Engo 2: our test of sports glasses that project data onto the lenses

Engo 2

Engo 2 are eyewear designed specifically for athletes such as cyclists, runners and skiers who want to always have information on ongoing performance under control. Many apps update with audio messages at regular intervals or on call, but it can be not easy to understand everything while busy and under effort and it is certainly not so easy to look at the smartphone or smarwatch display, distracting attention.

Thus, Engo 2 shows all the data in real time on one of the two lenses, with an enriched superimposed layer always available. Despite the tech content, the glasses are really very light, stopping the scales at just 36 grams and the battery covers the whole day without problems, going up to 10-12 hours. We tried them for a few days, here's how they went.

Everything is hidden in the nosepiece

The heart of the system is an integrated OLED projector that uses an ambient light sensor to adjust the power and to create an image on the lens to display all the basic information on sporting performance, within easy reach without ever taking your eyes off the road or the ski slope. The frame is minimalist, without a frame around the large wraparound lenses with a mirror effect that stop the action of even the most intense sun and cold or wind. Among the materials used is grade 3 polycarbonate which is impermeable to sweat and water splashes.

All the electronics are mounted in a very balanced way in the nose piece, which is a little larger than normal: once worn, the lightness of the ears is saved, which are one of the most delicate points. but they can generate some discomfort right on the nose because a little weight is perceived, but nothing exaggerated (13 grams) and the brain after a while goes to "eliminate" the inevitable internal protrusion of the components, which in the first minutes is beautiful present.

Everything is controlled from the app and gestures

To work, you need to connect the glasses to your Android or iPhone smartphone via the ActiveLook Sport Eyewear app and therefore via bluetooth (via integrated 4.2 module) so as to show on the lenses the data of the fitness / training app used such as Strava or those of Garmin and therefore inform about time, pace, power, heart rate, instantaneous speed, distance travelled, altitude or difference in height, total time and so on. The advice is to use the glasses with the ecosystem you already have, for example with a cycle computer (we tried with a Garmin Edge 830 successfully) or smartwatches (from Apple Watches to Suunto) or cadence sensors so as to provide a truly complete report .

The connection is simple, sometimes there is some latency on the updates and some discrepancy between the data for example on the distance. The switching on and off pass through a small button hidden in the upper part, while with a series of gestural commands it is possible to interact with the glasses even while running, cycling or skiing. The battery lasts about 10 hours and is recharged magnetically.

How do they behave? Pairing with the various accessories may take some trying, but once you've completed the initial wizard you're good to go. On foot or by bike, the automatic brightness is immediately noticeable, which is rapid and precise from the sunlit areas to those in the shade. The temples start to slip soon and it is necessary to adjust the glasses from time to time, something common with other sports models, but which can be annoying, perhaps it would have been better to have a back strap to fix them more securely.

Who do we recommend Engo 2 to? Certainly not for those who go out by bike or on foot once or twice a month, but for those who train constantly and above all for those who want to optimize every effort, avoiding any waste or danger, always keeping a constant eye on the road. The price is important, 329 euros.

329 € - Buy on Engo