Recommend photochromatic glasses please

[Deep]

Hi
Would appreciate some recommendations for photochromatic cycling glasses please.
I haven't had PC glasses since the 80s. Back then they never went completely clear and were really slow to change.
I'm assuming things have improved. As we'll have quite changeable weather over the next few months I need something that will go completely clear when it's cloudy and do the necessary when the sun makes an appearance.
As they will be used for cycling it goes without saying that they need to be lightweight, comfortable and have an excellent field of vision without blind spots. The latter is particularly important to me as I lack a little confidence on the roads as it is.

Thank you

[defblade]

My research on this last year lead to these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B077GKK11Z/
as the only decent sensibly priced option. (There are chinese cheapies, and £££ makes, if you're feeling lucky/rich respectively).

However, I only bought them at Christmas as a pressie to myself ready for the spring proper, so I can't say anything beyond that they are comfortable on in the garage for a few minutes, and the lenses seem to cover the eye well.

I would say though, don't expect miracles - these apparently don't go very dark (which doesn't bother me too much, I just want some glare taken off).
And all PC takes a little while to clear from dark - another plus point of them not going very dark for me, as it's mainly when I go from bright sun into woods that I really suffer in normal shades, so I'd prefer them to be slowly clearing from not-very-dark rather than oh-my-god-where-is-the-road-dark.


Oh, and they're a bloody tenner cheaper than when I got them

[bigdom]

Oakley have photochromatic lenses in various styles of frames, which obviously helps depending on face/headshape, plenty of alternative suppliers of replacements available.

Personally I run with clear through winter and polarized through summer. If the weather does take a nasty turn, its 10 seconds to swap the lenses.

[jimmy156]

My wife bought me the Oakley Jawbreaker photochromic for Christmas (lucky me!)



Really impressed so far, you forget you are wearing the after 5 minutes. Wore them in the pissing rain and they don’t fog (unless you stop)

Style is divisive and you wouldn’t wear them to the pub

[Deep]

Thank you.
Oakley seems to be the obvious choice but was just wondering if there was something as good but more competitively priced.

[oddball1313]

Uvex are very good for less than the ‘posh’ brands

https://www.uvex-sports.com/en/bike/bike-eyewear

[ian in lancs]

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/search?Ntt=photochroma...

I have a pair of these I used in Spain for running/riding

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/kayenta-running-spor...

Edited by ian in lancs on Saturday 27th February 08:31

[Zigster]

I looked into getting some of these late last year.
https://www.siroko.com/collections/photochromic-cy...

I was put off by a few negative reviews, but I’m tempted to get some now - at about a quarter of the price of Oakleys, they have to be worth a punt.

[iansp]

Optilabs sell cycling glasses which can have photochromic and / or prescription lenses if needed.

I have had a few pairs over the years and have been very pleased with them.

https://www.optilabs.com/product-category/sport/cy...

[Deep]

oddball1313 said:

Uvex are very good for less than the ‘posh’ brands

https://www.uvex-sports.com/en/bike/bike-eyewear

Thanks.
Direct from Uvex the rrp is similar to Oakley, can't find a UK based reseller on the web. I'm a bit reluctant to order from Europe at the moment as stuff seems to be taking ages to arrive.

[Deep]

iansp said:

Optilabs sell cycling glasses which can have photochromic and / or prescription lenses if needed.

I have had a few pairs over the years and have been very pleased with them.

https://www.optilabs.com/product-category/sport/cy...

They do look really nice but are at least the same price as Oakleys. If I'm going to spend that kind of money I might be better off going tried and trusted with Oakley?
Thanks

[defblade]

defblade said:

My research on this last year lead to these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B077GKK11Z/
as the only decent sensibly priced option. (There are chinese cheapies, and £££ makes, if you're feeling lucky/rich respectively).

However, I only bought them at Christmas as a pressie to myself ready for the spring proper, so I can't say anything beyond that they are comfortable on in the garage for a few minutes, and the lenses seem to cover the eye well.

I would say though, don't expect miracles - these apparently don't go very dark (which doesn't bother me too much, I just want some glare taken off).
And all PC takes a little while to clear from dark - another plus point of them not going very dark for me, as it's mainly when I go from bright sun into woods that I really suffer in normal shades, so I'd prefer them to be slowly clearing from not-very-dark rather than oh-my-god-where-is-the-road-dark.


Oh, and they're a bloody tenner cheaper than when I got them

Quick update - I was able to get out for about 30 miles today.
These were great. Forgot I was wearing them most of the time; they kept the low spring sun glare off fine, but didn't leave me blind through the woods, exactly as I hoped.
Also, and I wasn't expecting this as they seem quite similar in shape to my normal wrap-around sunglasses, they are really good at keeping the wind out of my eyes. I normally tear-up very easily and spend big chunks of the time not able to read my cycle computer looking down, and with the air still being nippy today, it should have been bad. Like I say, forgot I was wearing them mostly and it was a good hour or so in before I realised I could see everything even though I was pushing my sleeves back down to keep my arms warm

[Zigster]

That Amazon link takes you to normal sunglasses with interchangeable lenses, not photochromic.

[defblade]

Zigster said:

That Amazon link takes you to normal sunglasses with interchangeable lenses, not photochromic.

No, definitely PC... check third pic down, and the description. And my glasses

[Deep]

iansp said:

Optilabs sell cycling glasses which can have photochromic and / or prescription lenses if needed.

I have had a few pairs over the years and have been very pleased with them.

https://www.optilabs.com/product-category/sport/cy...

Actually that's a good shout. I might as well make the glasses prescription ones while I'm at it.
I've ordered some samples from them.
Thanks very much.

[Boringvolvodriver]

Deep said:

iansp said:

Optilabs sell cycling glasses which can have photochromic and / or prescription lenses if needed.

I have had a few pairs over the years and have been very pleased with them.

https://www.optilabs.com/product-category/sport/cy...

Actually that's a good shout. I might as well make the glasses prescription ones while I'm at it.
I've ordered some samples from them.
Thanks very much.

I had PC back in the 80s and then stopped using them due to the issues you highlighted.

Last year decided to try again with the new tech that sounded very promising.

I have been disappointed in that once you are outside, they will darken regardless of how cloudy it may be. My optician said afterwards and following a chat with the manufacturers for another customer, that the temperature also affects how they react. So on a cooler cloudy day, they will still darken albeit maybe not fully dark but not clear either.

The only saving grace is that in my opinion despite the lense looking dark, it doesn’t appear to effect what I see as much as the old ones did.

I won’t be getting another pair and indeed on a cloudy day, I stick to a clear pair of glasses!