What sunglasses?? Oakley, Bolle?

daniel_b

Hello all,

this isn't 'really' cycling or commuting related, just fancy some new sunnies, wraparound probably, liked the look of the Nike Tarj sunglasses, especially as it says they are designed for smaller faces, and I do have a face more on the small side, but JE James are out of stock :?

Any suggestions, or websites especially I should look at?

Might stick em on my birthday list.

Budget, preferably around £20, though maybe upto £40 if they are supercool 8)

Just to clarify, these are not for cycling, only for posing, errr, I mean protecting my eyes.

Cheers

Dan

Aidy

Don't buy things from JE James anyway.

Really.

daniel_b

LOL, I know there service can on occasion be a little shonky, but I've bought quite a bit from them lver tha last year or two, and even had to send stuff back on occasion, due it being the wrong fit or whatever, and they have always been fine.

Granted, there stock status can be rubbish at times, but personally they have never done me over shall we say,

Dan

Aidy

I quite liked where I bought an item for £9.50 from their website, it appeared on my card as >£17 and then it didn't appear.

They then refused to do anything about it, telling me it "could take up to two weeks for delivery", and after the two weeks was up (with still no show), they informed me that they still had plenty in stock, would I like to buy one?

Never, never again.

soy_sauce

Lidl - £3

http://www.lidl.co.uk/uk/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20090707.index.ar11?OpenDocument&id=540&country=GB&zipcode=AB12+3DB&city=Kincardineshire&district=Torry&street=Wellington+Road&ar=11&nf=True

EDIT - just read the OP again and realised its not for cycling. lol

daniel_b

That is shocking i do agree, and would put me off if it happened to me!

Aidy

Just remembered that I forgot to claim it on my credit card too. Bugger.

leoccp

Had a similar let-down on the mail order side from JE James. Ordered a light bracket, was charged and then it didn't show. Contacted them a couple of times but never got any help, gave up in the end as it was only 3.99 and had found a work around. Wouldn't buy from them again though.

daniel_b

So I've found this website, knocking out cheap oakleys apparently:

http://www.alphasunglasses.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=22_24

Anyone used them, just wondering if it is legit, seems very very cheap, maybe too good ot be true?

Unfortunately the glasses are just called Oakley 22, Oakley 23 etc, so have no idea what the actual model are :?

Anyone reckon these are a good buy?

I quite like the look of, ummm, number 43....



Dan

Aidy

Daniel B wrote:

So I've found this website, knocking out cheap oakleys apparently:

http://www.alphasunglasses.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=22_24

Anyone used them, just wondering if it is legit, seems very very cheap, maybe too good ot be true?

Pretty obviously fakes.

And not very good ones, at that.

daniel_b

Woh ok, thanks for that Aidy, I had no idea :oops:

I shall steer well clear!

Dan

daniel_b

Ok, so the site above is ruled out, that's fine.

Been looking on ebay at various Oakley sunnies, and some Bolle ones too, anyone recommend some general purpose sunnies, and specific models that you like?
There is such a huge array of glasses out there.

Budget might creep up to about £70, or maybe a tad more too.

More for off the bike use, but occasionally might want to wear them on the bike, not a necessity though, as I have a multi lens cycling glass setup.

Cheers

Dan

Deadeye Duck

Sorry, but if it's off the bike you're looking for, I reckon £70 is far too much. It might just be me (because I'm a tight git), but you pay that kind of money for sunglasses when they have things that will help you more than just look cool. I.e. anti-fog, wrap-around/draft free, and a comfortable fit for prolonged amounts of time...

always_tyred

If its for my bike, I don't invest more than about £40-£50, because I know that sooner or later I'll do something daft like shove them in a pocket with keys, or drop a lens, or have to wipe them clean when they are gritty. The double the price brands aren't any more resistant to being run over by a truck, or scratched.

I generally go for Bolle - they seem to fit. I used to like Ryders - similarly budget but not crap. Not sure where to get them from now though.

If its for off the bike, then let money be no object.




For off the bike, I still don't spend more than about £40.....in fact I use the same pair.....

lastant

Thought about Arnette at all? Have had a couple of pairs in the past from them and though they were nice - fairly sporty brand and look good on me at least but haven't got a ridiculously high price attached to them.

Currently got myself a pair of Oakley Juliets which I've put emerald green lenses in (they're okay, don't fit under a helmet though!), a pair of Prada 'big' glasses for those days I just don't want to be seeing anyone and a pair of those Bolle Contour safety glasses that someone on here recommended (surfing avatar, can't remember his name!)...they've been excellent on the commute.

daniel_b

DD: Well yes you may well be right, but the main reason is for off the bike, but then if they are loaded with spec, and are decent cycling glasses, then maybe they could then get used on the all day rides, sportives or what have you.

AT: I'm generally very careful with my glasses anyway, so I don't think that accidental damage by me would be a worry.

Lastant: Surf Matt I think you mean, and yes I have some of those Bolle contour thingies for commuting which are awesome, set me back about £6.50 delivered off ebay, and I also bought a pair of the goggles by bolle for mountain biking, £8 or so, also fantastic!
Not thought about Arnette, never heard of them, but thanks for the tip, will now have a look.
I don't really know of many good brands, so if anyone wants to recommend any they personally use, that would be fantastic.

Oh and if anyone knows of decent websites that sell genuine articles, or good value websites (Still genuine kit) that would be cool too 8)

alfablue

I use Oakley Monster Dogs, they are unbreakable having one-piece hinges that are moulded into the arms. I have sat on sunglasses too often, breaking the hinges or bending the arms so these have actually worked out as better value. They don't have any rubber bits either, which tend to rot after a while. Also, replacement lenses are readily available so when they get too scratched I can replace them and its like a new pair of glasses. There is also a good choice of lenses (I am using polarised ones, which are handy for sailing too). http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/ are a good source for Oakleys at a good price.


I also have the Bolle safety glasses for night/dull days - I recommended them to Surf-Matt (credit where it's due 8) ). Great value at £5 to £7 ish.

daniel_b

Hi AB,

well thankyou for the bolle recommendations in that case, for my £14 spent, I have 2 very usable pairs of glasses!

i think I also bought a charger and rechargeable batteries that you recommended too!

I like the look of those monster dogs, very nice, do you ever use them on the bike....?

Thanks for the website link, have bought from them before, but never noticed the good range of sunnies.

Dan

alfablue

You're welcome Dan

Yes I always wear the Monster Dogs for cycling unless it is dull. Oakley optics are superb and also safe - wouldn't ride without some form of eye protection. I like the 'dogs because they give good coverage yet don't look too cycling specific, plus as I said above, the design is bombproof - literally 3 components plus the lenses. I wear them all the time off the bike too (can't cope with daylight!).

I have found Cyclestore prices for Oakley are the best around (allegedly Oakley take a strong line with dealers if they offer discounts, though if true this would be illegal, but you will notice there is little variation in Oakley prices). They are 100% the genuine article, and I have found Cyclestore to be reliable.

On the Bolle Contours, I believe Surf-Matt went for the ESP versions, I am not sure if these are photochromic or not, if they are they would be amazing value. It may just be an orange tint.

daniel_b

Hi AB,

that's good to know, and makes them more viable, are yours the gloss finish or the matt finish, the matt looks quite subtle, and wondered if the gloss maintains it finish ok?

And for me, how do you find the fit/width of the glasses? I have a relatively small head, and so big glasses look daft on me.

How do the replacement lenses work, do you have to send them off or take them somewhere to be fitted?

I see there is a Monster Pup now as well, which apparently has slightly smaller dimensions....

Totally agree with you, would never ride without glasses of some description, big no no for me, since having a fly hit me in the eye whilst doing about 30mph downhill, not funny.
That was about 17 years ago.

Interesting info on the oakley prices, certainly makes it easier to spot the non oakleys then

I went for the ESP ones as well, and they do enhance low light, kind of brings stuff out of the shadows.

These are the ones I bought for MTBing as well (Don't wear them all the time, but will be very good in winter) £7 plus P&P.

alfablue

Hi Dan

I have gloss, they stay glossy. My g/f had some matt ones, and with use they tend to get shiny. You can fit the lenses yourself, just pop out (takes a bit of nerve), but I just bought them in the Oakley shop in Bristol and the sales assistant did it for me even before I agreed to buy them (top salesman I think!). They cost £75 for the polarised ones, standard ones are £45-£50 I think, seems a lot but they are top quality, and they give a new lease of life to your £120 glasses.

So the ESP ones don't change the tint reactively.

Your MTB ones look like serious kit!

daniel_b

Thanks for that, looks like gloss is the way to go.

Interestingly on the cyclestore website it has a link to another sister website http://www.bling-thingz.co.uk and the Oakleys appear to be even cheaper on there, unless I am missing something, and orders over £50 are free, where as I thought there was a small charge from cyclestore.

What would you say the advantage of the iridium polarised lenses are over non iridium polarised?
They seem to be around 50% more expensive.

No I am pretty sure the tint stays solid, but it's designed well for all, or the majority of conditions I would say.

Cheers

Dan

alfablue

Hi Dan

I got the polarising ones because I was sailing in Australia and they cut the reflections and glare from the water, I wanted to see the wildlife lurking under the water, plus distance vision is better (helps with navigating!). I had standard lenses before. They are both very good, but my impression is that things look sharper through the polarising ones, I can actually see better with them on than off! One downside with polarising lenses is that they can make viewing LCD screens (like on your bike computer) more tricky - they only let light in at one angle. Fortunately I have a "large print" computer so I'm fine. The Polarising are clearly better, but I would not say the polarising are worth the extra unless you have a specific reason, though I have this dreadful problem of always upselling myself and getting the best :oops:

The bling-thingz link is good! I think Cyclestore postage is free over £50 I think, but if they are cheaper on bling-thingz, and it is as reliable as cyclestore...

FyPunK

Being in the eye buisness and having Bolle, Adidas and one or two others throwing sunnies at me for free, I choose and have done for many years now Bolle's. I find them comfy and pretty tough, with pretty good optics and a good range of styles and sizes.

symo

More cheap discounted Oakley's

http://www.grandprixlegends.com/legends ... er_value=1

ride_whenever

Do oakley make light sensitive polarising lenses?

alfablue

They do photochromic, but you can't have both polarising and photochromic as far as I know

http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDeta ... ctID=20778

FyPunK

alfablue wrote:

They do photochromic, but you can't have both polarising and photochromic as far as I know

http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDeta ... ctID=20778

Don't know about Oakley's but other companys do them, I have ben trying out a new lens from Serengetti that is both photo and polar( they have been doing it for years), I heard on the grape vine Rudi-Project will be using the new material in this combo too.

daniel_b

Do the transition lenses work people??

Never tried any, but quite like the idea of lenses that adapt to the level of sunlight, but do they actually work, or do they take forever to change, and irritate rather than make you feel they are invaluable?

I am quite tempted by these Oakley Minutes:

I'm trying to ignore they are over £100....... :shock:

Oh and they have 'plutonite' lenses which must be good.

Normal lensed (is that a word?) ones are around £60/£70 so more reasonable.

Cheers

Dan

FyPunK

Transistions or to be more general, photochromatic lenses do work in that they will change from the light state to the dark state within 2 mins max, most sunnies are pretinted with the photochromatic layer on top. Polarised have filters to block the horizontal light (glare) and are in many ways better. All but one of my sunnies, and there are a good few are ploarised, the one that is not is my Bollle Microedge which is my cyling sunnie, however I wear them all year round, including winter nights. Advantages and disadvantages on both lenses.

daniel_b

Thanks for that FPK,

I think on balance I will avoid the transitions/photochromatic and go for the polarised lenses,

Cheers

Dan