Jonahhobbes

Every couple of years I have to buy a new pair sunglasses as they seem to deteriorate in their ability to cut out bright early morning glare.

I've always attributed it to lens quality and the plastic surface of the lens degrading.

Anyone have a pair of sunglasses that:

a) last more than two years and maintain quality?

b) deal with insanely bright morning sunlight?

c) won't break the bank?

The more you pay, (Oakley's tend to last longer), equals better lenses and someone even suggested maybe impractically aviator Zeiss sunglasses? That's a bit out of my league.

I live in New Zealand so air quality is pretty good and that's why it's so bright.

Secret Squirrel

oakley radarlock with photochromic lenses work for me. I use it from dark to dawn transition.

acidfast7

I use J!NS SPORTS from Japan (you should be able to get them in NZ).

I prefer these ones ... I think they were ¥3995 in Osaka.



This pair has about 3 years of heavy usage (nearly every day ... especially for wind resistance).

Stormsedge

I wonder if you are experiencing the expiration of the polarized lenses? I never gave it a thought, but the polarization (?) may have a life span...believe it a chemical treatment of some kind. Anyone know if that is the case?

Bike Gremlin

Not sure how sensitive to bright light you are. I love Uvex photochromatic (marketed as "vario") sunglasses. They have models that go from very, very dark to lighter, and models that switch from... not very very dark, but decent amount of shading to practically completely clear. I use the latter ones - dark often catches me, and I'm not too sensitive to sunlight.

Polarized sunglasses are not the best choice for cycling, since they can mask some info of the road surface.

2_i 

+1 on photochromatic. I discovered their utility in skiing and next was cycling. Also for cycling a good visor is indispensable. Alas the latter is pretty useless for skiing - just flaps around.

canklecat

Polarized lenses can deteriorate from oxidation. This is more likely to be accelerated by our own sweat. There are photographic polarizing filters sealed against oxidation but I don't know about sunglasses.

The main problem with my Italian made polarizing sunglasses isn't oxidation but scuffs and scratches from heavy use over 10 years or so.

Polarizing lenses offer only limited help to reduce glare from certain angles. They don't help with sunlight head on in early morning or evening. If your main problem is head-on sunlight, skip the expensive and fragile polarizers and get the best quality optics you can afford.

Jonahhobbes

Thanks for the replies. I'm going with a pair of photocromatic sunnies.

Gidgmom

I have very light-sensitive eyes and opted twenty years ago to invest in Maui Jim sunglasses. This past weekend I had a 17-year old frame tuned up at my opthalmologist and they should be good for as long as I take care of them. Also ordered a new pair, with prescription lenses (that Maui makes). I personally have not seen better sunglasses.

https://www.mauijim.com/en/shop/new-arrivals



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MatthewJRudd

I'll second the shill for Maui Jim as the best sunglasses I've ever worn (1 pair over 12 years, another over 5), but as everyday glasses, not cycling specific. I use SMITH on my bike and haven't had any issues with early morning glare (Edmonton, AB - the sun comes up low over farm country roads). But honestly the best thing I find that helps is a good cycling cap! Flip that brim down and it'll cut out most issues.

Skipjacks

I'm sure you could get those solar eclipse glasses for REALLY cheap as of yesterday....

(It's a joke. Don't do that. It'd be the same as riding with your eyes closed)

pdlamb

But the bright lights of cyclists coming towards you wouldn't blind you.

HardyWeinberg

I am always up for better shades but I need Rx and none of the fancy stuff seems to be available that way. So I wear a baseball hat under my helmet for additional protection.

PennyTheDog

In early '80s Vuarnet sunglasses were the hottest thing going. They had glass lenses and a system for choosing the darkness and color of the lens for your activity. I think 2000 is sort of all purpose, and 4000 and 5000 are for mountains and open water. You can still get these old glasses on ebay pretty cheap. I have a pair that are pretty dark amber with darker strips on top and bottom (possibly called skilynx?). They're incredible in bright light, and the image is crystal clear. I love them!

Leisesturm

Ok... here I go. Rant on. If you were driving a car, even a newer one with 5 different coatings on the windshield to deal with glare, UV, etc. What do you do when you turn a corner and are heading directly into low sun? Put on sunglasses? No. You probably already have sunglasses on. You flip down the visor! Right? I know I do. But I hate sun in my eyes. Besides being annoying, its dangerous, moving forward when you cannot see! More people should use the flip down visors that car makers provide. 100 years of automotive progress have not dispensed with the low tech flip down visor, and most of them can swivel more ways than a Las Vegas stripper to block the sun from any quarter except directly to the rear.


I have been trying to invent a cycling equivalent of an automotive style flip down visor for years. But, Eureka, I found it. After years of no progress and certain that someone somewhere also was thinking along the same lines I got Googling in earnest. After hours and hours of dead ends I found: https://wisersunvisor.com/ and I've been using one for a couple of weeks. Along with sunglasses for the UV and glare, and a standard golf visor to hold it in place, the Wiser Visor has the 'flip' built in that allows you to put the sun out of consideration right down to the horizon! It flat out works. It eliminates helmet visors which ride way too high and do not deal with the low angle sun that you find early in the morning and late in the evening.


The best sunglasses in the world can't do anything about dead on low angle sun, and every morning and evening rush hour thousands of freeway accidents take place because drivers can't see. Most have sunglasses on, and they are behind tinted windshields to boot. They don't have their visors down. Unless they are applying make-up. That is another thread. Sunglasses reduce the light, they reduce the glare, they protect your retina from UV, but when the sun is that low, and in your face, what you really need to do is to SEE. To do that you have to BLOCK the sun. Totally. With a visor. In a car you wouldn't have to think that hard about where to find a visor. On a bike you take a hand off the bars to shield your eyes right? Tell the truth. That's what you do, wobble about with one hand on the handlebar while you try to make a left turn and keep the sun out of your eyes at th BOOM! That was you getting T-Boned by the Escalade you couldn't see. Don't risk that. By the way, I have zero connection in any way, shape or form, with the Wiser Visor company, beyond being a satisfied customer.

acidfast7

The J!NS I posted provide the light transmittance (in percentage) and describe whether they're polarised or not. I went with 29% transmittance, but they offer 13% options. With and without polarisation. They also assign activities to each (mine are for tennis for example, as shown in the photo).

They usually provide good spec sheets on all of their glasses listed in here:

J!NS japan

Gidgmom

The lenses aren't 17 years old. The frames are.

srestrepo

Third person to voice for Maui Jim here. I'm a truck driver that commutes on a bike and often find myself driving straight into sunrises. I have the Maui Jim polarized lenses that have like a mirrored finish that runs horizontally along the top and bottom of the lens. I've tried Oakley and Revo polarized lenses also and I find the Mauis are noticeably better.
I also have to second the advise that just like in a car, or in my case an 18 wheeler, the visor is indispensable for sunlight. Wear a cycling cap and flip the brim down.

MatthewJRudd

Chiming back in again today - cycling cap saving my behind as usual. They're cheaper than shades and double as a sweatband. Just do it.

gsa103

UV degradation causes plastic to absorb more more UV light. The plastic gets hazy and yellows. There are plenty of reasons to want new glasses, but I suspect 17yr plastic lenses absorb just as much or more UV than a brand new pair.

They may not have the same level of impact protection though.

Gidgmom

Again, the lenses are not 17 years old. The frames are 17 years old.

Maui Jim also does prescription lenses and mine are periodically changed out.


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ItsJustMe

I use < $10 tinted 3M safety glasses. super, super comfortable, and I don't care if they get scratched and I certainly don't care if I have to buy a new pair every year or two.

SloButWide 

Every five years or so I buy a good pair of prescription sunglasses using the discount my Vision plan provides. I've had RayBan and Nike, and I believe all Luxotica brands offer the prescription option. All the options I've wanted have been available on sunglasses: progressive bifocals, anachromatic lenses, hard protective coatings, polarization.

Two hints - most photochromatic lenses don't work in cars, since the glass blocks the UV that activates them. Second, polarized lenses don't work well with displays, although the problem is less severe now.

RidingMatthew

I have two plus year old Oakley flak jackets prescription and the mirror finish of the sunglasses is cracked and makes it feel like I am looking through dirty glasses. It drives me crazy just don't have the cash to get $200-300 new lenses.

I love the way they fit and how clear they were at first everywhere I looked I could see clearly.

dpw420

I have a pair of Tifosi glasses from my LBS and love them, cost $70, come with 3 different sets of lens you can exchange, work really well with bright sunlight with the proper lens, and stick to your nose, I even wear them when jogging and they don't budge