waters60

After too many years of painfully wind blown eyes from winter riding I am looking at a pair of Wiley X Gravity sunglasses. They have a removable foam gasket to better reduce air flow. One option is transitions lenses. Curious what the experience is for those who use them. It could make them much more useful. My concern is going from shaded to open areas.
Thanks

Jim from Boston

Quote:

Originally Posted by waters60

After too many years of painfully wind blown eyes from winter riding I am looking at a pair of Wiley X Gravity sunglasses. They have a removable foam gasket to better reduce air flow. One option is transitions lenses.

Curious what the experience is for those who use them. It could make them much more useful. My concern is going from shaded to open areas.

I wear prescription eyeglasses and I have previously posted to this thread:

noodle soup

Most transition lenses get dark fairly quickly, but it takes a lot longer for them to go back to clear. I don't like transition lenses because they don't get dark enough.

Davet

The transition time from full light to full dark or full dark to full light is more than 10 seconds. I feel that transition lenses aren’t good for cycling glasses, there’s not enough darkness in sunlight and they lack contrast.

eduskator

IMO it takes too much time to go back to clear. Not worth it.

I ride with sunglasses that have very low tint (I like Oakley's Prizm technology). I don't have any issues keeping them on even in the shade.

OldTryGuy

I have been wearing Transition since the '80's and they have most definitely improved. Now wearing Progressive Transition when awake and even sleeping at times. What ever floats your boat.

Ogsarg

I don't like transitions either but I haven't had any for about 20 years and I hear they are better now. I have fairly dark tinted oakley's and I have no problems going from bright sunlight to shade or vice versa so just don't see a need.

UmneyDurak

I have pair of Oakleys with Iridium lenses for summer, and transition for winter. I like it.

pattrick

I often use a pair of Oakley transition glasses, I find them very useful. After reading an article on a British site about their favorite kit items and these glasses being mentioned I decided to take the leap. I tend to get dry eyes while riding and being light blue eyed the sun can give me headaches,especially in the winter when the sun is filtering through the trees almost strobe like in areas. These Oakleys seem to do everything I could want. Going through heavily shaded areas between the hills to the brighter flats the glasses never miss a beat. While they may not be perfect for extreme bright days they are extremely versatile. I have even used them for night rides. Much like the opinions of the British site I find these glasses quite useful for a great variety of rides. I am amazed by some of the negative reviews? Possibly much earlier versions? All I can say is I love mine.

shaun3000

I think modern photo-chromatic lenses made with for sports activities have come a long way. I bought a pair of Julbo sunglasses about a year ago. They are AMAZING. The advertised Visible Light Transmission range is 12%-87%. To my un-scientific eye it looks like they go from nearly clear to nearly black. I can put them on in the garage and ride out into a bright sunny afternoon with no problem so I guess they transition pretty quickly. They are certainly able to keep up with the setting sun.

Link, if you’re interested. They’re pricey but I fully expect to get many years out of them. You want the Translucent Black/Gray with the 0-3 lens.https://www.julbo.com/en_us/sunglass...6=159&318=4928

Gconan

I have prescription glasses and absolutely love the transitions! Get them.

waters60

Thanks for the replies. Based on the first few I was inclined against, but those from current wearers got me to go for them. I have situations where it is early morning or dark enough that having variable tint can make the glasses much more useful. I am also looking forward to winter rides without painfully windburned eyes!

CliffordK

I've been around people who have about 5 pairs of glasses, and are constantly changing from clear to sunglasses. What a pain.

The photogrey lenses work for me. Been using them for decades.

Now, one pair to rule them all.

Photogrey, progressive, glass safety glasses (although I have learned to wear goggles when grinding to prevent metal pock marks in the lenses).

sfrider 

I got a pair of Oakley transitions (Flak Jacket 2 XL) and they're perfect for me. Just dark enough for comfort (most sunglasses are way too dark IMO), and perfectly clear when cleared up. Sure they take maybe 5-10 seconds to respond, but what is this compared to? Glasses that don't change at all? Stopping and changing? Faffing about with flip ups and clip ons? Photochromics are a massive win IMO. It's much worse to me to be caught out after dark or in deep forested shade with dark glasses than squinting a little in sunlight for a few seconds.

In fact, I liked them so much I got another pair of regular, progressive photochromic glasses for everyday wear. Not so great for cycling or motorcycling though (unlike the Flak Jackets they're not ballistic rated). But I'm never again caught out without reading glasses and unable to even read a menu! Outdoors or indoors. Night or day.

Leinster

Maybe it depends on the brand? I find my Tifosis are dark enough in the light, but not light enough to wear in low-light conditions (dusk).

I agree about the transition time. The tech needs work before it gets to the stage of a true reacting lens.

colnago62

I have two pair of transition lenses from Oakley. One gets real dark, but not very light and the other is the opposite. I usually where them when the weather is looking variable.