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I'm looking in Wiggle for some new shades for biking. Either road or XC type riding. I wear contacts so I need to keep flies and dirt out of my eyes as much as possible. To allow me to wear them as often as possible I want photochromic lenses.
I had the original photochromic ones that went from something like 50% to 90% slowly, but it seems the new ones are different, it says 90% to 23% transmission. So are they light enough to wear in winter or even at night? Are they dark enough for bright sunlight? Probably yes in the UK but what about say Southern France or Spain?
In terms of style I'm looking at Radar EV Path, EVZero Path or Jawbreakers. I find my current Jawbones sit too low so I have to peer around the frame when in the drops and crane my neck up.
Any experiences?
Contact lens wearer too.
I’ve had some radar EV and jawbreakers - really similar lens shape but the jawbreakers sit slightly better on my face.
I have the transitions photochromic lenses. Really great for dark*-medium light but I prefer something darker for sunny days.
By dark I mean night time dark.
Oh yeah, if you go for jawbreakers the lens is very easy to swap
Radar EV is my choice. Trail and Road Prizm lenses, as well as a clear for really bad conditions. Easy as pie to swap lenses, and excellent fit. The latter is the most important. What fits my boat race may not fit yours!
Jawbreakers are great on and off-road, the adjustable legs and the massive lens work really well.
Big fan of Radar EVs.
I have tried on Radars before, a long time ago, and I liked them. But I would prefer the ease of changing lenses in Jawbreakers since I can see myself using photochromic for most rides but changing them if I end up somewhere really sunny. I know Radars are interchangeable but you have to bend the frame to do it I guess, and this is how my Half Jackets eventually broke.
So for anyone who's tried both, is the view through the top of the Jawbreakers as unobstructed as the Radar? Is the frameless design of the Zero a benefit in that respect?
I've got Radars and Zeros.
I bought the Zeros because the frame of the Radars was a bit annoying for fast road descents, but the Zeros are much lighter than the Radars and grip my face less well, so they're much more prone to sliding down my nose. I don't really think they're much better.
Both are excellent but the jawbreaker has a slightly taller lens.
I can see the frame with both but only in the extreme periphery of vision when down in the drops.
Good stuff, it's looking like Jawbreakers will be the best option.
Got a pair from decathlon, after a history of expensive glasses that I frequently donated to cafes and they’re great.
I have Radar Evs and Jawbreakers. Definitely prefer the Jawbreakers. The arms are thinner and shorter so seem to work better with helmets.
I really like my Jawbreakers, though can't help with the lenses as I swap between road n trail prizm and clear. In fact mine are my second pair having left a set on top of Nan Bield 🙄
The lenses were a doddle to change, mine have become a bit of a pain as the clasp has become floppy so pushes against the lenses, if that makes sense.
I have radars with the oakley photochromic lens.
It’s fine at night, it goes totally clear.
I’ve never noticed it changing, although it does go dark.
However, i live in Scotland, and it never goes ‘really’ dark.
On a trip to Canada a couple of years ago, i wore them outside on a sunny winters day, they went so dark, that when I went back inside it took a good 20 minutes to lighten up. They never get that dark in the uk, not even in direct sunlight on a summers day.
Therefore, I don’t think you need to worry about wearing them in Europe, they’ll be fine.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/HECAKROTT/carnac-kronus-time-trial-helmet with a spare visor https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/HECAVISOR/carnac-kronus-time-trial-magnetic-tru-sight-visor for £50 total plus p&p?
I've received mine the other day and I'm still trying to decide whether to keep or return it (so I've not ridden using it yet), because the 58-62cm is a tight fit front to back, but I can't feel the roof of the helmet touching the top of my head (I'm in the "alien" head camp, long thin and flat-topped).
Bit gutted it's not a perfect fit, because it didn't look like a "football head" from the pics.
I have these for the same reasons as the OP.
These probably don’t go light enough for me, but they are a great option. Venting is good and they very rarely fog up.
I have EV zero path photochromatic, and they're excellent. I've used them plenty for rides starting in the proper dark on a clear morning. I was half tempted to get some Prizm ones, but I actually find the photochromatic ones are fine for me even in bright light so have saved my money...
My Jawbreakers were a revelation. I were contacts also and the level of protection from wind and bugs are not far off googles. I got them with trail Prism lens and bought a set of clear for night riding. Thoroughly recommended.
As above, Jawbreakers with Prism Trail and a clear lens here. Brilliant for MTB.
PM me if you want to try them on before you buy (I'm Cardiff based)