Photochromic sunglasses

bjl

The ones that change as the light changes - is anyone using them - does anyone recommend them - if so why are they better than normal sunglasses and why - and which brand would you recommend. Don't know if i need them! but my want list has run dry and i've fancied some Rudy Project Rydons for a while , just can't decide if expensive sunglasses are worth it.

bigpikle

I have the Oakley Jawbones and love them - great glasses anyway but they work well for changeable conditions. I've never noticed them change while wearing them, although they obviously do, but they just do a great job of keeping light levels 'just right' when you're riding. I've never felt them too dark or too bright either and have used them through the UK last summer and autumn as well as a ful range of conditions down in the S France and across the Pyrenees. Obviously the minimum tint still reduces light transmission fairly significantly, so you wouldnt wear them in low light conditions, just like you wouldnt wear a normal set of tinted glasses, and they dont work if you're behind glass that cuts out UV, like a car windscreen or a lot of modern laminated glass, so they're not multi-purpose sunglasses for driving etc.

yakk

Hi there, I have a pair of Rudy Project Rydons. The lenses I have are photochromic, and work really well in bright sunlight. Their default colour/tint is persimmion (spelling), which is posh for orange. This increases contrast in low light conditions. This combination means that I never feel the need for a different pair of lenses (no ned to swap etc), and that's why I like them so much, and found them perfect. They're comfortable too (but not as comfortable as some Oakley M frames I tried - needed the option for optical inserts).
Hope this helps.
Yak

Crankbrother

I also have the Rydons (clear to grey tint) and the work perfectly ... Really impressive on the MTB when you're in and out of the trees ... You barely have to wait for them to catch up with the light levels ... They were £155 but tbh a decent pair of bike glasses are always gonna be >£100 tnese days ...

The missus also has a pair and refuses to wearbany of her other ones now ...

woozor

I agree with the above, I also have the Rydons II photochromic sun glasses and they are great. Cant really fault them tbh but I just fancy a pair of jawbones. If I prefer the jawbones Ill put them up for sale but well see.

I definately think Its worthwhile spending a decent amount on sunglasses as you wear them everytime you ride atleast I do. If you can afford it go for it

moonshine

I'm a big fan of Oakley Transitions
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bjl

Thanks for replies - Woozor, what colour are your lenses - let me know if you decide to sell.
Is there any problem with the Rydons misting up?

woozor

bjl wrote:

Thanks for replies - Woozor, what colour are your lenses - let me know if you decide to sell.
Is there any problem with the Rydons misting up?

Ill let you know mate. They are the clear/grey lenses. Black n white frame model. But I still got to decide on what oakleys to get yet

I've never had my rydons ever steam up either.

ddraver

If you want to try something cheaper before you splash out on the boutique brands, Endura do some too. I ve got the Mullet ones and I like them a lot. They re great for morning or evening rides where it gets brighter/darker as you go. I ve not really tried them anywhere that requires them to change rapidly (i.e speckled light in woodlands) but I'd hazard a guess that that is more of an MTB thing and less important on the road..?

The Mullet frames are better on big (or in may case, fat) faces mind.

flasher

I use the Rydon photochromics and would thoroughly recommend them, you just forget you're wearing them, very comfortable and practical 8)

alidaf

Another vote for the Rydons but they can mist up. I got some advice a while ago to use a tiny amount of washing up liquid on the lenses and it works quite well. I'm on my second pair - I lost the first after they misted up and I hooked them over the top of my jacket zip. They fell off somewhere between Lymm and Altrincham. I was absolutely gutted but liked them so much I had to buy another pair but promptly came here looking for a solution to the misting.

magliaceleste

And another vote for Rudi Rydons. Fitted with rose coloured photochromatic lenses, had them for several years and are really good in all daylight conditions.

cougie

I saw the Endura Photochromic glasses for £45 in a shop at the weekend. They looked nice. I'm usually an Oakley fanboi - but with the changeable weather we're having at the moment wondered if these were worth a punt ?

deswahriff

...I got a pair of Tifosi ones with my subscription to Cycle Sport last year...they seem to retail about £70, looks like carbon frame and excellent photochromic lenses with a great range from light to dark...I can wear them at night without any meaningful loss of vision.

mroli

They come in a variety of ranges I think - ie clear to 60% or 20% to 70% or some such. I've got Tifosi/Specialized/Endura ones and much prefer them to normal sunglasses.

goonz

I got some Salice 004 with photochromic lenses, and so far I have to say big plus. I used to have jawbones but i didnt really get on with them and style wise not the best imo. So changed up and love my salice. I havent been able to try them yet in really bright sunlight as not had any sun to cycle in but hopefully they will be just as good then. And under £100.

ajb72

The rydons are the best photochromatic lenses I have seen - far better than the Oakley equivalents (and I'm an Oakley wearer). I purchased some aftermarket lenses from ebay for my old jawbones and was amazed how good they were for the money.

stueys

Jawbone with transition lenses. Great frame and the lenses stay perfect for current light. You don't notice you have them on which is the best endorsement.

nferrar

I really like my Rydon photochromatics to, I generally wear them every ride unless I know it's going to be bright sunshine the whole ride, very overcast the whole ride or it's a night ride - in which case I'll switch to my Oakley Radar's with the appropriate lens. I would have bought Radar Transitions lens but at the time Oakley didn't sell them as an aftermarket lens so bought the Rudy's rather than another set of Radars - I think the Rudy's are actually more comfy so don't regret it.

Grill

cougie wrote:

I saw the Endura Photochromic glasses for £45 in a shop at the weekend. They looked nice. I'm usually an Oakley fanboi - but with the changeable weather we're having at the moment wondered if these were worth a punt ?

The Endura ones are fantastic for the price. I'm on my 3rd pair of Angels (keep stepping on them) and they haven't let me down yet.

fluff.

Another +1 for the Rudy Project photochromatic. I use the Noyz frame with the racing red photocromatic lens (15-49% light transmission), as opposed the clear (18 - 78%), I prefer a red tint to a grey one and have a different pair of glasses for night riding (the only time I need clear ones). If I was on holiday somewhere with strong sun all day long I've go for a different pair, but for UK weather they are perfect.
Oakley transitions I'm less a fan of, they take longer to change and don't seem to have a big a range of transmission to my eyes, though the numbers are similar.