[Closed] Photochromatic glasses for night riding.

Spendy, but I use Radar EV photochromic lenses in some conditions, particularly if starting in daylight but riding beyond sunset. In bright sunlight they're properly dark. In low light they're completely clear. I imagine other photochromic lenses work equally well.
They take a few minutes to adjust but I would have thought they would suit your purpose perfectly well.

Oakley clear to black iridium

Photochromic lenses differ in how much light they let through across brands/ models so check the VLT range.

I have used both Smith and Uvex photochromatic glasses night riding for years and love them.

I went with Smith Reverb photochromatic glasses most recently as the fit (for me) was way better than any Oakley models and the arms are more dropped to be out of the way of helmet retention systems and straps. Thoroughly recommended.

The Smith photochromatic lens is 20-85% VLT for comparison to other you may be looking at.

I've been using Oakley Grey Transition lenses for at least the past 10 years. Day, night. Summer, Winter.

the ones i mentioned are those mentioned by Houns, clear to black iridium.

No, they don't go clear enough. I'd use them on a ride that transition from sunlight to night but not an out and out night ride.

I got a pair of those Carnac photochromics from PX to try for night riding.
They work very well in the woods and are good with any low sun at the start of the ride.

Ahh Planet X! What great timing, they appear to be currently on sale (:-)).

Do they really go clear enough for night riding?
Do any of them or do I just need some for night riding?

Oakley photochronic

I have [url= https://www.evanscycles.com/brand/fwe/rayet-photochromic-hydrophobic-multi-lens-glasses-754632#colcode=75463203 ]these FWE[/url] - I use them for winter commutes - most definitely light enough for night riding. (Have never used the yellow lens, not sure why it's supplied with them!)

I would be looking at one pair with multiple lenses that include a clear lens.

The Oakley Iridium ones are 23-69% VLT IIRC. I can probably live with a 59% VLT for riding at night, provided your lights are bright enough but it's not ideal

I don't use my photochromic lenses because they make you look like a soft-tint weirdo in anything less than bright sun.

Do they really go clear enough for night riding?

They work for me on our routes,but a lot of it is very open.
Will see how they perform in proper dark.
TBH I also like the fact that they are frame less and for £25 don't have to worry about them getting smashed up.

I have some Ryders Fyre lenses (bought on sale, £37!), photochromic, colour change similar to Oakley prism etc. no issues riding with them in very thick woods, so think they’d be alright at night. The colour tint reduces int dark too which helps I think.

the anti fog is unreal too! I do look like I’m not allowed within 500m of most educational institutions when I wear them though.

Just to point out again to the OP that a lot of the lenses people try to use may be 60-70% VLT. That is a potentially bit iffy for night riding. If you can find some nearer the 85% like the Smiths then you will never notice any difference compared to clear lenses. I think most clear lenses themselves are 90% ish VLT.

In short, yes photochromatic lenses can be perfect for night riding as well as sunny rides but you need lenses with a wide operating range of light.

I've used the Rad8 photochromic ones for the last 5 years or so. They are perfect for night riding in all conditions/terrains - they go completely clear. I think mine are a slightly older version of these.

https://www.rad8.co.uk/store/p47/Rad8_505_MTB_-_Photochromic.html

The FWE's range isn't good enough for sunny rides. Goes from clear to slightly tinted.

Oakley clear to black iridium

Not a good idea, and should be avoided. They have a base tint, only slight, but it still reduces the amount of light transmission by a fair bit. For night time, you want something completely clear. Take advice from an optician though. I've used photochromic lenses in glasses for over 30 years, and there's quite a bit of variation. For general use including night time, a completely clear to fairly dark lens is the best compromise. If you want very dar, then the lenses will always have a base tint that is unsuitable for night time. The Oakley black iridium lenses are ok for general brighter daylight conditions. I find they make things look even duller on dull overcast days though, and I' prefer clearer lenses for those kind of conditions.

Another thing to watch out for, is that some photochromic lenses can deteriorate over time; I've had some that wouldn't go as dark after a few months of summer use. Maybe that's a thing of the past though, and newer technology has improved this. Also; I've had some that started off clear, then developed a base tint. Again, not something I've experienced for a while though.

I've been using Rudy Project Rydon photochromic for quite a while now. You have to be a bit careful as they have several different photochromic options, but I think mine are 74%-9%. Did several Mayhems with them, the night laps were fine.

I use my clear to black oakley photochromic lenses at night, at dusk, in woodland with no issues at all as they are clear

Another vote for Rad8 MTB Glasses. Very clear for night riding and good for daylight too. Mine get used for overcast days, evening rides and winter commutes 👌

+1 to proper clear for night riding. Why would you want anything else? Pennies for a pair of bolle safety specs from screwfix or pay a bit of cycling tax and buy something virtually identical from a bike shop if you must. It's dark, so the last word in high fashion is not a problem.

But.....I like these for everything else and not a lot of money.

https://www.merlincycles.com/bbb-bsg-59ph-impress-reader-photochromic-glasses-112438.html

85%-17% is a pretty good range of light transmission that is good from dull days to sunny (Scottish) days. AND......a reader section for my old man eye to be able to read my phone. The fact that these exist is proof positive that cycling is becoming an old man/woman sport.

Ahh Planet X! What great timing, they appear to be currently on sale (:-)).

Do they really go clear enough for night riding?

I've no idea about the PX ones but my Oakley's do.

I use my clear to black oakley photochromic lenses at night, at dusk, in woodland with no issues at all as they are clear

Are you an optician?

OP, I just listed some new PX/Carnac TCFS

https://singletrackmag.com/classifieds/advert/fs-brand-new-carnac-tcfs-60-photochromic-glasses/

No just someone who has a few different types of Oakley photochromic lenses

wouldnt bother just get clear lenses for night riding, even then in the pitch black woods with lights blaring they are still not as good as just having nothing on (i wear contacts so understand why some people need to wear them in winter but for me they just dont work)

EDIT - FWIW ive got photochromic oakleys and they are brilliant, but even in summer night rides where woods go darker they dont work the same as in daylight

once winter comes and its dull and dreary i just stick oakley clear lenses in, plus im not too arsed about scratching them up the same as i am with the photochromic ones, but for out and out pitch black night riding i dont bother with any

On evening rides that start in daylight but end in near or total darkness I just use clear lenses. A compromise at the start but it's rarely sunny here (Scotland). I've not found any transition lens that's gone completely clear - why hobble your night-riding unnecessarily.

I've got transition lenses I wear for all other biking, in the UK at least - I've swapped to darker lenses in the Alps before, but that's rare for me.

I went through this with new glasses last year, I had been using some photochromic Oakleys and whilst all good the Rad8's a few others have mentioned were over £100 cheaper, and in my humble view, just as good.

I had to chat up front and address a post sale issue and the people in Rad8 were excellent and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

Use mine in blasting sun (once per year when we have it) and night rides all year around.

James

Those Rad8s look very like my Decathlon photochromics, anybody had both?
The Decathlons are obviously way cheaper.

Previously got a pair of transition/reactive lenses put into an old frame for the "one pair fits all" scenario by this company
lenses

Worked a treat, used them for 2 years on night rides with no issues, they were prescription but got rid when i had laser eye surgery.

i now have two sets of lenses, one clear and one not clear for night riding and sunny day rides, lenses take about 30 seconds to change over and were cheap from amazon.

Another Rad8 fan here, photochromic prescription lenses for me, wear them 24/7 and fantastic customer service.

I've been using Rad8 504s since they came out & use them all year round. Completely clear for night riding and fast transition in daylight to dark woods riding too.

I've got Oakley jawbreaker transitions. They look like they go clear but they don't. On the website it says they are still only 50% transmission which for me is no good at dusk and later. Just bought some actual clear lenses.

Ah Rad8 504 here to great glasses and use them all year round too! Recommended!

Compromise becomes more relevant when you factor in a prescription and multiple pairs would get ££££££. Don’t believe the OP needs prescription but a factor for those that do like me. Will look at Rad8 for my next pair.

+ how ever many we’ve got to for rad8

They’re definitely on the ‘clear to fairly dark’ rather than ‘dark to fairly clear’ side. I have prescription and non and like them both.

The minimum VLT (i.e. darkest) of Rad8 photochromics is 26%. They didn't answer what the maximum is, but they're darker than clear Bolle Contours which at 92% VLT is IIRC the optical engineering limit of how clear you can make a lens.

Rudy Rydon photo chromatics have been fine for me for years in light and dark, on and off road. Mine have an Rx insert with +3.5 in each eye.

I checked my Oakleys. They range from 87% to 19%. As above, I believe that 90-92% VLT is about as clear as you can actually make a lens in real life. Most manufacturers seem to count anything above 80% as "clear".