Cheap Sunglasses??
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 619
Likes: 0
From: Northeast U.S.
Same thing I found out many years ago, great for direct sun, but when in a cage, without the sun on the lens, they don't do much.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 660
Likes: 27
From: Southern Illinois
I've worked out doors most of my life. Light complected and always need sunglasses. RayBan used to make a lens called Ambermatic (darken automatically). They were the best glasses I ever had. Went through several pair and naturally they stopped making them. I've had all the big name pricey brands and have found (at least for me) there is an inverse proportion between how much the glasses cost and how long before I lose/destroy them. After losing my last pair of Costa Del Mars in the drink at $160. I gave up. Now all I wear are the polarized fishing glasses from WalMart at $4.95. Every time I go there I pick up one or two pair. I do get tempted by the same one's in a little box for $14.95, but then I realize I can get three pair of the others. Give them a try if you're not a sunglass snob. And yes, they really are polarized and have several lens color choices.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 474
Likes: 5
I gave up buying expensive sunglasses when they just would not last. I started buying the cheap ones and realized that they would not protect my eyes from stones and stuff. I found some tinted safety glasses for $8 a pair at Gemplers that work well. I bought a box and have given them to my friends to wear. We are all happy with them.
+1 on the Oakly tens. They work good for me too, I think you can get custom lenses made for them with the transition lenses now actually. Not sure what they cost though.
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Stage I
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Grand Rapids, MI
I will have to put in my two cent on this one.
The price of the glass doesn't really mean anything as far as the price tag you put on your eyes.
You can spend $400 on a pair or glasses and as far as ridding a motorcycle goes you will be just as S.O.L as if you bought the $5 pair at walmart if those glasses are not shatter-proof polycarbonate.
I' not 100% sure if Oakley or Rayban even make shatter proof lenses so why wait to see if that rock makes it through the glasses when you can invest in a great pair of glasses that will do the same thing.
When looking for good and solid motorcycle glasses I will say never let the price tag fool you. some time you are paying just for a name.
Look for polycarbonate lenses. If those glasses are also ANSI Z87.1 then it doesn't matter if they are $10 or $300 they both have to pass the same optical as well as safety test as the other.
ANSI z87.1 Glasses get shot with a 1/4 inch iron ball from 8 inches away at over 100 MPH.
As a disclaimer, I do work in the Motorcycle eyewear industry but as you can see I did not advertise any brand in my comments.
$400 pair of glasses made out anything but shatter-proof polycarbonate will fail you when protecting your eyes regardless of the price tag or what the frame is made of.
Be safe out there, don't take a gamble with your eyes.
The price of the glass doesn't really mean anything as far as the price tag you put on your eyes.
You can spend $400 on a pair or glasses and as far as ridding a motorcycle goes you will be just as S.O.L as if you bought the $5 pair at walmart if those glasses are not shatter-proof polycarbonate.
I' not 100% sure if Oakley or Rayban even make shatter proof lenses so why wait to see if that rock makes it through the glasses when you can invest in a great pair of glasses that will do the same thing.
When looking for good and solid motorcycle glasses I will say never let the price tag fool you. some time you are paying just for a name.
Look for polycarbonate lenses. If those glasses are also ANSI Z87.1 then it doesn't matter if they are $10 or $300 they both have to pass the same optical as well as safety test as the other.
ANSI z87.1 Glasses get shot with a 1/4 inch iron ball from 8 inches away at over 100 MPH.
As a disclaimer, I do work in the Motorcycle eyewear industry but as you can see I did not advertise any brand in my comments.
$400 pair of glasses made out anything but shatter-proof polycarbonate will fail you when protecting your eyes regardless of the price tag or what the frame is made of.
Be safe out there, don't take a gamble with your eyes.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
With High Definition OpticsŽ (HDOŽ), Wind Jacket meets ANSI Z87.1 standards for optical performance and impact resistance, and with XYZ OpticsŽ, your peripheral view is razor sharp. Even the optional clear lenses are made of pure PlutoniteŽ, a premium material that filters out 100% of all UV.
Oakley Wind Jackets meet those specs I guess.
Oakley Wind Jackets meet those specs I guess.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 910
Likes: 7
From: Shaconage
Solar Comfort 360. Best cheap sunglasses I've ever used. I use the polarized gray lenses. Not the lens color shown below. You can find them in the senior citizen sunglasses section of Wal-mart. ~$20
Last edited by ZenGlide; Jul 4, 2012 at 09:49 AM.
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You only have one set of eyes, and I don't think the technology is here yet to do eye replacement. I have spent upwards of $400 for a pair of polarized sunglasses and I will say this: you can tell a huge difference between $10 cheapos and glasses that are better constructed. I personally have a pair of Wiley X glasses that cost $160, are polarized, and I use for riding and I couldn't be happier. I would rather spend $100 or more on glasses for my only set of eyes then spend the same on another chrome do-dad that I have to clean and polish. Make HD rich and let your eyes go to .....!
You're all grown men and women, and can do what you want, but that's my 2 cents.
You're all grown men and women, and can do what you want, but that's my 2 cents.
I've been in the optical industry for many years and have seen the damage that can be caused by cheap sunglasses. Especially when riding 70 mph and have a rock or huge bug hit them...It's not pretty! You only have 2 eyes and they can't be replaced.
I would say one thing, just think if you had an accident and it happened to be your vision that was impaired because you didn't have good eye protection. How would you ride again?
Ride safe!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4,316
Likes: 67
From: East Texas, waterfront
Great Thread with good info. I've always been a sunglass snob. I cant walk out of the house without my Maui Jims ,car or bike, I've got to have my shades. I wore cheaps for many years and was given a set of Ray Bans by a friend. Once you wear a good pair of shades, the cheaps will not work. There is a difference, anyone that doubts it either hasnt tried a good pair or just dosnt care about the enhanced clarity. I can keep a good pair for years though so the cost is not a huge factor.
Regarding the poycarbonite lenses . I have always preferred a glass lense for both clarity and longevity. Wasnt thinking about the whole rock at 70 mph issue. Thanks for getting me thinking. I'll be trying some of the above suggestions.
Be safe.
Regarding the poycarbonite lenses . I have always preferred a glass lense for both clarity and longevity. Wasnt thinking about the whole rock at 70 mph issue. Thanks for getting me thinking. I'll be trying some of the above suggestions.
Be safe.