Never seen the point of having to switch out lenses.

One minute you’re riding open trails in the sun, then about to go into a worded area. Do you stop & change lens?

I’ve had Specialized Singletrack glasses (photochromic) and they’ve been ace.

Second the query around prescription glasses. I’m also shortsighted and keen to find a set of glasses that offer coverage without needing an insert!

I need quite a strong prescription so can’t have contact lenses or the official Oakley prescription glasses. I have used optilabs and got on well with them. I have now used reglaze direct to put prescription lenses in a pair of Oakley chainlinks. They give advice on which frames would work for your prescription and do different things, varifocals, etc. I have been very happy with mine.

For those asking about prescription (blind like me) check out rad8 not on the list above but you’ll find a review on here and I xannot rate them ir their customer service (when I headbanged a pickup) higher.

Used to use Oakleys, but even with photochromic these rad8’s are better (in my experience) and much cheaper too.

James

rad8 prescription user here too, absolutely love them for sunny days and nightriding, the transition is quick and they go absolutely clear

So which with best when you can’t use a brown based Len’s because of colourblindness

Found my Rad8 ones fitted very close so no airflow to keep them from getting fogged up. Replaced with Melon Optics Alleycat which I’m fully satisfied with.

No links to the reviews of these?

As usual with MTB websites’ “best something” pages, it’s a weak claim when many popular options haven’t even been reviewed.

chakaping
Free Member
I’m a fan of cheap, clear glasses for riding and what I’d really like is some of the big, goggles-sized ones for £15 rather than £150.

I’d imagine those Madisons are about as close as you’ll get. I’ve got the Madison Enigma’s and for me they work as well as my Oakley Race Jackets (if not better as the Oakleys are pretty worn), think the Crypto’s are a bit bigger and can be had with a single lens for around £30 e.g. https://www.tweekscycles.com/madison-crypto-sunglasses-4000550/

chakaping
Free Member
I’m a fan of cheap, clear glasses for riding and what I’d really like is some of the big, goggles-sized ones for £15 rather than £150.

I have bought some Julbo glasses a couple of years ago, on a whim as I used to have a pair 20 years ago. They are often in the sale and seem very good for the £30 I paid for them.
e.g.
https://www.outdoorgb.com/p/julbo_outline_sunglasses_with_spectron_3_lens/

The intro mentions a prescription lens glasses review to come, but to get in early, discovering a couple of months back that you can get off-the-shelf bifocal (with clear uppers, and reading lowers) safety specs has been game changer for me as my age-related long-sightedness means I struggle to use my GPS or phone for nav these days without my readers. These, at ~£20 are ace: https://www.voltxsafety.com

@reeksy – are yours prescription Rad8s? Mine are and I was disappointed to find they don’t have the anti-fog treatment that the non-prescription ones have (although I have no idea how good this is). Emailed Rad8 and they apologised, sent me some antifog spray and said they’d update the description on the website to make it clear. The antifog spray wasn’t very good though so now I use Zeiss stuff, works well but need to remember to apply before every ride.

Other than that I’m well pleased with them, work perfectly in all light conditions and I think they have improved my riding as I always used to struggle, having astigmatism meant weighted contacts which would jiggle around over rough ground. The only thing I don’t like is that photochromics always look a bit “special”, IMO. I also had a frame break for no apparent question but Rad8 sent me a replacement without quibble

great article, thanks.

I have a pair of Sutros, and an older pair of Jawbreakers. I just love them. They’re the first riding glasses I’ve owned that I don’t need to touch from when I start riding to when I stop.
the trail torch lenses seem pretty good at coping with both sunny and (very) grey conditions.
i also own a pair of Flak 2.0 Photochromatic ones. I really like them, but they let too much air around my eyes, so my eyes water. Also, they stick out at the sides, so seem to interfere with the straps on my bike helmets. Ideally, I’d like to change them for a clear or photochromatic Sutro for winter uk riding.