Anyone use Photochromic Sunglasses?

[wingrider02]

Hey All,

Figured I'd ask if anyone uses Photochromic Sunglasses on here.  I looked into Transition lenses a couple years ago, but they didn't quite get dark enough for me.  I have run photochromic goggles snowmobiling with pretty good results, but never on a bike.

We seem to have a habit of riding into the evening, and for some reason or another, don't often stop till it gets dark.  It would be very nice to have one set of glasses that I can wear throughout the day and evening.

Anyone run them?  Likes or dislikes?

Thanks for any help!

[Jess from VA]

I never liked transition glasses.  I need pure clear to read, write and do bidness indoors, and pure dark/polarized to ride.  I can ride all night with my darks (but carry clears if I need them).  Transitions never get pure clear, there is always some tint.  Also, bi-tri-focals only for indoors, only like single (distance) vision for driving/riding.

Course, I have a half dozen pr glasses laying round.... right tool for the right job is my motto. 

[Valkpilot]

Hey All,

Figured I'd ask if anyone uses Photochromic Sunglasses on here.  I looked into Transition lenses a couple years ago, but they didn't quite get dark enough for me.  I have run photochromic goggles snowmobiling with pretty good results, but never on a bike.

We seem to have a habit of riding into the evening, and for some reason or another, don't often stop till it gets dark.  It would be very nice to have one set of glasses that I can wear throughout the day and evening.

Anyone run them?  Likes or dislikes?

Thanks for any help!

Photochromic lenses have improved a great deal in the last decade or so.  Many early adopters were turned off by the fact that they changed slowly, never got very dark, and didn't return to 100% clear.  Most of these issues have been addressed with newer technology.

They are about all I use anymore for the very reason you state: I don't have to change glasses riding from daylight into dark.

Transitions is a brand name for a particular photochromic.  I think they are on generation 7 now, and each generation gets better.

My company has a competitive product called SunSync that is equivalent to the latest gen of Transitions.

Transitions has a version called Extra Active.  They get very dark.  If you look at my avatar, I'm wearing Nike wire wrap frames with Transitions Extra Active.  (I got the glasses before we released SunSync.)  The downside of Transistions Extra Active is that they don't get 100% clear, but the coloration is very light at night or indoors.

My current pair of glasses has SunSync lenses.  They are very clear indoors, and are adequately dark outside in the sun.

Interesting factoid: photochromics work better when it is cold.

[Lyn-Del]

I got a pair of transition glasses in June.  I'd never found them dark enough, but they said there's a new one that gets darker, but never is quite clear.  I like them.

I'm sensitive to light, so darker is better. 

[donaldcc]

  I have transitions and also dark, polarized as well as clear.  The transitions I like OK but they do not darken in the car or much with a tinted drop down shield on helmet.  the dark polarized I don't like with tinted shield as they alter color with shield down..

There is a limit to the darkness of the transitions that varies with location.  I wore them at elevation while skiing and they turned almost black.  

Like jess I like certain glasses for certain activities.  In a pinch the transition lens are suitable for most.

[wingrider02]

I too am sensitive to light, so the darker the better for me as well.  In the Wing I carry clears so if we do find ourselves in darkness, I can pull off and switch out the dark glasses for clears.

I will have to look into the SunSync, as well as the Extra Active ones from Transitions.  Perfectly clear doesn't necessarily bother me, but not dark enough when Sunny does.

Thanks for the help so far!

[BnB Tom]

Photochromic lenses have improved a great deal in the last decade or so.  Many early adopters were turned off by the fact that they changed slowly, never got very dark, and didn't return to 100% clear.  Most of these issues have been addressed with newer technology.

They are about all I use anymore for the very reason you state: I don't have to change glasses riding from daylight into dark.

Transitions is a brand name for a particular photochromic.  I think they are on generation 7 now, and each generation gets better.

My company has a competitive product called SunSync that is equivalent to the latest gen of Transitions.

Transitions has a version called Extra Active.  They get very dark.  If you look at my avatar, I'm wearing Nike wire wrap frames with Transitions Extra Active.  (I got the glasses before we released SunSync.)  The downside of Transistions Extra Active is that they don't get 100% clear, but the coloration is very light at night or indoors.

My current pair of glasses has SunSync lenses.  They are very clear indoors, and are adequately dark outside in the sun.

Interesting factoid: photochromics work better when it is cold.
[/quote]

  "SunSync filters up to 93 percent of visible light after 15 minutes and fades to 70 percent clear in six minutes with an overall indoor clarity of 88 percent, according to VSP. The lenses block 100 percent of UVA and UVB radiation. They are available in CR-39 monomer from PPG, polycarbonate, Trivex and 1.67 high index for standard single-vision lenses as well as most Unity single-vision and progressive designs. - See more at: http://www.visionmonday.com/technology/spectacle-lenses/article/vsp-optics-group-launches-sunsync-photochromic/#sthash.0ij3Jsg3.dpuf"

[Thunderbolt]

I tried the transitions a few years ago and they would turn dark if you walked outside but through the windshield in the car they would not turn dark enough.  Would not work for me.  Took them back and got regular progressives and some sunglasses.  I now have regular progressives that have sunglasses that are held on with a magnet.  Knock on wood as they say, they have worked fine on the Valkyrie in the wind.  You can take them off and put them on in just a second and the sunglasses stay in their own small flat case when not needed.

[solo1]

My regular glasses are not photochromic.

I also have a pair of Serengeti Velocity sunglasses that are supposed to be but they don't change much.
However, the Serengeti's are graduated, darker on top and less so on the bottom. Since they're aren't polarized, my helmet's clear shield doesn't turn colors.

I like them. A very good compromise.

I'm also using them now while viewing the computer screen.  Since they filter out the blue rays, my eyes don't get tired as easily. Another plus for me.

[Kep]

I am also an avid bi-cyclist and I rcently bought a couple pair of Tifosi Roubaix with Fototec Photochromatic lenses from www.nashbar.com...FANTASTIC sunglasses , clear at night , dark in the sun ..love them for Bi-cycle and Motor-cycle

[Pete]

I have been using them since them for 27 years and I would not use anything else.
Yes they are better today that they were 27 years ago.

I use then day/night, indoor/outdoor. I put them on as I get out of bed and take them off as I go to bead. I am using them indoor, lights out mid morning as I type this.

If you adapt well to things you will love them, if you do not embrace change maybe not.

They do offer differing levels darkening so you may need to experiment to see what you like best.

[Scott in Ok]

I wear a pair of Tifosi Fototec (Tifosi's photochromatic lens) sunglasses.  I love the glasses, but really can't tell that they change all that much.  Then again, maybe thats the point?

http://www.tifosioptics.com/products/1120600761/

-Scott

[wingrider02]

Thanks for the tips so far!  I did learn about polarized lenses a few years ago...had a set of sunglasses that were polarized lenses, and when I looked through the windshield, all there I saw was a pretty rainbow.