Well, in the past two weeks I’ve lost my best two pairs of sunglasses to my furry buddy Ajax. I don’t blame him as I let him lick my legs when I come back from a run or ride and I’m sure my glasses were smelling like a sweaty me as he merrily chomped them.
Now I need to get a new pair of good riding glasses. In the past I have used Smith Sliders and they have served me well. I like to be able to change my lenses and they need to be big enough to fit my head. I wear a 7-3/8 or 7-1/2 hat and have a Giro (oval) shaped head.
Knowing these things, I wonder what would you would suggest. I have a budget in the $150 or less range. I’m open to all manufacturers.
Check out Zeal Optics. Great very lightweight sunglasses with interchangeable lenses, and in your price range. Wink and Penelope are great to work with!
How 'bout the Oakley Half Jacket XLJ? I got some last year and I really like 'em. Good fit - snug, but not headache-inducing and interchangeable lenses (although it’s a pain, it’s doable).
I had been using a pair of Performance Procyon sunglasses, which I got on sale a couple of months ago for $25, and I was very happy with them. I recently bought a pair of M-frames, and although the Oakleys are better, they should be for $160. I’m actually amazed at the value of the Procyons: very good coverage, good optics, very light (22g for the Procyons, 24g for the M-frames), neither bounces during running.
During the last few months I also tried some Smith Sliders (didn’t like them and returned them), Tifosi (returned them too), and various Rudys at the local REI (good, but felt more comfortable in the M-frames).
I have Oakley Half Jackets and also Rudy Project.
The Rudy Project Rydon is the most comfortable glasses I have ever had or tried. Although the Rudy are very adjustable (and perhaps because of it), they started to fall apart after two years of hard use. The Oakley are much more robust.
The lenses for Rudy project are much cheaper – you can get additional colours for different lighting conditions for not that much money. So overall I recommend Rudy with the view of buying a new frame two years later.
Did you talk to Rudy project they replaced a pair of glasses I had that broke for free. These were 2 years old, I just called to see if they could fix and next thing I know free pair. They have great service.
I bought Native shades last summer, and they are wonderful.
Much better than Smiths, or Rudy Project, Weps, Bolle that Ive had in the last few years. Not sure whether they have models that fit a big head, but my pair w/ changable lenses fits really well. My Bf has a pair with 1 set lens, and they also just fit really well. He’s an elite rower so they get a lot of wear and tear, and have survived a whole year unscathed. Well made. I particularly have to praise their plastic nose-holder-thingie-- It’s soft, doesn’t chafe, doesn’t brake, and prevents the glasses from sliding even when wet or sunscreened. I don’t remember the exact price, but changeable-lens one’s are around $100.
Thanks for the information. Mine are approx 18 months old. Following your post I went today to the LBS. They said that they will send it to Rudy and I would probably get a new frame.
I am looking for some also. The problem is I sweat quite a bit and currently wear oakleys yet can’t keep them from fogging up! Are there any glasses relatively cheap out there that are great at nt fogging up on the run?