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Reviewed: Bollé 6th Sense

Shield sunglasses are in right now, and whether you are running or cycling, Bollé has a few options for you. If you aren’t looking for an all out race look, the 6th Sense could be your pick over the flagship 5th Element. If you want to look racy and aero or want a little more low key look, the removable side wings give you either look.

The 6th Sense shares a lot of technology with the 5th Element. Both use the brand’s B-Clear lenses that offer what they call B-Max ultra wide field of view. Our test sample has the Modulator clear grey OLEO AF lenses, same as the 5th Element we previously tested. The OLEO treatment does a good job resisting water, dust, and oils, and the AF (anti-fog) treatment held it’s own on all but the slowest climbs when I was already over heating. For riding cross and all day rides in and out of sun, it is a great option. Optics are clear and precise, but there were times I wished I had something a tad darker on the road. Overall though, it is a great all around lens with plenty of versatility and protection.

Bollé puts the 6th Sense in the medium-large category, so a little larger than the 5th Element. Personally, I thought that the 6th Sense was maybe slightly wider than the 5th Element, but the fit is very similar. Coverage top to bottom and side to side were on par with other large shield glasses out there like the Oakley EVZero Range. Whether riding hard in the drops or cruising along on the hoods, there is plenty of coverage. Our only gripe is the small plastic insert at the top of the lens. Missing on the 5th Element, it doesn’t block your vision much, but when riding hard, head down, it is noticeable. There is a little bit of a difference between the glasses in lens shape on the side (especially with the wings off the 6th Sense) and vents, but on the bike, they felt pretty similar.

One of the main differences between the 6th Sense and the 5th Element is removable side wings. These wings clip on and off at the logo on the temples. When on, they are rock solid, and take a bit of a tug to get off. They provide a more aerodynamic, racy look, and hep to keep additional wind and dust out. If you are looking for something a little more low key, pop off the wings and you are good to go. A little more wind gets in, but it’s not bad at all. The only other time I noticed a difference is when I had them docked into my helmet on climbs. Without the wings, they felt a little more loose, but still locked in.

Beyond that, the two shields from Bollé are pretty similar. Both feature adjustable temples and nose piece made from a grippy rubber called Thermofit. As you sweat, the Thermofit compound gets grippier and helps hold the sunglasses in place. The temples are a little different on the 6th Sense though, as they don’t feature the two piece grip of the 5th Element.

At 30 grams with side covers, 27 without, they are on par with others in the category. Out of all of the sunglasses we tested, the EVZero is the only lighter sunglass at 23 grams, but like the 5th Element, the Bollé 6th Sense feels more solid on your face than the EVZero when riding.

The 6th Sense retails at $189.99, $199.99 as tested with the photochromatic lens, and has multiple lenses that can easily be swapped out. From what we found, the 5th Element and 6th Sense are very similar glasses, but the 6th Sense provides a little more versatility as far as looks go with the removable wings. If you are looking for something that can either scream aerodynamics, or be a little more casual, Bollé 6th Sense is your pick.

http://www.bolle.com

Tags: aerodynamic, Bollé, Camera lens, clothing, Corrective lenses, cycling, Equipment, Eyewear, Glasses, Lens, Ophthalmology, Photochromic lens, Prevention, protection, sunglasses, technology
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