Rear View Mirror Spy Sunglasses

For the friend who insists they have eyes in the back of their head, here’s a way to commit to the bit. These black Loftus spy glasses let the wearer see what’s behind them, giving an ordinary-looking pair of shades a much nosier purpose. Spotting someone approaching from behind without the obvious over-the-shoulder check is the whole point.

The situation these nail is gloriously low stakes. Someone tries to sneak up on you, you call their name before turning around, and you get a brief moment of bargain-bin secret-agent glory. That’s a solid premise for a novelty gift, especially for someone who enjoys a harmless prank more than another sensible accessory.

We treat these as a toy, not cycling safety equipment. The rearview trick is the reason to get them; building your road-safety routine around spy glasses asks rather a lot of the joke.