Coast takes 2-3 days and, shipping to the East Coast and Canada takes 5-9 working days. For lower 48 US orders over $200, the brand offers two-way shipping with a prepaid return shipping label. Overnight shipping is also available to places in the Lower 48 of the U.S.
The brand’s refund policy includes a 90-day risk-free money-back guarantee with free shipping. It also provides a prepaid return shipping label through the online return portal. In addition, it has a return policy for prescription items and a 50% refund for the RX lenses and coatings.
Rudy Project Promotions and Discounts
The brand offers seasonal holiday discounts and promotions. You can also sign up to receive email newsletters on special offers and incoming product releases. They also give their users options to earn rewards and cash vouchers.
Contact Rudy Project
You can contact Rudy project on three major platforms:
- Phone: 949.272.2440
- Email: [email protected]
- Social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube.
Rudy Project Glasses: Editors’ Verdict
Rudy Project Glasses provide a range of classic performance models that prioritize function over trends while still being stylish. Although, they’re on the pricey end at an average of $200 – $300 for their sunglasses and glasses collection. Based on this Rudy Project review, our verdict is that Rudy Project is a formidable eyewear leader that has earned its respect and worldwide recognition.
Looking for more eyewear brands? Check out our reviews on Blenders Eyewear, Coastal Glasses, Lenskart, and Peepers Reading Glasses.
Rudy Project FAQ
Rudy Project was founded by Rudy Barbazzo in 1985 however, the current owners of the brand are his two sons Cristiano and Simone Barbazzo.
You can replace your interchangeable lens in these quick and easy steps!
Step 1 – Remove the lens by bending the corner of the frame closer to the temple with the glasses turned upside down.
Step 2 – Bend the nasal hook and fix the replacement lens into the open space until it is secure and tight.
Yes, Rudy Project is made in Italy. Cristiano Barbazza, CEO and Chairman of the company confirms that they are all designed and manufactured in Italy.
Rudy Project lenses are polarized, their technology is made in a way that enables you to perform under any type of light. They have an in-depth review of lenses on the website.
Rudy Project helmets are also designed and manufactured in Italy, just as the rest of the products.