so I’ve had a pair of jimarti sunglasses I bought on amazon years ago. nothing great. sort of cheap plastic feel but never had any issues with them when exercising. no sliding down my nose. no fogging. no discomfort. I paid like $20 for them. One downside is they didn’t have interchangeable lenses. I didn’t realize until later that I would want that. So I ordered a pair of scattante frames with interchangeable. $25. Seem fine. So for those with pricier sunglasses for working out, say $100 and up, what about them makes it worth the extra money? I’ve never spent much on sunglasses so I’m wondering what I am missing, if anything.
Only some of the better deals. These are safety glasses actually rated to protect your eyes. $2.10 in your choice of color.
I just find that Oakleys fit and feel better. Been using them for 25 years. I don’t know why other companies can’t match the quality and fit. I’ve tried Rudy, Tifosi, etc. Always end up back at Oakley.
Optical clarity is sometimes a little better and the quality of construction is better. However, they still scratch about as easy, and get lost just and smashed as easy. They ftne look a little better.
I haven’t owned a pair of sunglasses over $50 in years. I’ve been buying Tifosi lately. Seems like a good “in the middle” compromise. The Performance Bike stuff is a little too cheap sometimes. Interchange the lenses more than a dozen times and things start to break. The ear piece and nose pieces wear out or loosen up and fall off.
I just don’t trust myself with nice glasses.
Being a pro photographer I don’t put junk in front of my eyes. They are way too valuable. Rudy really is so good to our sport, and I have found them to be the best after trying virtually every brand out there. I have 2 different pair of photochromatic models which are totally invaluable here in our crappy weather. The ability to have the lenses change based on sun out, clouds, or shade and bright is really awesome for me. Also the shatter proof lenses give me peace of mind.
Being a pro photographer I don’t put junk in front of my eyes. They are way too valuable.
I like my eyesight too. But other than UV damage (and my cheap safety glasses offer certified UV absorption) what harm will cheap sunglasses do?
Being a pro photographer I don’t put junk in front of my eyes. They are way too valuable.
I like my eyesight too. But other than UV damage (and my cheap safety glasses offer certified UV absorption) what harm will cheap sunglasses do?
They might break when you faceplant. Granted your safety glasses are probably rated for impact. Like bike helmets. The cheap ones will also protect your head. Usually cheap glasses are just colored translucent plastic and offer no protection.
That said, I too buy $40-60 Tifosi. Seems like a good in-between solution. They last one sometimes two seasons. They end up dropped or they break or I lose them.
Light weight, ability to change as the lighting conditions do, much, MUCH better quality lens clarity and reliability, ability to actually change lenses based on contrast or environment needs, ability to actually change where the lenses fit in relation to your position (biking or running) and to adjust in conjunction with where your helmet sits…need more?
Being a pro photographer I don’t put junk in front of my eyes. They are way too valuable.
I like my eyesight too. But other than UV damage (and my cheap safety glasses offer certified UV absorption) what harm will cheap sunglasses do?
A lot of the price you pay is fashion, but there is also the question of overall feel and fit, not to mention lense quality.
I like Rudy Project glasses the best mostly because I have a narrow nose, and their adjustable nose pads mean I can adjust them so they fit tightly and don’t flop around block my eyesite when I’m in an aero tuck/tt position.
But, if you have found a pair of glasses that work for you that cost less, then I’d stick with those. Like everything in the cycling industry, there are marginal gains for an ever increasing amount of money.
…need more?
Apparently, I need less.
I choose the color of glasses based on conditions. Obviously peripheral optical distortion is more likely with pressed plastic (cheap) safety glasses, but I’ve never heard of that causing any damage to anyone’s eyesight.
And my safety glasses are rated for impact. Most expensive sports glasses are not.
$2.10.
I have Oakleys and tifosi, I don’t like wearing either for training or racing. Glasses just get on my nerves when I’m sweating, slide down on my nose , sweat starts rolling down my forehead and eyes, I find it hard to wipe off behind the glasses especially on the bike so I just race and train without.
Light weight, ability to change as the lighting conditions do, much, MUCH better quality lens clarity and reliability, ability to actually change lenses based on contrast or environment needs, ability to actually change where the lenses fit in relation to your position (biking or running) and to adjust in conjunction with where your helmet sits…need more?
Being a pro photographer I don’t put junk in front of my eyes. They are way too valuable.
I like my eyesight too. But other than UV damage (and my cheap safety glasses offer certified UV absorption) what harm will cheap sunglasses do?
All the vaunted optics for those pricey sunglasses are completely wasted on me. The moment I sweat a few drops onto the lens, which happens EVERY time I ride, it’s ruined - I might as well be wearing $2.50 sunglasses, because that’s about how they look when you’ve got more than a few beads of salty sweat streaking across them. (And this is without me ever touching the lenses with my hands.)
The materials, build, and photochromics are def better in the pricier sunglasses, but the prices are pretty outrageous for Oakley and others in that range. In most of those cases remember that you’re paying for the monopoly premium that the Luxxotica “cartel” charges for their premium brands - it has little to do with the cost of the manufacturer and materials.
I had a pair of Oakley M frames that lasted 11 years and were still going strong when I lost them at the end of last summer. I bought a pair of Performance Scattante sunglass for about $30 to get me by and have been using those for about 6 months. The cheap Performance glasses are just fine but the Oakley’s were definitely better in a host of ways although I am not sure they are $150 better 
I am going to get some new Oakley’s shortly.
How the Oakley’s were better:
Much more robust (mine lasted 11 years and would have lasted another 11 if I had not lost them)replaceable lenses give you lots of options, including replacing scratched lensesThe lenses are higher quality - not much of a difference but to me it is noticeable. They both have less distortion and are easier to keep clean. The Oakley’s fit way better and were much more comfortable.Whatever that special rubbery stuff they use which does not slip when wet with sweat really works.The lenses size of this model really kept the wind and stuff out of my eyes. There is no good big lenses alternative at Performance at least.
Again, one can certainly argue quite compellingly that all this is not worth a $100-$150 premium but there is a difference.
I take great care of my sunglasses (training and general wear both) and I have a long track record of getting 10 years plus out of a pair so I usually spend more. If I was someone who lost, scratched or broke them pretty regularly after a couple years, I would go cheap.
I have Oakleys and tifosi, I don’t like wearing either for training or racing. Glasses just get on my nerves when I’m sweating, slide down on my nose , sweat starts rolling down my forehead and eyes, I find it hard to wipe off behind the glasses especially on the bike so I just race and train without.
Are you sure that’s the best idea? Asking because I just got bulls-eyed (no pun intended) in the eye by a bumblebee as I was riding yesterday. Made me flinch. I was wearing glasses so it just bounced off. In the past I had gravel bounce off the glasses. Also there’s crashing and either faceplanting or getting hit by handlebars or other parts of the bike.
Edit: I sweat a lot too, so I wear a sweatband under the helmet when training.
I have been using a pair of fake Oakleys that I picked up for about $10 four years ago. The rubber nose piece on them finally broke off, so I’ll have to get another pair. I had a rock that a truck kicked up hit my lens last year and it only left a scratch. I will say in poor conditions like rain or fog the visibility was quite poor, but I don’t know how much ‘proper’ glasses would be.
Transition isn’t always the greatest place for sunglasses. A lot of people leave them on their helmet, and they can get knocked off. Once you arrive in T1 you’re usually in a hurry and not very gentle with them. Sunglasses always seemed to me very much like a consumable, and a foolish thing to drop big bucks on, but maybe if I have vision problems later in life I’ll eat my words.
…If I was someone who lost, scratched or broke them pretty regularly after a couple years, I would go cheap.
A couple years? Try a couple months!
Issues with fit and comfort are very personal. My favorites don’t work for my partner – different shape face, different preferences for fit. I bought several cheap safety glasses before settling in on the one that works best for me. Mine come in “mini” size, too.
so I’ve had a pair of jimarti sunglasses I bought on amazon years ago. nothing great. sort of cheap plastic feel but never had any issues with them when exercising. no sliding down my nose. no fogging. no discomfort. I paid like $20 for them. One downside is they didn’t have interchangeable lenses. I didn’t realize until later that I would want that. So I ordered a pair of scattante frames with interchangeable. $25. Seem fine. So for those with pricier sunglasses for working out, say $100 and up, what about them makes it worth the extra money? I’ve never spent much on sunglasses so I’m wondering what I am missing, if anything.
There is nothing magical about pricey sunglasses. I just lost another pair this weekend and I am out $9 - sooo much less stress than losing a $200 pair of sunglasses. Safety glasses I feel better about for safety reasons as they are tested to meet certain ratings. A lot of the sunglasses people post are rimless but not really rimless, they still have a lip. 3M makes some that are truly rimless, but I have switched to Crews Rubicon which are also truly rimless. I don’t think Oakley or Rudy Project even make rimless sunglasses which are perfect for TT bike. For $10 you can’t beat Crews Rubicon, check them out here:
In my car I have a pair of Maui Jim Kahunas that I have had for over 15 years & use almost exclusively for driving. They are the best polarized glasses I have ever owned & despite their hefty $300 price tag, the fact that they have lasted me this long means they have more than paid for themselves considering how many pair of cheap sunglasses I would have gone through in that time. That said, they are metal frames & while stylish, they do not lend themselves to effective use in sporting activities.
For running, triathlons, and general banging around town, I have about 6 pair of Oakley Flak Jacket XLJs with standard lenses. They just fit me. Whenever I would spot a really good sale, I would pick up a couple pair for under $100 each. They have interchangeable lenses and I use their G40 photochromatic lenses in races because they block the sun while increasing the contrast of everything making the road & surroundings much clearer.
This is what works for me & where I choose to spend my money. If $2 safety glasses work for you, I won’t give you even a second glance because what you wear doesn’t impact me at all.
…need more?
Apparently, I need less.
I choose the color of glasses based on conditions. Obviously peripheral optical distortion is more likely with pressed plastic (cheap) safety glasses, but I’ve never heard of that causing any damage to anyone’s eyesight.
And my safety glasses are rated for impact. Most expensive sports glasses are not.
$2.10.
Most may not be but oakleys are.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SDtazhqy0xs
I’ll take the oakleys if I get a rock to the eye while biking from a car. Yes they are more expensive because it’s Oakley but I’m not putting lenses that could shatter in front of my eyes.
I have Oakleys and tifosi, I don’t like wearing either for training or racing. Glasses just get on my nerves when I’m sweating, slide down on my nose , sweat starts rolling down my forehead and eyes, I find it hard to wipe off behind the glasses especially on the bike so I just race and train without.
Are you sure that’s the best idea? Asking because I just got bulls-eyed (no pun intended) in the eye by a bumblebee as I was riding yesterday. Made me flinch. I was wearing glasses so it just bounced off. In the past I had gravel bounce off the glasses. Also there’s crashing and either faceplanting or getting hit by handlebars or other parts of the bike.
Edit: I sweat a lot too, so I wear a sweatband under the helmet when training.probably not the best idea, I have gotten smacked in the eye once and it was painful, took a little bit get my eye to stop watering enough to see out of. Glasses just bug me when I’m wearing them.