I’m actually ready to order my Oakley RX Jawbones next week but I can’t decide which tint to get. I do ride at night and do early races which start at dawn so I know I’m getting a clear lens but I can’t decide what tint I should get my other lens. Yes, two lenses are going to cost me a bunch. I thought about the transition lenses but I really like a totally clear lens when riding off road or at night.
I usually use just a basic Oakley grey lens now when the sun is out but since this will probably be a one time purchase should I go polorized, black Iridium, VR28 Black Iridium or something else. I have an oakley store near me so I have been trying things on but still can’t decide.
So the big question is…If you already have a clear lens …what is the best all purpose oakley lens tint?
I have this lens in my Flak Jackets, and it’s great. It’s not quite as good as the Gold Iridium in my Half Jackets in really bright sunlight. But, it’s still very good and it’s great in pretty much everything else. Very versatile. I love the hydrophobic coating, too.
I like Fire Iridium, dark enough for bright light and it is very good in flat light. Also looks badass. I also am becoming very fond of my HI Persimmon, but they are not as good for an all rounder. They are decent at night reduce glare of headlights, while increase contrast they do reduce light a bit. I recommend Fire for best all rounder.
I really like the Tungsten lenses in my Minutes… Dark enough for sunny days without having to squint, light enough for overcast days without the eye strain.
I have 3 lenses, grey, VR50 and yellow (not sure why I did not just get clear . . ).
The VR50 is a bit too light to be considered “all purpose” but its close. I got it for low light. It does take the edge off enough to use in full sun if I get caught out but I think a lense one or two steps darker would still work in the low light but be better in the bright. If I was going to buy another lense, I’d get the VR28 or G30. I think I could use one of those 90% of the time given the time of day and conditions I usally ride in.
I started a thread similar to this a while back, but am now getting ready to order some Flak Jackets, based on some reviews and the little “virtual reality” lens thing on the Oakley site that lets you see different scenes through the different lenses, I had decided on the G30 Black Iridium.
Unfortunately, it’s not offered for the Flak Jackets. Do you have any experience with the regular G30? Light transmission is 30% instead of 25% with the Black Iridiums and it appears the regular G30s give everything a bit of an orange tint. I am not too worried about them being too bright as I’ve been riding almost exclusively in Persimmon lenses and find them almost dark enough (but not quite) and another poster in this thread said he uses VR50s for almost all of his riding but they are just not quite dark enough (and those have 50%) light transmission.
My only concern is the tint the G30s give to everything, whereas the G30 Black Iridium looks like they had a bit more of a natural coloring.
Interesting. I did my Flak Jackets through the custom program ~18 months ago, and, at that time, the G30 Black Iridium was (obviously) an option.
I have not tried the regular G30 lens. I only have extended experience with the G30 Black Iridium, Gold Iridium and Fire Iridium. (I have tried a bunch of others on in the store, though.) Of the three, the G30 BI is definitely the best all-arounder. I do not notice any color tinting with them.
I’d say any with light transmission in the 16-20% range. There are quite a few lenses in this range - fire, red, and some others. If you ride a lot in a certain type of area (forest, open plains, etc.), you can usually pick one that works best for that, but for universal riding, anything in there is good. The problem with polarized - in some cases - is that if you rely on your computer, it can be impossible to read it looking through polarized lenses. Something to consider.
You think 16-20%? I am in the Northeast, so lots of riding on tree-lined roads, but then some riding along the coast as well. When I called Oakley, they steered me towards lenses in the 20-30% range.
I was thinking the G30 Black Iridium which is 25%, but that’s not available in the Flak Jackets anymore. Was considering the standard G30, but am concerned at the rose/orange color it gives everything, I don’t mind some color, it just made the images on the website seem really unnatural in terms of color. I am considering the Slate Iridium now, they are 23%, so pretty close to the G30 BI and appear to give a pretty natural color.
My only two questions were, would they be too dark riding a tree-lined road in the late afternoon/evening? Is the Iridium coating something to be valued? I am considering standard G30 and Slate Iridium, would the Iridium on the Slate lenses steer you in that direction?
I’d go with what the Oakley folks said. I live in the Northwest, in a very exposed area. Anything over 20% would be way to bright for me. 16% is pretty much perfect for me most days. And I have a 10% (Black Iridium) that I use a lot of the time too and it’s fine. I do think the Iridium coating makes a difference. If you can find the charts that some Oakley dealers have, you can actually see what wavelengths the different lenses transmit. It’s quite remarkable the differences.
I like a lens that boosts contrast. So based on that, I’d probably go with the G30. BUT, some people like a lens that just sort of shows what’s “normal” without distorting colors (like the Black Iridium). I prefer the contrast enhancement of the +Red to the “truer” color of the black lenses. But that’s totally personal. The Slate Iridium is a lighter version of the black. So it’ll be similar to what I would see if I lived somewhere where the sun was less bright (like the Northeast).
The other thing to consider is when you ride the most. If you ride most often in the mornings/evenings, then you’d want something different than someone who rides mostly in the middle of the day. If you are riding a lot later in the day, a 30% lens with more contrast might be better. The Iridium coating is nice if you live somewhere where the sun is bright and there is a lot of glare. That doesn’t sound like you.
It’s important to remember that you want a lens that works best for riding, because that’s when your vision is most important. The fact that they might not be great for going out with friends because you don’t want them to look orange is not really that important, IMO. I find that your eyes adjust as well, and that you won’t actually notice that everything looks “rose.” Rather, when you take the lenses off, you’ll notice that everything looks really blue (IIRC, from when I had similar lenses).
If you are riding a lot later in the day, a 30% lens with more contrast might be better. The Iridium coating is nice if you live somewhere where the sun is bright and there is a lot of glare. That doesn’t sound like you.
Thanks for the thoughtful response, especially the part above, pretty well describes me. You raised the issue of contrast, I did notice that difference in that the G30s are described as contrast and the Slates are described as Neutral. I agree that the color of the G30s with the rose is probably better for my time and location of riding than the “light black” of the slates. I was just curious, when and where the advantages of the contrast come in and settings it seems to be useful for?
And yes, these are my “for riding” glasses, I wouldn’t be going out in them…that’s what my Hijinx are for!
The lens color affects what wavelengths are absorbed, which in turn affects how you see things. I.e., this is why for golf (the easiest example), you want a lens that absorbs green light, because EVERYTHING is green, so if you take away that green, it makes it easier to pick up other things (like your ball). The G30 and VR28 lenses are both designed for this. This also makes them good for riding in forests, where everything is also green.
I got this from Wikipedia, which seems like a generally useful overview: Gray lenses are considered neutral because they enhance bright colors. Brown and green lenses cause some severe color distortion, but have contrast-limiting properties. Turquoise lenses are good for medium and higher light conditions because they are good at enhancing contrast, but do not cause significant color distortion. Orange and yellow lenses have the worst contrast enhancement at depth perception but minimalize color distortion. Yellow lenses are used by fishers and shooters for their contrast enhancement and width perception properties.
Most of the good sunglass makers go way beyond this, with the coatings, base tints, etc. But I think that gives a rough idea. I guess, simply put, contrast makes it easier to see trees, rather than just a forest.
I know this isn’t your writing, but isn’t this contradictory?
“Orange and yellow lenses have the worst contrast enhancement at depth perception but minimalize color distortion. Yellow lenses are used by fishers and shooters for their contrast enhancement…”
The Photochromic lenses are pretty cool as well. You can actually go out with them and don’t bother with the light conditions as they adapt perfectly. I’m not sure they are available for the Jawbones though.
I see you recommend a polarized lens, can I ask why? I have had several pairs of polarized lenses and have recently decided never again. I think they are awful if you’re around water, think lakes or wet roads. Some cycling computers and watches are not really viewable through polarized lenses, and on sunny days I find the effect of changing colors/light in my field of vision when moving/turning my head pretty annoying.
A polarized filter for a camera? That I can get behind, but I don’t get the point for sunglasses. I’d love someone to explain the “benefit.”
I see you recommend a polarized lens, can I ask why? I have had several pairs of polarized lenses and have recently decided never again. I think they are awful if you’re around water, think lakes or wet roads. Some cycling computers and watches are not really viewable through polarized lenses, and on sunny days I find the effect of changing colors/light in my field of vision when moving/turning my head pretty annoying.
A polarized filter for a camera? That I can get behind, but I don’t get the point for sunglasses. I’d love someone to explain the “benefit.”
The benefit is glare reduction, plain and simple. I’ve got fairly light-sensitive eyes and absolutely live by polarized lenses. That said, they suck around LCD displays. Never experienced the changing colors/light phenomenon with any polarized lenses that I’ve owned, though - unless I’m looking at an LCD at the time - so not sure what to make of that.
I see you recommend a polarized lens, can I ask why? I have had several pairs of polarized lenses and have recently decided never again. I think they are awful if you’re around water, think lakes or wet roads. Some cycling computers and watches are not really viewable through polarized lenses, and on sunny days I find the effect of changing colors/light in my field of vision when moving/turning my head pretty annoying.
A polarized filter for a camera? That I can get behind, but I don’t get the point for sunglasses. I’d love someone to explain the “benefit.”
They are great for driving, you dont see the reflection of the dash on your windshield. Polarized never bugged me, I love my Maui Jims. I wish they made a Fire Polarized for radars.
I have a hard time telling the contour of the grounp riding in the forrest, but I only ride with Fire or HI Persimmon.