Transitions lenses – normal Gen8 vs Xtraactive ?

Clearly been a long time since I looked at transitions lenses

there’s quite a lot of choice. Even polarised options. Amazing tbh.

before i put in an online order for new specs, has anyone got the xtraactive transitions lenses ? Do they go back to fully clear like the normal ones, they look ideal for outdoors stuff, incl mtb.

Any downsides to them I should be aware of.

I had xtraactive and TBH they’re crap. They took about 15-20 minutes to go back to clear when going inside so i looked like a complete *** trying to be cool. Hated them.

stick with the gen 8.  I went back to them and they change way quicker. TBH I cant see the point in the xtraactive.

i think they’re meant to change whilst driving but cant say mine did.

Thanks @silasgreenback I’ve been unsure on this for a few days now, even watching the YT vids on the two options didn’t help much – but thanks to your post I am sure now, generation 8 it is.

Not sure where you’re looking but i’ve used RXSport for the last 10 years. Cheaper than the high street and they use decent lenses.

never had a goldfish bowl effect or needing to get used to the lenses. Every high street brand I tried before was a month or two of getting used to the lenses. Recently strayed to a high street purchase and had to get a refund. Put them in and felt like i was on drugs!  Something to do with V factors I think.

I’ve got extractive from RX sports and feel the same as silasgreenback, they take ages to go back to clear again and I won’t be getting them again. To me, they make me look old as well. Bit gutted tbh.

thanks @ads678 that seals the deal, am going with the normal ones, the gen 8.

I’ve used Rxsports years ago and they were good.

from a thread on here, going to try https://www.theglassescompany.co.uk as they do oakley and have 10% off.

next question – is it a good idea to mtb with varifocals 🙂

I have brown generation 8s with a blue mirror coating in translucent turquoise Oakley Holbrooks that I use as my everyday specs. I’m pleased with them, though I think the mirror and frames result in some extra glare.

@zomg they sound brilliant and quite funky. Really intrigued with the blue mirror coating & how that works with the brown transitions lenses.

dont suppose you consider sharing what they look like ?

@walowiz No problem. Hopefully the photo upload works.

I got out for some overcast pump track bimbling earlier: I think they usually go a bit darker in full sunlight but that’s scarce at the moment.

Indoors you can see a slight yellow cast to the lenses (I don’t notice this while wearing them) and the slight blue reflection of the mirror coating on the front of the lens. Other people notice this as it’s the opposite of the usual anti-reflection coatings, but it’s again not noticeable to me while wearing them.

I’ve had these almost a year now from reglaze-glasses-direct.com and I’m not particularly fastidious with my glasses (probable grubby lenses and frames in the photos); I think they seem fairly durable so far.

next question – is it a good idea to mtb with varifocals

Yes.

@J-R  thanks

@zomg they look amazing. Going to rethink my options now.

I got some that changes colour when you’re behind glass, like driving. Great I thought! Unfortunately they also go dark when wearing them in the office, the house etc etc. takes ages to go back to clear (but they don’t really ever).

I think I might change the glass to normal.

Important: I bought polarizing and they’re not as good as that as my normal Oakley’s that are polarized. Probably only 50% as good as removing glare (if not less).

@zomg Those Holbrook look pretty good. I couldn’t work out how to select the transitions option via rx website though-just sapphire, black, bronze and grey.

I’ve got Xtraactives for driving and they do work behind glass really well, but just like everyone else’s they do take a while to go back to clear. I wouldn’t have them for ‘normal’ use.

@muddyjames I’ve always found RxSport’s website pretty challenging and somewhat unhelpful, probably because they can supply a huge set of prescription lenses from multiple suppliers and brand names and it would be hard to maintain a list with every option; you might need to get in touch with them separately and ask if they can do photochromic with a mirror.

I sent my Holbrook frames to Reglaze Glasses Direct (which I think used to trade as Ciliary Blue and were a frequent recommendation on here). They post a box to send your frames in when you order. You can see the options they have easily enough by clicking through their “Price List/Order” configuration pages.

@zomg just about to order a set of frames, not sure which yet. I noticed the holbrook’s have a more traditional arm than the usual Oakley arm as it goes over the ear rather than hugging the head. They look quite fixed though; how adjustable are they? I can see this could be an advantage in helmets vs the arms that bend away from your head. However, just wondering if I do go for them, will me ears be in the right place and will they stay on day to day when looking down?!

@muddyjames I don’t think there’s much adjustability in them to be honest. They happen to fit my head well and stay on. I already knew that before I ordered this pair though as I previously had a pair of Holbrook from Oakley’s prescription glasses range that fitted well.

That’s good to know thanks – didn’t look like you could change them, so thanks for confirming.

@zomg “I sent my Holbrook frames to Reglaze Glasses Direct (which I think used to trade as Ciliary Blue and were a frequent recommendation on here). They post a box to send your frames in when you order. You can see the options they have easily enough by clicking through their “Price List/Order” configuration pages.”

Haven’t heard of ciliary blue in ages ! Used them once years ago and they were really good, they are actually my current mtb Oakleys ! Lense is still super clear and my prescription hasn’t changed hugely they are still very usable, but I will get the re glazed.

Good to know they are still trading, as I’ve decided to reglaze my current frames for general duty, as single vision reglazing seems quite cost effective.

Will update the thread when my transition lensed Oakleys arrive from https://www.theglassescompany.co.uk