Recommendations for Photochromic Sunglasses

[BrewMaster]

I've been wanting to get some photochromic sunglasses, but I haven't really been able to find ones with lenses that go from clear to dark. They all seem to go from lightly shaded to slightly darker. Let's just say I am underwhelmed with the technology I've seen so far.

There seem to be a lot out there on the net, but I don't want to buy without seeing them in person. I want to be able to use them during bright and sunny daytime rides and nighttime rides to keep dust out of my eyes.

Does anyone have any suggestions for good photochromic glasses?

[BrewMaster]

If I can't find any decent retail ones, I may have some non-prescription Transition sunglasses made at my optometrist. That is less than ideal, so I hope it doesn't come to that.

[chongoblanco]

from what i have heard from my optomitrist they dont get fully clear or as dark as sunglasses, they tried to sell them to me but I went with seprate glasses one for day one for night time. my mother in law has a pair and after a couple months they would not fully go back to clear they always had a yellow tint to them. not trying to be a bummer or anything, the technology isnt fully there yet, but good luck finding a pair that works for u.

[bjammin]

What kind of glasses is everyone using for nite riding? I've experimented with a pair from Pooformance but tossed them. Too much distortion.

[Waldo]

Originally Posted by chongoblanco

from what i have heard from my optomitrist they dont get fully clear or as dark as sunglasses, they tried to sell them to me but I went with seprate glasses one for day one for night time. my mother in law has a pair and after a couple months they would not fully go back to clear they always had a yellow tint to them. not trying to be a bummer or anything, the technology isnt fully there yet, but good luck finding a pair that works for u.

I had a similar experience with some prescription ones I had a few years back. The inability for them to get truly clear, especially in a well-lit office, really messed with my color perception. At the time I was working for a graphics company, so that was a huge negative.

I'd rather just have separate glasses, even when it means carrying a pair in my Camelback to change during late twilight rides.

[chongoblanco]

i use prescription glasses but i run claear lenses in a pair of spy coopers and u can also get them in polorized which realy helps at night with the glair from random lighting but getting plain clear lenses and swaping them out is not a problem especially from spy or black flys

i do the same as waldo it takes less than a minute, plus if u by a popular pair of frames when u brake them its easy and quick to pop the lenses out and grab new frames at the local skate shop or where ever even the mall

[sladnas]

I just use my prescription lenses in a Rayban frame. They are just my regular sunglasses, nothing designed for sports...

I would recommend against photochromatics due to the "never really clear, never really dark enough" problems. They also tend to have issues in some cars due to the UV shielding present in the glass.

[UR2KLOS]

I have had photochromatic prescription lenses for years. The new ones are almost completely clear indoors. They get as dark as real sunglasses on cold days but don't seem to block as much light as real sunglasses. On hot days they don't get as dark. (If you look at the brochures they always show people skiing, not hiking in the desert.)

Also, they are not polarized which is a huge disadvantage. And as someone else mentioned they don't get very dark inside a car so they are not good for driving.

I wear my real prescription sunglasses when I'm driving, hiking, biking, etc. and use the photochromatic glasses for everyday (and night) use.

[BrewMaster]

Thanks for the feedback folks. I would only be using these glasses for riding and other outdoor stuff, so I am not worried about them in the office or car. I was afraid that the technology was still not there yet to make them truly clear and truly dark. I will check with my optometrist and see what he says.

I know photochromic lenses can be polarized, though not all of them are.

[Waldo]

Originally Posted by sladnas

I just use my prescription lenses in a Rayban frame.

Ditto that. My Ray Bans have been through a lot, and it shows! New ones are in the works soon.

These days there are a million frames that can accommodate Rx lenses if needed. Even a lot of the funky shaped Oakleys can take prescriptions, and if your local doc or Lenscrafters or whatever can't do it, you can custom order from the Oakley store in their HQ next to Whiting Ranch.

[Jordansrealm]

I tired two different photocromatic type glasses, Specialized and another brand a couple years ago I cant remember the name. Neither of them really changed color all that much for me. They would be good in bright light but at dust and night they were useless to me. Now I have Oakley Radar glasses with a dark lens and seperate clear lens for night. Works great! Cost more but you can get some $50 glasses from Serfas Optics that come with 4 seperate interchangeable lenses if you dont wanna drop Oakley money.

[Pain Freak]

Having been a major Oakley fan for years, I got a few pairs that just didn't hold up. I sent them back to Oakley and they sent them back to me with the wrong plastic covering on the sides (my sweat had ate the previous plastic off). So I got frustrated and decided to just buy another pair of glasses. A guy at my LBS told me about the Serfas brand and how happy he was with the. He then told me if I was unhappy with them I could return them and he'd give me my money back.

I'm keeping the glasses, they are better then most the Oaks I've had, and I have a bunch of different lenses to choose from. And for only 50 bucks, you can't beat a deal like this.

Do you realize that a pair of sunglasses has less then a dollar of plastic in cost? This includes the lenses.

[BrewMaster]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

Do you realize that a pair of sunglasses has less then a dollar of plastic in cost? This includes the lenses.

Yup! I have avoided expensive sunglasses my whole life because when I sit on them, they all break! For riding, I am still interested in photochromic lenses. We'll see how the search goes.