Cycling glasses with prescription lenses - recommendations?

rodgers73

I wear glasses and would like to get some cycling specific shades - are there any particular brands that are any good?

Thanks

Tom

kayakerchris

Oakley

dennisn

You're going to be limited in selection because you can't put prescription lenses in glasses that have lots of "curve" in then. Just doesn't work. See you Optometrist and he should be able to hook you up with a fairly stylish pair. If you need bifocals I would advise getting them in your sunglasses. Makes it really nice in that you don't have to switch glasses to read.

pneumatic

Optilabs

good service, even at a distance, good prices and good glasses. I've got two pairs and they're great.

popularname

+1 for optilabs. Great service

garryc

I've got a pair of Oakley Flak Jacket XLJ with prescription lenses and they're briliant.

Very expensive and nearly £300 tho'

rodgers73

I've bought glasses online before and they just didnt work for me - dont they have to be fitted by someone in person??

pneumatic

rodgers73 wrote:

I've bought glasses online before and they just didnt work for me - dont they have to be fitted by someone in person??

first time I used Optilabs, I went in person (Croydon); second time I ordered online and they followed up with a phone call.

If you phone them, they'll tell you exactly what you need for them to get it right first time. They grind the lenses on site, so they like to do them as bespoke as possible.

As I recall, apart from the standard prescription, I had to find out my inter-occular distance (how far apart your pupils are).. My local optician did that for me for nothing.

The frames are flexible and bomb proof.

magoo289

As others have said depending on your prescription your choice might be limited. I decided that I wasn't going to risk on not buying in person after some extensive research on web.

In end what to Vision Express, picked a pair of Oakleys that my prescription would fit. But cost £300 thou, did get discount as a returning customer, plus their insurance should they break they will replace free of charge.

popularname

FWIW I did it all with Optilabs over the phone. My prescription is (I think) around -4.5 in each eye. My optician told me I wouldn't be able to get sports glasses because if curvature. Wrong...

rodgers73

Hows the periferal vision in the Optilabs glasses? The sides look quite solid - are they ok at junctions etc?

www.richtreen.co.uk

Another vote for Oakleys - can be sourced for nearer 200 rather than 300 quid from these guys to.

http://www.rxsport.co.uk/

jibberjim

I just buy regular cycling glasses that take an insert, then buy an insert and have a regular lens put in there. Total cost appears to be about a 1/3rd of the cost of optilabs, which for something that gets a lot of use and abuse is close to the limit on what I'd spend anyway.

The recent ones I bought were from Rose, 10quid insert, 10quid glazed ( http://www.specs-for-less.com/ ) and 30quid glasses.

Mind you I've never understood why anyone would buy non-prescription oakleys or similar so perhaps I'm just missing something all around.

popularname

Optilabs: no issues with peripheral vision. I wear rapids.

master_grunthos

i use

http://www.rudyproject.com/products/gla ... black.html

very expensive but can take high prescription and have many interchangeable lenses plus the prescription lenses are in an insert and can be done by any optician.

However, check what's available in the UK Rudy Project do severall in this style (flip up) and i think the Perception is discontinued here now, others are available though such as:

http://www.rudyproject.com/products/gla ... c-red.html

micken

I've used Optilabs and they are good. My prescription lenses are polarised so I vary wearing these and contact lenses with cheap non-polarised sfety shades, depending on conditions. Optilabs in bright sunshine and they are great for driving. Very low light I use Bolle safety pecs and contacts. Any lower and I'm in my normal varifocls. :shock:

potters1863

Optilabs are very good.

I was after some Oakleys but there prescription only goes to +2 and I need a stronger lense than that.

Found some similar style ones at Optilabs and they go up to +6 I think it is which is more than I needed. Gave them my details and took a little while to arrive but they are amazing, worn them for the last month and well impressed.

+1 for OPTILABS.

micken

Yes, I wore my Optilabs today and came back in one piece. Should have kept them on for typing my last comment.

rodgers73

jibberjim wrote:

I just buy regular cycling glasses that take an insert, then buy an insert and have a regular lens put in there. Total cost appears to be about a 1/3rd of the cost of optilabs, which for something that gets a lot of use and abuse is close to the limit on what I'd spend anyway.

The recent ones I bought were from Rose, 10quid insert, 10quid glazed ( http://www.specs-for-less.com/ ) and 30quid glasses.

Mind you I've never understood why anyone would buy non-prescription oakleys or similar so perhaps I'm just missing something all around.

I'm struggling to find listings for glasses that specifically say they take an insert and I've not seen any inserts available on any of the usual websites. Can you give me some pointers here??

alistaird

I use Bolle with inserts.

Garryboy

Im -10 and a bit in each eye + have astigmatism what are the chances of getting prescription sport sunglasses?

master_grunthos

i am similar. ~-9 each eye. you have to get ones with inserts like the rudy projects suggested above.

Also get polycarbonate lenses as high negative prescriptions are very thin at the centre so a stone can easily break them, though they are very very thick indeed at the edges.

wrapping lenses are doable but the front curve makes then lenses thicker still.

it's also an expensive affair but i think it's worth it.

ads2k

I use Adidas Evil Eye with the optical insert, have used them for years and find them superb.

jibberjim

rodgers73 wrote:

I'm struggling to find listings for glasses that specifically say they take an insert and I've not seen any inserts available on any of the usual websites. Can you give me some pointers here??

As I said from Rose, there's:

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/la-p ... aid:338689
which take
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/la-p ... aid:338763

or

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/nort ... aid:397909

which has both.

or
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/rose ... aid:409223
which takes
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/rose ... aid:413533

Or indeed some others on the same site, all around similar prices.

kingrollo

I have used optilabs - good safe product - pretty they ain't though.

a cheap and cheerful option is kontrolsports moondogs or gel shocks - about £30 + £15 to get the inserts glazes - one big drawback of specs with inserts ....lethal in the rain - AS --YOU CAN'T WIPE EM CLEAN EASY

rodgers73

jibberjim wrote:

rodgers73 wrote:

I'm struggling to find listings for glasses that specifically say they take an insert and I've not seen any inserts available on any of the usual websites. Can you give me some pointers here??

As I said from Rose, there's:

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/la-p ... aid:338689
which take
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/la-p ... aid:338763

or

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/nort ... aid:397909

which has both.

or
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/rose ... aid:409223
which takes
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/rose ... aid:413533

Or indeed some others on the same site, all around similar prices.

Thanks. I'd assumed Rose was a brand of specs rather than a bike shop!

fungus_the_muffin_man

I use Kontrolsports range of glasses. I have 3 sets for roughly £45 then an extra £50 for the lenses. So 3 pair of specs for £90, Bargain!

noiseboyfeetman

I got some BBB Optiview from Dot Bikes for £31.75 with a prescription insert, another £30 to have my prescription put in. I didn't want to spend a fortune on prescription cycling glasses and couldn't justify it as i'd rather put the money towards a new bike. The glasses themselves are comfortable and come with changeable lenses. If you're after decent budget ones i'd recommend them.

bianchimoon

I bought Bolle prescription from local optician, would have liked oakleys but they are a bit restrictive on the prescription they'll do, having said that am very pleased with the bolle spirals

1littlevictory

Thanks for the latest site suggestions. Great to get prescription glasses for less than £100