Alpina has used pretty much all the goggle technology they have to offer in the "S-WAY QVM+" (Quattro Varioflex Mirror). You can find out whether this works in practice or whether a little less is sometimes more in the following lines.

Technologies (and their names)

First, let's shed some light on the jungle of terms: Alpina uses the term "Quattroflex" to describe lenses with a polarization filter. The automatic adjustment of the tint to the light conditions is called "Varioflex". "Mirror" stands for mirrored lenses. "Fogstop" should be clear, this prevents the lens from fogging up from the inside. "Hydrophobic" stands for the water and dirt-repellent coating. However, the marketing people took the cake with the term "inclinable temples"! Well, who knows what that means? Exactly, these are temples that can be tilted towards the glass. There are three different positions for this. The ceramic lens is also unbreakable and hard-coated. UV-A, -B and -C are absorbed 100 percent - a whole lot of technology for "just" one pair of glasses.

Customization and fit

The S-WAY can be adjusted to the respective face shape using the adjustable, numbered nose pads, the cold-formable temple tips and the tiltable (inclinable) temples. This worked very well for us and you quickly feel comfortable with the glasses, which is not a matter of course, especially with models with such a large lens. As always with glasses and the like: the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

The "S-WAY QVM+" in the endurance test

Admittedly, cold and wet fall weather doesn't entice every biker into the saddle. However, it is ideal for testing whether the "FogStop" lives up to its name.
The test route: Three kilometers of uphill, from almost flat to a gradient of around 19 percent. The weather: Wet and cold with a light drizzle. The test rider: Wrapped up from head to toe in a wide variety of high-tech materials and with the "S-WAY QVM+" perched on his nose. Off we go, despite the falling dusk, the view of the trail is perfect. A quick lift of the goggles reveals the true light conditions. It is slightly darker with goggles on, but hardly noticeable. In addition to the clouds of steam rising spookily from the undergrowth, the test rider's temperature also rises steadily. Now, on the steepest part of the route, with a full load on the pedals and lowered head, a glance through the lenses shows that the Fogstop actually works. Visibility is a little hazy, but you can still see through them - test passed! However, we were still able to find a small weak point. Because the lenses cannot tarnish, the water collects in the frame of the goggles and sooner or later runs down the lens as a trickle. In our tests under "normal conditions", however, we were no longer able to provoke this effect.
On the descents, our eyes were always well protected against wind, branches and bugs. This was thanks to the large lens and the good fit of the goggles. The adjustment of the Varioflex lens to the light conditions works so well that you never even notice it while riding.

Conclusion

Thumbs up for the Alpina "S-WAY QVM+". It not only impresses functionally, but is also a visual treat. In terms of price, they are more at home in the upper segment (around 240 francs), but you also get a great pair of glasses with an elegant case. The Alpina engineers definitely deserve our respect - we even bow our heads to the linguistic achievements of the marketing department, ride on.

www.alpina-sports.com