A couple of months ago, I discovered the Engo 2, a pair of sports glasses that look like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. The glasses incorporate an OLED microprojector located next to the nose bridge, which projects information about your activities directly into your field of vision, similar to a car’s heads-up display (HUD).
The promise is enticing: The glasses are said to eliminate the common gesture of looking at your watch while running and cycling.
What are the Engo 2, and where do they come from? The technology behind the Engo 2 glasses has military origins. They’re produced by French company MicroOLED, which leads in the production of OLED microdisplays outside of Asia and regularly supplies display systems to Western militaries. Most recently, MicroOLED has adapted its expertise in military HUDs for sports, creating glasses that aim to look stylish and “normal.”
First impressions and configuration. The unboxing experience feels premium. The box includes:
- A protective hard case
- A magnetic charging cable (just another one for the collection)
- Cleaning accessories
The case is (positively) very rigid, even more so than my Oakleys.
Oh no…
The initial setup required more patience than I expected:
- Download the ActiveLook app.
- Pair the glasses via Bluetooth.
- Connect them to your sports device (in my case, an Apple Watch and iPhone).
- Adjust the position of the virtual screen.
This last step is crucial. I learned it the hard way during my first outing, which was a disaster. I struggled to position my neck and eyes to view a poorly adjusted screen.
The photochromic Engo 2 glasses look like this when the light doesn’t hit them directly.
The bridge features a power button, a magnetic charging port, and a display module on the right.
The visual experience. The virtual display appears as a yellow-orange rectangle in your right field of vision. It’s surprisingly visible in all lighting conditions, from nighttime runs to bright sunny days. The display feels like it floats about 10 inches in front of your face, slightly above your eye level.
You can configure up to three simultaneous metrics on the screen, including:
- Total activity time
- Distance traveled
- Current and average pace
- Current and average speed
- Current and average heart rate
- Running cadence
- Time of day
- Battery status
It’s difficult to capture a photo where the Engo 2’s virtual screen is displayed clearly, so here’s a recreation using my editing capabilities.
The photochromic dilemma. The version I tested is photochromic, which, on paper, seems ideal. It automatically adjusts to ambient light, allowing you to wear the same glasses day and night. However, there’s a significant drawback. When the lenses are clear, the technology module is too visible. I would’ve preferred a traditional model with lenses that are always opaque.
The Engo 2 is also available in a traditional version without photochromic lenses, which are more discreet and resemble standard sports sunglasses. | Image: Engo
Interestingly, during a 20-mile run on a cloudy day, the lenses became completely opaque. The darkening process is more gradual than it may appear.
The day of the long run arrived, with the sky completely overcast and a bit foggy. However, after being exposed to the light for a while, the lenses became completely opaque.
- If you enjoy running at night or live in an area with cloudy skies, photochromic lenses could be a good option.
- Instead, if you typically run in sunny conditions, traditional models will be more suitable and discreet.
Daily use and performance. The battery lives up to the company’s claim and lasts 12 hours. After a few weeks of intermittent use, totaling about 56 miles–including the 20-mile run–I’ve only needed to recharge the glasses four times.
If you run without the tinting feature activated, the module under the right eye may raise some questions.
The gesture control for switching between data screens works surprisingly well. A sensor detects the movement of your hand in front of the glasses. However, I primarily used a single screen displaying pace, distance, and time. Switching data while running can be distracting and requires more focus than desired.
When the lenses are tinted, no one would suspect these aren’t traditional sunglasses.
Strengths:
- Clear display in any light condition.
- Long battery life.
- Surprisingly comfortable for prolonged use.
- Good integration with Strava Live Segments on the Apple Watch.
- Precise gesture control.
Weaknesses:
- The ActiveLook app is too basic.
- No support for structured workouts.
- The module in the photochromic version is very visible.
- High price ($299.95) considering the features currently available.
- It supports Garmin and Apple Watch but doesn’t support Coros, Polar, etc.
Looking ahead. The Engo 2 sunglasses present a glimpse into the future of running, but that future still requires development. The potential is vast. I envision future versions with larger screens, navigation maps, advanced running metrics, and augmented reality for route marking. Additionally, well-designed built-in Bluetooth headphones, like those of the Ray-Ban Meta, would enhance the experience.
For now, I’d recommend the Engo 2 primarily to early adopters with a comfortable budget and Apple Watch users who are particularly invested in Strava. Most others might consider waiting for a future iteration when the software improves and the hardware becomes more discreet.
Final verdict. The Engo 2 glasses are a fascinating product that addresses a problem you may not have realized you had. Eliminating the distraction of looking at a smartwatch significantly enhances the running experience. However, their price and software limitations make them hard to recommend for the average runner and especially challenging for advanced runners.
Yes, they represent the future, but it might be wise to wait until that future fully materializes.
Image | Xataka
Related | The Best Running Apps: 16 iOS and Android Apps to Track Your Runs and Improve Your Workouts
The device has been loaned for testing by Engo. You can check how we test new products at Xataka On and our Corporate Relations Policy.
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