Outside POC HQ and the pro ranks of EF Education-Nippo and Drops-Le Col, I am the first person to get my hands on the feathery new 23g POC Elicit Clarity sunglasses. So thanks for your trust, POC, and step aside Mitch Docker. I've got this.  

POC set out to create the lightest pair of high-performance cycling sunglasses without sacrificing protection or comfort, resulting in the Elicit Clarity, which made their racing debut upon the nose of Mitch Docker, ironically during his final race, Paris-Roubaix, the most arduous event in the road cycling calendar; proving they can punch well above their weight.

If you want to lead, you must first learn to follow

Before I get started, I feel like I need to lay down some context.

Growing up in a family of old school roadies, I used to borrow one of my dad’s old 6-speed steel-framed bikes with downtube shifters. I took pleasure in needing to work harder than my road companions on their shiny modern steeds. He still has it, and I love that bike, but it weighs a ton.

Back in 2013, when I eventually upgraded to a lighter bike with an 11-speed groupset, I was like, "Oh, fuck. Is this what I have been missing out on?" It unlocked more speed than I could have imagined.

Now I'm a total weight weenie, riding a Factor O2 VAM with Campagnolo Super Record - one of the lightest bikes and groupsets on the market. So when you've ridden a 12kg bike (which I still do during the winter), you truly appreciate a 6kg bike (learning to follow before you can lead).

Is there such thing as too light?

We often have a 'lighter is better' mentality in road cycling, but this is not always the case.

In the quest to make my bikes lighter, I have occasionally overstepped the mark. Certain components need to be strong. Otherwise, they will fail. For example, I swapped my Factor’s Black Inc Seatpost (184g) for a lightweight WR Compositi seatpost (131g). I saved 53g, but the post kept clicking and wouldn't secure the saddle in the rails without slipping. So I quickly changed back and immediately realised how strong and comfortable it felt - just one of many examples where NOT to save weight. 

We also obsess about body weight. I have been drastically underweight in my quest to become faster. But, unfortunately, it had the opposite effect. I became powerless.

However, with the POC Elicit Clarity, you can save weight without consequence.

POC Elicit Clarity Review

During Rouleur Live, I picked up some prototypes for testing. Damien Phillips, POC's Global Head of PR and Communication, and Linnea Jonsson, PR Manager, gave me a demo. My first impressions were, “I love the style and shape of the lens.” then I picked them up and said something like, "Fuck… These are light." The flexibility is mind-blowing, and the assembly is brilliantly simple.

If like me, you’re a sucker for intelligent product design, you’ll appreciate how the Elicit’s construction showcases new thinking. 

For an easy win, POC could have reduced the lens size to save a gram or two. However, that would contradict their core value: to perfectly balance performance and protection. So instead, they have achieved this 23.3% weight-saving by creating a frameless construction with unique Bio-Grilamid plastic snap-fit hinges made predominantly from renewable sources (POC's stance on sustainability is another realisation of their values).

This unique construction method results in a maximised lens surface with an undisrupted field of vision and broader eye protection.

The rubberised nose bridge comes in two sizes - both are included in the box. The arms are flexible and rubberised at the temples, which improves fit, comfort, and adds extra grip when you stow them inside your helmet vents.

Put simply; the Elicit Clarity have an excellent field of vision, broad protection area, are so comfortable and lightweight that you forget you are even wearing them.

Personal Thoughts and summary

I fully appreciate POC's Clarity lenses (made in collaboration with Carl Zeiss Vision). While cycling, we often have to make split-second decisions, and our vision is the first port of call. The enhanced contrast helps identify potential hazards, such as potholes, which increases your reaction time and gives precious milliseconds to help inform better decisions.

POC's Clarity lenses also have anti-fog treatments and repel rain and dirt.

The Elicit Clarity are so light that, to begin with, I forgot I was wearing them, and I kept taking my helmet off before my sunnies and had to catch them each time. 

Like me, you may have thought, "A 23g pair of sunnies? Won't they blow off your face and fly away?" I have ridden these in the sunshine, strong head/crosswinds and rain. They stay put, no matter what — due to the way they are balanced, the flexible design of the arms that hug your temple, coupled with the rubberised grip and nose bridge.

The benefits of these sunnies go far beyond ‘weight saving’. The undisrupted vision and lack of mass make these sunglasses so comfortable that you might forget you are wearing them - which is great for longer rides.

Pros

• Incredibly lightweight.

• All-day comfort.

• Undisrupted field of vision.

• Wide protection area.

• Clarity lenses.

• Stylish as hell.

Cons

• So light and unnoticeable, you might forget you are wearing them.

• To shave weight, the arms have quite an industrial appearance. Visually, I prefer the sleeker arms of the Crave or Aspire.

As you can see, I struggled to find any real cons. To maximise the potential of POC's lightweight innovations, pair them with the Ventral Lite. The combined weight is a mere 223g (size medium helmet). If you have an event where every gram matters, they are a killer combo.

Elicit Clarity details

• Exceptionally lightweight – 23g.

• Bio-Grilamid temples - Lightweight, strong, durable and made from majority renewable sources.

• Snap hinges - Snap-in hinges allow very quick and easy lens changes. The hinges also allow the temples to break away from the lens in a fall, minimising damage.

• Interchangeable nosepiece - Two sizes of nosepiece are provided so each user can find a comfortable fit.

• Clarity lens - Lenses with Clarity technology for sharper vision.

• Curved lens - A continuous, curved lens with chamfers at the edge give exceptional coverage and keep weight low.

• UV400 - Complete UVA and UVB protection.

• Ri-Pel™ - protects from dirt, water, sweat, salt, oil and dust, and makes the lenses easier to keep clean.

• Anti-scratch treatment - Keeps the lenses free from blemishes that affect vision.

• Comes with a spare clear lens - swap lenses to have the best vision in different conditions (also handy if you take pictures while riding, like me).

• Includes a hard case and soft pouch.

1 Year On

November 2022

I have been riding the Elicit’s for over a year, and they are still my go-to. I rode from Manchester to London back in June, which took around 12hrs, and then my ride home took a few more. After a 14hr day, I barely had a dent on my nose (see the image below), whereas all the other finishers had big red, angry-looking marks. For me, that says it all. The Elicits remain the most comfortable, high-performance, and stylish sunnies in my drawer.

Gareth