Storm Lens: When Physics from the University of Milan Ends Up Inside a Mountain Bike Lens
Introduction
Out Of was born in a bedroom. Three brothers, a degree in Physics, and one belief: things can always be made better.
Over the years, that bedroom evolved into laboratories equipped with scientific instruments—spectrophotometers, lux meters, wave generators—and collaborations with universities and companies such as Zeiss became a natural part of the development process.
The Storm lens is one of the products born from that approach, and it clearly demonstrates how academic research and product development can work together to create something genuinely useful on the trail.
If you want to understand how it compares to photochromic lenses, we already covered the topic in this article: Storm lens and photochromic lens: two different technologies for two different problems.
In Brief: What Is the Storm Lens?
The Storm lens is a lens developed by Out Of in collaboration with the Faculty of Physics at the University of Milan and manufactured by Zeiss. Depending on the model, it features a Visible Light Transmission (VLT) ranging from 46.10% to 49.49%.
It is specifically designed to enhance perceived contrast in flat, diffused-light conditions, such as those commonly found in forests or on cloudy mountain biking days.
The Original Problem
As is often the case in engineering, Storm was born from a practical problem.
Existing mountain bike lenses performed well in bright conditions but became less effective in flat, diffused lighting, such as winter forest trails or overcast days.
The issue was not the amount of light available, but the quality of the visual information reaching the rider. Perceived contrast decreased, terrain appeared flatter, and important details were lost. No lens on the market had been specifically designed for this particular scenario.
The Scientific Approach: Collaboration with the University of Milan
To develop a lens capable of solving this problem, Out Of partnered with professors from the Faculty of Physics at the University of Milan—experts in optics and visual perception.
The goal was to identify the optimal spectral transmission curve for maximizing contrast perception under diffused-light conditions.
This was not about choosing a tint that simply “looked right.” It required measurement, modeling, and optimization.
Which wavelengths contribute to visual flattening? Which ones help the brain reconstruct depth and relief? What is the ideal balance between total light transmission and spectral selectivity?
Answering these questions required mathematical models of human visual perception, spectrophotometric measurements, and testing with real subjects under controlled lighting conditions.
Zeiss and the Manufacturing Process
Once the optimal transmission curve had been defined theoretically, the next step was turning it into a physical product with the required optical characteristics.
This phase was developed together with Zeiss, one of the world’s leading optical manufacturers.
Producing a lens with a precise spectral transmission curve is far from simple. It requires careful control of substrate materials, surface treatments, and filtering elements, all calibrated to achieve the exact spectral response specified during development—not an approximation.
Zeiss optical quality also ensures that the Storm lens does not sacrifice sharpness, color accuracy, or overall visual quality in order to enhance contrast. Both aspects must coexist.
Storm Lens: Technical Specifications
The Storm lens features a Visible Light Transmission (VLT) ranging from 46.10% to 49.49%, depending on the model on which it is installed.
This places it firmly in the medium-to-low-light category, allowing sufficient light transmission for darker conditions while maintaining the contrast-enhancing effect it was specifically engineered to provide.
The Real-World Result
At first glance, the Storm lens may simply appear to have a distinctive tint.
That tint, however, is not decorative—it is functional.
It is the visible expression of its optimized transmission curve: a carefully calibrated spectral response designed to transform flat, diffused light into richer visual information.
On the trail, this translates into significantly improved terrain perception in low-light environments. Roots, rocks, holes, and subtle changes in the ground that would be nearly invisible through a standard lens become easier to distinguish.
Terrain reading improves, and reaction times become shorter.
Science Loves Performance
Out Of’s claim is “Science Loves Performance.”
The Storm lens is one of the clearest examples of what that means in practice: not a technology developed solely to create a marketing story, but an engineering solution to a real problem, built using the right tools—physics, academic collaboration, and high-quality manufacturing.
Not all lenses are created equal.
And not all differences are visible at first glance—some can only be felt when riding the right trails in the right conditions.
Conclusion
The Storm lens is the result of a process that starts with physics and reaches the final product through applied research.
It is designed for riders who understand that, in certain situations, the difference between “seeing well” and “seeing what matters” is not a matter of personal preference, but of optical engineering.
Try the Storm Lens
The Storm lens is available on the Rams model, featuring a carbon-fiber-reinforced Grilamid frame and Zeiss lenses.
Choose the Storm lens among the available product options.
Discover the Storm lens on Rams.
