best glasses?

How can you put anything Oakley into an inquiry of moderately priced glasses? They've got to be the most expensive pieces of platic on the planet!

For tri riding, I've found the rimless variety to be best (don't have to hold the head as high to see under the frame). I have some Nashbar Arlon's that I got a couple years ago. I don't think they make them any more, but they've got other models that are inexpensive. Also, take a look at your local Home Depot or Lowe's... The safety glasses are every bit as fitting for riding (with the cert to back up their safety ratings) as Oakleys, at about 5% the price.

I just had to buy a new pair since I dropped mine during a race and they got trashed.  I bought Oakley Commits.  I think they came in around $119, but I have a discount with  my tri club so that helped to reduce the price.

Otherwise, I might look at Native.  They tend to have a good selection.  I had Smith Factors which were about $100 a few years ago, but they came with three interchangeable lenses. 

I might ask if you have friends who are military or government as they can get you a discount on Oakleys- they are not the fun ones like Jawbone, but there's still a pretty good selection.

good luck!

Anyone tried Tifosi?

the oakleys i've looked at (tried on) are the half jacket $105 and radar $160
others i've seen online but have not tried on:
tifosi $40-90
giro $90-140
rudy $150-290
i'd say that makes the oakleys fairly moderately priced.  i've been wearing my wiley-x motorcycle glasses but they are not so great on a bicycle.  i need good lenses, i get severe headaches if i'm in the sun without them

I found a pair in my parents cabinet of what I believe to be the glasses you get from the eye doctor when you get your eyes dilated.  They are pretty big, no upper rim, work great.  Best ones I have worn no lie.  Dropped them a lot, no scratches or breaks.  Could not cost more than 2$.

LOVE my Tifosi's  I have 2 pair - one pair frameless - red lenses - great for daytime rides
the other pair is grey lenses - they get completely clear at night... great for evening/night rides

you can't beat the photochromic lenses (get darker with the sun)

I'm a big fan of my Serfas Sike+.  Interchangeable lenses is a big plus I think.  The lifetime warranty on the frames is great too.  Mine broke right in the center, simple trip to the local bike shop, then 3 days later I had brand new frames free.

I have the Oakley Radars, great sunglasses to exercise in and I really like mine. The hydrophobic coating does help, but it does not work exactly like they shows you, unless you sweat pure water. I would say there is just less smearing. Like the other guy said, the words Oakley and cheap usually don't fit into the same paragraph.

I'm a big fan of Native sunglasses. I have the hardtop XP and absolutely love em.

I have Tifosis-- came with 3 interchangeable lenses, including polarized (which is why I chose this model rather than the photochromatic ones). They work very well on the bike, pretty well on the run, though they do fog up on the run sometimes if the wind's not helping to clear the steam! But they've been clear as a bell on the bike, and the 3 lenses are great for different daylight conditions.

Oakley Radars are expensive but in my opinion very worth it.  

I'm interested in what model Tifosi everyone's using.

I don't care WHAT brand of glasses you end up buying but the ONLY thing you need to be worried about is if they are OSHA certified impact resistant...I currently wear Oakley M Frames and will continue to wear them until they are discontinued and I can't find lenses for them anymore...I have had rocks hit me twice now from cars throwing them up and have only had scratched glasses to show for it...

On a comfort standpoint...a full wrap around that blocks all light from the sides to where everything in your field of view is the same "shade" seems to help with longer rides and headaches...that might just be me though...vents for letting out heat buildup is also a nice feature...

Costa Del Mar Ballasts - rimless and polarized
Maui Jim - titanium sports - rimless, polarized and super light.

Ballasts are about $80.

Maui's are much more expensive

Tifosi Slips

I've got a couple pair of Tifosi's...

I've got a white frame Dolomite that has three lenses (red mirror, blue mirror, clear)
I've got a black frame Torrent that has three lenses (gray, red AC, clear)
I've got a black frame Q3 that had three lenses (they are now my cutting the yard glasses)

I received the Dolomites for my birthday, and they aren't really good for riding or running. They fit so close to the face that sweat goes down the inside of the glasses. They are my drivers/look good glasses. My Torrent's have been my go to glasses for a while now. The Q3 were awesome, but I replaced them with my Torrents and have been happy.

If I were to get a new pair anytime, it would be the Slip. Good rimless, 1 pc lens glasses. They fit my face pretty well too!

That's my input.

Kevin

I have a pair of Flak Jackets that I really like. Very comfortable and light, and the lenses are clear and easy to see everything through.

I used to wear Tifosis and I still have a pair that I put the amber lenses into and which I use in really low-light conditions. They're a good value for the money, but they aren't as comfortable as the Oakleys and the lenses smear and fog easier.

Gateway Starlite safety glasses. Clear, amber, dark lenses. No frames. Available with magnifiers for reading. VERY comfortable. I buy them by the box, 10ea, about $1.50 each.

I get away with rocking Oakley Gascans, the cheapest of the Oakley line. They tend to slip a bit when you excessively sweat, but I dont mind it. I can clean my face easily enough. 

There may be a reason so many pro riders, a la Lance, wear Oakleys exclusively.  

i have been pretty happy with optic nerve glasses. much cheaper than oakleys...

stooping to nashbar glasses now, tired of spending $ on glasses.

'
Do not ask your friends who are in the Military to buy you a pair of sunglasses throught Oakley's usstandard isuue website. If the member is caught doing this, there can be serious concequnces for that member. This is against Oakley's policy. Plus would you want to put your friend or family member in that position.

I am a member of the US Military and what you have suggested is just dishonest.


just my .02 cents

Tifosi Vogel Fototec  (Fototec = photochromic).  I have the gray ones.  I like them a good bit - good eye coverage (came in *very* handy during a massive storm last week), good adjustments to avoid slippage, and rimless - something I really wanted for aero riding.  The photochromic lenses work well.

I got Tifosi....simply love'em....SLIP T-1050 model.

Edited by zef 2010-07-21 11:02 AM

I bought a pair of Ryders at the Running Room a couple of months ago and I love them! I didn't know anything about the company before I bought them just that they looked okay and were only $40.  Every year I go through a couple of pairs of glasses before I end up dropping them or breaking them one way or another so low cost is important to me.  The fact they these are designed to stay on while riding and running are a bonus!