Sunglasses have quietly become one of the categories where cycling brands compete on optical science instead of just frame shapes, and Shimano's Ridescape system is their answer. The Equinox CE-EQNX5 is the versatile half-rim option in that lineup — a semi-rimless wraparound that sits between the rimless S-Phyre race models and the full-frame Pulsar trail glasses. This matte black version ships with the Ridescape AR (All-Road) lens, tuned specifically for the mixed-surface, mixed-light conditions gravel and road-plus riders spend most of their time in.

Ridescape AR runs a 14% VLT with a blue multi-layer mirror coating, engineered to sharpen the transition between asphalt, hardpack, and loose gravel where surface reading matters most. It's darker than the Road (RD) lens and darker than the Trail (TR) lens, so if your rides trend toward bright open gravel, exposed climbs, and sunny mixed-terrain days, the AR is the one to grab. Shimano also throws in a clear PC lens at 90.7% VLT for dawn starts, night gravel, or dusty trail conditions where you still want eye protection but the AR would be too dark.

The frame uses Rilsan Clear G850 Rnew, a bio-based polyamide sourced partially from castor beans, which cuts petroleum content without giving up the impact resistance you want in a cycling frame. The half-rim design keeps the top edge structured — helpful for lens swaps and for keeping the wide cylindrical lens from flexing — while leaving the bottom open for airflow and an unbroken sightline when you're in the drops. Temples are double-injection molded TPE with anti-slip tips, cut short enough to sit cleanly under helmet retention systems rather than fighting for space along the side of your head.... Read More