First of all, yes I did do a search and read the other discussions on sunglasses. However most of them focused mostly on brands.
Just wondering from the personal experience of others, what do you like in a good pair of flying sunglasses? Tints you find work well etc...
And if you feel like it, brands too. However I wear glasses so I can't just buy any ol' Serengettis and throw them on, and I don't like flying with contacts (they get uncomfortably dry after a 14 hour duty day). I'm probably gonna end up with custom clips for my glasses, quick change from above cloud, into cloud, dark and bright situations and I don't have to remove my headset and change frames.
And yes, polarization is bad because of polorized windscreens (manufactured that way on purpose or certain spots can develop polorization in the production process, so I've been told) and LCDs. Two polarized lenses at 90 degrees block all light. Also reduced glare off of things like water=reduced depth perception.
Just wanted to address that argument before it starts, and it always does.
Since I have a habit of losing / breaking my sunglasses, I usually buy the cheapest pair of polarised glasses that I can find with a brown tint. I find that the reduction in glare is well worth it. If I'm scanning for aircraft, I can slide them down my nose a little bit, or take them off to look for reflections.
Serengeti unpolarized. Love 'em. They provide good contrast, especially in lower visibilities, and when you're looking inside at the screens & instruments the tint is still light enough that you don't have to remove them or look over them. I keep a pair of black Ray Bans around too for if the sun is shining right in my face - I find the brown tint doesn't do enough for that... but then I have really sensitive eyes. Both brands have really thin arms so they sit under the headset quite comfortably and don't ruin the noise cancellation.
As I also am prone to dropping/breaking/sitting on, etc sunglasses, I ONLY wear these in the airplane.
Serengetti does make a darker tint than their normal "Driver's" - it's called 555nm. I believe that most Serengetti and Ray-Ban frames are RX-able.
As far as contacts go, try the all-month ones. You put them in on the morning of the 1st, and you take them out on the evening of the 30th. They are about 5 times as breathable as normal contacts. I love 'em.
I would discrourage "clips". I have never been able to get what I would consider good optical performance from clip-ons over normal glasses. Get a second pair of glasses. Whether it's a sunglass frame with an Rx in it, or a pair of Rx glasses that were manufactured with a good quality tint and anti-glare coating, it's guaranteed to be better than clip-ons.
I own two pairs of non-rx sunglasses for when I have contacts in, and two pairs of Rx sunglasses for when I do. In each case, I have a dark grey-green tint for bright days (my eyes are VERY photosensitive), and a rose, gold, or amber coloured tint with a very light "flash" finish on the exterior of the lens.
Also think about what you want the lens to be made out of. Plastic is light weight, and there are lots of funky styles available with plastic lenses. It's also cheaper...but it will scratch eventually. Glass is heavier, more expensive, and tends to be used in more "old school" frame styles...but it's much less likely to scratch, and it provides the best possible optical quality.
For my money, Serengetti makes the best quality sunglass lenses out there. That said, there are still plenty of other companies that make good lenses. I've owned Oakley, Briko, Ray-Ban, and Bolle, and been happy with all of them. Find out which pairs are Rxable non-polarized, and then find a pair that you like out of that lot. Then try them on when you have your headset on. Then make up your mind. Sure, you'll look like a goof sitting in the opticians with your DC's on, but at least you won't spend $400 on a pair of sunglasses that make your head hurt as soon as you put your headset on.
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My last clipons were porarized and didn't work with the efis or thru the windshield heat wiring. They redid the clipons with serengeti drivers tint nonpolarized for about 40 bucks. When it gets real bright, sunglasses on, tinted visor down, and still have to squint, pull out your trusty company ballcap, even if you're not a hat guy. Your eyes will thank you. I cut off the button on top of the hat so the headset doesn't dent my skull any more than it is already.
I have two pairs of Oakleys, and one pair of Ray Bans...
I wear the Oakleys most of the time... love the coverage of the Oakleys, with their wraparound design... but the arms are a bit wider than the Ray Bans, so they're not as good with the headset. But I still prefer my Oakleys.
I wear contacts that are good for a month... yes, sometimes, they tend to get dry after 10 hours in a pressurised cockpit, but I carry drops. I rather put drops in my eyes once in a while than have my glasses go IFR on me when I come inside after 10 minutes in our nice cold weather.
Hey guys/girls.
I'm going to be trying contacts for the first time & sounds like the 1month lenses are the ones for me... I think... What do you guys spend on those baby's?? The chick at IRIS said they'll cost me $75 per month,per eye!!! Sounds pretty damned steep to me... What do you guys pay? & Where?? thanks!
Try http://www.clearlycontacts.ca for pretty decent prices and quick mail ordering (within a week). I use the Focus Daily Disposables and end up spending about $100 every 3 months (both eyes). I'm sure the Monthly Disposables would be less... my eyes don't put up with them though.
oakley scored the highest in all three categories (men and womens sport glasses and polarized). the study is featured on their website but it was not commissioned by them.
For the contacts, I use the disposable throw them away after two weeks ones. Every night you take them out, put them back in the next morning. Keep wearing them until you get a nick or chip that irritates your eye, then throw them out and use the next pair. They generally last 6 months to a year before you wreck one. Been wearing contacts for 22 years never had a problem with them, lots of long flying days. If you wash your hands and take good care of the damn things there is nothing wrong with them. If you optometrist says otherwise, go see an Opthamologist. The lenses are basically the same thing, it's just a matter of making sure you take care of the lenses.
For the sunglasses, I use Serengetti's. In crummy light conditions they really stand out, non polarized chromatic lenses. You can get them with presciption lenses.
I try and take care of the lenses, but I do wear them pretty much all the time outside. I'm on my 3rd pair in 12 years. If you badly scratch a lense, you send it in and I think it's around $60 they'll replace both lenses.
I have a pair of Serengetti's non Rx Rose coloured which are great. I also have a pair of Oakleys with Rx. They are the only company that you can get truly wrap around with Rx and their ability to block blue light are amazing for your eyes. I would recommend both of the above sunglasses.
So from what I'm reading here and other websites it seems like Serengettis are the hands down favs among other pilots? Of course with Oakley and Ray Ban following close behind. (I have a pair of RB but they're polarized, and Oakleys but they're thick metal with the straight arms, really hurt with the headset on) Are the Serengettis good because they're a nice brown tint? I've read that they're best for the depth perception and contrast, thus good for us pilots. Would you agree? I'm flying up in the frozen north where the only way to find the runway is to find the slightly different shade of white that's a little flater than the rest of the flat terrain. If something can help me see the contrast better it would probably really improve my ability to find the runways.
As for contacts I'm currently using coopervision encore, monthly disposables. I have naturally dry eyes and these, I find are uncomfortable near the end of a long day, especially if they're not brand new and fresh. Are the ones that you leave on, even at night more comfortable?
Maybe I will get a pair of good Serengettis later, but for now I'm probably still going to get the clip ons for convenience and $ reasons. Brown tint good? My old ones are grey. How about mirrored lenses? Any help or just aesthetics?
Polarized is a really bad idea for me anyways. I had a pair of killer loops, polarized that I was wearing flying in bright IMC. Let's just say that it's hard to see the instruments. Now I have those great big (4 feet across) goofy looking randolph engineering ones. Makes you look like Elton John flying an airplane but they work really well. If you get them take them off before you get out of the airplane or people will start to snicker. They look ridiculous but they work.
Polarized is a really bad idea for me anyways. I had a pair of killer loops, polarized that I was wearing flying in bright IMC. Let's just say that it's hard to see the instruments. Now I have those great big (4 feet across) goofy looking randolph engineering ones. Makes you look like Elton John flying an airplane but they work really well. If you get them take them off before you get out of the airplane or people will start to snicker. They look ridiculous but they work.
Before you go spending money on other contact lenses, try drinking more water. Most of us don't and you'd be surprised how much that helps out the eyeballs.
Throw my vote in for Serengeti's, I've tried Oakley, Revo, RayBan, even Vuarnet...all good glasses, but the Serengeti lens is incredible. It's only weakness (as mentioned) is in extremely bright conditions. But for increasing contrast and cutting glare, it is hands down the best compromise.
I don't understand how anyone can wear polarized lenses in an a/c. Even if you are not flying glass now, you WILL be. I had a pair of Bolle's that I wore one day when I forgot my Drivers, a day of having the FMS screen disappear every time you look down will make you lose your mind...
Oh, and Killer Loops or Maui Jim's for the "fashion" pair when off the flight deck!
Next, let's talk about my other fetish, expensive watches! heheh
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w squared wrote:
I own two pairs of non-rx sunglasses for when I have contacts in, and two pairs of Rx sunglasses for when I do. In each case, I have a dark grey-green tint for bright days (my eyes are VERY photosensitive), and a rose, gold, or amber coloured tint with a very light "flash" finish on the exterior of the lens.
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Man your company must have a damm good vision plan. That or you are a little further in your career than most of us.
chipmunk wrote:Try http://www.clearlycontacts.ca for pretty decent prices and quick mail ordering (within a week). I use the Focus Daily Disposables and end up spending about $100 every 3 months (both eyes). I'm sure the Monthly Disposables would be less... my eyes don't put up with them though.
Good to know chipmunk.
I've bought two pairs of glasses from framesdirect.com in texas now and been happy both times. The ones I'm wearing as I write this were around $400 just for the frames at the mall in YYC but on line came with lenses for just over CDN $200. You have to pay $10 duty at fed ex when you pick them up but big deal.
For flying, go with the lightest frames you can find, and make sure the arms are thin. Aluminum is good, Titanium is great, just find the ones you want, get your prescription somewhere you trust, and make sure they provide you with all the measurements you will need (frames direct will tell you what measurements they need). A week later you'll be looking suave and your wallet wont be quite so thin.
Or you could just go with the biggest goddiest porno shades money can buy...
