Mountain Biking - Sunglasses

I recently discovered that sunglasses are a must, as a fast downhill right after a mud crawl will send bits of mud flinging up at your face. The problem with my current sunglasses is that they are way far away from my face so they don't do to good of a job, they are much better than nothing, but when I'm going fast I still get a lot of wind on my eyes. I think I need to get closer fitting riding sunglasses but I'm wondering what colour would be the best, for differing light conditions and optimal trail view (i.e. contrast, glare etc)
I can't cite the source, but I've heard that amber lenses are pretty good for riding in overcast conditions. Maybe I should get those sunglasses where you can change the lenses.
Any thoughts?

Check out the Optic Nerve banshee's (www.nerveusa.com). I have been using them for a few months now and I love them. They come with four sets of lenses so you will have the perfect lense for all conditions.

I like Smith or Rudy Project sunglasses for the same reasons Lowcel mentioned .

Smith and Rudy's are both great glasses, just rather expensive. I guess it depends on if price is of concern that is where the Optic's really shine. Retail is only $54.

I also forgot to mention how light they are, can't even notice them. I actually prefer then to my oakley's that I rode in last season.

[/end of commercial] ;)

Industrial safety glasses, (http://www.aosafety.com/industrial/eye_detail.cfm?prod_family=Metaliks%20Eyewear&ind_prod_num=11343-00000001) I got one of each shade, came to less than $40 CDN.

Smith and Rudy's are both great glasses, just rather expensive. I guess it depends on if price is of concern that is where the Optic's really shine. Retail is only $54.

I also forgot to mention how light they are, can't even notice them. I actually prefer then to my oakley's that I rode in last season.

[/end of commercial] ;)If you shop around online , you can find some sweet deals . Both of my Smiths(Voodoo + Diablo) cost me less than $40 each . The Rudy Project glasses are a bit more pricey , but their warranty service is top notch . I work outside , on Lake Mead , so I have no problems justifying the cost of a quality set of eye protection .

the #1 big concern for me with sunglasses are the no slip nose pads. there is a type of nose pad that absorbs sweat and sticks even better. anyone know which one that is called? ridges might help but i think ikts more about the nose pad material.

right now i use oakley 20's but i asked cust service to switch out to better nosepads and they didnt make no slip ones. oh well.

might go for some optic nerves. but then i like to try out my sunglasses before i buy them and i dunno any retail stores that sell them.

i use the smith toasters. They are a pretty nice set of shades and come with the 3 lenses, but i really only use the one lens. I find the Amber coloured lens give me the best depth perception. The frames themselves fit pretty small, so they wrap around my ears and stay on my noggin pretty well. I got my pair for free, but im not sure if i would spend the $100+ on them though.

If you shop around online , you can find some sweet deals . Both of my Smiths(Voodoo + Diablo) cost me less than $40 each . The Rudy Project glasses are a bit more pricey , but their warranty service is top notch . I work outside , on Lake Mead , so I have no problems justifying the cost of a quality set of eye protection .

WOW, very good deal on the Smith's. For that price they would be hard to pass up. The only company I have dealt with warranty on with glasses has been Oakley. I was less than impressed. They had a problem with the paint coming off some of the half jackets including the silver / blue pair that I have. Even though it was a known problem and should have been warranty I had to pay around $25 which I am sure is more than it cost them to make the pair in the first place. :( I believe they charge $25 for all warranty issues.

If you are doing downhill why not go with googles. I need a pair cuase my eyes start to water from the wind, and sometimes mud jumps into my eyes also.

Yeah i got pretty nice galsses at food basics last year...FOR THREE BUKS(CAD)..i dont use them though..is it really important though?

Anyways my glasses are pretty nice.not too tinted ..just perfect.
pop by your local food basics..im sure youll find a great pair..if you're on a budget...its a must.
and no i dont work for them.
The end.

Edit...they're not plastic either..if anyone's intersted.

Yeah i got pretty nice galsses at food basics last year...FOR THREE BUKS(CAD)..i dont use them though..is it really important though?

To me they are. I hate to have things in eyes. I also can't handle wind hitting my eyes, causes my eyes to water which is a bad thing when riding fast around rocks and roots. Plus last week a racer in front of me hit a tree limb bending it backwards. Next thing I knew it nailed me right across the face. I believe having glasses on saved me from either temporary pain or as much as losing an eye. I won't ride without them.

I have a set of smith voodoos that came with 3 different lense shades...love em. Best sunglasses Ive ever owned definatly. look into them ;)

I got my Tifosi Tyrants on Ebay for under $25. best glasses Ive ever worn http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7220252601&ssPageName=MERC_VI_ReBay_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT

oakleys if you can afford them. i tried out some smiths and bolles but the oakleys just sat nice on my face and the sweep of the lenses were perfect. sunglasses are like hats you have to try them out you cant buy them online.

i am not saying oakleys are the best, becasue price wise they deffinatly arent. but they worked out great for me. i use unknowns by the way

I'd suggest that you grab a pair of safety glasses, the hip ones, I know oakleys are rated as safety glasses, I just like the fit and optics, they make awsome Rx lenses, good for when you're crouched and looking up through the lense.
You only have one pair of eyes, take care of them.

oakleys if you can afford them. i tried out some smiths and bolles but the oakleys just sat nice on my face and the sweep of the lenses were perfect. sunglasses are like hats you have to try them out you cant buy them online.

i am not saying oakleys are the best, becasue price wise they deffinatly arent. but they worked out great for me. i use unknowns by the way


I have a pair of Oakley M-frames, I chose them because the lenses are interchangable. I have a dark lens that I wear during sunny days and I have a clear lens that I use on cloudy days and also riding at night. The M-frames really work nice with my helmet. The arms don't dig into my ear lobes while riding, which is kind of nice.

where do you get clear lenses

where do you get clear lenses

I bought mine at Sun Glass Hut. If you are looking for Oakleys you can check out oakley.com.

I really like my Smiths for mountain biking. Came with three sets of lenses---brown, rose, and yellow. Most of my riding is done in the trees, so I wear my yellow lenses the most because they don't make things too dark and boost the contrast adn visibility of everything.

I've got a pair of Rudy Projects also, and they're definitely better quality optics and fit than the Smiths. But they cost more and aren't as sturdy, so I only use them for road biking. Most Rudys, by the way, only come with one set of lenses. So you have to pay $30 or so to get other tints.

If you want multiple lenses, make sure they're included. If you only get one tint, think about where you ride. If you're always in the trees and don't see too much direct sunlight, I'd recommend yellow or amber. If you're usually exposed, go with a red tint (dark enough to block the sun, yet light and contrasting enough for overcast days).

I like "Bomber" saftey glasses, I use them for work and play, they are inexpensive and look good. If you loose them, no big, just get another pair. They come in different shades, from clear to dark.

For RX mtb glasses, do you guys think transitions (light sensitive lenses) are good enough?

I found a great set of cheap-o shades with amber lenses at the local REI/Alpine Shop type store. Cost me $12.99 and work really well - the arms of the frame wrap pretty far around the back of my head. Pricey sunglasses are nice, but you should definitely be able to find a good pair of cheap sunglasses. Take it from Billy Gibbons - he knows what he is talking about.

i ride with a pair of Peppers Landlord in tortoise shell with polarized lenses

http://www.peepers.com/images/P304-1.jpg

and Oakley Monster Dogs in whiskey

http://mi.oakley.com/site/media/cache/42053f1d627b6.jpg_0_0_0.jpg
same glasses but different color than mine

the Oakleys were $100 even and the Peppers I got cheap for about $70

for me my eyes are worth the quality optics, when i got my first pair of Oakleys I couldn't believe the difference high quality sunnies make, but now i'm never going to go back to cheap ones

The Wiley-X POLARIZED P-38's look pretty good to me, how is it guys? any experiences with Wiley-X? See eBay item no. 8282089030

oakleys m-frames, although they don't fit all faces. as with everything, try before you buy is best, but look out for interchangeable lenses if you're looking to use specialised glasses for each occassion, large enough to cover the peripheral vision is good, and stick to your face like glue is a must. if you're dh'ing and wearing full-face why not get goggles?

i just want some oakley thumps
they're are the shiz

what, with mp3 player? that's crazyexpensive!

I use Serfas Hunter. The 5 interchangeable lenses help a lot.

what, with mp3 player? that's crazyexpensive!
I was about to say, they are so expensive, and i wouldn't want music in my ears while riding.

how about the Wiley-X Polarized P-38 that I mentioned?

For RX mtb glasses, do you guys think transitions (light sensitive lenses) are good enough?

+1 - I've been wondering about these myself...Seems like a great idea in theory, anyone here use/used them?

For RX mtb glasses, do you guys think transitions (light sensitive lenses) are good enough?

I don't think you will be that happy using them. Most of them take a few minutes to change from tinted to clear. This is bad if you go from an open section such as a fireroad to a darker singletrack section. You would pretty much be riding in the dark for a few minutes waiting for your glasses to change.

*This is just an opinion going by what I have been told by people that wear transitions on a daily basis. I have no personal experience with them.

I'll second LowCel's Optic Nerve recommendation. While they may be a sponsor of his, I am using a set of the Membrane's and love them. Come with three sets of interchangeable lenses (clear, amber, dark) and have vents in the top of the lense to help reduce fogging.

These are the best pair of riding glasses I have ever used for that last reason alone.

And a bonus: retail is about $50 but if you take the time, you can find deals out there.

I checked the Optic Nerve site and the styles are nice but most of them are kind of on the large size. Maybe I have a pinhead but I have to use *ahem* children's glasses or the smallest adult glasses. I see they have the women's size for "petite" faces, but I still have problems with those.

Sucks to have a fat body and a little head.

I checked the Optic Nerve site and the styles are nice but most of them are kind of on the large size. Maybe I have a pinhead but I have to use *ahem* children's glasses or the smallest adult glasses. I see they have the women's size for "petite" faces, but I still have problems with those.

Sucks to have a fat body and a little head.Rudy Project makes a few styles that fit my pea-sized head . The Graal SX or Ekynox SX are made for smaller faces.

Just thought I'd mention the Performance Bike brand sunglasses. I've got a pair of these, too, and while the optics aren't as good as my Rudys, they're not bad. For someone on a budget, I'd definitely recommend the Performance sunglasses, and they've got a lot of styles to choose from.

Thanks for the tip. They now have the RX type interchangeable lenses! Available in May! (It's Maaaay!) Got an appt for Thurs. Wish me luck! :)

For those looking for quality glasses for no more than $35, PricePoint has a pretty good sale on Optic Nerve.

Link here (http://www.pricepoint.com/thumb/43-Brands-355-Optic-Nerve-Eyewear-False.htm).

what rudy's do u recommend

what rudy's do u recommendI like the RP Ekynox SX because they fit my face well . If you like wrap-around glasses , the RP Kerosene is very well made and they also offer a lens that helped me with my putting(what golfer doesn't need help reading the greens?) . Rudy Project glasses cost more than some other sunglasses , but if you scratch the lens they will replace the lenses for only $15 ($25 CAN) .

Rudy Project glasses cost more than some other sunglasses , but if you scratch the lens they will replace the lenses for only $15 ($25 CAN) .
And they replace them very quickly. I had to have a pair replaced after kneeling on them while changing a roadside flat.:o

I have gone through 4 pairs of O's in the last 3 years, I se them when i snowboard. i hate googles. i wear contacts so i need sunnies. I go through glasses like dirty underwear. iv tried smiths dragons, rubys and somother brands. O's are the best. but dragons are pretty good too. my last pair i rode over twice on my snowboard. and they still didnt brake. but they broke a few weeks later. but yeah oakleys rock. i been checkin out the custom made glasses on their site. but i like to try befor i buy.

Oh my gosh! Somebody give this person a textbook!^^^^

anyone have opinions on the Wiley-X Polarized P-38 that I mentioned?

Oh my gosh! Somebody give this person a textbook!^^^^Maybe English is their second language.

I purchased a set of SUNDOG Sun Glasses from IRIS, an excellent Canadian optical store. They're prescription and cost me around $300 for everything with a 2 year warranty. I ve been riding with them for over 1 year and havent had any problems. I am required to wear glasses anytime I leave my house for added security to further protect my eye's from any more damage occuring, had a fractured left eye socket in 2004. After the injuries my vision is still correctable to 20/20, so I am not messing around!

I recommend SUNDOG AND IRIS. In British Columbia you'll see Iris stores everywhere.

Sounds great, but...how about in the good ol' USA? :(

I got me some 13 dollar construction glasses, amber lenses, I took em out riding today and they were great, maybe I'll get some better sunglasses at some point but they work well and I want to save the dough.

My problem with the sunglasses I got is that when I start getting hot they fog up like mad. Thats the one thing you want, anti fog glasses. Trust me, its important!