Prescription Glasses

[Capt Sisko]

Hi All,  I need some new glasses anyway and whilst my current pair fit under my helmet (Neotec II), they are just okay, so I looking at something a bit more motorcycle friendly. Can anyone offer advice on the best style of glasses for with helmet use? For example are aviation style better than say rounded or square? Are the super thin frameless & bendy titanium worth the extra? Are cheap as chips from someone direct worth it and are the any good?

 

What I'm NOT looking at are sports style / wrap around glasses or the type with a separate prescription lenses in a holder behind the front shield. I've tried the later and the prescription lenses are just too close to my eyes. Whatever I wear has to be general purpose, i.e. I'm not taking a separate pair with me for walking around or sitting at a cafe looking like a poser.

 

I'm not sure about arm style, I've got a pair of the aforementioned sports ones with straight arms and all they do is catch the liner of the helmet, get pushed down my nose a 1/4" and I then have to lift the visor, push them back  Repeat every five minute. Very annoying! The standard bend behind the ears type do stay in place. Lastly please do not recommend contact lenses. I just cannot wear them.

 

So, any advice from the hive mind?

 

 

[S-Westerly]

I've got straight armed frames with moderately large lenses (roughly aviator size) I've got vario focal lenses so I can manage near and far with them. The frames are titanium and fit in my Neotec 2 helmet without any issues at all. Bloody expensive though but I find it worth it for other things I do - work, fishing etc.

[Gerontious]

When I go to the opticians I take my helmet with me. No big deal they are used to it given the huge number of myopic delivery riders.

 

I normally go for glasses with straight arms that are flat against my skin, made from that springy but strong and resistant to bending metal. I’m not sure what it actually is. But it’s not the most expensive frame. Usually a mid-price own brand, rather than anything from a designer label.

 

it’s obviously important they work with my crash helmet. So are tested with it as part of the decision process.

Edited May 17, 2024 by Gerontious

[Simon Davey]

My favourite glasses to fit in my helmet hinge two ways, so the bottom of the lens will actually tilt outwards if the helmet puts pressure on the arms.

Makes them super comfy.

[RideWithStyles]

some helmets are better for glasses than others, shark, shoei etc.

wrap round are better for the helmet but if you have pronouns brows or warm bloodied (cave man) they mark and fog badly.

depends if your a summer flock 

er or a all year hore....a anti relective coating is better for fogging and weird reflection. are you long or short sighted? would tininting be ok?

Edited May 17, 2024 by RideWithStyles

[S-Westerly]

What I wear:

[Nick the wanderer]

I use a HJC helmet which has indents in the side for getting glasses on and off, that's good. It also has the drop down sun visor so no need for sunglasses.

At the opticians take your time choosing a pair that fit better from the off rather than a pair that 'may' suit you. I use a more solid frame and arms, no nose pads and fitted to my ears, they stay in place very well, so much so at the last prescription change I got the same frames again.

Here is a pic of the style I wear, please be warned this is not actually me, it is a model, I'm a couple of years older. 

[keith1200rs]

Stiff sidearms are useful if you don't have a flip from helmet. Also, sidearms that a straight. If they are curved they will get squashed in the helmet.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

I get bog standard glasses from Specsavers. I'm on varifocals so larger lenses work better. I have several pairs as my prescription rarely changes and I can keep old pairs of glasses to use. 

 

But I wear flip front lids Caberg Duke 2 and Schuberth C3 Pro and they work well with any of my glasses. 

 

I think it's better to have reasonably stiff frames rather than rimless glasses under a helmet. And I always hinges that flex outwards as well as folding inwards. 

 

Straight or bent arms seem to make no difference to me, other than bent ones stay in place when removing my helmet. 

 

Photochromic lenses are a must for riding bikes.

[keith1200rs]

2 hours ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

Photochromic lenses are a must for riding bikes.

Not at all if you have a helmet sun visor

[Tinkicker]

If you are a regular all day rider, I think it is fairly important that the arms are as thin and springy as possible.  What may feel fine in the shop when trying them out can often be agonising after a 8 hour ride.  

[Capt Sisko]

43 minutes ago, keith1200rs said:

Not at all if you have a helmet sun visor

Which a Neotec II does.

[keith1200rs]

32 minutes ago, Tinkicker said:

If you are a regular all day rider, I think it is fairly important that the arms are as thin and springy as possible.  What may feel fine in the shop when trying them out can often be agonising after a 8 hour ride.  

Except my wife finds she needs rigid spectacle arms otherwise she cannot push them through the padding in her full face helmet.

 

As someone mentioned, it is a good idea to take your helmet when choosing your glasses. 

[Capt Sisko]

Hi All, Thanks for you replies so far, lots to consider.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

2 hours ago, keith1200rs said:

Not at all if you have a helmet sun visor

Both mine have sun visors. I don't get on either them at all. Much prefer how photochromic lenses work. Plus the lenses still work when you're sat having a brew sat in the sun. 

 

But it's personal preference at the end of the day. 

[S-Westerly]

I'd probably use photochromic lenses if I was allowed to for work but given the cost of specs I'm not forking out for a 4th pair.

[brotorbike]

I head to the optical shop alone, helmet on, to try a few frames. I have a favorite titanium frame, so I usually just have the lenses changed. Last time I bought a new frame, but only used it for 5 months before switching back to my trusty titanium. Sports glasses aren't my style; they make me dizzy.