How lame is it to get the prescription little plastic inserts to wear with cycling glasses? I got a pair not realizing what it’d look like and wondering if that was a regrettable choice. I hate wearing contacts, and they often get dry and irritate my eyes. I can’t seem to figure out a stylish solution that don’t require contacts.
by SuperInvestigator753
42 Comments
If you hate the look maybe try some darker lenses? But otherwise, nah I think these are totally fine. You gotta be able to see! Safety is fashionable.
Being able to see is so lame. Straight to BCJ with you!
Oakley(and I’m sure others) allow you to get certain frames with prescription lenses. Definitely cooler looking and likely more comfy.
Geeky, yes, but if it’s the only way you can get along and see while cycling cool might need to take a backseat to necessity.
I dont have an answer to your question but am curious on how you like the Bobcats? Im thinking of buying. Thanks
It’s fine. Being able to see is obviously important. I’m sure no one will judge.
Fashion? Vision? Fashion? Vision? 🧐
Straight to jail
It’s fine. These offer lots of coverage so if they work for you, stick with them. I got a pair of Rudy Project frames and some clear prescription lenses from a 3rd party lab for my wacky eyes, and the vision and coverage is great. Had to find an optician who has a lab that could do this, not all will work to find odd-ball things like this. Shout out to Art & Science of Eyewear in Lafayette, CA.
I’m blind as a bat, I always wear glasses and when I hop on the bike, lenses are the way to go for me personally.
I also have this type of insert though and I fucking hate it from the bottom of my heard. Paid a pretty penny to have it made and it’s awful. For me, it creates sort of a fish bowl effect, makes everything look sorta wobbly and proportions/distance hard to grasp.
But I wouldn’t worry about it looking good. The point is we do what we have to, to ride 🙂
I have them. Get a low light transmission, mirrored reflective lens and it’ll be less obvious.
I think they’re lame too but I find contacts way too irritating to deal with
I did exactly this for many years until I had lasik. As much as I like to look good on the bike, I’d much rather see.
I think seeing is pretty neat when I’m riding. 🤷♂️
When it comes to prescription eyewear for cycling, function exceeds form.
I’ve been using prescription inserts since the early 2000s, and none of them look great. My current Rudy Project glasses use a [semi-rimless insert](https://www.rudyprojectna.com/products/universal-shield-rx-insert), which is less ugly than most.
No they’re fine.
Contacts are the best solution to many issues with vision. But in my experience I had to try a bunch of different brands, manufacturers, and types to get it right and have minimal issues.
Try sportrx.com
Just got a pair (100% brand) with my prescription, amazing to actually see my Garmin and the road.
Not cheap, but so is crashing because you can’t see either 🤣
Can you see? Is it safer than wearing contacts and more comfortable? Then who cares. Your vision is more important than how sweet your shades look.
I wear ankle socks always when I ride because I hate weird tan lines. Sometimes comfort takes priority over fashion.
Why are you worried about who sees you? More importantly, you need to worry about seeing. This is 100% acceptable.
Look for glasses that can have the prescription direct glazed instead of an optical insert like this. If your prescription is strong this may not be an option. I didn’t want an insert to potentially fog up and collect sweat, make it hard to wipe, etc. and Oakleys with prescription lenses added up to several hundred dollars, so I got a pair from Zenni ([these](https://ca.zennioptical.com/p/plastic-wrap-around-sunglass-frames/11654/1165412), but there are a bunch of options).
The lens is quite thick at the extreme edges but so far it’s night and day compared to my non-sport prescription sunglasses — they were aviator shaped but wind and dust often irritated my eyes. My eyes are way more comfortable after long rides now.
Zenni for prescription cycling sunglasses 😎
If you are fast enough, nobody can see anyway
If I saw you on a ride I literally wouldn’t give it a second thought besides maybe hey that’s cool that you can wear your prescription with wraparounds.
ZENNI has shield style glasses that are technically two different lenses. Not noticeable.
I’ve got some SVED inserts for Oakley Sutro’s with the Sapphire lens, and in the sun or daylight, you cannot see the insert at all.
I was wondering if there’s some I could buy just to put over my glasses
What’s lame is that the brand name is backward.
I have similar ones and love them. Have two lenses (one vario) and they are awesome.
Unless you’re having a frontal collision, nobody will notice. And nobody will care, really.
You need to be able to see – so that comes first. Companies like Oakley will do full prescription lenses but they’re expensive.
Just got prescription sports frames from Zenni. They are amazing and way cheaper than others I researched online. You can’t even really tell they are prescription most of the time. Here is a link. [https://www.zennioptical.com/b/sports-glasses/zunnies/cycling](https://www.zennioptical.com/b/sports-glasses/zunnies/cycling)
Not lame. Especially if you have high myopia. When it comes to eyes, you should not give a crap what people think–they are your eyes and you have to take care of them. I have a friend with worst problems that yours, and she tried all sorts of things. Prescription goggles also work well for her. Do what’s best for you.
I have Julbo Edge Cover with a pesky clip. I passionately hate it. Everything is blurry and shaky, although the clip was done by local opticians.
Problem is that with my prescription (-5.5), you cant get Oakley or anything else which might be better, and I cant wear contacts, as swimming with them is risky.
Quite pissed about the state with prescription bike glasses.
Don’t you need to see while you’re on a bike?
Big YES YES
I very nearsighted and have to wear prescription sunglasses. I found a great place that will make the lenses for me with a frame that wraps around well enough to prevent too much wind in the eyes: [https://www.opticus.com/julbo-frames-details-copy](https://www.opticus.com/julbo-frames-details-copy) Its the Altice Venture frames and they can accommodate like a -8 diopter.
Prescription inserts was one of the biggest upgrades I ever made for my cycling.
I can see it being less than desirable with lighter lenses. Just get darker lenses and go ride now being able to actually see.
Something like the Koo Hype has two separate lenses but looks pretty much as good as a wraparound frame, and the individual lenses can be made with prescription by any low-cost online optician. I have several pairs of Koo with the optical clip and the mirrored lenses render the clip invisible. They are less good in hot weather when sweat gets between the two sets of lenses, and also the optical clip sits closer to your face than the glasses themselves are designed to do, so any sweat from your eyebrows tends to drop on to them. The Hype are a bit better in this respect as they have a few gaps for air to co e through and dry this off more quickly.
I just wear prescription nike wrap around sport glasses. Progressive lenses with sport transitions and they are perfect.
I went to contacts since Oakley said any of the current single lens frames don’t do well with prescriptions.
Full send baby! If it gets you on a bike, it’s cool as hell!
I had the black color insert and people can barely see that
Nobody cares. Although as an alternate solution, I would consider lasik, if you’re eligible. I fought with glasses/contacts for decades. Lasik has a tremendous quality of life improvement and worth more than any bike or accessory.
Personally, I would do contacts or get actual frames for the cycling glasses. I have some custom Oakley’s where I did that.
God forbid someone is using an aid to enable proper eyesight. That’s actually quite cool imho and I am looking to get some of those, too.