Photochromic Eye Protection

[Jimex]

So my old clear Oakley's are no more, so I'm looking for some all weather eye protection. I quite like the idea of photochromic lenses.

What are folks experiences of moving from sunshine to heavy forest at speed, do they react quick enough? The other way around doesn't concern me as much.

Do they transmit enough light in 'fully clear' to be used all year, even in a British winter and at night? Looking for something versatile, especially looking at some of the prices. I realise many have interchangeable lenses, but the options are bewildering.

Thanks in advance

 

[Neverbeentomoab]

I have Oakley fast jacket photochromic and there fantastic. They change really quickly going from sunshine to dense forest. I have a set of Adidas evil eye photochromic too and they work just as well.

 

[Rikster]

same here, have 2 adidas glasses and they perform very well. The evil eye half-rim has the broader spectrum vario from almost clear to dark, perfect for rainy weather. The evil-eye are more summer glasses with as smaller range of vario but with the LST. This drops the brightness and that's very relaxing for the eyes.

 

[Akiwi]

I also ddesperately need something like that, but also with corrective lenses as I am a bit short sighted. I looked at the Oakleys and the Adidasses, but they were about €600!!
I currently havesport glasses with the clip in corrective glasses, and they are a pain in the bum. they are a pain to clean as you can't quickly wipe between the lenses. which you often needs to be done when you are sweaing.

 

[stiv674]

I've got Oakley Flak 2.0 prescription ones, photochromic NXT yellow to grey.

I've never really noticed them change from light to dark although they obviously do. They don't go really dark but enough to reduce most of the glare on a bright day.

£305 so not too bad, from Extreme Eyewear.

 

[steve_sordy]

I may be misunderstanding you guys so far, but don't you mean photo-reactive? ie, going from clear to dark.

Photo-chromic makes me think they change colour depending upon the light conditions (clear, yellow, orange, blue, purple.......etc) Or is that exactly what was meant?

I have a pair of single vision prescription Oakley Straightjackets that are photo-reactive. I have few problems going from bright sunny days to dark forest. I do remember one exceptionally bright day with the sun low in the sky riding into what felt like total darkness in some old forest at Gisburn. Even when I looked over the top of the frames, I still couldn't see for a second. The lenses were a second behind that. If there had been a sharp bend or a big drop immediately after forest entry I would have been in trouble for sure. But that would have been bad trail design! I do accept however that not everything that is ridden is a designed trail. But I am confident that on a natural trail I would not have been going so fast. The knowledge it was a made trail gave me extra confidence.

 

[Stihldog]

I may be misunderstanding you guys so far, but don't you mean photo-reactive? ie, going from clear to dark.

Photo-chromic makes me think they change colour depending upon the light conditions (clear, yellow, orange, blue, purple.......etc) Or is that exactly what was meant?

I have the photo-reactive type (I think), but there is no frame on the top part. Seems to allow better viewing since my head is in that position.
After I got a slap from a very small limb across my eye I always wear glasses. It would be nice to get a prescription pair though.

 

[R120]

Decathlon do some decent cheap ones for sub 50quid, however cheaper ones tend to take a bit longer to change.

 

[volksman]

Have had many pairs of Oakley but then found this Canadian brand that makes really great product at pretty reasonable rates. This way when I run over my glasses on the trail I don't cry, I just order another pair. If you wait they put out sales almost monthly. Great online order process and return policy. I now use them for all my sport stuff. I have Oakleys for sitting on patios...

 

[KenX]

Riding trails here I find myself quite often transitioning from bright sun to forest in the valleys, bought these: Julbo Renegade Camo Green/orange Zebra Light Fire 2020 -29% sur Ekosport , they're great, almost clear in the shade and enough tint (level 3) in the sun!
Julbo is one of the oldest respected sunglass manufacturers in the world btw

 

[Dirtnvert]

X2 for Julbo. I use mine winter and summer. Im curious about poc's new glasses. They sound really good as well. Pricey like all their stuff though

 

[benny.c]

I use Oakley Jawbreakers with photochromic lenses on all but the brightest days. The glasses are much better looking with the mirrored prizm lenses but for the weather in the U.K. photochromic makes perfect sense. I sold my clear lenses as there was very little difference riding in them at dusk/night.

 

[Darren]

I bought a pair on ebay for £15 and they're pretty fast although not excessively dark, they're polarised too. I use them in the winter mainly - in summer I wear Flack Jacket regular sunnies and look good as I ride semi-blind into the woods.

 

[Quinterly]

Have had many pairs of Oakley but then found this Canadian brand that makes really great product at pretty reasonable rates. This way when I run over my glasses on the trail I don't cry, I just order another pair. If you wait they put out sales almost monthly. Great online order process and return policy. I now use them for all my sport stuff. I have Oakleys for sitting on patios...

What brand?

 

[Nicho]

So my old clear Oakley's are no more, so I'm looking for some all weather eye protection. I quite like the idea of photochromic lenses.

What are folks experiences of moving from sunshine to heavy forest at speed, do they react quick enough? The other way around doesn't concern me as much.

Do they transmit enough light in 'fully clear' to be used all year, even in a British winter and at night? Looking for something versatile, especially looking at some of the prices. I realise many have interchangeable lenses, but the options are bewildering.

Thanks in advance

Had some Oakley Wind Jacket prescription photochromic glasses (with ventilated lenses) for the last 7 years, for all outdoor activities.

Good in all conditions from bright sun to night in all weather conditions.

Since I bought these I have had 2 pairs of even more expensive glasses from my local optician for everyday use, but the old Oakleys are noticably sharper and optically clearer.

A very good buy if you can afford them.

 

[Jimex]

Thanks for everyone's opinions on photochromic lenses. I've pushed the boat out and bought some jawbreakers. Never used this sort of lens before, so hoping it will cope with most British weather, winter and summer.

 

[Tim22]

Have had many pairs of Oakley but then found this Canadian brand that makes really great product at pretty reasonable rates. This way when I run over my glasses on the trail I don't cry, I just order another pair. If you wait they put out sales almost monthly. Great online order process and return policy. I now use them for all my sport stuff. I have Oakleys for sitting on patios...

and the name of the company is?

 

[Dirtnvert]

and the name of the company is?

X2. I like the sound of cheap

 

[Kentish]

On the strength of this thread I ordered a pair of the Oakley Flak 2.0 XLs with the photochromic lenses yesterday.

Almost ate shit yesterday in the woods on a fast downhill.

I took my shades off as they were too dark in the woods. Got a fly on my mouth and a split second later while trying to deal with that I got another in the eye. Complete luck I didn’t go down! ?

Thought enough is enough, went back home and ordered them. Been meaning to get some for the last year or two.

Ended up buying them from a place called Edel-Optics. A lot cheaper than anywhere else I could find online. Should be here tmr or Friday.

 

[deksawyer]

I know these must be good, cause they have a price, but how do they stop things getting in your mouth? ?

 

[Nicho]

I know these must be good, cause they have a price, but how do they stop things getting in your mouth?

Your covid mask should solve that!

 

[Tobers]

I’ve been looking for prescription “transitions” glasses at a decent price, but they are all mega money from high street opticians. I wanted a set of Oakley Holbrook frames which will work on the bike and in more social situations. But I also wanted cool blue mirrored lenses too. Plus I want them for driving, and most photo-reactive lenses don’t work behind car windscreens.

Turns out that you can get photo-reactive lenses with a coloured mirror effect. The Oakley ones (mega money) are only silver mirrored. But Transitions now do gold/green/blue and silver. And they work behind car windscreens too.

I have ordered from RXSport who specialise in sport glasses, goggles etc, for about £250 rather than high street prices of £600. Awaiting delivery now...

 

[volksman]

and the name of the company is?

? oh lordy! That's how distracted I am right now. Sorry about that. It's Ryders Eyewear.

 

[deksawyer]

Are you the same Tobers from the old Aprilia RSV days and later the "Tobinator"? Apologies if not...

D.

I’ve been looking for prescription “transitions” glasses at a decent price, but they are all mega money from high street opticians. I wanted a set of Oakley Holbrook frames which will work on the bike and in more social situations. But I also wanted cool blue mirrored lenses too. Plus I want them for driving, and most photo-reactive lenses don’t work behind car windscreens.

Turns out that you can get photo-reactive lenses with a coloured mirror effect. The Oakley ones (mega money) are only silver mirrored. But Transitions now do gold/green/blue and silver. And they work behind car windscreens too.

I have ordered from RXSport who specialise in sport glasses, goggles etc, for about £250 rather than high street prices of £600. Awaiting delivery now...

 

[Hippo]

I've just got the Smith clear to grey photochromatic lens they are awesome just like riding with a fully clear lens but tinted and is really fast for dipping into the trees and they come with a yellow lens too. RX sports.
Been running Tifosi shades for a while and some mullets and these are the fastest changing glasses by far

 

[Kentish]

I've just got the Smith clear to grey photochromatic lens they are awesome just like riding with a fully clear lens but tinted and is really fast for dipping into the trees and they come with a yellow lens too. RX sports.
Been running Tifosi shades for a while and some mullets and these are the fastest changing glasses by far

What ones?

Had my eye (?) on the Rebounds but went another way.

 

[Hippo]

What ones?

Had my eye (?) on the Rebounds but went another way.

Oops should of said Smith attack mtb.

 

[Tobers]

Are you the same Tobers from the old Aprilia RSV days and later the "Tobinator"? Apologies if not...

D.

Yes mate, that’s me! Good to see you again.

 

[christophorus]

Riding trails here I find myself quite often transitioning from bright sun to forest in the valleys, bought these: Julbo Renegade Camo Green/orange Zebra Light Fire 2020 -29% sur Ekosport , they're great, almost clear in the shade and enough tint (level 3) in the sun!
Julbo is one of the oldest respected sunglass manufacturers in the world btw

Thanks for the recommendation! Just ordered a pair ?

 

[BBear]

Well they didn’t work well for me all. I bought a prescription pair last year from Vision Express theory being if riding in and out of woods the lenses would react for that perfect solution of darkening in the sun and clearing in the woods/shade. In practice I found that the lag in the transition meant it was often the other way round when in and out of woods giving the worse of both worlds. Gave up on them for riding though still nice to wear for general use.