Prescripton cycling glasses
- Thread starter Jim_Noir
- Start date
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Gerry Attrick
Lincolnshire Mountain Rescue Consultant
I received my prescription sunglasses from Optilabs just over a week ago. They are everything I wanted in sunglasses. They are light, fit well and do the job. Oh....and I can see clearly.
Before ordering, I phoned them with a query and found them very knowledgable and helpful. Recommended.
Before ordering, I phoned them with a query and found them very knowledgable and helpful. Recommended.
Gerry Attrick
Lincolnshire Mountain Rescue Consultant
I opted for the single vision polarised with blue mirror finish. Look great with blue frames.Jim_Noir said:
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Tricky one this - there are many folk that ride with 'normal glasses'.
I don't.... (I carry normal glasses with me on the commute - they don't give the eye protection....)
I had some prescription Bolle's made many (many) years ago (hence mega bucks) and they were great, but got out dated and the prescription no use.
I'd just spent some serious cash on two sets of glasses for every day use (laser eye treatment option cost zone.....but no way)..... had the new prescription....
New Tesco opened....about 10 miles away.... oh great.... and sports glasses... OFFER....Anyway, went with my new prescription and got some specs for £40..... bargain....
Problem..... the optics were weird - gave me a dodgy 'low' position on the road. By luck found it was the 'shades' not the optical insert - that was fine...
Anyway, nearly about to go stomping off (but £40 was cheap) - and happened to pick up some Bolle Safety glasses that I'd been given on a site once.....hmmmm...... blooming heck, the inserts fit.....
So ended up using Bolle safety glasses (i.e. properly tested for UV, impact etc....) great.....
I currently use the inserts with Bolle Contour and Silium Safety Specs - minor mods to the frames/inserts - job's a good un. If the specs get scratched, it's cheap...
If doing it properly, I'd really opt for Rudy Project's system..... Personally I spend a fair bit on my every day specs, 'cos I need them, the cycling stuff will just have to do.
I don't.... (I carry normal glasses with me on the commute - they don't give the eye protection....)
I had some prescription Bolle's made many (many) years ago (hence mega bucks) and they were great, but got out dated and the prescription no use.
I'd just spent some serious cash on two sets of glasses for every day use (laser eye treatment option cost zone.....but no way)..... had the new prescription....
New Tesco opened....about 10 miles away.... oh great.... and sports glasses... OFFER....Anyway, went with my new prescription and got some specs for £40..... bargain....
Problem..... the optics were weird - gave me a dodgy 'low' position on the road. By luck found it was the 'shades' not the optical insert - that was fine...
Anyway, nearly about to go stomping off (but £40 was cheap) - and happened to pick up some Bolle Safety glasses that I'd been given on a site once.....hmmmm...... blooming heck, the inserts fit.....
So ended up using Bolle safety glasses (i.e. properly tested for UV, impact etc....) great.....
I currently use the inserts with Bolle Contour and Silium Safety Specs - minor mods to the frames/inserts - job's a good un. If the specs get scratched, it's cheap...
If doing it properly, I'd really opt for Rudy Project's system..... Personally I spend a fair bit on my every day specs, 'cos I need them, the cycling stuff will just have to do.
I tried insets and they just felt too close to the eyes for comfort and the focus was too centralised for me.
The great thing about optilabs is that they have got some adjustment calculation that lets them glaze wrap arounds so the area of vision is total.
The great thing about optilabs is that they have got some adjustment calculation that lets them glaze wrap arounds so the area of vision is total.
I've had two pairs of Optilab glasses over the last few years and my experience has been absolutely fine. I don't like inserts either.
Have a search for optilabs on the forum and you'll find that most people are very happy. The only words of caution - optilabs aren't your high street optician so the customer relationship is more limited. I remember that some people on here have been disappointed when they've started asking questions about glasses/fit/trials etc and finding optilabs less than forthcoming. If you're happy that you know what you want then optilabs are a great relatively low cost choice. If you're wanting to try before you buy, or have very specific needs, then you might be better off paying the extra at an opticians.
Have a search for optilabs on the forum and you'll find that most people are very happy. The only words of caution - optilabs aren't your high street optician so the customer relationship is more limited. I remember that some people on here have been disappointed when they've started asking questions about glasses/fit/trials etc and finding optilabs less than forthcoming. If you're happy that you know what you want then optilabs are a great relatively low cost choice. If you're wanting to try before you buy, or have very specific needs, then you might be better off paying the extra at an opticians.
auckland27
New Member
Got a pair from optilabs recently. Very happy with both the glasses and the service.
I have the luxury of living quite close to their store so was able to pop in and try the frames on before purchasing however my understanding is they will send frames out to you to try at no obilgation (in fact they sent me a complete set with very unusual prescription out with no deposit, proof of ID etc - its all done on trust).
The guy in the store (Tony?) commented it was a rare pleasure for him to see one of his "sporting" customers in the flesh
I have the luxury of living quite close to their store so was able to pop in and try the frames on before purchasing however my understanding is they will send frames out to you to try at no obilgation (in fact they sent me a complete set with very unusual prescription out with no deposit, proof of ID etc - its all done on trust).
The guy in the store (Tony?) commented it was a rare pleasure for him to see one of his "sporting" customers in the flesh
Randochap
Senior hunter
- Location
- British Columbia, Canada
I use the Bolle Parole glasses with 3 -- clear, yellow, smoke -- changeable lenses and prescription insert. I had my lab make bifocals (better for riding, though I use progressives day-to-day) with the "reading" part optimized to read computers and map case.
OP
OP
Jim_Noir
New Member
Went to local optican. The have shown me a pair of PSO boomerang wraparounds with the optical insert. £120... doesn't seem that much less than optilabs. I would like to wear them in the winter too, as eye protection, and not just in the summer to block the sun... so optilabs seems to make more sense as you don't have to change the lenses.
Maybe I should grow a pair and get contacts... though the thought of touching my eyeball gives me the boake
Maybe I should grow a pair and get contacts... though the thought of touching my eyeball gives me the boake
My specs are from Optilabs and I can't fault their service. I too went down there, I had my prescription on me, and tried on various frames etc and ordered there and then. They recently sent me a new arm (for the specs!) free of charge so I'd call that pretty good service.
I think I need bi-focals now though (sign of old age!) since reading route sheets is near on impossible with my specs on!
I think I need bi-focals now though (sign of old age!) since reading route sheets is near on impossible with my specs on!
PpPete
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chandler's Ford
I was going to get some from Optilabs - but had such a fight with my regular optician over getting the PD measurement, (even though I was planning to spend nearly £400 on a new pair of day-to-day glasses) I ended up going to Specsavers, not only did I save £100 on my ordinary glasses but some nice wrap-around shades came free with same prescription.
dhague
New Member
- Location
- Virginia Water, Surrey
I can recommend Optilabs' service, but their glasses looked bad on me, so i got a refund from them. If using them again, I would make sure to get them send out some frames for me to try on *before* ordering them fitted with lenses. Can't fault the service, though.
For what it's worth, I got a nice pair of Oakleys from Vision Express with Transitions (photochromic) and a slight initial tint. At £275, these were a similar price to Optilabs' equivalent (£255).
If I was buying again, I'd probably go for Rudy Project glasses, because they have an adjustable bridge and I can therefore control how high on my nose they sit.
Cheers,
Darren
For what it's worth, I got a nice pair of Oakleys from Vision Express with Transitions (photochromic) and a slight initial tint. At £275, these were a similar price to Optilabs' equivalent (£255).
If I was buying again, I'd probably go for Rudy Project glasses, because they have an adjustable bridge and I can therefore control how high on my nose they sit.
Cheers,
Darren
