What different lense types have you found to be good on hazy or dark cloudy days?
It seems that regular sunglasses are usually too dark, and some colors on the plane tend to disappear. I'm blessed with somewhat less than perfect eyesight, so I'm looking for something that is available in a prescription lense.

Has anybody had any luck with the yellow lense used in shooting glasses? I'm not certain if they would offer any uv protection staring at the sky, so I'm a little hesitant there. Maybe driving glasses?

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Larry Caldwell

I use Serengetis with prescription Sedona lenses.

SERENGETI DRIVER <period>

__________
Schpankme

I struggled with this for a couple years. The best solution I have found is the NYX glasses. Peidmont sells these.

I actually use the polarized lens in the amber and the grey more often than anything else. Not sure if the combo Peidmont sells has the polarized lenses or not. On really dark days or at dusk the Vermillion work really well or the light amber non-polarized. They will cost you about $100-125 depending on the lenses you get.

If you get the dedicated glasses like the Serengetis' and you need prescription lenses they only work for certain light conditions. The cool thing about the NYX lenses are interchangeable...and the prescription inserts stay the same.

I don't use prescription but have a few well known pilot buddies that love the NYX setup especially for prescription lenses.

Troy Newman

On cloudy days I've use orange tint sporting shooter's glasses (the name escapes me for the moment) and they make a incredible diffrerence, the clarity you get just from the tint has to be seen to be beleived.

Also good on cloudy days for driving through the hills.

I just started using Rudy Project glasses, and they work great. Interchangable lenses, and certain models allow for a prescription insert. Fantastic if you are not a fan of contacts when flying. And since it is used in sports, the design prevents fogging of the lenses. Also, I think Rudy Project USA allows a trade-in for used or damaged lenses.

I obtain a pair from someone of ebay, and the prices were very good. Email me if info is needed. BTW, I am not sponsored! Just a happy user.

Derek

just want to make sure that I understand what you said earlier Tnewman. The NYX glasses can be ordered with RX lenses. Where would I get them from? Do I sen them a copy on my prescription, how does it work. I have a pair of RX sunglasses but I find myself not being able to use them all of the time. Either too light or too dark. Thakx for the info.

I also really like my NYX glasses. The red (light vermilion) lens works very well on overcast days. Here is the link to Peidmont's page and it explains the different options for the prescription inserts...
http://www.piedmontmodels.com/nyx_rc_glasses.htm

Good luck,
Emory.

I agree with Troy about the NYX glasses. You can get the same lenses with
Bolle glasses also , both interchangeable . Both can also be found at most golf stores.

tommy s

Thank you for the info.

I agree 100% with Troy and Tommys, I also looked and bought more sunglasses than anyone should, for me the NYX from Peidmont is the best, like everyone has said interchangable lens for verying conditions, light weight and comfortable to wear, the only thing close was a pair I had made in the 80's that had fade away lens so I could tilt head to make lighter or darker, I have had the Peidmont NYX for 3 years and love them, you can do a search and find many options for lens for these but what comes with them is just perfect.
Steve Maxwell

I have to agree with everyone on the NYX sunglasses. The amber seem to work best for most flying and the Vermillion work great with heavy overcast or evening light... for me. The dark grey seem to be good only for the brightest of conditions. The only downfall to these is the lens can crack right at the middle where the notch is that holds them in place on the frames. You have to be carefull when taking the lens off the frames. Mine started to get a hairline crack there and I fixed them by putting a small square of light c.f. ca'd to the back side of the lens. You can get different color lens through NYX website for all kinds of applications.
You can also get prescrition inserts that set on the inside of the lens.

Wayne G.

What are the popular preferences toward polorized or non? I'm about to get my annual eye exam and will re-lens or get something nice like these purpose made sunglasses. I have a hard time with what are considered flat or smoggy skies. I need something to clean up and sharpen, but also bring down the intensity. I generally do not fly with the sun in my face. Thanks for the link!'

Joe

The most important thing is UV protection. My brother runs a golf store and
he showed me an article an eye doctor wrote about how the sun can damage
your eyesight. He was talking about golfers but it's probably worse with us because
we stare up into the sky all the time. Regular sunglasses without UV protection make
it worse because they make the iris in your eye open up letting in more of the
damaging UV rays. Pretty scary stuff !

tommy s

As I said I prefer the polarized lens to the non polarized lens. For me it helps define the model better. It also takes off the glare you might sometimes get.

To me I will only run polarized lens especially in the sunny good light days.

Now I have used some the non-polarized lens like the vermillion, or even the light amber non-polarized when its dark or near dark. They work well.

You have to understand how a polarized lens works. It cuts down the light...blocks it. So when the light is low like at dusk you don't want to use them. It will make things worse. But in the day where there is enough light but its tough to see definition like hazy or cloudy days, it works great.

This is where I have trouble seeing things is on the cloudy day where its too bright to go without glasses, and yet most glasses are way too dark.

This is where the NYX glasses excel as you can change the lens to the needs of the day. Its a simple and quick deal.

TN

Thanks for the input guys.
It looks like I'll give the NYX a try. It sure seems a lot better than trial and error with prescription sunglasses, and if I go back to contacts, I can still use the sunglasses. Best of both worlds.
Now, if I can get some rose-colored glasses to make my flying look better!

Larry Caldwell

Anyone tried the zurich glasses?
Any good?
I was thinking of purchasing a couple of sets of these, both for rc purposes, as well as full scale flying.
Good, bad, or something better around?
The impact/safety aspect of these glasses appeals to me, along with the claimed excellent UV protection.

On day one at the Tucson shootout there was very poor visibilty and I use the NXY orange lenses. They worked great.

I too use the NYX glasses, but in my case I had trouble with the prescription insert on the frames that Piedmont sells (the Carbon style). I spoke to the NYX guys and found that they sell a variety of frame types. The one that Piedmont carries holds a lenses that is a single piece, the NYX guy exchanged this for the Classic Competition style which contains separate left and right lenses. In my particular case this worked better and I did not experience side-to-side distortion with the prescription insert in the Classic Competition. Of course everyone’s face is different and I've seen several people that use the prescription insert with the Carbon style with no problems either.

Piedmont put together a special package with NYX that has a good combination of lenses for pattern competition ([link=http://www.piedmontmodels.com/nyx_rc_glasses.htm]http://www.piedmontmodels.com/nyx_rc_glasses.htm[/link]). To view additional lens options or to view the different frame styles you can also check out the NYX site ([link=http://www.nyxgolf.com/styles.html]http://www.nyxgolf.com/styles.html[/link]).

I was really impressed with how helpful the NYX guys are and how willing they are to make their customers happy.

KeithB

Looking at the NYX site I just noticed that the Classic Competition style that I purchased does not offer a polarized lense. This is one advantage to the Carbon series.

KeithB

Polarized always. I have had 2 pairs of BOLLE and they do bring out the colors on sunny days and on overcast days it make shapes and shadows more defined with a little better color recognition than the bare eye.

peace

I have a pair of Zurichs and I can see through them quite well. I went to the trouble of ordering the prescription lenses that "stick" to the inside of the shades and I was dissappointed with the results. Too limited in the available corrections(powers) and I removed them. The Zurichs on top of my prescription glasses work well. MY only complaint with them is I feel like they are about to fall off at all times so I don't wear them constantly. But for that 1st flight on a sunny morning in a contest, I gotta have em. Eddie