Tifosi Dolomite 2.0 Fototec glasses

The Dolomite 2.0s are available with Tifosi’s Fototec lenses, which react to light. At just 26g they’re pretty light too. They stay in place manfully even when faced with a midsummer sun cream/ sweat cocktail and the arms are long enough that the rubberised tips grip the side of your head nicely.

We like the chunky frame shape, and the large cutaways and vented lenses help them clear quickly if they start to mist up. They sit quite high on your face, though, so you’re aware of the edge of the frame – and brighter light beyond the tinted lenses – when looking anywhere other than straight ahead.

The lenses often responded slower than we’d have liked when transitioning from bright fireroads to dark, pine-lined singletrack, and no spares are included. That said, these are pretty decent value for trail-ready photochromic glasses.

Price 90$

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

READ MORE >>

SKS Airbuster CO2 inflator

The alloy Airbuster has a large knob so you can regulate the flow of gas, a mechanical stop to prevent the cartridge being pierced in transit and a dust cap to keep the valve free of debris. While it works with Presta and Schrader valves, switching between them requires a fiddly change of the valve head. The thin rubber sleeve doesn’t provide much protection from cold spent canisters. You can’t insert much of the valve into the inflator head, so you have to be careful to avoid leaks. Price $33 w/16g cartridge

READ MORE >>

KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

READ MORE >>