Product review: Arai Pro Shade visor - three month update

Arai Pro Shade three month review

The Pro Shade was something entirely new to me three months ago. Now, it is only getting brighter and the days are getting longer. The Pro Shade isn’t the best at dealing with the brightness of the afternoon sun in our summer, because the contrast between the tinted and clear bits of the visor is too much to be comfortable. However, the more aggressive your riding position, the less an issue this becomes, because the lower, clear bit isn’t involved as much.

That said, the Pro Shade doesn’t have me worrying about late evenings at work or pre-dawn starts to shoot locations – a wholly tinted visor can’t be kept shut once the sun sets, but with the Pro Shade, riding home in the dark means I’ve got a clear visor to protect my vision. Riding through tunnels, as I’ve mentioned before, also doesn’t mean that your visor has to be open. The tinted visor doesn’t contribute to any lift in the ‘up’ position at any speed, which means no stress on the neck. 

Should you get one? It isn’t an easy answer. If you can adjust to the change in contrast well, or if you’re not sure if you’re going to ride home in the dark, or if you simply don’t like the idea of carrying a second visor and switching it if it gets dark, the Pro Shade is a no-brainer.