Forum menu
Really need to replace my ageing and scratched Adidas Evil Eyes. And I'm having one of my periodic updating-my-kit-to-what-is-cool phases and like the look of larger lens glasses, but I don't have a particularly big head/face. Like photochromic lenses (though don't mind interchangeable if it's a good system), and want to use for both road and MTB.
So, any ideas? Quite like the look of Oakley Sutro S, but no photochromic option (afaik) and are they secure enough for off road? Will the Prizm Trail Torch be fine on the road too, or not particularly dark? Are Jawbreakers actually enormous? Tifosi Rail look quite good and good value too, but possibly quite large. What else should I look at? Don't have a budget per se, but around £100 would be good.
Jawbreakers are not massive, I have a set for road riding, they don't play nice with my MTB helmet though (Met Roam MIPS) as the arms clash with the lower part of the helmet just in front of my ears.
Freewheel have some pretty good deals on selected 100% glasses, I've just bought a pair of Glendales (They're huge, but the arms mount lower so they fit with my helmet) for £70 with a hardcase and two lenses. Other styles were available.
I tried a pair of Carnacas my everyday road and mtb.I liked the fit,the straight legs and that they were rimless.The photochromic was also pretty good but they seemed to pick up marks/scratches easily,so I have gone back to my Rudy Project Spinshields.
I've got jawbreakers, they are pretty damn big but that means no streaming eyes when it's cold.
Compared to my old pair of 'normal' sized Oakley's...
Cheap POC copies on eBay 👍
Lots of good suggestions. Those Glendales are a great price. Good to see Jawbreakers beside something else - they do look massive, but my current small evil eyes are actually a bit crap off road as I get the odd splash under the lens, so would be nice to have more protection.
I was using an Adidas Zonyk Pro for a while and loved it. I broke the side and couldn't find a replacement that would ship to the UK. Tried a bunch of things to replace them and nothing quite worked, because the Adidas lens was so good, so I ended up getting some of the new Adidas MTB sunnies. Had to import them, but they are very good. Failing that, Melon make some nice stuff.
I have the sutro-s with prism trail torch lenses, the standard sutro is too wide for me.
i certainly wouldn’t ride under the trees on a sunny summer day with the prism road lenses which is why i went for the trail torch, have found them perfect for road riding.
MTB is in the loft so haven't ridden them off road for ages :-/
That pic of the Jawbreakers up there ^^ is not ideal as they are next to a pair of Halfjackets which are quite small.
Heres a pic of some next to Flackjackets, Five Squared & Holbrooks. They're not that massive. I love mine, especially on the road but they're great off road too. Even if they do clash a bit with the Met Roam helemt, I can seem to get away with it but a few people have said the same.
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/CLxcFbLF/IMG-20220706-124136978-HDR.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/CLxcFbLF/IMG-20220706-124136978-HDR.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Melon optics do a photochromic option now, looks really good
That pic of the Jawbreakers up there ^^ is not ideal as they are next to a pair of Halfjackets which are quite small.
True, they are pretty small - I'd forgotten what model they were, I've had that pair for at least 15 years! Original lenses too.
True, they are pretty small – I’d forgotten what model they were, I’ve had that pair for at least 15 years! Original lenses too.
Wow, they're in good nick!
Go on then, heres a pic of mine with road (DHB) and mtb (Met Roam) helmets....
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/x1RpGYjP/helmets.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/x1RpGYjP/helmets.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Are Jawbreakers actually enormous?
No, not really. I use them on both. They feel like the successor to M Frames, but they're somewhat heavier due to the extra frame of course.
I previously had Jawbones (still do in fact) but whilst more comfortable, being to close to my face meant they got grimy and sweaty quite a bit more. And the top of the frame made it a bit hard to see when on the drops road biking. The Jawbreakers solve that, but then like all shades further from your face you sometimes get the reflection of your skin obscuring things. But that's quite rare on Jawbreakers, not as much of an issue as it was with M Frames.
Only downside besides the slight weight increase is that they didn't fit in the vents of my Catlike helmet very well if I had to take them off. I had to remove the peak which I rather liked having, but they do fit securely now at least. YHMV of course.
Thanks all, very much appreciated. Swaying towards some jawbreakers with trail torch lens. Given most days seem cloudy right now in the Borders (unless summer decides to show it's face again!), reckon they'll be better all round than the prizm road.
I love the prism road, but I also have the prism trail as well. Never tried the torch lenses though...
I have a pair of 100% Glendales with clear, smoke and persimmon lenses which I wear for MTB and gravel riding. Comfy, and changing out the lenses is quick and easy. Really rate them. I paid over £100 (with clear and bronze lenses included), plus I bought the persimmon lens separately for £30, but it looks like you can get them cheaper now.
I have a pair of 100% Glendales with clear, smoke and persimmon lenses which I wear for MTB and gravel riding...
On consideration, I reckon my head/face is too small for the Glendales, however much I like the look of them. If I see them in a shop anywhere I'll give them a go though.
I use Radar EVs and find i rarely use either the trail or trail torch lenses. They are too bright for most situations.
For a normal overcast day i use sapphire prizm or road prizm and, if a bit brighter, then black iridium.
I have Jawbreakers with both the Prizm Trail lens and the Prizm Road lens, both are excellent and are different to each other, would recommend.
I'm a fan (with contacts) of the Flaks. They fit under any helmet and the interchangeable lenses are great. I know that you can get RX versions too.
With some of the bigger Oakleys - I have some older Radar Locks and Radars too, and they simply don't work with modern trail helmets with lower temples. The Sutros do as they don't flare out at all, but anything with a bulgey Oakley logo/hinge seems to...
I've run Rx Smith Hudsons for years, but they're discontinued now and I'm now wondering what to get too...
I was using photochromic lenses on my Jawbreakers for ages. They are good, although not that dark even in what counts for UK sun - but dark enough. Your eyes adjust, of course. The issue I had was in really low light like early dusk. The lenses are so light that when putting them in at home I struggle to tell them from my clear lenses. But outside, when it's late, it got dark much earlier with the shades on.
I have just bought Prizm Road and Prizm Trail for them. I've only used the Road ones and on a fairly dull-ish day, and whilst on paper they let less light through I was able to use them and see more in much dimmer conditions than the photochromic, probably due to the contrast available. I've not tried the Trail ones yet.
Swaying towards some jawbreakers with trail torch lens.
I watched a US based review that said that Trail Torch was better for really sunny places e.g. SoCal, but elsewhere the normal Trail was better.
I recently got a pair of Sungod Vulcans off eBay with their smoke photochromic lens and I think they're excellent. Frickin' massive but the lens is superb and easily on par with the Oakley clear-to-black iridium lens. Really good eco credentials too if that's a factor in your decision making. The arms aren't too long either so they work with my Poc Tectal which is notorious for not fitting with a lot of glasses. They're my only pair of riding glasses now.
@momo do you have a link for the Glendales? All I can see on freewheel for that price doesn come with other lenses (unless I'm being an idiot)
Think it's this one (haven't spent too long looking at Freewheel this afternoon).
Probably should be a member of Oakley Anonymous, but have a 'few' pairs.
Sutro S with the Prism Trail Torch lens have become my most used. Great on the MTB but also go from super dull claggy/wet days, to reasonable (all but the brightest sun) on the road, only fail with glare off of water/shiny surfaces. Coverage is great but not massive so play nicely with MTB lids.
Sutro Lite with Prizm road is a superb all round road lens but find it too Dark for MTB in the slightest shade/trees. Coverage and vision is superb. Look like a 90's pornstar mind.
Glendales versus Jawbreakers for anyone interested...
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52198513387_6431903b7f_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52198513387_6431903b7f_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2nwB2sK ]Jawbreaker vs Glendale[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/le_grande_momo/ ]Matt Cotterill[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52198513462_00d23375be_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52198513462_00d23375be_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2nwB2u3 ]Jawbreaker vs Glendale[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/le_grande_momo/ ]Matt Cotterill[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52199511466_debfb03f52_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52199511466_debfb03f52_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2nwG9a1 ]Jawbreaker vs Glendale[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/le_grande_momo/ ]Matt Cotterill[/url], on Flickr
Glendales versus Jawbreakers for anyone interested…
Jeez they're big!
I have prizm trail torch lenses and the only thing I will say is that when you're in dark gloomy woods it can be tricky to see stuff, for all other conditions though they're great. They literally turn a cloudy day into a bright day.
I had my first fully sunny mid-day ride in my Prizm Road today. They are lovely, but I would say that if your road rides include lots of country lanes with overhanging trees you might want the Trail ones for the same reasons Oakley recommend it for trail, which is better visibility in and out of tree cover. I was riding from memory a few times!
Glendales versus Jawbreakers for anyone interested
Green Jawbreakers? Are you Peter Sagan?
+1 for Rad8 glasses, had both std and prescription for around 5 years now, quick transition, comfortable and faultless
No love for Rudy Project? I’ve been considering these:
https://www.rudyproject.com/ww/en/products/performance-eyewear/rydon.html?code=SP537306-SH00
Prism trail torch is fine on road unless it’s really bright. But although the light % is no different to old style prizm trail they’re not as good in the woods when it’s dark(er)
Prizm Road are really BAD off road in the woods ime. I had one day when I just couldn’t see and took me a while to realise.
Wiggle have frames with Road and low light for 140 at the moment.