You are hereForums / By Discipline / Mountain (off road) / MTB Gear / Clear 'sun' glasses for night riding
Clear 'sun' glasses for night riding
I've ridden the Oaks at night twice in the last couple of months and my el-cheapo triple lens (clear, yellow & tinted) Anaconda specials just aren't good enough for night riding.
I own a pair of Rudy Project sunglasses for day riding and I am mostly happy with them. I sweat profusely which means these tend to fog up a little bit.
Can any serious sweaters (or otherwise) recommend the best glasses for night riding that you have used? Price is not important. With my declining vision I really need to have good visibility to ride at night (even just commuting home from work). I'd also consider getting prescription (sports) glasses - does anyone have experience with these?
Andrew
- Login to post comments
- Bookmark & share
I use bbb with the photochromatic lenz.
The shimano transitions look good too
I use standard clear industrial type safety glasses. The modern ones are light and comfortable and very cheap. Most hardware shops will have them for around $10. Cheap enough to throw away if you don't like them (or use them in your garage for their intended purpose!)
I have a pair of Oakley Sunglasses with dark and yellow lenses. I use the yellow for riding in the dark - I have poor night vision and wear contact lenses. They come with small air vents to prevent them from fogging up.
I have a cheap set from T7 with multiple lenses that I use for night riding and commuting. So far have been excellent for intended purpose, but have an issue with them fogging in wet weather. I don't think you're going to find many that will perform well in those conditions.
I end up licking them, which usually does me until the next set of traffic lights, when perspiration and exhalation fog them almost instantly.
The yellow lenses are just a little too dark on thsi set, so I use the clear lenses but generally find that pale amber works best for me in low light - it really helps detail jump out, which aids depth perception.
I had a pair of Specialized MTB monochromatic's a couple of years back. I don't know if they still have them in Aussie and I have since lost mine but they were really good. Becasue they were MTB specific the lense was almost clear at night so didn't go as dark during the day. I rarely fogged up with them either. Although riding at night with the damp sometimes it's wishful thinking to assume you won't fog at all.
Regarding the prescription glasses....
I bought an Oakley frame off Ebay US for $70 or something really cheap (I think it was a second/runout). Had slightly orange tinted prescription lenses put in which cost me approx $240. The glasses guy I use claims he can fit prescription lenses to pretty much any frame (highly curved or one piece lenses are the exception).
I'm only borderline actually needing glasses but I wear these all the time riding as think they are great. Realistically it's only a matter of time before the lenses get written off (already a few marks from rocks etc) but the nice clear vision is worth it.
I don't ride mtb at night so can't comment on that but you could easily get them made up without the tint. FWIW even with the tint, I can actually see better at night with them on than off.
+1 to safety glasses
I'll look into the lower priced options suggested and test these out before heading down the prescription route.
Personally I'm not a fan of safety glasses for riding in. I own a number of pairs from my work days (and I used to make my boss buy the more expensive/comfortable ones).
Andrew
http://www.bunnings.com.au/products_product_dewa...
I use clear glasses for night riding and get them from Bunnings. When they scratch any points of light appear as starbursts. These are cheap enough to replace regularly.
I use clear lenses for Awaba & another pair for more open tracks-the model I use have 2 small air flow vents-fogging clears quickly for even me as I have very bushy eyebrows & they are cheap!-$35 to $50!
Honestly, if you think you might need glasses then go and get tested. Even if you don't end up buying anything it's worth it just to find out how bad you are. The thing with slow deterioration is you don't really notice it happening and you learn to cope. I put it off for a couple of years and was amazed at the difference.
My eyesight also gets worse in low light, so night riding would be about the worst case situation.
I have just ordered a pair of Oakley Half Jacket glasses with prescription lenses. Balck Iridium and Clear. I should get them in a few weeks so will let you know what they are like .
For night riding, I use Uvex i-vo. They come in clear, yellow and tinted. I use both the clear and yellow ones. Depends if it's dusty or not.
For during the day I use Shimano Equinox, comes with 4 different lenses in the kit, Photochromatic, Smoke mirror, yellow and clear.
Cell Bikes have these Shimano SPARK Cycling Sunnies for $79 at the moment.
I have a pair of glasses that I use which have a blue tint. Is this meant to be good???? No idea why they are blue, but, they seem to work okay. Keeps the bugs out. Anyone else heard of blue glasses?