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Glasses
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
Hi,
What do you guys and gals out there use for riding glasses?
I have only tried saftey glasses and general sunglasses, I don't think the are really cutting it.
Is it really worth going to cycle specific glasses and if so what do you recommend?
Thanks
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I swear by the adidas Evil Eye.
http://www.visiondirect.com.au/sports-sunglasses...
They have a small and large size.
Not a fan of the Oakley Jawbones cos my head is a weird shape.
I agree about safety specs. They fog up, don't seem to hang onto your head etc etc.
My favourite pair of sunnies (other than my aviators-que danger zone) is my $15 pair of Polaroids from the chemist. No glare, snug fit and tough as nails. Stand up to all my abuse and I find the lenses don't scratch as easy as expensive sunnies, go figure.
I have a set of prescriptionOakleys with transitions lenses that range from clear for night riding to mid brown. You don't want to know how much they cost
Rudy Project Rx Prescription
these glasses are awesome especially if you need prescription lenses. They can offer you a variety of frames to suit your prescription type.
the Rx lense is also a transition lense - clear at night - full uv during the day
these are expensive but worth it if you are vusually challenged.
The std Rudy Project frames with transition lenese (non prescription) are around $200
I've gotten over paying lots for prescription lenses for riding, baulked at prescription lenses for my snowboarding goggles and got over wearing double glasses at 3-d movies.
Now ride standard sunnies or the cool looking sunglass style safety glasses. These safety glasses have less plastic and better air flow. Only trick snowboarding was to remember to blink a bit more often. On a full on run the contacts dry out more quickly in the cold dry mountain air and when they do your next blink peels them off your eyeball. Was suddenly blinded with folded lenses over my eyeball on one run. No issue now though.
Using disposable contacts for riding only or appreciating scenary on holidays. Works out at $1.00 a day for disposable and stops me trashing expensive prescription lenses.
My private health fund seems to have enough allowance to cover most of the year if only used recreationally rather than every day.
I only bothered with the distance correction part of the script, for me the astigmatism didn't make any difference to me unless I'm reading signs.
I've recently ordered a pair of perscription flak jackets that still havent arrived after three months. Even with top health cover it was a painful experiance. I went down the contact route for a while, but found that my eyes dry out too much after 3 or so hours in the saddle. I've also found that contacts and prolonged exposure to salt spray (offshore sailing) result in my eyes becoming very irritated and sore with eventually a loss of sight over a week. so I had no choice but the perscription route.
I wore safety glasses for years. Nothing wrong with them.
The things to look for in my view are:
1. grippy bits on the nose piece and arms so that the glasses are less likely to slip down your nose with sweaty exertion
2. enough lens area to keep the wind out of your eyes on screaming descents
3. enough ventilation to minimise fogging when you're steamy and the weather's humid and / or cold.
4. UV rating
I say "depends on your head" because different glasses will fit different people differently. The other issue I've found with mtb riding is how well the tint copes with moving from bright light to low light (typical forest situations).
I have used low - medium price bike specific glasses for the above reasons and generally with a yellow / light tint for the light transition issue. Currently use Shimano Equinox, which have 3 easily interchangeable lens sets - clear for night riding, smoke for intermediate light and blue / reflective for bright light. I also find that the blue / reflective lens is good for driving and golf compared to my usual cancer council sunnies.
Neat storage box too...
+1 for DeWalt safety glasses, a clear pair and a tint. less than $10, comfortable and disposable when you scratch or stand on them. They can fog up a bit though so you have to slide them down your nose at times
Inexpensive poloarized sunglasses for me.
Over it paying for expensive sunnies that get exposed to the rough and tumble world of riding.
As long as they let the air through and don't fog up.
Thanks for the advise, it seems to be compfy safety glasses are sorta on top atm.
My main issue is sweat running onto and spraying onto the glasses, i think I have seen a pair of riding glasses with foam along the top, does this work?
Cheers.
I use these http://www.clicproducts.com.au/ as the lenses are changeable from yellow to reflective to brown, plus when I want them off I pull them off my face and they hang down around my neck until I need them again. I am yet to lose a pair either.
Im assuming some Anti-fog from an autoshop could help. I think the last time I did my car windscreen it cost about $30 for a small bottle which was just enough to do 1 coat to the windscreen and lasted about 3 months. I would imagine 1 bottle would last over a year with only applying to glasses.
Crispy, if sweat running into your glasses is an issue, try a bandana tied pirate-like on the scone under the helmet to soak it up. A headband would do similar and I have even seen a sort of headband with a gutter to run the sweat off to the side.
Oakley Split Jackets. they are awesome and look bad ass. Never have they fallen off me. Can swap lenses quite easily. Order spares from the usa though as they are much cheaper.
First of all I am a qualified Optical Dispenser of 37 years.Please don't use Antifog unless it is spectacle specific.The contents can effect the lens and frame coatings and will void any warranties.
I am currently wearing the Adidas A165 with Rx lenses.I chose this model as it has adjustment of the pantoscopic tilt.Inclination of the angle, the frame sits on your face. This will affect how much they will fog up. I sweat buckets, and these fog up a heap less than a Rudy project pair I have previously worn. From personal experience you will never stop them fogging up depending on conditions.
Best advice is find a price point you are comfortable with. Generally the better fitting sunglasses that have more adjustment available are more expensive. Just like bike parts.
If you wear a prescription your frame options are plentiful.All sunglass brands (Oakley, Rudy Project, Adidas, Bolle, Mako, Maui Jim) all use the Shamir Attitude Wrap rx lens as it is the BEST on the market.
An example of cost.I have recently made a pair of Adidas A165 with the Shamir Attitude Wrap Multifocal lenses (distance and reading)Transitions Vantage. Total cost $864.00. He is using them specifically for rowing.
Some will think this expensive but unless you do a face plant or clean them incorrectly you should get 2,3 or 4 years wear out of them.
And now for the business plug!
If you are a Perth MTB member I offer a discount.
Call me at work 94081555 I am happy to offer any info that can help and discuss options.
Peter
To me this depends on age and eyesight. I've worn safety glasses for a decade or more. Used to wear shades as they helped in bright sunlight, but moved to clear some time ago. As one gets older the lens of the eye gets thicker and less light gets through. I found that many 'sunnies' which appear to further reduce the light getting through took away the contrast. Result was in shaded areas (under trees) the ability to discriminate terrain was reduced.
In addition eyesight deteriorates with age - so clear glasses were FOR ME the better option.
Recently got two pairs of long distance prescription glasses, one clear one shaded. Now I can see how large those rocks I'm riding over are! I didn't go for any of the wrap around 'stylish' frames as I found a while ago that these fog up way too quickly due to the lack of airflow behind the lens. Some of the frames also have no lower frame under the lense and can cut into the face in an 'off'. I got simple, strong, straightish frames. The air flow that these allow prevents fogging up. Try some of the different lens shades in the shop as there are a couple that will help with contrast and clarity.
FWIW.
I ride with wrap around cycling sunglasses sold by the brand BBB.They have a range of styles and interchangable lenses(tinted,clear and yellow).They breathe pretty well and dont fog much because of the good air flow they give.You need sunglasses that fit and breathe well when mountain biking and these do the job perfect.Priced roughly between $35-$75.
I used to spend plenty getting the best but let's face it, there is no way you can ride single track without scratching your spec's! After ruining a few pair of $300 shades I eventually decided to try a pair of $40 BBB from Chain Reaction with 3 lenses - dark for sunshine, yellow for overcast or clear for night riding. They are awesome and I don't care if I scratch them as they are only $40 but still look cool. I get 2 pair a year and figure I'm way in front of where I used to be...
I have used, broken & lost many riding glasses over the years & now use cheap $15 Protec blue mirrored safety sun glasses from Bunnings (They also have tilt adjustment)
Not too dark, light & comfortable.
For evening rides I use Bolle wrap around safety glasses in orange & clear from Amazon about $20 each.
For driving where I'm not going to break or lose them I have Revo's & Maui Jim's...
All I can suggest is NOT to buy the $99 BBB ones with interchangeable lenses c/w the rubber sleeved arms... I have had two pairs and the rubber rots pretty quick with the sweat. Why two pairs you ask? Because the first pair did the same and then they broke... TBE replaced them for me and now these have gone the same way.
For clears I use safety glasses - but the next set will be a better brand and I will probably spend a bit more...