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fancy "contrast-enhancing" lenses for riding?

slyfink

Turbo Monkey
Sep 16, 2008
9,289
5,029
Ottawa, Canada
Does anyone here use some of those fancy contrast-enhancing lenses (Prizm, Fyre, Chromapop)? I'm toying with the idea of getting a lens with antifog properties, and I'm wondering if it's worth putting down the coin for that extra feature.

I've been pretty happy with my clear lenses for the past few years, so I'm skeptical that I'd get any benefit from contrast enhancing lenses. But the marketing is working on me, and I feel they are slowly chipping away at my resistance, and manufacturing my consent to drop big coin...

so... what's the deal with these things?
 

canadmos

Cake Tease
May 29, 2011
20,192
19,158
Canaderp
What clear lenses do you use? I'm interested in getting some, but don't want to spend much... Riding with contacts and having crud in yours eyes on a descent is interesting to say the least. :D
 

slyfink

Turbo Monkey
Sep 16, 2008
9,289
5,029
Ottawa, Canada
What clear lenses do you use? I'm interested in getting some, but don't want to spend much... Riding with contacts and having crud in yours eyes on a descent is interesting to say the least. :D
I have these with grey tint: https://www.ryderseyewear.com/tech/antifog/

The antifog feature works great, those are my only shades I can ride in when humidity is up there.
These are are the ones I was thinking of getting (I have the non-antifog photochromic version now). And they're fine, but I'd really like anti-fog. Their Pryme lenses are antifog, photochromic, and contrast enhancing (and I think polarized, which is less of an issue in the woods). I was wondering if it was worth spending the extra $100 on the Pryme lenses, or just sticking to plain old photochromic antifog... There's a 20% off code with Vital this week (vital-20) at Ryders...
 

rideit

Bob the Builder
Aug 24, 2004
23,067
11,303
In the cleavage of the Tetons
I have Chromapop, and as much as I would like to think I do, I can't tell a damn difference from my old ignitors. That being said, the Smith ignitors are the best damn lenses in the world for me.
 

Kevin

Turbo Monkey
I got my first Oakley Prizm lenses when they first came out and I now own 2 EDC Oakleys and an Airbrake Snowboard goggle with Prizm lenses and love them.

I work outside for 10 to 12 hours a day 8 months a year and my work involves handling razor sharp tools and driving machines around as fast as and precise as possible so good lenses are a no brainer for me.
Not cheap but worth the money imo.

That said, when I go XC or Trail/Enduro riding i mostly use my Oakley Racing Jackets with Photochromic lenses which are awesome when you go back and forth between open and bright and dark forrest or cloudy days.
For DH id probably go for a light Prizm lens as they come in different tones for different conditions.

So I guess it also kinda depends on where you will be riding and the conditions.
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,855
9,560
AK
A light film of dish soap is a pretty damn effective anti-fog tool, but I suggest that you spend hundreds on dentist shades.
Nothing, repeat, nothing, freaking works in Alaska. Even with all sorts of crap coating, they'll fog instantly, as soon as you put them on, I've even had plenty of days where just using the wind while riding the lift with no exertion does absolutely nothing to de-fog, I've heard lots of people say they have sure-fire ways of fixing this, but it's all BS here. That said, in the flat light snow you can't see anyway, goggles on or off, you are f-ed.
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
don't got. used to ride all the time with polarized SGs. They did great, eased the woods transitions and added clarity while reducing glare. Polarized lenses typically don't have a lot of tint.
 

oldfart

Turbo Monkey
Jul 5, 2001
1,206
24
North Van
None of the photochromic lenses I have used change quickly enough to be useful off road. There is new technology though that changes quicker. Adidas have a lens that videos show changes in about 15 seconds or so but that is not fast enough for breaking out of a sunny place and diving into deep shadow or vice versa. The Ryders' anti fog does work well but it's not perfect. I can fog them up on certain climbs when it's cold and damp. I have heard good things about the Oakley prism for skiing. For off road I like lenses with moderate light transmission. Full dark is too much but clear is not enough unless it's cloudy.
 

eric strt6

Resident Curmudgeon
Sep 8, 2001
23,188
13,448
directly above the center of the earth
Received my Rudy Project prescription Rydon Flex cycling glasses today. I went with prescription clip on lenses behind the main lens as I tend to scratch up glasses an the poarized lenses are $50 to replace vs $250 for a full prescription lens. I did a hard 15 mile Time trial with them on tonight. My eyes did not tear up until I hit 36 mph on a down hill and then only lightly. The prescription was spot on and the polarized lenses had no distortion. my one regret is that i did no get the anti reflection coating on the back side of the blade I got the Polarized 3FX lens in Grey

pretty good price. I paid $288.23





 
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amishmatt

Turbo Monkey
Sep 21, 2005
1,263
396
Lancaster, PA
I have the Oakley Jawbreaker with their Prizm Trail lens. It's still too dark for me in the woods (when leaves are on the trees) unless it's sunny, and I can't really say the contrast makes any significant difference. If I did it again, I'd probably look for a clear or amber lens.
 

slyfink

Turbo Monkey
Sep 16, 2008
9,289
5,029
Ottawa, Canada
I ended up ordering the Fyre lenses from Ryders. They go from yellow to brown. I figured I'd be able to use them year round, for mountain biking in the summer, night rides in the fall (because of the yellow), fat biking and xc skiing in the winter (the polarization is good on snow, and brown is decent (even if I prefer rose) in flat light). I should get them tomorrow, and be able to test them on Thursday. It's an indecent amount of money IMO, but this spring has been so bad in terms of rain, dampness and darkness that I figured something to brighten up the trail and limit fogging would be welcome. I hope they carry over well to other seasons so I can maximise my investment....
 

Adventurous

Starshine Bro
Mar 19, 2014
10,261
8,767
Crawlorado
I always found that orange lenses did a good job at contract enhancing. Simple, plain orange lenses, nothing fancy at all.
 

slyfink

Turbo Monkey
Sep 16, 2008
9,289
5,029
Ottawa, Canada
I always found that orange lenses did a good job at contract enhancing. Simple, plain orange lenses, nothing fancy at all.
I rode with a pair of those for about 15 years. Replaced the lens 2x I think, and the fames 3x. (old Oakley M Frames). I found they were great in the forest in the sun, but were too dark at dusk, and not useful in the snow/night/wideopen. But yeah, for 90% of my riding in the summer, they were good.
I have always found that plain eyeballs work very well.
really? you don't have issues with mud/branches/bugs getting in your eyes? and going snowblind in the winter?