Although Lazer wasn’t “officially” at Sea Otter with a booth, they were indeed in attendance, basking in the sunshine and latest in the bike industry happenings, as well as doling out their hottest new product, the Magneto. Lazer Helmets has not been shy to go in their own direction when it comes to non-conventional design; most notably the Rollsys retention adjustment and the Magic Buckle. Late last year the Belgian helmet maker set their sights on the sunglass market and introduced their first line of glasses, headlined by Magneto, the most attention grabbing eyewear since Oakley’s Over The Top glasses.

The Magneto uses a magnetic attachment between the helmet straps and the glasses, doing away with the need of the sunglass arm going over your ear. The shortened arms of the Magneto have magnets embedded into the plastic that attach to magnets on the helmet straps. Other than the attachment point at the temple, the only other point of contact on your body is the nose piece. The magnets on the helmet straps are encased in a removable and adjustable plastic piece that allow the Magneto to be used with not only Lazer helmets, but just about any brand. 

At first glance we thought the Magneto’s were cool and different, but doubted how they could be a feasible alternative to traditional glasses. We tried the Magneto’s with a Lazer Helium helmet, and the first time putting on the glasses was much easier than anticipated. We all can remember trying to clip into a pedal for the first time, not quite knowing where the cleat was in relation to the pedal—well, that’s what we expected with the Magneto, but it wasn’t the case. The magnets were strong enough that once the glasses and helmet strap came close—whammo! Easy, comfortable, and dare we say, secure? Wearing sunglasses that in no way put pressure on the side of your head, or compete with the helmet’s fit system for space, was a first for us. Out on the road there wasn’t really a whole lot to notice, and that’s a good thing. Although we didn’t take them across any sectors of cobbles, the Magneto’s never felt like they were sliding off or were at all cumbersome.