Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
The polarised glasses make shiny objects on the road such as oil spill or ice patch invisible. Also, they do not work very well with some digital displays.
Photochromic sunglasses - yes or no?
- Thread starter Bobsiii
- Start date
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
You're lucky she's just the CEO. Mine aspires to be the CXO, where the X stands for anything you could possibly be in charge of.
;^}
Catalyzt
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
Interesting thread (and I don't find the term 'necro' to be snarky, just descriptive in this situation, where we have a precise use-case scenario.)
I do have a visor on my helmet, but unfortunately, it's so scratched that it is annoying. I wonder how polywatch of some similar product would do for eliminating the scratches, but in the worst situations-- at sunset in summer-- I do add these to either clear progressives or transition progressives. Even have added them to sunglasses in the most extreme situations.
I was wearing my medium-grade transitions (good but not the best, hydrophobic, reflection-reducing and other coatings) when I was admitted from the ER to the ICU and stayed there for five weeks. They got lost in the confusion, but I knew that somehow, my wife had probably managed to take them home.
In the interim, I tried an experiment and ordered cheap-o transition lenses with no coating at all (I always ride with progressives and have about a half dozen pairs) from a Chinese company that shall go nameless. (It was Zenni.) Just last week, the mid-grade progressives turned up, weirdly, in a bag with oil paintings in it! (Man, it was utter chaos over here while I was recovering, I'll tell ya!) I discovered some really interesting things.
First of all, on balance, I don't like coated lenses because they scratch too easily. I tried so hard to baby my mid-grade progressive transitions (let's call them the Kaisers), but they scratched immediately. The scratching is very fine, and looks like a smudge, and I think cleaning with a pristine microfiber cloth and water or eyeglass cleaning solution literally made the problem worse. The cheap-o progressive transitions have NOT scratched at all, and have had harder use, though I've only had them a few months.
I find that the Kaisers are not-quite-enough on a bright SoCal day, but I can live with them in most situations. Opening the window in the car solves the UV transition trigger issue, and I like to have the window open whenever possible. However, I do find that both pairs of glasses do get a LITTLE darker even with the car windows closed, so between that and the super-mild tint built into the windshield, they're okay for running errands around town on hot days with the AC blasting. Driving more than 10 minutes, yeah-- I'd bring my dedicated sunglasses. For travel longer than one or two overnights, I bring dedicated sunglasses just in case, but they usually stay in my suitcase.
The Kaisers are ideal for medium-bright conditions when I'm looking at things far away. I focus through the scratches, don't notice them, and the lack of reflections is really nice-- for an afternoon ride when I'll be home around sunset, they are my choice.
For returning after dark, I prefer the Zennis. I do see the reflections, but they are not distracting, and the lack of any scratches gives me more detail. They are also nearly clear at night, where the Kaisers are a shade darker.
Another benefit of the Zennis is that the reflections sometimes allow you to see behind you. In a dodgy street situation, that is helpful. I already use reflections a lot when riding-- I look for reflections on car windows to let me know if a car is coming around a blind turn, etc., and on the street I always used store windows to check for people coming up on me from behind. Been doing that since I was eight years old.
To the original point, I find that the transition lenses in both glasses are fast enough for me, even going from a light environment to a dark one. They start getting lighter very quickly in shade, it feels like there's a noticeable difference in even 15 to 20 seconds, so I can see just enough to avoid obstacles. I rarely ride through tunnels, I'll try that.
What I need is a taller lens. The Zennis, in particular, are not big enough-- I find myself looking over the top of the lens on fast descents, and having to remind myself to crane my neck upward in a way that is distracting. So I'd love to find a company that made reasonably-priced prescription/progressive transitions in a sport-glasses-for-cyclist shape. I'll check out some of the links above.
I do have a visor on my helmet, but unfortunately, it's so scratched that it is annoying. I wonder how polywatch of some similar product would do for eliminating the scratches, but in the worst situations-- at sunset in summer-- I do add these to either clear progressives or transition progressives. Even have added them to sunglasses in the most extreme situations.
I was wearing my medium-grade transitions (good but not the best, hydrophobic, reflection-reducing and other coatings) when I was admitted from the ER to the ICU and stayed there for five weeks. They got lost in the confusion, but I knew that somehow, my wife had probably managed to take them home.
In the interim, I tried an experiment and ordered cheap-o transition lenses with no coating at all (I always ride with progressives and have about a half dozen pairs) from a Chinese company that shall go nameless. (It was Zenni.) Just last week, the mid-grade progressives turned up, weirdly, in a bag with oil paintings in it! (Man, it was utter chaos over here while I was recovering, I'll tell ya!) I discovered some really interesting things.
First of all, on balance, I don't like coated lenses because they scratch too easily. I tried so hard to baby my mid-grade progressive transitions (let's call them the Kaisers), but they scratched immediately. The scratching is very fine, and looks like a smudge, and I think cleaning with a pristine microfiber cloth and water or eyeglass cleaning solution literally made the problem worse. The cheap-o progressive transitions have NOT scratched at all, and have had harder use, though I've only had them a few months.
I find that the Kaisers are not-quite-enough on a bright SoCal day, but I can live with them in most situations. Opening the window in the car solves the UV transition trigger issue, and I like to have the window open whenever possible. However, I do find that both pairs of glasses do get a LITTLE darker even with the car windows closed, so between that and the super-mild tint built into the windshield, they're okay for running errands around town on hot days with the AC blasting. Driving more than 10 minutes, yeah-- I'd bring my dedicated sunglasses. For travel longer than one or two overnights, I bring dedicated sunglasses just in case, but they usually stay in my suitcase.
The Kaisers are ideal for medium-bright conditions when I'm looking at things far away. I focus through the scratches, don't notice them, and the lack of reflections is really nice-- for an afternoon ride when I'll be home around sunset, they are my choice.
For returning after dark, I prefer the Zennis. I do see the reflections, but they are not distracting, and the lack of any scratches gives me more detail. They are also nearly clear at night, where the Kaisers are a shade darker.
Another benefit of the Zennis is that the reflections sometimes allow you to see behind you. In a dodgy street situation, that is helpful. I already use reflections a lot when riding-- I look for reflections on car windows to let me know if a car is coming around a blind turn, etc., and on the street I always used store windows to check for people coming up on me from behind. Been doing that since I was eight years old.
To the original point, I find that the transition lenses in both glasses are fast enough for me, even going from a light environment to a dark one. They start getting lighter very quickly in shade, it feels like there's a noticeable difference in even 15 to 20 seconds, so I can see just enough to avoid obstacles. I rarely ride through tunnels, I'll try that.
What I need is a taller lens. The Zennis, in particular, are not big enough-- I find myself looking over the top of the lens on fast descents, and having to remind myself to crane my neck upward in a way that is distracting. So I'd love to find a company that made reasonably-priced prescription/progressive transitions in a sport-glasses-for-cyclist shape. I'll check out some of the links above.
fooferdoggie
Well-Known Member
why are you scratching them up? Most decent lenses have a scratch coating and I haven't seen scratches in years. I also putthem in a case now while riding. Plus now with the water repellant I just wash them in warm water and some soap and tap them on the edge on a sleeve to get the water off. never have to wipe the lens anymore.
Catalyzt
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
Yeah, the scratch coatings I've ordered at Zenni and Kaiser absolutely do not work. Maybe there are some that do..
fooferdoggie
Well-Known Member
well do you toss them around? but I usually buy higher end lens like my last ones for progressives were 580.00 hate cheap lens. my glasses are about the only things that dont get abused around me.
Chazmo
fat-tire biker
- Region
- USA
- City
- Central Massachusetts
I use my shooting glasses RE (Randolph Engineering) Ranger XLW glasses when riding. The lenses are all non-polarized, but they are interchangeable and I’ve got everything from clear lenses to very dark. The good news is that for shooting, just like riding, the lenses go above the eyebrow and I do not have to crane my neck (ever) to keep the lenses in my sight path. Also, the polycarbonate is extremely tough (it’ll take a shotgun shot) and certainly safe for riding.
I agree with the earlier comments about polarized lenses. Not a big fan except on water (boat) or extremely glare on the road. Polarized lenses are a pain with mostly any kind of display (as already mentioned).
I used photochromic glasses years ago when I was learning to shoot. They weren’t the right shape or anything, but I did like them. Not sure I’d recommend them.
I agree with the earlier comments about polarized lenses. Not a big fan except on water (boat) or extremely glare on the road. Polarized lenses are a pain with mostly any kind of display (as already mentioned).
I used photochromic glasses years ago when I was learning to shoot. They weren’t the right shape or anything, but I did like them. Not sure I’d recommend them.
fooferdoggie
Well-Known Member
This was my first pair of polarized glasses but they have been great. My Garmin screen cant be seen from the side but that's about it. but I also bought really good lens so that helps too.
Gionnirocket
Well-Known Unidentified Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Y. O.
I'll update my post from 5 years ago.
I ride with yellow tinted driving glasses all the time now. They cut enough glare in bright sun, block UV and work best for the constant changing light of a tree lined bike path.
ymmv
