sunglasses?

[OakLeaf]

I'd recommend trying out a cheap pair of polarized sunglasses before you sink a lot of money into an expensive pair. I can't wear polarized - the shimmer just makes me nauseous.

I 'm a big fan of these, as I've posted here before. Impact resistant, scratch resistant, UV blocking, sized for a small face (they come in full size as well); available in smoke, amber and clear; reasonably attractive, and $9 a pair ($8 if you order them by the dozen). What's not to like?

If you'd rather buy them locally, your local shooting sports store probably has them - if you don't mind setting foot in there. Your local industrial safety house can probably get them if they don't stock them, and farm stores often do as well. When I found that my Oakleys weren't dog-proof either, that was the last pair of expensive sunglasses I bought.

[WindingRoad]

POLAR ........ IZED. These are the best lenses if you can swing it. Try non-polar and polar lenses back to back and you'll see a difference. Gets rid of vertical light, so anything off of pavement, snow, ice, water, cars etc. etc. I wouldn't be without mine. They make my eyes feel sooooooo much better after hours of riding, especially on my long rides like RAIN (160 miles in one day).

[kenyonchris]

I wear the Oakley Livestrong if the sun is bright. Love em, but after a while they hurt my ears. I had a pair of Specialized ones that the LBS gave me a great deal on because they were being discontinued...I LOVED them but they died in a tragic crash (remember the bush incident?). Like my Rudy Project ones for the car.
Best Non-Cycling glasses? Maui Jim Kona. They cost an arm and a freaking leg, but they are very light, not too dark, not too light. I am very sensitive to stuff squeezing my head and I forget they are there. Now, if you sit on them, they bend and they never recover. If you drop them they bend and never recover. They are the Paris Hilton of sunglasses....expensive and high maintenance...but they are awesome. Sometimes findable on ebay.
I've worn the Maui Jims on the bike and they don't work, the lenses are too small. But they are very stylish to wear AFTER the bike, if you are into that sort of thing.

[tulip]

I'd recommend trying out a cheap pair of polarized sunglasses before you sink a lot of money into an expensive pair.

If they have UVA/UVB protection, then fine. If not, you are doing your eyes no favors by going cheap. Most of us only have two eyes and they are worth protecting, trust me.

[OakLeaf]

If they have UVA/UVB protection, then fine. If not, you are doing your eyes no favors by going cheap. Most of us only have two eyes and they are worth protecting, trust me.

I just meant to try before she buys. If she has to throw out a pair of polarized sunglasses because they make her nauseous (as I did), better it be a $15 pair than a $150 pair.

[shootingstar]

I just meant to try before she buys. If she has to throw out a pair of polarized sunglasses because they make her nauseous (as I did), better it be a $15 pair than a $150 pair.

I really can't afford to spend $150 pr. of sunglasses.
So how does one know that a pr. of sunglasses is truly UAV/UB vs. fake?

[OakLeaf]

To the best of my knowledge... which may be wrong...

Polycarbonate lenses inherently block UV.

If they're another material, you just have to rely on the manufacturer's representations, regardless of the price of the glasses.

And remember that if you're not wearing wrap-around glasses, then your eyes are still exposed to UV from the sides and possibly the top.


Now, W/R/T polarization, I've heard that not all polarized lenses give the shimmer. But I'm not going to spend a lot of money finding out. Especially since you really can't tell inside a store.

[tulip]

I really can't afford to spend $150 pr. of sunglasses.
So how does one know that a pr. of sunglasses is truly UAV/UB vs. fake?

$150 for sunglasses is not much in my book. But I have Rx sunglasses, so I expect to pay more, and my eyes are worth it (I'm already blind in one eye, so I really go all out to protect my good eye). I rely on a good optician--they know eyes and glasses.

For non-Rx sunglasses, research the manufacturers. Most reputable companies will not fake UVA/UVB, but Walmart glasses might be faked (?)

[Ritamarie]

Good info! I'm generally a dollar store sunglasses wearer, but I'll be sorting through all of this and buying myself a really good pair of sunglasses this week! I just had a very scary thing happen with my vision after shoveling snow last Sunday in the sun for 6 hours with no sunglasses. Diagnosis: snow blindness. I had cataract surgery last April and so have implants with UV protection, but obviously that doesn't mean I can go without sunglasses. BIG wake up call.

[TrekTheKaty]

They did a special on TV and found that cheap sunglasses with UVA/UVB tags were as effective as expensive sunglasses. However I pay extra for women's style and "sport" nosepads that help they stay on my face (particularly during running).

I also love my Tifosi's. I bought them after Lasik--Dr. ordered big, wrap around lenses to protect my eyes from bugs and wind while I healed. Mine came with multiple lenses but I settled on brown.

WARNING: One day I forgot my cycling glasses and slipped on some RayBans. I discovered they gave me almost no peripheral vision, which proved dangerous when I glanced back to pass. So try before you buy, if you can.

Now this I'm not sure on--isn't there something about using lenses that won't crush on impact? Maybe that was skiing?

[tulip]

Now this I'm not sure on--isn't there something about using lenses that won't crush on impact? Maybe that was skiing?

Polycarbonate lenses are best because they don't shatter.

[OakLeaf]

Anything that meets ANSI Z87.1 is impact-resistant. High-impact resistant lenses bear the Z87.1+ mark. I don't think it's only polycarbonate that meets these standards?

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=...AH0GEDgJVXEk-Q

[tulip]

I have no idea of what materials meet those standards. My ophthalmologist always gives me a prescription for polycarbonate lenses for safety, though.

[OakLeaf]

Looks like for impact-resistant prescription lenses, it's either polycarbonate or Trivex. I'm guessing Trivex is probably a lot more expensive. It's supposed to be a lot better optically than polycarbonate.