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What sunglasses do you use?

I have a pair of Tifosi's that I used for biking and running last year that I was never really in love with. They had a slight gap between the top of the lens and the frame, and it just so happened when I was in the aero position that gap was exactly in my line of sight and drove me crazy. Well last night they broke so I need to look for a new pair. Any suggestions?

Jason

Comments

  • Briko Sprinter. They stopped making them in 2004 (?). I have to stockpile them so I never run out. Every time a pair comes up on EBay, I get into a bidding war with the same five or six freaks who have the same view I do. This is the problem with finding the "perfect" sunglasses!
  • Depends on what I'm using them for.   I have a REALLY narrow face, so I'm limited in my selections, but here is what is in my quiver:

    Smith Toaster Sliders (I actually have 2 pairs of these).  They are my go-to glasses for bike travel stuff.  Lots of exchangable lenses and they can be worn when not riding with a little bit of fashion.   http://www.smithoptics.com/products...ider/view/ 

    Rudy Project "Rudy Girl" Sportmask (which seems to have been replaced by the SX model).  It's a little big on my face, but it's my choice for really sunny days (the wrap around is very protective) and when I'm riding the TT bike (frameless). http://www.rudyprojectusa.com/index...d=SN314308

    Tifosi Scatto with Fototec lenses.  My go to lense for races or training days when I'm not sure what the sun is going to be doing.  The Fototec lense is great and they are cheap enough that I don't worry much about scratches and such.  Frameless glasses so they work well on the TT bike.  They do tend to get cracks in the lenses near the places where the nose or ear pieces connect, but they are pretty cheap and I usually find them on sale when I need to replace them.  http://www.tifosioptics.com/product...cRX%7cAll/

    Maui Jim Titanium Sport.  My driving glasses.  I originally bought them for running- they are super light.  But they've become my driving glasses 'cause I just love the clarity of the lenses so much.  http://www.mauijim.com/kapalua-4257.html

    Bike Nashbar Frameless.  I have several pairs of these in various colors.  Great "beater" glasses 'cause they are so cheap.  I'll race with these whenever I'm thinking there is a high likelihood the transition area is gonna be pretty messy.  They fit my small face nicely too.  http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Produc...000_202365

    I'm hoping to add the Smith V90's to my list as well :-)  Just gotta go try on a pair.  The V90 Max I tried was definately out!

  • Tifosi has a frameless option now with the Fototec (light sensitive) lens for under $60. They are very similar to the twice as expensive Smith's noted above, which I tried out when a friend brought them to a ride, but don't require constantly changing lenses for differnent light conditions. This past week, I made the mistake of doing one ride with an older pair of Smiths with a frame on top, and got a bad crick in my neck agter trying to get my head up high enough to see. I went back to the Tifosi Vogel's and the crick went away!

    When I went looking for these Tifosi's a few weeks ago, I found various sub-models and prices available from $39-$69. THe optics are very good, and the lack of a frame works well with the aero position. In the Pac NW where I ride the most, a photo sensitive lens is ideal for the often grey-to-sunny days we get.

  • +1 for Tifosi Vogel (frameless with Fototec).
  • Nemo, it's interesting that you mentioned the Rudy Project Sportsmask because I was looking at those as well. I'm also looking at the Karboneye because they have a polarized lens option (the Sportsmask does not) and a buddy of mine gets a wicked discount on Rudy Project gear.

  • Tifosi Vogel Fototec. Whatever you choose, go frameless for the reasons mentioned above. I got mine for under $60 and raced IMCDA and IMAZ in them...no issues so far.
  • The Tifosi Vogel is another great option- just too big for my face and the nose piece is too wide so I end up going a little cross-eyed :-)

    I love my polarized Maui Jim's, and the optional polarized lenses that accompany my Smith Toasters, HOWEVER, the polarized lenses to not play nice with the display on my Garmin or LYC- so before you go down that road, make sure whatever computer you are using is still easily readable with the polarized lenses.
  • Rudy Project Sports Mask.  2+ years and totally happy with them.

    All RP's have a lens replacement guarantee.  For $19.95 they will send you replacement lenses if you break or scratch them.  In my case, I recently broke my RP Sports Mask's and I sent them in and they sent me brand new glasses!  I know the similar Smith's have a good warranty.

     

     

     

  • X2 on the Rudy Projects...though they ain't cheap!
  • Any thoughts on prescription glasses? My vision isn't bad--20/40 with a -1.25 with a slight astigmatism. Most of the prescription sports glasses I've seen for <$400 use an insert, which doesn't work when you're in the aero position looking out the top of your glasses. I typically just wear a cheap pair of Performance glasses that are non-rx and deal with the slightly blurry scenery, but I wouldn't mind a decent rx pair that will work in aero. Any suggestions?
  • my brother just got XL radar oakley Rx glasses.  the XL is perfect for aero position because the top of the glasses are higher up.  i ride the same but non RX.  not cheap.  they don't look weird either.  see chris horner photos from this year's TOC solvang TT.  he had some on.

    GH

  • I just got a pair of red Oakley Antix for my birthday. They wraparound far enough that it is very easy to see off to the sides. And they look like they were made to fit with my Giro aero helmet.

    http://www.oakley.com/products/6094/21797
  •  Just ordered some Fototec Vogels.

  • Keith - my eyes are much worse than yours - like 20/400 left and 20/200 right...although currently correctable to 20/15. I race exclusively with contacts and use regular goggles and sunglasses. But contacts are a hassle so about 98% of my training is with prescription goggles and sunglasses. I order my goggles from Aquagoggles in Canada. You select the diopter for each lens and one of 2 colors for the strap (clear or black). They work great...have been through a couple of pair and replacement straps. For RX sunglasses, I started with RayBan 10 years ago, then moved to Oakley, and a couple of years ago went to Costa Del Mar. I liked each subsequent verion better than the previous. All three were true prescriptions...no inserts. When I'm ready to buy, I take my prescription to a number of stores, then ask them to show me the coolest sport rims that will hold the prescription lens...price no object. I figure it's a boat load cheaper than laser surgery which would probably have me wearing glasses anyway after a few years.
  • Oakley M-Frame Strike
    Oakley Jawbones
  • On the bike in aero position I much pefer to just have a tinted visor on my aero helmet then to wear glasses.

    The only sunglass that didn't drive me crazy on the bike were frameless, however even those bothered me as most of the time I was looking over the top of the glasses. Flipping frameless glasses upside down sort of worked but I'm pretty sure that I looked like a Fred with my upside down glasses so I stopped doing that.

  • I think Nemo wins the award for most sunglasses! Sounds like you have about a 100 pair just hanging around the house!
  • Posted By Tom Glynn on 01 Jun 2011 04:44 PM

    I think Nemo wins the award for most sunglasses! Sounds like you have about a 100 pair just hanging around the house!

    It's all over Facebook that she's a sunglasses slut.

  • I don't have an aero helmet (yet). That was going to be a reward for the work this year. Was thinking of the Lazer helmet Todd @ TT thinks highly of but not sure you can get a visor for it - anyone know?

    I am liking the Smith V90's - look very nice!
  • @ Jeff. I bought the Lazer helmet with the visor. I really like the helmet, it fits well, is easily adjustable and has a port on top. The visor however, is a different story. Strictly from my experience with it, I find that the visor doesn't go down far enough and my eyes are looking underneath it. For the visor to cover my eyes when riding I need to tilt the helmet very far forward or tilt my head down.
  • I've got Oakley jawbones for pure cycling (they're the bestest), Oakley Radars for running and I also use them for driving. Both Oakleys have the photochromic lenses which completely (IMO) remove any and all glare.

    I also have a LG visor on my Giro Advantage II TT helmet. I don't think I'll ever go back to racing with sunglasses after I added the visor, like Mancona said.
  • Oakley Half Jacket with transition lenses http://www.oakley.com/halfjacket

    I use the transition lenses for all lighing conditions and tri not to remove them once I'm on the bike.

  • @Scott: Which visor are you using with the Giro Advantage II? I searched for LG Visor but don't seem to find a actual link to a product.
  • Posted By Peter Giesin on 02 Jun 2011 10:49 AM

    @Scott: Which visor are you using with the Giro Advantage II? I searched for LG Visor but don't seem to find a actual link to a product.

    I'll have to look it up, but I believe it's just a basic LG windshield. It comes in clear, smoked/shaded and downright dark (obviously, these aren't the real names). I'll try to search for the forum thread where I showed how I did it and repost here.



    And here it is: http://members.endurancenation.us/T....aspx#3711

  • I need a prescription lens and wear the Rudy Project Horus model. Each lens can be popped out and changed very easily. I have both a clear set of lenses and a tinted pair.

    With the high price of a good pair of prescription sunglasses, even though I constantly lust after the latest and greatest models, I will probably stick with these until they are not longer operational.
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