Sunglasses For Cyclists

[henrycalvin]

I want to know which type of sunglasses are best for cycling, i want a stylish pair.

 

[King Boonen]

I have two pairs or Rudy Projects. An old pair of Syluros and a new pair of Noyz (I think) which are photochromatic and scratch resistant. They're brilliant.

 

[Squire]

I wonder if Irondan's spamdar is gonna go off here

 

[King Boonen]

Re:

I wonder if Irondan's spamdar is gonna go off here

Possibly... I left the thread for a while until I approved it and then I answered it so I can keep track of the username

 

[Giuseppe Magnetico]

I want to know which type of sunglasses are best for cycling, i want a stylish pair.

 

[carton]

 

[Giuseppe Magnetico]

 

[froze]

I'm a tightwad and when it comes to sunglasses I don't go overboard, I did that once and they got scratched, which they will because they make them out of thin plastic to save weight, you're screwed out of $300 or so bucks, my plastic sunglasses don't last for more than one season before they're scratched. The best sunglasses I had were a pair of Bolle, can't recall the model, but these were a glass/plastic laminated lens that is considered heavy by today's cyclists but I wore them riding without flinching over the weight, the lens was indestructible, never got scratched in the 15 to 18 years I wore them; I still wear them today but not for cycling because the frames have stretched over time and won't stay on well for cycling, but work great for fishing.

So now I wear Tifosi, why? because they're low cost, and replacement lenses are low cost at only $14. I got the Fototec green which they no longer make it in the green, but the Fototec technology doesn't darken as much as other glasses I have or had, in fact they barely change at all, just a shade, that's the negative; and the lens itself even though the green had the least amount of light entering it still isn't a dark lens so I use them on cloudy days. When I was at the LBS trying glasses I couldn't tell any difference between the Tifosi and any of their much more expensive brands, no distortion, nothing between any of them. and quite frankly I know there isn't anything the other more expensive glasses have that's worth anywhere near $200 difference.

For sunny days I got a pair of sunglasses from Costco called Drivewear which required a prescription to get, and mine is the lowest correction that can be made into a lens, but I haven't been able to find a lens comparable to these in any cycling lens, and they have a new type of scratch resistant treatment which so far after only 5 months no scratches. But these Drivewear lenses actually change color and darkness, in overcast conditions the lens is a greenish yellow color, but as the day gets brighter they'll change to a reddish brown, but inside a car they'll turn a copper, really nice glasses, but they don't wrap like a cycling glass will but I haven't had any issues with wind drying my eyes so I'm good.

There are a lot of things in cycling that is simply ripping off cyclists, but that's the way a big ticket sport is just like golf does when they say their golf clubs endorsed by Rory Mcllroy the Super Multiplier 2000 patented MOI optimized carbon fiber shaft with an exclusive titanium gyro optimized trajectory technology head will make you a better player for only $1,200 per club...err no it won't, your golf score won't get better, and the cycling industry is doing the same thing.

Anyway glasses like saddles is just a personal opinion/preference.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

I'm a tightwad and when it comes to sunglasses I don't go overboard, I did that once and they got scratched, which they will because they make them out of thin plastic to save weight, you're screwed out of $300 or so bucks, my plastic sunglasses don't last for more than one season before they're scratched. The best sunglasses I had were a pair of Bolle, can't recall the model, but these were a glass/plastic laminated lens that is considered heavy by today's cyclists but I wore them riding without flinching over the weight, the lens was indestructible, never got scratched in the 15 to 18 years I wore them; I still wear them today but not for cycling because the frames have stretched over time and won't stay on well for cycling, but work great for fishing.

So now I wear Tifosi, why? because they're low cost, and replacement lenses are low cost at only $14. I got the Fototec green which they no longer make it in the green, but the Fototec technology doesn't darken as much as other glasses I have or had, in fact they barely change at all, just a shade, that's the negative; and the lens itself even though the green had the least amount of light entering it still isn't a dark lens so I use them on cloudy days. When I was at the LBS trying glasses I couldn't tell any difference between the Tifosi and any of their much more expensive brands, no distortion, nothing between any of them. and quite frankly I know there isn't anything the other more expensive glasses have that's worth anywhere near $200 difference.

For sunny days I got a pair of sunglasses from Costco called Drivewear which required a prescription to get, and mine is the lowest correction that can be made into a lens, but I haven't been able to find a lens comparable to these in any cycling lens, and they have a new type of scratch resistant treatment which so far after only 5 months no scratches. But these Drivewear lenses actually change color and darkness, in overcast conditions the lens is a greenish yellow color, but as the day gets brighter they'll change to a reddish brown, but inside a car they'll turn a copper, really nice glasses, but they don't wrap like a cycling glass will but I haven't had any issues with wind drying my eyes so I'm good.

There are a lot of things in cycling that is simply ripping off cyclists, but that's the way a big ticket sport is just like golf does when they say their golf clubs endorsed by Rory Mcllroy the Super Multiplier 2000 patented MOI optimized carbon fiber shaft with an exclusive titanium gyro optimized trajectory technology head will make you a better player for only $1,200 per club...err no it won't, your golf score won't get better, and the cycling industry is doing the same thing.

Anyway glasses like saddles is just a personal opinion/preference.

The quality difference between a $50 and $150 pair of sunglasses is huge. High quality sunglasses (I personally like Oakley and Revo) shouldn't scratch very easily. Yes you have to care for them a little, but they're somewhat tough. Also the frame construction is way better. You can see the quality difference between cheap and expensive lens.

For cycling I like Oakley half jackets or any similar model - Ones that have rubber nose grips and the frames curve in a little. They stay on the head better.

 

[avanti]

I use Bolle prescription bifocal eyewear - my sports eyewear specialist machined and dyed them at his store. Prior to that I used Dual bifocal non-prescription eyewear. The Bolle are now 18-months old with no scratches so far. The only issue is that the plastic frame sometimes interferes with my vision when riding track.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I used to think it was a ripoff too, until for a birthday give someone gave me a top of the line pair of Maui Jim glasses. It was an astounding difference just looking through them. I noticed at first, but really noticed when wearing them in all conditions. Oh, and despite being polycarbon, they remain unscratched, 10 years later, as good as the day I received them. I do not however wear them on the bike.

I think what you really need to do is try some on. It's a personal preference much of the time. What fits your face, what kind of lenses you like. Some people love photochromatic, but I have heard low quality versions of those aren't as good. You'll have to try for yourself.

 

[Invicituz]

Tifosi Optics has an impressive range of quality cycling eyewear, at affordable prices.

 

[jmdirt]

I started using O Jawbone about 18 months ago because of the way that the frame pivots open (like a jaw), and because it has a large lens capacity. I prefer no frame glasses but my prescription doesn't work well with those (at all now), so I started using half frame. In order to create enough rigidity for the large, curved lens it has to be thicker than I prefer which is also heavier (about 3X thicker than my no cycling glasses). My opto recommended the jawbones for the reasons above plus he could have any lab make any lens I want because we just simply open the frame, put the lens in, and close the frame (my insurance won't cover O lenses). I'm using a photochromatic lens now too which is fantastic.

The problem now is that O doesn't make them anymore so the www sellers are charging even more than the original too high price!