billnuke1 

I don’t have the luxury of using polarized sunglasses anymore...vision change.
I have tried the clip ons and they rattle!
I have tried the oversized polarized glasses and they don’t seem to fit comfortably all the time.
I have invested in the glasses that change automatically...so far so good!
They do seem to change slower in cooler, cold weather though...

badger1

I had and used the insert when I first got the frame, along with two different lenses. Stayed with it one script change, but by the next exam my eyes had pretty much stabilized -- apparently this comes with old age for some! -- so went with Rx lenses. I find them much more comfortable and lighter, but the insert does work really well.

#vainhardcoreprocyclistwannabe

bbbean 

The lifetime warranty on my Rudy Project glasses has more than paid for whatever premium I paid for the brand. Glasses fit great, perform great, look great, and if you find yourself skidding down the pavement on your face, you can take comfort in knowing that Rudy Project will repair or replace your glasses, even if the style is out of production.

Unfortunately, Oakley didn't provide the same sort of service on my wife's glasses. They told her they wouldn't honor the "lifetime" warranty because her particular model wasn't in production any more.

bbbean 

THIS makes all the difference in the world. I had one pair of inserts years ago. They haven't been on my face since I switched over to prescription lenses.

TheDudeIsHere

I wore cheap sunglasses for a while but they caused migraine headaches with the distortion. Went with Oakley M frames and never looked back.

A few months ago I picked up another pair, custom design, pick your own colors and all that. The rep talked me into polarized frames. Supposed to be good for blocking sun rays blah blah.

But I hate the lenses. I see rainbow color designs on windshields while driving. And worst of all, I look down at my Garmin at times and the screen looks blank. WTF! I have to look at a different angle at times to see if it's on. I hate the polarized stuff.

John_V 

I've been wearing Tifosi photochromatic sunglasses for about 6 years. For the $69.00 that I originally paid for them, they have more than paid for themselves. I did get the lens scratched in a crash, several years ago, but replacements, at the time, were only $39,00.

baldilocks

I go with the cheap ones and just buy extras. I usually get two or three seasons out of a pair, but I'm hard on sun glasses.

indyfabz

You want something shatterproof.

bbbean 

Yup. I love polarized glasses for controlling glare on wet and shiny surfaces, and they're great for driving or riding as long as I don't need to look at a Garmin, iPhone, or other electronic display. So I haven't owned a pair in 10+ years.

FiftySix

Mine do the same. Very slow in cool weather.

TheDudeIsHere

Wish you had told me a few months ago before I bought this pair!

Sy Reene

A question for those with prescriptions.. how do you get the lenses made so you can both read a Garmin at the 1-2 ft distance, as well as progressive out for infinity/distance viewing? I tried a cheap pair of bifocal sports glasses (reading insert combined with non-prescription upper), and found it too long for eyes to adjust distances looking down/looking up/ repeat...

billnuke1 

The screen on the gas pump can disappear, too!
If you take your glasses off in the attempt to read the screen...can’t read without my glasses!
Gotta run back to the glass case for the other glasses!
Not a problem with my auto glasses!

Gresp15C

My view is that glasses and sunglasses are priced in dollars per year. So, if you tend to break or lose them, then they get more expensive. I tend to buy things cheaper, if they tend to get broken or lost frequently. The money I save by not buying the expensive model pays for the replacement of the cheap model.

aeshultz

Just went through all of this when my decades-old trusty Bolles needed a new prescription. The insert was so old that they shattered when the lab tried inserting the new progressive lenses. Insert was NLA, so I had to replace everything. I ended up finding a pair of Rudy Projects, which I hadn't considered. They have three different systems for prescription lenses, and best part of all, my optician was a dealer, so they set me up.
I have to say that the optical quality and clarity is outstanding, even their tints are effective (I'm critical of these things, having spent much of my career in the photo/video/ graphics business). All in all, money well spent -for me. Others might not have my needs.

Flip Flop Rider

expensive bikes, clothes, cars, houses, meals, tv's, phones, golf clubs is it worth it?? well it may be to you or it may not be

for me, I need real sunglasses that means costas and maui jims. they are not cycling specific glasses, they work while driving or fishing or doing yard work or any outdoor activities, like bike riding

you have to decide what you need. if you want to cut out the bottom of a mountain dew bottle and make glasses out of them go for it

it's only your eyes

rosefarts

Ryder's VeloPolar, the best of both worlds.

Texboy

So, if you wearing polarized sunglasses and look to your digital watch, iphone, and your car’s LCD screen, turn you head sideway.
I keep seeing pattern in my car windows while wearing polarized. Is that normal or just a cheap brand?

Koyote

That's polarization. It's not the best for cycling, ATMO.

burnthesheep

Are you an obsessive compulsive that executes to the “t”. Then sure.

Otherwise you’re like the rest of is that’ll forget they’re tossed on the drivers seat and crunch them. Or pull the rookie move of taking the helmet off first and having them nose dove onto the most abrasive chip seal **** pavement and get scratched to hell.

I do not doubt merits of lenses matched to conditions delivering superior vision. Nor do I doubt any frame anti fog ventilation or fitment niceties.

I doubt myself keeping them in one piece.

(I had a sweet set of Brikos).

Koyote

I have Oakleys that are 11 and 8 years old, but I have also lost a few pair of nice shades over the years, too. It's just the cost of doing business. I still prefer to buy good ones, as cheap lenses distort and flare, cheap frames are annoying and break, and cheap earpads and nosepads allow glasses to slip down my face while riding.

I also have an expensive helmet ($250), I prefer expensive cycling apparel, and etc. My wife works hard for our money, and my job is to spend it.

TheDudeIsHere

The polarization. Not cheap, my Oakley M Frames were $200 and I hate the polar stuff.

Texboy

Hmm..., he can not tell the difference.

MikeyMK

I'm quite heavily colourblind, and need bronze-red lenses, so that's my first concern.
Happy with my current pair, which were an hour's wage - though the best I had were Bloc.

I'd like some much lighter ones for grim weather, I have some extremely mild yellow ones but I don't really like them. Looking for a very mild orange (gets dark at 5pm already).

Clyde1820

Some years back, I once did a set of the Oakley "M" frames and prescription lenses. Polarized, prescription. Quite spendy, ~$600 or so, and that was 20yrs ago. A great wrap-around shape to the lenses, so it kept all the wind and dust out of the eyes. Plus, with the polarization, it eliminated nearly all the glare from water sports and roadway reflections. Worth it, for those instances where water/reflections were a threat. Greatly relaxed the eye strain.

Depends on how highly one values those things, I'd think.