Tifosi’s new frame-less Moab XC sunglasses are a natural addition to their existing full frame Moab and half-frame Moab Lite models. The Moab XC inherits the same oversized lens design as the other Moab models but eliminates the frame for more visibility and versatility. Retail price for the Moab XC range from $79.95 for standard Clarion lenses to $89.95 for the Fototec photochromic lens variations. All the Moab XC have an interchangeable lens design with a Grilamid TR-90 frame construction or lightweight and adjustability. The ear and nose pieces use a wire core for easy personalization to match different face shapes.
The Tifosi Moab XC combine a large oversized shield lens with a frameless design for improved visibility and versatility.
| Retail Price | $79.95 – $89.95 (Fototec) |
| Rating | Design: A– Optics: A Comfort: A Value: A+ |
| Measured weight (in g) | 28 |
| Likes | + Affordable pricing that is a fraction of the cost of other brands + Clear and distortion free optics with an oversized lens + Lightweight construction with frameless design |
| Dislikes | – Similar design to existing sunglasses |
| Where to Buy (US) | Tifosi |
UNBOXING
The Tifosi Moab XC comes in a simple cardboard box with bright blue branding and specs printed directly onto it. Inside the box you’ll find:
- Moab XC sunglasses
- Zippered hard case
- Branded fabric carrying bag
- Tifosi stickers
- Lens information detail
With the standard lens options, Tifosi also includes two additional lenses – a clear one for nighttime riding and a high contract red lens. That’s one reason why the zippered hard case is so large, to accommodate the extra lenses.
FIT & FINISH
Visually, the Tifosi Moab XC is a frameless variation of the Moab sunglasses that shares the same oversized lens shape. The Moab XC is a natural progression from the full frame Moab and the semi-frameless Moab Lite sunglasses. While the other Moab sunglasses have more of an Oakley Sutra shape to them, the Moab XC has an aggressive design language with sharp edges along the lens. Tifosi currently offers the Moab XC in six color options with a standard smoked lens, and five Clarion lens options including to Fototec options. The frame and lens combinations have specific colors with frame colors that compliment the lens from purple to blue. We have the Kinetic Blue option which has the Clarion Blue Fototec photochromic lens with the matching blue and white frame accent colors. The design of these sunglasses has sharp edges with aggressive and straight lines along the frame and corners.
Despite this being a frameless design, Tifosi has designed the Moab XC to have interchangeable lenses. The temples on each side twist off the frame while the nose piece can be carefully slid off the frame. Each piece is held on the frame with simple grooves cut into the frame. Unlike other sunglasses such as Smith Vert PivLock which have a clever twist system, this design uses hooks that require a fair amount of force to install and remove. It can feel like you are about to break the lenses, particularly the first time you try to remove the temple arms. With the Fototec photochromic lens we have, you do not need to change the lens as it adjusts automatically and Tifosi does not include other lenses. The non Fototec Moab XC comes with three lenses which includes a clear lens and an “all conditioned” AC Red lens (27% VLT).
The Clarion Blue Fototec lens we have in this review is a photochromic lens that can automatically adjust to the current light conditions. It’s a shatterproof, scratch-resistant polycarbonate lens with an impressive VLT range of 13% to 46%. That means you can wear these in full sun to darker conditions without having to change lenses or sacrifice clarity. The wide range of VLT translates to the lens category of 1-3 which can replace three separate lenses and has a $10 premium over the other Moab XC options. We’d highly recommend the lens options as they can quickly adjust to the environment and give you more versatility while riding.
ON THE ROAD
.For cycling, we’ve always been fans of frameless sunglasses with photochromic lenses as they offer the best optics and versatility. The lack of an upper or lower frame piece mean you have a wide field of view that makes you forget you are wearing sunglasses. Tifosi has done a nice job pushing the frame attachment points outside of your normal view, unlike the POC Elicit Toric which are slightly visible in your peripheral vision, for an immersive experience. The Fototec lenses also do not disappoint as they smoothly transition between clear and dark to match the weather conditions. We’d highly recommend them as they let you ride through overcast days, dark forests, tunnels and bright sun without having to remove your sunglasses or swapping lenses. The quality of the Fototec lens seems to be on par with other photochromic sunglasses we’ve worn from Smith.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Tifosi Moab XC sunglasses offer a wide field of view and impressive optics at an affordable price points. Tifosi has evolved their Moab sunglasses from full frame, to semi-frameless to these full-frameless XC versions. The oversized shield lens is even larger with this XC variation and offers an immersive view that blocks out harsh UV without any frames to block your vision. We were impressed with the Fototec photochromic lens which quickly adjust to the weather conditions without compromising visibility. The only downside to these sunglasses is that the design is similar to existing models on the market. That said, the Tifosi Moab XC offer professional level optics and design at a budget friendly price point.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Tifosi. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.