Protective eyewear

[SoCalCruiser]

Hey everyone i'm new to this board, I used to be an occassional rider until March when i started commuting to work 2-3 days per week. In July I bought my first road bike and have been riding pretty seriously since then. Well after my morning commute where some pebbles shot from my DH's rear tire right into my face i decided it was finally time to get some adequate protective eyewear. Do any of you have a brand that you like that works well with smaller face sizes? I've tried on a couple pairs in some of my local bike shops but have yet to find anything that seems to fit...this of course stems from the shops i have been to carry a very limited selection of items for women. Any input would be greatly appreciated or if anyone in my area (OC, CA) knows of a bike shop that carries a good selection for those of us with smaller faces :).

[Becky]

For sunglasses, I wear Smith Toaster Sliders and Tifosi Quam 1.5s (photochromatic). Both fit small faces very well, although I think the Tifosis are a better value for what you get.

For dark commutes, I wear $5 clear safety glasses from the hardware store. They're a little big, but they wrap around nicely and stay in place. Best of all, I'm not constantly switching between my clear and brown lenses- drives me crazy! I'd rather carry a second pair of glasses for the afternoon ride home.

[wackyjacky1]

I used to wear Bolle Parole glasses. The lenses are interchangeable so you can select the right ones for whatever your light conditions are. They were comfortable, and I really liked the wraparound style; it was very effective at keeping wind and debris from bothering my eyes.

I can't wear contacts anymore, so my poor ol' Bolles are mostly idle now. :(

[indigoiis]

My DH gave me a pair of protective safety glasses, eyeglass style, that were given out at his work (he is in construction.) They have UV protective lenses but they look clear, so they are not too dark. You can get them at home depot. I love them - they fit nice and snug and I'm not too worried about losing or dropping them.

they look like this: http://www.citylivingstores.com/mas_assets/full/541146.jpg

[divingbiker]

I have a narrow face, and wear Rudy Project Ekynox SX (http://www.sporteyes.com/rpeky.htm#Ekynox%20SX) glasses. I've got a pair with clear lenses for cold weather and mountain biking, and sunglasses for when it's bright.

The web site linked above is very good to deal with (call ifyou have questions), and they have a huge selection. I got prescription lenses in both pairs of glasses through them.

[Becky]

My DH gave me a pair of protective safety glasses, eyeglass style, that were given out at his work (he is in construction.) They have UV protective lenses but they look clear, so they are not too dark. You can get them at home depot. I love them - they fit nice and snug and I'm not too worried about losing or dropping them.

they look like this: http://www.citylivingstores.com/mas_assets/full/541146.jpg

Those are the ones that I wear!! I've worn a lot of safety glasses (for work)- these are some of the better-fitting ones (IMO) for smaller faces.

[Miranda]

Another +1 for the Ekynox SX...

***Rudy's *R*O*C*K*** :cool:

If we were to post a thread about products we absolutely love, these would be in mine for sure.

The web link below goes to the site where I bought mine from. They are under "Rudy Girls". I own the white with pink lens, and a pair of clear lens to change out.

http://www.e-rudy.com/index_inner_detail.php?group_id=1&cat_id=6&item_id=SN767124D

I confess to being a very picky shopper. My head is about 54/55cm. I wear a size small Giro helmet. I had a really hard time, just as you, finding glasses to fit my smaller head and face, AND work with my helmet... and of course, no lbs had what I was looking for to try on:(.

I tried some Oakley half jackets as they toute to be for smaller faces, can switch out the lens, etc. The temple piece was not adjustable. It was too long for the sides of my head and didn't fit with my helmet. Major PITA and a return.

Last I checked, the Rudy's have a lifetime low cost lens replacement policy (like scratches, etc.). They are also FULLY adjustable, and most parts are replaceable without getting a whole new pair of specs (nose pads, etc.). They also have an RX option.

Geek out the website with all the facts on Rudy, lots of stuff on there. I also have had contact with their customer service folks... good experience.

Hope that helps:).

[Jiffer]

I wear Oakleys and they are really great. I don't think mine are women specific since Dh ordered mine for me when I first got into cycling and they're the same kind he has. It was sweet of him to get me sunglasses, but it would have been nice to choose my own frame. ;)

But, having said that, I absolutely love the yellow lenses, which I wear when it's both dark and light out. The lenses block glare really well and are crystal clear to look through. More clear than without them sometimes! The lens wraps a little around the sides of my face, which helps keep the wind out of my eyes. My friend, who wears contacts, discovered she needed something that blocked more wind when her contacts kept drying out.

I have a reasonably small head, but probably not as small as yours. I wear a medium Giro. Yet my sunglasses are not women specific. So, if you tried their WS sunglasses, you might find a good fit. By the way, I wear mine on the outside of my helmet. The plastic thin part that touches my head. (Hope that makes sense.) This is, apparently, how Dh says they are supposed to be warn.

[GraysonKelly]

I'm sorry to jump in here with a question of my own. Please forgive me and let me know if I have commited an error...
What if you can't wear contacts but still have to wear glasses? Are there any glasses out there that will fit over my glasses but aren't too bulky or loose? Right now I just contend with the sun as best I can but I think my eyes are paying for it. Just a questions.
Gray

[batsheva]

Gray - i would try the protective safety specs as pictured above - v cheap to try and they are designed to be used over glasses as well as without for workmen, nurses etc.

batsheva

[arielmoon]

I bought a pair of $5 protective glasses at Wal-Mart in the hardware section. They have a brugandy trim on the top and actually look rather stylish! The extra side protection means less wind drying out my contacts too! :)

[nochinhair4u]

i have oakley flak jackets. they also come in an asian fit, but i actually found those to be too tight.

[TrekTheKaty]

I read that shatterproof sunglasses can help prevent injury in a fall. Also keeps wind and BUGS off my contacts. I wear women's sunglasses from Nashbar with interchangeable lenses--and they were cheap.

[singletrackmind]

Smith something Max. I do have a problem with the nose pieces breaking but Smith sent a bunch of new ones to replace as they wear, no charge. A big plus. I've also had peeling problems on both the smoke and persimmon lenses. Like the fit, don't like the lack of durability. The Smiths I had before these were much better, which is why I bought this pair.


Someone I raced with had non-shatter-proof eyewear. She crashed hard on a road ride and ended up with some of it in her face and through her cheek.

[Xrayted]

I have some safety glasses from Home Depot. One pair dark and one pair yellow. At about $10/pair they are great and won't crack or shatter too easily, a fact which many sunglasses can't claim. Another kind to consider is motorcycle sunglasses from a cycle shop. They have a soft, rubber gasket around the eyes and wrap around closely. They would be great for those who have dry eyes from contacts. The gasket would also keep the rain out. They have many cool styles and are much cheaper than pricey glasses from your LBS.

[smilingcat]

To Socalcruiser,

Try Two wheel One Planet over in ElToro area. The Kristen is the owner and she can help you out with proper fitting sun-glasses.

Some one was asking about Smith glasses. Its the Smith Moab. You can get a prescription inserts made. But I don't think it fits for smaller women's head. You could try a pair at cycling shops.

I have a small face, so it was hard finding a pair of frames that fit well. I really wanted wrap arounds, to keep the maxium amount of wind/grit/rain out of my eyes and that was a challenge too. My prescription isn't seriously bad, but I do have astigmatism and my small face means my interpupillary distance is very narrow (which apparently causes headaches for opticians). I was told that having the wrap arounds made would be impossible by a lot of places, but I decided to not give up.

I ended up with Smith Theory frames, which are almost identical to Oakley Half Jackets, but a whole lot cheaper (and they were on sale). The lenses I had custom ground by www.sportsoptical.com ,as he was the only person willing... at a price of course... fortunately we have good insurance and it was just covered. I have the kind that start clear, so they don't get exceptionally dark and my eyes are a bit senstive, so it would be nice to have darker lenses at times, but it doesn't make me seriously uncomfortable.

Personally I like all my glasses to be transitional - I think it usually adds about $50 to the price of the glasses? The only place it doesn't work out is driving on very bright days - the windshield glass blocks the UV that makes them change. I have a pair of polarized sunglasses I had made years ago that I use if I can remember to take them.



smilingcat

[LilBolt]

+1 on Rudy Project. I use the Rydon Girl (aka Rydon II), and have clear (for commuting in the dark), polarized grey, and pink lenses...something for every occasion. They also have inserts for RX. My boyfriend has the larger Rydon with the inserts and has no complaints. I see that in the closeout section on e-rudy.com they have the blue Rydon Girl on closeout for $80. It's a good deal if you like blue.