Reasonably priced sports glasses from Switzerland
21.5.2025
Translation: Katherine Martin
Pictures: Patrick Bardelli
Swiss Eyewear Group was founded in 2013 and has been selling high-quality eyewear under the brand name Invu ever since. The Zurich-based company also develops sports glasses, among other things. These include its Aconcagua and Omu models.
Swiss Eyewear Group says it’s Switzerland’s first eyewear company. Based in Zurich, it’s been developing all sorts of glasses for 12 years now. Its products are designed in Switzerland, but manufactured in China. That’s also the case for its sports glasses, which, like every other Swiss Eyewear Group product, are marketed under the brand name Invu. They’ve recently become available to buy on Galauxs.
Polarised lenses are supposed to provide the highest possible contrast. This is particularly important if you’re biking off road. These two Invu models apparently have an ultra polariser (page in German). According to the manufacturer, this nine-layer lens «selectively filters out reflected glare, giving you a clear, glare-free view with high contrast and exceptional colour perception.»
Invu Aconcagua
According to Invu, the Aconcagua model offers UV 400 protection and uses filter category 3. This very dark filter reportedly absorbs up to 92 per cent of light, making the glasses well suited to very bright conditions.
A flexible layer incorporated into the glass has a shock-absorbing effect, strengthening the structure and supposedly making it almost unbreakable. The lenses are also scratch-resistant, so they’re particularly durable. The glasses are 141 millimetres wide and 60 millimetres tall. This, in combination with their 125-millimetre arm length, make the Aconcagua feel fairly loose on my face. With this in mind, the glasses aren’t really suitable for bike trails and gravel paths. At least not for me. The main use I’d have for them is on roads.
At first glance, the build quality of the glasses feels a little mediocre. That being said, I only get that impression when I’m holding them. The feeling disappears when I’m cycling.
Invu Omu
The Omu glasses differ from the Aconcagua model in terms of their dimensions. Measuring in at 143 millimetres by 51 millimetres, the lenses are wider but shorter. The arms are 132 millimetres long. As a result, these glasses are a better fit for my face, making them more suitable for off-road use. Besides that, the Omu glasses have the same features as the Aconcagua.
Interestingly, they seem to have a higher build quality. At 27 grammes (Omu) and 26 grammes (Aconcagua), both models are almost equally lightweight.
Overall impression
If I had to choose one of these pairs of sports glasses, I’d go for the Omu. To me, they seem to be of higher quality than the Aconcagua, and they’re a better fit for my face. Both glasses are made for very sunny conditions, although they don’t come with interchangeable lenses. So if the weather’s bad, you’ll need another pair of glasses.
Both the Omu and the Aconcagua come with a case and a microfibre cloth. Unfortunately, they don’t have a mount for corrective lenses. Until now, Invu had only been on my radar as a manufacturer of fashionable sunglasses. And I was impressed with its simple designs, low on bells and whistles, available at a reasonable price. However, cycling (which is how I tend to spend my time) presents different challenges than, say, strolling through the city on a Saturday afternoon shopping trip.
On bike rides, interchangeable lenses are pretty much essential for cloudy conditions. Alternatively, you can go for glasses with photochromic lenses. This considered, Invu still has some catching up to do compared to other brands in this respect. Other than that, it’s going in the right direction. Even when it comes to the price of its Zurich-designed products.
Header image: Patrick Bardelli
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
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