Technology
What KUDO Shield actually is, without the adjectives. Where a number or a standard is not listed below, it has not been confirmed yet — we would rather leave a gap than publish a figure we cannot stand behind.
The lens
KUDO Shield uses a single oversized shield lens rather than two lenses in a frame. The practical effect is that nothing crosses your field of view: no frame edge in your peripheral vision when you check a shoulder on the bike, no bar across the middle when you look down a descent.
The lens wraps far enough round the temples to keep low sun and wind off the side of the eye, which is the part most half-frame designs give up on.
UV400 protection
All five colourways offer UV400 protection. UV400 means the lens blocks ultraviolet light up to a wavelength of 400 nanometres, which covers both UVA and UVB. It is a filtering property of the lens material and coating, not a tint level: a lightly tinted lens can block just as much UV as a dark one.
UV exposure at altitude and over snow is considerably higher than at sea level, because snow reflects a large share of incoming UV straight back up at your face. That is the case for wearing eye protection on a spring ski day even when it does not feel especially bright.
Interchangeable lens
KUDO Shield is designed so the lens can be removed and replaced rather than the whole frame being discarded when a lens is scratched. Replacement lenses and the exact swap procedure are not on sale yet; when they are, they will be listed here and in the shop.
Lightweight construction
The design target was a frame light enough to be forgotten after the first kilometre, since the complaint that ends a pair of sunglasses is rarely optical — it is weight on the nose and pressure behind the ear after two hours. The verified weight in grams is not published yet.
Fit and stability
One size, built on a wraparound geometry intended to suit most adult faces. The nose bridge and the temple tips are rubber-lined, which is what stops a frame walking down your nose once you start sweating. Whether the temples or nose pads are adjustable is not confirmed yet.
Lens colour and light conditions
Mirrored coatings reduce the amount of light reaching the eye and cut reflected glare off snow, wet tarmac and water. Different colourways suit different conditions, and the differences are real but modest:
| Colourway | Suits |
|---|---|
| Pink Mirror | Flat, grey and overcast light; lifts contrast on dull days |
| Silver Mirror | Bright, open sun; the most neutral of the five |
| Ice Blue Mirror | Bright snow and high glare |
| Arctic Blue | Bright general conditions, water and open sky |
| Red Mirror | Mixed and variable light; warm contrast |
Lens category, light transmission percentage and any European standard conformity are not published yet, because they have not been documented. Until they are, treat the table above as guidance on tint character rather than as certified optical data.
What comes in the box
- KUDO Shield
- Hard case
- Microfibre pouch
Care
Rinse with cool water first — grit dry-wiped across a mirror coating causes most of the fine scratching people blame on quality. Dry with the microfibre pouch. Avoid solvents, alcohol, washing-up liquid and paper towels. Store in the hard case rather than loose in a jersey pocket or a rucksack lid.
Do not leave them on a car dashboard in summer. Heat is harder on coatings and frames than cold is.
Still to be published
Verified weight, frame and lens materials, lens category and light transmission, adjustability, and the lens replacement procedure. These are being confirmed with documentation rather than estimated.