What Sunnies ??

3Pears
3Pears Posts: 174
edited September 2010 in Road buying advice
Probably wrong time of year to even be discussing but everyone has been wearing them most of the season.

Which eye wear would everyone recommend ? Are Oakleys worth the money etc etc

If the cheapest are best, so be it but with so many off the forum wearing different types seems the best product review available :-)

Shared experience and views appreciated

Ta
«1

Comments

  • Have tried various cheapies over the years , now own Custom Oakley Jawbones with various lenses , without a doubt far superior to the cheapies.
    Eyes are precious , look after them.
  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 17,217
    i have the oakley radar path ones, with a few different lenses including clear for night/winter

    before i got them i was skeptical, they do seem pricey, but optically excellent with no distortion even at the edges, the coating that repels water/grease helps keep them clearer, comfy to wear but they don't slip around, even when it's baking hot and the sweat is pouring off
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • Don't think you can go wrong with Oakleys.You can get some radar path's for around £100 and you get what you pay for-quality. :)
  • 3Pears
    3Pears Posts: 174
    Bugger - Thanx folks, had a feeling that would be the case :shock:

    Dear Santa ..................... 8)
  • Another vote for Oakleys - they don't seem to pick up the micro scratches from normal use that cheaper sunglasses do. Plus because they cost you more you look after them so that helps them last longer too. Try Steptoes if you are looking mail order.

    it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
  • I've got 2 pairs of Oakley shades, Radar Path and Flak Jacket xlj. I prefer the radars for cycling. Worth the money? Up to you really but as already mentioned, they last longer as you look after them.
    If suffer we must, let's suffer on the heights. (Victor Hugo).
  • I have Radar Path and Half Jackets. The Radars are the best cycling glasses I have had.
    I've had nothing but Oakleys for around 20 years now, and although pricey they do give good value for money in my opinion.
  • lef
    lef Posts: 728
    I have BBB Imapcts and pretty cool looking, comfortable and reasonably priced. Received 9/10 in cycling weekly review. Some versions are going for £35 if you like red or silver

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=47390
  • flasher
    flasher Posts: 1,734
    Oakleys are way way overpriced (someone has to keep Lance in the lifestyle to which he's become accustomed!), but guess that goes for the majority of cycle gear! I have Rudy Projects which are similarly overpriced, i fell for the BS as well :D
  • Flasher wrote:
    Oakleys are way way overpriced (someone has to keep Lance in the lifestyle to which he's become accustomed!), but guess that goes for the majority of cycle gear! I have Rudy Projects which are similarly overpriced, i fell for the BS as well :D

    Being someone who has owned other brands such as Rudy Project and BBB aswell as Oakley I would not agree, the Oakleys are streets ahead in there optical quality and worth every penny.
  • sundog
    sundog Posts: 243
    I've got oakley radars and endura spectrums, not sure if the extra £100 is fully worth it :shock:
    I like white bikes
  • I use the clear Endura £15 jobs for mtb duty (to keep mud out my eyes) and was so impressed I bought the Endura same model shades for road use. They have really minimal distortion.

    I have oakleys for eveyday (because they're trendy), but optically don't notice much difference.

    And no, I'm confident that the Enduras are not harming my eyes.
  • Just bought BLOC 'Shifters' with four different lenses and they are superb-well worth £41.
    Also use Oakleys for everyday and find them excellent. Had a problem with the arm of one pair a couple of years ago and the whole frame was replaced free even though they were maybe ten years old-great service
    I disapprove of what you say but will defend....your right to say it. Francois-Marie Arouet Voltaire08 Cotic Soda-deceased!10 Bianchi 928 c2c23 Marin Nicasio2
  • mroli
    mroli Posts: 3,622
    Have owned Oakleys for ski-ing/snow boarding, but wear Specialized Adaptalites on the bike and they're great. You can get some good deals on them if you look around. Just can't justify the outlay on a pair of oakleys - would spend the money on wheels!
  • fenski
    fenski Posts: 119
    I have Aldi's... I'm not sure of the exact model name.

    I've had them for about 3 years and they do everything I would expect of an eye protection system: filter the sun's harmful rays, stop my eyes watering, protect my eyes from random objects, and hey, they also look cool... I must've done about 6000 miles in them - I've lost one of the rubber leg covers, but no-one notices once there on.

    If you're reasonably well wedged up, by all means buy a pair of Oakleys and feel confident that you have bought the best that money can buy.

    Alternatively, if you don't have the dosh, I guarantee that you can get by with something a lot cheaper.

    No matter the product, luxury brands are the preserve of those with money burning a hole in their pocket...
  • mogi
    mogi Posts: 69
    oakley m frames for me,loads of lens options out there and top quality.
  • jawbones mate and you can swap the lenses round so good for sun and bad light can fog up on the climbs but i always take them off for the steep part of my rides
  • I don't leave home without these :)

    5001623391_8af0fa4a55.jpg
  • ascurrell
    ascurrell Posts: 1,739
    I use some Rudy Project Kerosenes I bought in Italy roughly 10 years ago, have added various shades of lenses over that period. They're still going strong [all lenses and frame] and pretty fashionable. I can only assume the modern day ones are just as well made.
  • pilot_pete
    pilot_pete Posts: 2,120
    I have Rudy Project Noyz, or should I sy 'had' as they have gone back due to the white coating on the frames starting to peel in a couple of places after only 3 month's use. I say 'had' because they went back in July and the LBS customer service is not very good (take my details down each time and tell me someone will call me back but they don't) and they said that the importer won't be getting any more of that model in until mid-September......oh hold on......it is mid-September and no-one has called me back since I went in enquiring on Thursday lsat week! :x

    PP
  • Jawbones for me - have used a variety of Oakleys over the past few years (m-frames, flak jackets, radar and jawbones) and these are the best all around ones that I've come across.

    They sit high enough up on the nose that when I'm on the drops I don't get restricted vision (apart from the restricted vision induced by oxygen debt!) - the short earpieces don't interfere with the helmet tension band at the back too (unlike the m-frames for example)

    Not 100% sure what they'd be like for TT riding, but I wouldn't have anything else!
  • rdt
    rdt Posts: 869
    Pilot Pete wrote:
    I have Rudy Project Noyz, or should I sy 'had' as they have gone back due to the white coating on the frames starting to peel in a couple of places after only 3 month's use. I say 'had' because they went back in July and the LBS customer service is not very good (take my details down each time and tell me someone will call me back but they don't) and they said that the importer won't be getting any more of that model in until mid-September......oh hold on......it is mid-September and no-one has called me back since I went in enquiring on Thursday lsat week! :x

    PP

    PP, the law states that the retailer must effect any repairs within reasonable time and that this must not result in undue inconvenience to you. Since they were only 3 months old when faulty, and you've now been without them for a couple of months or more, the repair duration has clearly gone well beyond what's reasonable, and you're being majorily inconvenienced.

    So the shop has to replace with identical, or refund you, if that's what you want.

    Just saying.
  • pilot_pete
    pilot_pete Posts: 2,120
    Yeah I know....I am waiting for the replacement from the importer.....

    PP
  • A side from the occasional alternatives posted here, I mainly I see lots of recommendations for Oakleys. Thats fine, I'm sure they are great.

    For a lot of us who don't have that kind of cash to splash there has to be plenty of other better VFM alternatives out there that do just as good a job.

    Personally I am not a brand t@rt. Just want a new pair of glasses that protect my eyes, stay in place, look good (subjective I know) but don't cost a packet.
    I'm sorry by Oakleys don't tick the box when it comes to the last criteria.

    Info on other alternatives would be appreciated.
    Can I upgrade???
  • BBB glasses are good value.
  • Paul E
    Paul E Posts: 2,052
    My eyesight is priceless in my opinion, I wear the best I can afford which at the moment is a pair of half jackets with a few lenses depending on the conditions
  • Paul E wrote:
    My eyesight is priceless in my opinion, I wear the best I can afford which at the moment is a pair of half jackets with a few lenses depending on the conditions
    And my eyesight is just as important to me.
    The point I am making is that Oakleys can't be the only one to make glasses that protect your eyesight suffiently. There must be plenty of other makes and models out there that will do just as good a job, but at a lower price point.
    There is after all a set of CE standards that glasses sold in th EU can be classifed by.
    I assume Oakley and others need to be regulated by that body to ensure they comply sufficiently.
    If you think that Oakley's are the only ones to give you sufficient protection you are sadly mistaken.
    Can I upgrade???
  • Paul E
    Paul E Posts: 2,052
    meggiedude wrote:
    Paul E wrote:
    My eyesight is priceless in my opinion, I wear the best I can afford which at the moment is a pair of half jackets with a few lenses depending on the conditions
    And my eyesight is just as important to me.
    The point I am making is that Oakleys can't be the only one to make glasses that protect your eyesight suffiently. There must be plenty of other makes and models out there that will do just as good a job, but at a lower price point.
    There is after all a set of CE standards that glasses sold in th EU can be classifed by.
    I assume Oakley and others need to be regulated by that body to ensure they comply sufficiently.
    If you think that Oakley's are the only ones to give you sufficient protection you are sadly mistaken.

    I am not mistaken, I do know others do protect as well but for me, the price is worth it for the zero distortion at the edges and the quality of the optics.

    Yes I have some cheap clear glasses which pass all the tests but well before the edges they distort the image which means if I have a quick look over my should I have to look a lot longer to see through it to make out what is behind me.

    I have learnt over the years, buy cheap, buy twice...
  • Paul E wrote:
    meggiedude wrote:
    Paul E wrote:
    My eyesight is priceless in my opinion, I wear the best I can afford which at the moment is a pair of half jackets with a few lenses depending on the conditions
    And my eyesight is just as important to me.
    The point I am making is that Oakleys can't be the only one to make glasses that protect your eyesight suffiently. There must be plenty of other makes and models out there that will do just as good a job, but at a lower price point.
    There is after all a set of CE standards that glasses sold in th EU can be classifed by.
    I assume Oakley and others need to be regulated by that body to ensure they comply sufficiently.
    If you think that Oakley's are the only ones to give you sufficient protection you are sadly mistaken.

    I am not mistaken, I do know others do protect as well but for me, the price is worth it for the zero distortion at the edges and the quality of the optics.

    Yes I have some cheap clear glasses which pass all the tests but well before the edges they distort the image which means if I have a quick look over my should I have to look a lot longer to see through it to make out what is behind me.

    I have learnt over the years, buy cheap, buy twice...
    Sorry to labour the point here mate, but I am not prepared to pay for the Oakley badge and the corresponding vastly overhiked prices.
    You post implies that anything but Oakley is by default cheap and/or inferior.
    To reitterate I am looking for better VFM than Oakley, not cheap and cheerful.
    Can I upgrade???
  • meggiedude wrote:
    Paul E wrote:
    meggiedude wrote:
    Paul E wrote:
    My eyesight is priceless in my opinion, I wear the best I can afford which at the moment is a pair of half jackets with a few lenses depending on the conditions
    And my eyesight is just as important to me.
    The point I am making is that Oakleys can't be the only one to make glasses that protect your eyesight suffiently. There must be plenty of other makes and models out there that will do just as good a job, but at a lower price point.
    There is after all a set of CE standards that glasses sold in th EU can be classifed by.
    I assume Oakley and others need to be regulated by that body to ensure they comply sufficiently.
    If you think that Oakley's are the only ones to give you sufficient protection you are sadly mistaken.

    I am not mistaken, I do know others do protect as well but for me, the price is worth it for the zero distortion at the edges and the quality of the optics.

    Yes I have some cheap clear glasses which pass all the tests but well before the edges they distort the image which means if I have a quick look over my should I have to look a lot longer to see through it to make out what is behind me.

    I have learnt over the years, buy cheap, buy twice...
    Sorry to labour the point here mate, but I am not prepared to pay for the Oakley badge and the corresponding vastly overhiked prices.
    You post implies that anything but Oakley is by default cheap and/or inferior.
    To reitterate I am looking for better VFM than Oakley, not cheap and cheerful.

    I recently purchased my first pair of Oakleys ( Jawbones with VR28 Black Iridium and Transition lenses ) and I can honestly say that after wearing glasses from Rudy Project and BBB in the past the Oakleys are in a different league.
    Sure other brands will give you sufficient protection but you won't get the quality of optics as the previous poster is trying to say and you won't get the level of customer service that Oakley offer.
    If you dont want to pay for Oakleys thats fine but as far as sports optics are concerned Oakley set the benchmar with HDO.