HipRider

Finally need to get prescription sunglasses for riding. I have always bought cheap sunglasses since they get lost or dropped and break.


Any ideas on how to buy a pair without breaking the bank? On line, they seem to run more than $400 a pair.


Thanks

linberl

Depends on what you want. Costco has pretty good prices if there's one near you. Alternately you could buy frames that take interchangeable lenses and have prescription lenses made. Then, at least, if you prescription changes, you only need to repurchase lenses and not a frame.

Cuyuna

Costco is a good balance of quality optometry and good prices, however I wouldn't exactly call their frame selection particularly stylish. I have a couple of pair from Costco. They're accurate progressive lenses, fit well and can take a beating. They're ugly, however.

I finally did order a pair of WileyX with progressive prescription lenses. Not cheap.

pdlamb

The cheapest way is to go to a discount glasses store, Eyemart or the like. Get big frames with your prescription lenses. That's 95% as good as the "best" solution.


You can probably find some inexpensive cycling specific frames online, and have your local optician fit lenses into those.


All that falls apart if your prescription is over 6 diopters, though. Then you'll have to pay the big bucks for the high index lenses, or suffer from coke bottle lenses that won't fit into the majority of available frames, cycling specific or general

GadgetGirlIL

Check out https://fitovers.com/. Their sunglasses are designed to go over your regular glasses. I used them for several years before I had my cataract surgery.

You can get better prices on Amazon for them.

BobbyG

I'm happy with clip-on, flip ups.

jppe

I had some extra medical dollars I had to use before I retired. I splurged on a pair of Oakley prescription sunglasses. They were pretty pricey especially depending on what type lens you select. However they are super. I wore them every day on my cross country ride.

DrIsotope

Check out sites like Framesdirect.com-- I got my Wiley-X Valor frames with reflective prescription lenses, anti-reflective and anti-scratch coatings for about $225. Oakley makes superb lenses, but you get to pay for 'em-- I priced up a pair of Oakleys around the same time, and the lenses alone were $350.

NABodie

Contacts with regular sunglasses over them!

Bob Ross

Man, I wish I could find effective cycling glasses in my prescription for only $400!

qcpmsame 

Depending on how strong a prescription you need for correction, Tifosi makes wrap around cycling sunglasses, with several different levels of diopters correction available, in the bifocal portion of the lens. I need bifocals and was not able to front the cost of Rx sunglasses, the PBS we frequent had a Tifosi display rack and the owners had me try a pair out. For $40.00 it was money well spent, they aren't perfect but the +1.5 diopter correction/magnification is just about right for being able to read my watch, cyclocomputer and maps.

Bill

steelbikeguy

A relatively cheap option is to use sports style safety glasses that use a lens insert.

I've been using the Uvex Genesis model for a number of years and have been happy with it. The safety glasses themselves are only $11.65 (and extra lenses are also cheap), and the lens insert is $30.

The only additional cost is for the lenses themselves, and they can be purchased and fitted into the lens insert by your local optician. For single vision lenses, I think I paid less than $100.

I purchased the Uvex stuff from SafetyGlassesUSA.com
The glasses are here (just one of many options for lens and frame color):
https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/geblfrdagrle.html

The lens inserts for the Uvex Genesis is here:
https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/s3350.html

Steve in Peoria

gda659

I tried Rx inserts in my Rudy Project Ekynox and Rydon frames. They suck. The inserts are too heavy, too small, and push the frame out too far. I had SportRx do in frame lenses and love them. I can get away with relatively inexpensive lenses in the Ekynox (<$100) but the curvature of the Rydons required a more precise grind and ran about $300. A little pricey, but very nice. Of course, these prices are on top of whatever you spend on the stock frames with plain lenses.

civic04

Depends what you are looking for.
I bought a cheap pair from $39Dollarglasses.com for $50 they not the best looking but do the job, they have all types of frames and look online i found a coupon for $10 off when i ordered my last spring.

leob1

Try online. I've gotten a few pair from Zenni Optical They have lots of different styles, and the service is ok. The glasses I've gotten work well, and I have no issues with my vision while wearing them for riding or driving. And you'l spend way less than $400. So if you lose them it's no big deal to order another pair. You will need your prescription information.

Slick Madone

I went with Oakley Prism Road Flak 2.0's and I think they were close to $500, but I like that I can swap out the lenses for clears if the ride goes long.

indyfabz

Whatever you get you are better off with shatterproof/resistant materials and design and no metal pins in the hinges. I saw a woman nearly lose her eye when she crashed and hit her face. The right earpiece broke and speared her very close to her eyeball. The wound was so bad she ultimately had to have plastic surgery.

79pmooney

I wear only all-metal frames (except the ear and nose pieces) for all my riding. Never broken a pair and Ihave crashed many times over the past 50 years. Bent up a few. I have pushed my glasses nto my face and gotten cuts. Never thought about breaking a pair in a crash until you posted. Given my track record, I'll take your observation as a note to stay all metal. (For sunglasses, I have had good luck with Ray Bans.)

I wrote this then realized I have a pair of Ray Ban glasses with CF temples I purchased for driving and now use for everything after I killed my riding glasses (not on me at the time). Guess I need to search out a new pair.

Ben

HardyWeinberg

I usually use costco and framesdirect

I have never had contacts.

JohnDThompson 

I use a similar product from Lenscovers. They work quite well, and don't cost much. The side protection on the glasses covers is quite nice, particularly in cold weather when wind blowing past the glasses made my eyes water profusely when I used clip-on sunglasses.

2cam16

I have a pair of flip-up Rudy Project Rx glasses. I don't use it for riding as I'm farsighted but use it for work (active). It has lasted me for years.

tizeye 

I have used Rudy Project Rydon's for years. Started with single (distance) lens and carried regular glasses for map reading. Technology has improved and can now do progressives on curved glasses. Also, the clip-in frame has improved as the earlier metal rattled and fogged where the current ones are non-metallic touch lens without rattle an haven't had fogging problem. Reason didn't get Oakleys and others is had a hard time paying for sunglasses with the "special glass" marketing tell you about...punch it out and put in Rx glass. Can replace scratched outer glass with Rudy Project's warranty, and no need to add the additional stuff like glare and scratch resistance when going behind the non-rx lens. I do get poly as basic plastic is too thick.

Don't find cost too bad and actually equals out to about the same as Costco. I have a personal vision plan with VSP which my optometrist (and fellow bike rider) accepts and happens to be a Rudy Project authorized dealer. Discount on new lens every year so one year applied it to the Rudy's as my current daily glasses were fine.

Monoborracho

I have the Wal-Mart and the Wiley X brands, both with separate bifocals. I tried progressives and they were disorienting.


I would consider nothing except wraparounds. Think about what your vision is worth. A pebble from a vehicle could be serious.


Wal-Mart now has some as good as Wiley X and, I think, are unbranded Wiley's. IMHO Wal-Mart has been my best deal. I have no experience with Costco as I live in the boonies.

ZippyThePinhead

Chances are, if you buy prescription lenses from a local OD, that OD orders them from Zenni Optical or an equivalent. They are very, very cheap. Here's a review.

ctpres

I am going to try these. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...0?ie=UTF8&th=1