MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
So for days when it's quite clarty I tend to wear goggles and contact lenses at present but frankly goggles are a bit of a pita. Too prone to fogging, end up on and off, I don't like them dangling round my neck and they always feel a smidgen restrictive on my nose.
Contacts means I need good snug coverage, mudguard goes a long way but it's far from a perfect solution and mucky days mean it tends to be a bit dingy too so little to no tint would be good.
I get that fit is personal but some frames are intended to fit close, some aren't.
I quite like the look of the field jackets, does anyone know how they compare to the racing jackets for size?
Can anyone point me in the direction of something big and comfortable, with clear or near clear (photochromatic would be great) lenses that aren't oakley? (happy for other Oakley suggestions mind)
They don't need to be cheap, but nor do I want to spend daft money on them (note as someone who wears glasses I likely have a different opinion on what constitutes daft money for bits of plastic I wear on my face and is an acceptable level of comfort to folks who don't)
Easy. Smith Wildcats.
I just use cheap safety glasses from Toolstation or Screwfix.
DeWalt, Bolle, etc - all come in clear or tinted so ideal for use on the bike.
Oh, those wildcats look the part, now top see if I can find them in something not olive drab.
Yeah safety specs are a no, they're godawful uncomfortable even before you plonk a helmet on.
Most opticians have 'sports' sun glasses.
I use VisionExpress Oakley look a likes.
I think they were £39.
I just use cheap safety glasses from Toolstation or Screwfix.
Bolle Contour
£8 from Screwfix
Yeah safety specs are a no, they’re godawful uncomfortable even before you plonk a helmet on.
They're more comfortable than the £400 glasses I wear everyday.
They’re more comfortable than the £400 glasses I wear everyday.
To be honest, I'd be very disappointed with my everyday glasses in that case.
However, the contour really aren't very big, so the safety specs equivalent of what I'm looking for would be more the nasty things you get to wear at the dentist.
I've never had mud get past my Oakley Racing Jackets (AKA Jawbones). They fit pretty close to my face (maybe a 3-4mm gap underneath). All of which is pretty moot since they don't make them any more, but I don't think you necessarily need massive glasses to keep mud out. Style and peripheral visibility are a different matter.
There are plenty of other bigger options too (Oakley Jawbreaker, Flight Path, those Smith ones ^^^, those ones Rob Warner is advertising on Instagram (you can google)).
Someone on here recommended Shimano Techniums by saying:
"Nice and big but with vents to stop fogging. A lot more convenient than goggles."
That caught my eye as I also wear contacts and have high cheekbones so many smaller glasses sit too close to my face. I liked the look of them (think budget POCs) and rate Shimano kit generally. Took a bit of hunting down but so far quite impressed. Very light and comfortable, with good coverage, and come with two sets of lenses (one clear) and a very nice case. Just over £50 too which helped.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/X-TIGER-Sunglasses-Superlight-Interchangeable-Protection/dp/B07PFX1SY6
No brainier, they’re awesomez!!
Just had good experience with RXsport - not least you can get 4 pairs on trial to try on.
dhb have some fairly large coverage glasses on Wiggle.
The Polygon Revo & Upsilon
Sungod have some new wraparound glasses which might be what you’re after:
https://www.sungod.co/shop/sunglasses/vulcans?id=vulcans-vcf_Mblack-vcn_Mblack-vcle_8green-vci_Bwhite-vces_Rblack
Adidas Evil Eye Evo
I wear Oakley Sutro shades on the road bike. Not as secure as jawbreakers but they are big and they work well.
Same as you op. Contact lens wearer and experimented with all manner of different glasses and goggles over the years, including the PPE ones.
Finally got some Oakley Jawbreakers with Prizm trail lens and got a set of clear lenses for night riding. Hands down the best glasses I've ever used. Near goggle level of protection from wind and muck with a fraction of the fogging problems. Cant recommend them enough for contact users.
+1 from me for the Jawbreakers.
I also have some Radar EVs but the Jawbreakers offer better coverage and the arms work better with my helmet.
Owner of a large head here.....
After many years in Oakleys I've recently discovered the 100% Glendales, they're really comfy, great coverage and freekin' mahoosive.
The styling also a lot less roadie than their other options, pairs well with a trail lid.
Find myself choosing them over pretty much anything else for most rides these days.
Tifosi Veloce here. Very close fit (for me, etc). Come with three flavours of lens colour. Not experienced problems with fogging.
I've had a few pairs of Tifosi shades. Not cheap and nasty, not super expensive, they just seem to work. YMMV.
Adidas Evil Eye pro are great & provide excellent coverage
brilliant, but I paid TK maxx prices!
Rockplough
Someone on here recommended Shimano Techniums by saying:
“Nice and big but with vents to stop fogging. A lot more convenient than goggles.”
Happy to help.
Adidas Evil Eye pro are great & provide excellent coverage
brilliant, but I paid TK maxx prices!
So did I 🙂
But I'd have been happy to pay more
Cheers for all the replies folks, there's a few things there too look at. I'll try hunting down the shimano ones. I do like the look at the tifosi davos but no idea how big they are and likewise the dhb vector.
It would be nice to something other than a new pair of Oakleys, if only because I've already got enough pairs of those but the jaw breakers and radar do look tempting - and I like the trail prism lens.
Jawbreakers. Best I've ever used.