Gift ideas from the editorial team: Christmas tips from Josh Welz

Flash tint: React Optray sunglasses

Self-tinting lenses have never really worked well for mountain biking. In rapidly changing light conditions, for example on fast descents through the forest, conventional photochromic technology was far too slow. But a year ago, the young Swiss eyewear label React introduced self-tinting bike goggles with completely new technology (ShadeTronic): Within a tenth of a second, the manufacturer promised, the tint of the lenses would adapt to the light conditions. This revolution is based on a combination of photocells and liquid crystals in the lenses. Depending on the light intensity, the photocell generates more or less electricity - which in turn is responsible for the arrangement of the liquid crystals and thus the tinting of the lenses.

That alone sounded tempting. Even more tempting for me personally: React also offers a special clip for prescription lenses for its sunglasses. To make one thing clear: All in all, this is not exactly cheap fun. I opted for the extra-light Optray model with a rimless frame at the bottom. React charges 289 euros for this, plus the correction clip at 39 euros. And then there are the optical lenses: they have to be thin and light, which is why they cost me another 300 euros. Ta-taa: That's a total of 628 euros for a pair of bike glasses! You can only afford something like that for Christmas.

I don't know if it's really a tenth of a second, but the React adapts so quickly to changing light conditions that you don't even notice the switch. - Josh Welz

But the investment is worth it. The dimming technology works amazingly well. I don't know if it's really a tenth of a second, but it works so quickly that you don't even notice the switch. The tint level is specified by the manufacturer as category 2 (third lowest) to category 4 (highest). I sometimes wore the glasses until dusk without even thinking about the fact that I still had glasses on my nose.

I was actually expecting the glasses to be a bit heavy with the corrective lenses and that they might slip on bumpy descents. But the Optray sits rock solid even with the correction clip. Firstly because the nose pads can be optimally adjusted, and secondly because the total weight including clip and lenses is still okay at 47 grams.

One criticism is that the coating on the lenses is quite sensitive. Although as a spectacle professional I handled the Optray with care, the lenses are already showing clear signs of wear after nine months. Due to the system, the corrective lenses also have to be cleaned frequently as they sit quite close to the eye.

The bottom line: after years of searching, the combination of corrective lenses and lightning-fast self-tinting is finally the perfect solution for me as an outdoor person who wears glasses. In summer, the glasses were practically in constant use: not only on the bike, but also in the beer garden and in everyday life - for example when driving. Unlike photochromatic glasses, the ShadeTronic technology also works behind car windscreens with UV filters.

Data and price of the React Optray sunglasses

• Weight: 36 grams (47 grams incl. clip and corrective lenses with 2.5 dioptres)
• Self-tinting within fractions of a second
• Tint level: Category 2-4
• Customisable nose pads
• Correction clips for lenses with dioptres
• Protection against UVA, UVB and UVC rays up to 400 Nm
• Price: 289 Euro, additional 39 Euro correction clip >> available here

>> You can find even more Christmas gift ideas here

Power sock: CEP 80's Socks Hiking Mid

Admittedly, the topic of socks is not really sexy. Especially not when they don't come in colourful and totally crazy designs, but in plain grey and black.

The CEP sock has a top cut, encloses the ankle and lower calf with gentle compression and is absolutely non-slip. - Josh Welz

However, the fact that I slipped into the CEP socks for the first time with a lot of scepticism has nothing to do with the design issue. So why the mistrust? Because the socks have a high synthetic content. And my feet generally don't like that. Or rather, my fellow human beings don't like it. Keyword: sweaty feet! These reservations had become ingrained in my mind. But the CEP sock surprised and convinced me in every respect. They have a great cut, provide gentle compression around the ankle and lower calf and are absolutely non-slip. So no creasing in the shoe, no risk of blisters on the foot. And sports science knows that compression supports blood circulation and prevents fatigue.

The manufacturer even promises that the compression stabilises joints and deeply stimulates the sensory organs. Sounds great, but requires a lot of effort if you really want to feel this when cycling. To be honest, it has to be said that the CEP sock was knitted for hiking - I only used it for this purpose to a limited extent, when carrying or pushing was required. It would therefore be worth checking whether one or other sensory organ is stimulated in depth on longer hiking tours. What is definitely noticeable when biking: the pleasant wearing comfort of the CEP sock. In addition to polyamide and elastane, the 80's Socks even have a proportion of merino wool. This makes them even more comfortable. And, surprise: no sweaty feet, no hint of resin cheese. What's more, the CEP socks are of course also available in many different styles. Only, I like grey and black.

Data and price CEP 80's Socks Hiking Mid

• Material mix: 71% polyamide, 16% merino wool, 13% elastane
• Price: 24,95 Euro >> available here

Backpack replacement: Crankbrothers BC18 Bottle Cage Tool Kit

I never realised that the drinking bottle plays a major role in the design of many manufacturers' bikes. Of course you have to be able to fit at least one large bottle on a race bike, but I don't ride race bikes anyway. And whether a trail bike fits one or two bottles or none at all has never mattered to me - I've always travelled with a rucksack. The rucksack on my back is something of a statement among bikers, a kind of commitment that biking means more than just getting from A to B as quickly as possible. It's about the overall experience in the wilderness - and you have to be equipped for that: with a hydration bladder, tools, spare inner tube, snack box and, on top of that, an integrated back protector for particularly daring rides.

The sober reality is that I now cover 80 per cent of my kilometres on rather flat home laps. Sometimes they take an hour and a half, sometimes two and a half hours, rarely longer. A rucksack is overpowered for this, but I still have to take the essentials with me on the ride: so where do I put my mini-tool, pump and repair kit? A jersey pocket is too dangerous, a saddle bag too embarrassing. For candidates like me, Crankbrothers has come up with an extremely practical solution: the BC18 Bottle Cage Tool Kit.

A robust bottle cage serves as the basis, which has been upgraded to a multi-talent with all kinds of useful attachments. A sturdy tyre lever is integrated into the main bar of the holder. Once you have clicked it out of its cove, a tubeless repair set appears on the back: tubeless plugs plus a piercing tool. However, the main feature of the BC18 is the mini-tool, which is housed in an aluminium tube. The aluminium tube protects its insides from dirt and moisture. Practical: A spring integrated in the tube pushes the tool out a little when it is opened. When closed, the spring prevents the tool from rattling in the case.

The tool with a total of 18 functions consists of two parts that can be separated by a sliding centre bar. The main tool has a set of fold-out Allen keys (2-8 mm), two Torx (T10, T25) and slotted screwdrivers. The other part of the tool serves as a chain riveter, spoke spanner (0, 1, 2) and CO2 cartridge adapter. It's all cleverly thought out and very robust. A CO2 cartridge or a mini pump can be clipped onto the other side of the bottle cage, both of which have to be purchased separately.

All in all, the Crankbrothers BC18 Bottle Cage Tool Kit has everything you need for short and medium-length rides: Drink, tools, repair kit. Only the muesli bar needs to be stored in the jersey pocket.

Data and price of the Crankbrothers BC18 Bottle Cage Tool Kit

• Bottle holders can be mounted on the left or right
• Tyre lever
• Hexagon socket: 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 mm
• Torx: T10, T25
• Slotted screwdriver
• Chain riveters
• Spoke spanner (0, 1, 2)
• Tubeless tyre repair kit
• Valve insert tool
• CO2 cartridge adapter
• Weight: 247 grams (without pump and CO2 cartridge)
• Minitool weight: 106 grams
• Price: 99,99 Euro >> available here
• Price Crankbrothers Klic HV mini pump: 39,99 Euro >> available here