Take A Look Active Original Activity Mirror for Sunglasses, Bike Helmets, or Visors Rear View Mirror for Cycling and Other Outdoor Activities

I have been riding bicycles for a very long time. As a teen and a young man I rode to get places, not in competition or for exercise or for personal amusement. I never needed a mirror because the traffic was lighter, I usually rode faster than most of the traffic, I never rode in groups to speak of, I had plenty of flexibility in my neck and shoulders to twist to see behind me, and most of all since I was young I was certain I was invincible.I'm getting back into cycling now for exercise and fun. But with more traffic, riding with friends, going at a slower pace so that the traffic is often overtaking me from behind, and mostly now with the wisdom that only comes with age that I will certainly not come out well in an altercation with a cell-phone distracted idiot-automobile operator. I decided reluctantly that it was time to try a bike mirror.Here is the problem: You are a pretty compact package on a road bike. You neither have nor want things sticking way out to the sides, but if you keep the mirror in tight how do you see past yourself on the bike? You block your own view! And you don't want an over sized wind-dragging mirror, so small and light is good, but where do you put it so you can see behind you when you need to? I experimented with a few of the more popular concepts and concluded that a flat (non-wide angle) mirror on your eyeglasses or helmet is best.You want a small mirror because you don't want the windage or the sticking out factor. But if the mirror is already small, you really don't want to make the view even smaller by using a wide-angle mirror. So forget about the supposed benefits of a wide angle (convex) mirrors unless it is going to be on your beach cruiser and as big as the side mirror on your SUV...BUT if it is a small mirror how much can you see? Can you see enough? Well, if it is on your head like this "Take a Look Mirror" it turns out you quickly adapt to tilting or turning your head ever so slightly this way and that as necessary to peer anywhere you please around the vicinity of your 6 o'clock.If you try this mirror walking around the shop or home, you will not appreciate how intuitive that head tilting is, and how quickly you learn to adjust the mirror so that you can glimpse it in your peripheral vision. Or if you are deliberately looking into it, how you still have your peripheral vision engaged on the road ahead. It is a lot like using your automobile side mirrors: You don't feel as if you have to look entirely away from where you are going, and if you move your head slightly to change your mirror-view a little, it's no big deal. I walked around the house with mine and was totally skeptical that it was going to work for me. Once on the bike it was entierly natural and intuitive.OK so this is the right design: A small helmet or eyeglass mounted mirror, flat, not convex. But what about the quality? adjust-ability? value? and so on?Well I was absolutely floored that the quality was so good at this price point. It is a simple thing, but it is also well made from good materials. Perfect! And it comes with a lifetime guarantee from a company that has been around long enough that you know they must mean it. There is a reason this has been such a popular product for so long.As for adjusting it? You can move it very easily to whatever orientation you like. In my experience so far it stays put where you adjust it. It is also easy to adjust with one hand while riding for fine tuning if you need it.Size? I got the "original" and I think it is about right, though I suppose some may prefer the newer compact version. It is important to set the mirror up so that it doesn't interfere annoyingly with your forward vision, but isn't too far over so that you can't just glimpse it. With so much adjust-ability in the mounting there are several options. You will have to experiment and decide what works for you. For me the "original" size works great. Not too big to block my forward vision, not too small to see behind. Just right.I have mine on a pair of aviator style sunglasses that have lightweight thin bows. Not quite wire bows as on RayBans, but nearly so. This is no problem for the mounting. It would also clip easily onto wide bows on wraparound style glasses. And you snap the mirror on and off easily enough to move it to other specs or to your helmet, or if you just want to use you glasses without the mirror while you are having lunch or something. I think there is an "optional extra" to mount it to a helmet, but I also think that for many helmets you might not need it. Just clip it to the shell which might require removing a little foam.And how do I like it? I LOVE it! I never thought I'd be the sort to say that. I'm not the spandex type, but I'm not into looking like a fool either... and I never thought that these mirrors were "cool." However this mirror gives me a good view astern which has added unanticipated confidence and opportunity when I'm riding. I can speed up or slow down to time my left turns when there isn't an idiot behind me trying to run me off the road; I can cross busy intersections when I know there isn't some soccer mom on her cell phone about to cut me off; if I have to swing wide around a pothole or sewer grate I can look behind in an instant to check for an oncoming dump truck....and best of all I can look back there to see if my mates are still keeping up with me ('cause I'm still way faster than most of them *wink*)Fist off if you are on the fence about getting a mirror, just get one. Any one. You won't regret it. You will like it.Next: The "Take a Look Mirror" beats out the bar end mirrors, the frame mounted mirrors, and all the other wide angle helmet or eyeglass mounted mirrors hands down. Don't waste your time with the others. Try this one first and you won't have to try anything else. There is a reason they have been around so long and why they keep getting repeat customers.Peter

For me it gets 5 stars. Fits snugly on the frame of my glasses and gives me a decent quick look to what's coming behind.. I did require a bit of getting used to after ditching my bar mounted rear view mirror. My wife and I ride a tandem and she won't ride without for her in the stoker position so really don't need a bar mount mirror anyway but I still wanted something to see behind when my wife tells me "Car back". I am completely satisfied with this purchase.

I purchased the original in 2023 when starting to bike commute in Boston and was recommended to get a mirror. My friend had those plastic mirrors, but their glass was clearly a lesser quality. I decided to try this and am happy I did. I will admit the second time I wore it, it fell off my helmet while riding and I couldn't find it. Luckily I emailed the company and they were so nice and sent me another! I've had this second one for two years and consider it an absolute safety must for riding. It becomes like a fifth limb once you get the hang of it. Even when I'm off my bike I'm expecting to have it on and think I can see behind me. The mirror is great quality glass and you can see crystal clear behind you, you'll feel like you have a superpower. I bought my friend one too. I never want to ride without it. The mounting is a little odd, I ended up using electrical tape to my helmet and that has worked fine and no issues the last two years, it stays on permanently. If you stuff your helmet in a bag the mirror will need to be readjusted once you go riding again, makes sense as it is easily adjustable. Somehow the mirror is still scratch free!I've waited two years to write this review and my final consensus, get it! Be safe and invest in protecting yourself. I would buy this thing again and again (and have!) and recommend you do to.

Best mirror for my purposes - low tech, highly portable and adjustable, fits multiple frames, easier than looking down at handlebar mirror, BUT, very pricy considering how long this has been available, limited and basic materials, no upgrades or ongoing engineering research such as required for Garmin or other tech products-they should lower price