Optilabs prescription glasses

EBM Biker

Good day folks,

Has anyone purchased prescription sunglasses from Optilabs www.optilabs.com
and if so how good are they? I'm mainly interested in the Transitions lenses as that way I don't have to take clear specs as well as sunglasses out on a ride. Especially as autumn is approaching [actually it's been permanent autmn in Shropshire all summer!].

dov2711

Ive posted before on these glasses as having used them on every ride this year they do the job admirably.

I have a complex prescription and have had no trouble at all. Not as sleek as I would ideally want but given the costs of prescription oakley they are a good compromise.

No trouble with distortion on the wraparound and was given a gaurantee of a 100% refund if I wasnt happy when they arrived.

The transition style lense means they are ideal for every situation.

EBM Biker

Cheers dov2711,

That's what I wanted to hear, first hand experience. Which frame model do you have and do you have the lenses that darken as it gets brighter?

woodywmb

They're excellent glasses. Flexible, tight-fitting and virtually unbreakable. Service from Optilabs is unbeatable. BUT ...costly though if you keep leaving a pair in the coffee shop.

EBM Biker

I may go for the Larry Grayson look and have them on a cord around my neck

pneumatic

I have two pairs and they are great. Bombproof (I also wear them for skiing), lightweight (despite the thickness of my lenses) and reasonably fashionable (if you care about such things).

the reason I have two pairs is that one is mirror blue and the other clear yellow. The blue ones are fantastic in bright sunshine (mountains, cote d'Azur, the three days a year we get that here etc..); the yellow ones are designed for white out conditions (fog, snow, low light levels) and are incredibly effective, giving you more contrast than you get even with clear lenses. I think they call it "daffodil" yellow rather than "gold" but they will phone you to discuss your order and agree your needs and preferences.

This might be an alternative to the transitions option, although I can see the advantage of that, especially when flying down the Col de Lauteret at high speed on a sunny day and plunging into the dark tunnels. :shock:

EBM Biker

I'm leaning toward the Transitions as i only want to carry the one pair. Compromise i know.

sagalout

I have the sprint model. Service from optilabs was really excellent. Ordered on a wednesday and got them on the Friday after phoning them to say I had a sportive at the weekend. Actual glasses are very good quality. Tough and flexible.

I went for the transitions lenses which are ok, but do tend to go a bit dark on white cloudy days. They take quite a while to go clear again too, so the example above in the tunnel just wouldn't happen. The yellow lenses sound interesting - I might get a 2nd set with winter coming up.

Only negative is the styling - the don't look as good as proper wraparounds

kingrollo

I have some optilabs - they have been good - but don't look slick. My next next spevs will be from kontrol sports - which seem to look better and are around a quarter of the cost

EBM Biker

I've just had a mooch at the Kontrol Sports specs. I'm not a fan of these type that use a prescription adapter because it's 4 surfaces to get covered in rain. Used to have the same problem when I was motorcycling, rain on the outside and inside of visor plus inside and outside of specs. Not good.

batch78

Don't have personal Optilab experience but ride with someone that does, he's more than happy with them, keeps trying to convince me to buy a pair!

I have inserts, 4 layers of glass as you put it, great whilst your moving and gives you the interchangeable lens option, an absolute nightmare when they steam up, and rain between the lenses is avoidable but almost murder inducing when it happens :evil:

orbeaorca

I have a pair of prescription OptiLabs, was pleased with them until the prescription Oakley Jawbones arrived
How do the prices compere? If you can justify the extra go for Oakleys.

EBM Biker

The Jawbone with polished black [or any single colour frame] frame and grey Transitions lenses works out at £259.99. If you went for the same frame with gold iridium they are £229.99. These are direct glazed not inserts.

orbeaorca

EBM Biker wrote:

The Jawbone with polished black [or any single colour frame] frame and grey Transitions lenses works out at £259.99. If you went for the same frame with gold iridium they are £229.99. These are direct glazed not inserts.

And how much are the OptiLabs you are considering?

I have Black Iridium VR28 and Transition lenses ( both prescription RX ) the VR28 are fantastic lenses, in a different league to the OptiLabs.

EBM Biker

Optilabs have £20 off at the moment so they work out at £200 for Ultra Drive lenses which are like Transitions.

orbeaorca

EBM Biker wrote:

Optilabs have £20 off at the moment so they work out at £200 for Ultra Drive lenses which are like Transitions.

So £60 extra gets you the Oakleys??

If you want the opinion of someone who has both OptiLabs and Oakley then its a simple choice ,, Oakley all the way.