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Worth buying expensive sunglasses?

Old 11-14-19, 03:55 PM
  #76  
caloso
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I have been extremely happy with Smith. Lots of choices of lenses, not too expensive if you find them on sale.
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Old 11-14-19, 06:20 PM
  #77  
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A single bug strike or accidental drop has ruined all the cheap sunglasses I've ever owned. Even though I treat my Oakleys more carefully, stuff like that has happened to them, yet the optical quality has remained excellent. I also recently bought clearanced Dragon Alliance sunglasses ($30 for a MSRP $130 pair) for off the bike, and though they look just like the kind of free sunglasses brands give away as advertisement, the visual quality is leaps and bounds superior. Both Oakley and the Dragon Alliance lenses offer increased clarity to a degree that I notice, as I'm slightly nearsighted but don't use corrective lens with sunglasses. I will probably get an Rx for my low light Oakley lens soon as my night vision could be better. Can't do that with cheap sunglasses.
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Old 11-17-19, 06:11 PM
  #78  
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A few years back Steep and Cheap had some Costa Grand Catalinas with 400G lenses for $69. I am very sensitive to pressure from frames on the side of my head. It can induce nasty headaches. I ordered a pair. They are fantastic. I have always been reluctant to buy expensive glasses because I break or lose them regularly. Once I put the Grand Catalinas on, it was an instant love affair. I ordered two more pair. Costa no longer makes these, so I hope the 3 pair I have last a while.
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Old 11-17-19, 06:22 PM
  #79  
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I've been wearing Oakley Half Jackets for fifteen years while riding and climbing. During bright sunny days, I use the Gold Iridium Polarized and lower light, cloudy days, G30 Iridiums. Bought three pairs and a number of sets of lenses before the Half Jackets were discontinued in my model. Yes, wearing high quality lenses and glasses, increases the acuity and overall health of my eyes. Maui Jims as well on less active endeavors, Bronze Polarized.
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Old 11-17-19, 06:50 PM
  #80  
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I know Oakley's are the cycling go to, but for me they were too flimsy. Need glass like Costa and Maui Jim
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Old 11-18-19, 10:22 AM
  #81  
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Originally Posted by DrIsotope
Value is relative. But IMO, yeah, it's worth it. The optics on quality glasses from Oakley, Nike, etc. are just better than economy brands.

Be glad you don't have to have prescription lenses made-- my prescription sunglasses are all pretty much $300+.
My coke bottle bottoms start around $500. Why not put a decent frame around them?
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Old 11-18-19, 01:22 PM
  #82  
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I prefer better glasses (like Oakleys) when I ride. Since they are dedicated to my riding, I usually replace them because I want something new, not because I lost or broke them. I'll either use the older pair for non-cycling purposes or sell them on eBay. I do use cheaper sunglasses for the beach/pool etc. Optics aren't as good, but I don't care what happens to them.
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Old 11-18-19, 04:29 PM
  #83  
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Originally Posted by Texboy
I'm not sure I would spend a little over $150 dollar for Oakley or Under Armor. Is it worth to spend that much money for the qualities of frame and glasses?
No, don't ever buy anything that is expensive for fear of getting screwed on the price. Just buy low end or maybe middle of the road if you are in a splurging mood but never high end anything. One day you will die and someone else will splurge with your money.
Hey, I have the Oakley's that change lens color and they work for all conditions. Just get some and be done.
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Old 11-18-19, 10:22 PM
  #84  
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I've used cheapo & expensive shades but have returned to Oakley. The old Pilots worked great but the new Flight Jackets are sweet, no frame over the top so even with wide coverage they don't bump into the helmet. Oakleys, for me, have been the most comfortable & sturdy glasses.

Price aside, larger lenses give more protection vs pollen & dirt. Pro racers have returned to glasses with bigger lenses. Clear lenses can be nice for night riding but I never liked switching lenses out of frames, rather bothersome & easier to tote separate cheapo clear glasses when necessary.
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Old 11-19-19, 09:36 AM
  #85  
ChrisWagner
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Jackson Nemesis Safety Glasses
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Old 11-19-19, 02:48 PM
  #86  
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Slow revert...



Very effective! Very satisfied with these!


Results from, cloudy...


...overcast...
Went for a short ride this AM.
Cloudy, overcast...
I wore my new prescription glasses that change with available light or lack of...
When I got home from my ride, I changed from the aforementioned glasses to my regular glasses...kinda cool/cold, slow revert...
Here are some pics of the situation...
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Old 11-19-19, 11:07 PM
  #87  
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sun glass prices

Originally Posted by Hiro11
In my opinion, no. Expensive sunglasses are a total waste of money. I say this as someone who ones two pairs of Oakley Jawbreakers and 2 pairs of 100% S2s. Make of this what you will.
Man I am with on both accounts!

I had a pair of Oakleys I got in the late '80's or early '90's, the ones with the sweat band above the glasses, $45. Then in the late 2000's a friend gave me a hard time about having such old glasses, screw him. The pros get stuff for free to wear just as advertising, and I bought into it hook line and sinker, and got the pair Cavendish wore, hey they looked good on him.

I was hoping they wouldn't get as many sweat track running down the lenses on the cheap ones I was wearing. I am disappointed. I just leave them in my helmet as soon as I get off the bike.
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Old 11-19-19, 11:09 PM
  #88  
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Originally Posted by DropBarFan
easier to tote separate cheapo clear glasses when necessary.
Thanks for that advice
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Old 11-20-19, 03:17 AM
  #89  
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I've always worn riding glasses that typically are at most in the $50 range and they certainly have been adequate. Recently I bought a pair of Oakley Flight Jacket Road Prizm cycling sunglasses. The improvement is significant in every way. They cost $200 and I am glad I finally talked myself into taking the risk to shell out that amount for cycling glasses. I will never go back anything less. YMMV.
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Old 11-20-19, 07:45 AM
  #90  
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Originally Posted by HerrKaLeun
Have been using dollar store sunglasses for years. I buy 5-10 every year and don't cry when I sit on one or lose one.
_____________________
+1 (buy sport sunglasses for cycling by the 1/2 dozen on Ebay...but for skiing it has been Oakley goggles (non-polarized lenses) for decades).
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Old 11-20-19, 11:32 AM
  #91  
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So, those of you wearing the same sunglasses for 5-10 years or more. Do you get bore with these?
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Old 11-20-19, 11:37 AM
  #92  
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^

No!
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Old 11-20-19, 12:19 PM
  #93  
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I put glasses leashes on all the cycling glasses, so I can't drop them. Still using the $29.00 Performance Bike interchangeable lens ones I bought in the late 1990's. I had two Pair but one fell off the car and was run over. In the last year or two, I bought another cheap pair with three interchangeable lenses.
Around $30 too. I like them. Almost all my rides start in the daylight and finish in the dark. So I like interchangeable lenses.
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Old 11-20-19, 03:16 PM
  #94  
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Originally Posted by Chinghis
As someone who needs a prescription, I used to just wear a pair of old-fogey black plastic convenience store frames over my regular glasses. Now I've taken to ordering a set of "Sport" glasses from Zenni. I am (a) hard on glasses, and (b) tend to lose them. No way am I going to drop Optician-store prices on something I will inevitably scratch, then lose.

These Zenni Sport Glasses are what I order - with some anti-glare and impact resistance, they're under $40. I've gone through two pairs already, losing them in incomprehensible places (like just inside the front door. WTH??) They do the job well.
Is that price WITH the prescription insert? If so, that's a steal! I have looked at glasses with the inserts but am not sure where I can take them to get my prescription added.

My problem is I have a fairly small head and most glasses are too big. My expensive glasses are always falling off. I think if I get some sports ones, I can put a leash on them without it looking too weird.
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Old 11-20-19, 03:37 PM
  #95  
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I use wraparound safety glasses, shatterproof polycarbonate, 99% UV rating, no distortion, and cheap. Use them all day and no problems. They cost about $6 a pair, so no sweat if I lose them.
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Old 11-20-19, 06:14 PM
  #96  
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Originally Posted by NomarsGirl
Is that price WITH the prescription insert? If so, that's a steal! I have looked at glasses with the inserts but am not sure where I can take them to get my prescription added.

My problem is I have a fairly small head and most glasses are too big. My expensive glasses are always falling off. I think if I get some sports ones, I can put a leash on them without it looking too weird.
Yup, that's the final price. That's why I'm on my third pair, after losing my nice RayBans when I walked in the front door of my house one day. $300, gone into a black hole.

On Zenni, you can upload a picture of yourself and then virtually try on the glasses to find a frame that fits.
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Old 11-20-19, 08:04 PM
  #97  
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Smoke colored Mini Ztek safety glasses on eBay seem to work pretty well for me. About $8 for three pairs and they fit well for those with a smaller face. Used to have a pair of knock off Flight Jackets but broke the frame after about a year of lens swapping.
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Old 11-25-19, 07:29 PM
  #98  
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I recommend tinted bicycle helmet visors. 30USD gets you a grey lens and a dual layer helmet. Another 15USD pays for three spare visors in clear, yellow, and rainbow.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3285...3a834e8dEdJhAo
I mainly use the yellow lens and bolt Trivex (virtually unbreakable) prescription lenses on the inside. The advantages is that they are less likely to get sweaty, or get lost, and they provide a wider range of vision. I can get low without looking out the top of my glasses. The anti-insect wire mesh is good in summer, and the visor keeps the cold air from my face in winter.

Visor Lenses
by Timothy Takemoto, on
Flickr
When it is really sunny I can wear the darker tinted ones but find I rarely do.

The End of Goofy Glasses
by Timothy Takemoto, on Flickr
These days the bolts are made of stainless steel.
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Old 11-27-19, 05:27 AM
  #99  
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When you buy a pair of cheap sunglasses, you often reject these benefits and make things worse. For example, if your glasses do not provide ultraviolet protection, you will increase the exposure to ultraviolet rays. Cheap sunglasses surround the light, causing your iris to allow more light. This will allow further penetration of the ultraviolet layer, which increases the damage to the ultraviolet layer, which can cause retinal detachment.
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Old 11-28-19, 07:57 PM
  #100  
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This pair has UV protection.
https://www.amazon.com/ZOMUSAR-Sungl...4992068&sr=8-2
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