Amber lenses

[papasong]

newbie question #5,432:

Who uses amber shields and/or glasses, and when/why?
Are these best for overcast days? I think I was told amber is not to be used at night.
Thanks,
Jeff

[deilenberger]

I bought the amber sunshield for my Schuberth Concept-II.

It enhances contrast on cloudy days. It does provide some sun shield on bright days. At the cost - about $40 - I might think again about buying it.

[ShinySideUp]

I like yellow clip-on sunglasses on rainy days.

Yellow really improves contrast and my ability to see further down the road through the rain and/or road spray. The difference is not subtle: several car length's are brought into visibility.

And the world feels less gloomy.

I like amber for my regular sunglass color, but the yellow doesn't reduce the actual amount of light very much on dark days.

I once had some proverbial rose-colored ski glasses. Great contrast and happy emotions. Poor man's acid trip!

[papasong]

Thanks, guys!

[Flashdog]

I moved to Washington state last year and rode through the winter. I started wearing my yellow night glasses because my shield kept fogging up in the freezing temps. The difference on the those dark and gloomy days was incredible. Not only could I see better, I felt better. To quote those great Brady Bunch lyrics "Sun shiny day!"

[TAL2GK]

I wear a pair of Maui Jim sunglasses that are polarized and amber and it makes a huge difference. Whether they can polarize an entire shield isn't something I've seen, but the contrast is amazing. For me with my main clear shield, wearing the sunglasses helps a lot. An added plus is the frames and ear pieces are made from titanium so they bend into tight spaces (my helmet) without breaking. With that particular model, though, I can't fold them up and put in my pocket once it gets dark.

I just got new helmets (Shark RSIs) for my girlfriend and me, and the shields are supposed to be easy to swap. It might be worth looking into a shield as a tester and if we get caught out at night I'll just throw it on my gf's helmet for the ride home.

[papasong]

FYI...

The best riding sunglasses (non-prescription) I’ve used so far are by Ztek Pyramex. These are not made specifically for motorcyclists. They are used in all kinds of industrial settings. I’m a scientist by day, and we use these (clear) in the lab – best by far, in the lab, as well.

Polycarbonate, panoramic, NO distortion, UV protection, soft rubber temple tips, lots of lens color choices, etc.

For riding, I use the Gray lens or Dark Brown glasses for sun blockage. And I ordered Amber/Yellow glasses for overcast days.

Best part… they cost $1.87 (US) per pair when you order by the dozen.
I get them from here:
http://industrialsavings.com/hard-hats/-ztek.html

I also get a 12-Pack of Microfiber Drawstring Cleaning Bags to keep them from getting scratched in my panniers. A dozen bags are about $18.00 (US):
http://industrialsavings.com/Merchant2/ ... gory_Code=

They make great (and cheap) gifts to other riders.
And because they are so inexpensive, I don't worry if I lose them or sit on them...

I don’t have any connection to Industrial Safety Gear. I just found them on the internet, and they had great prices.

[Mollygrubber]

I don't use polarized sunglasses when riding, although I love them, and here's why:

~ they do block glare on a wet road, but they also make it really hard to see diesel spills!

~ they show the internal distortions in some face shields/windshields - any distortion I can avoid, I do.

~ they make it difficult to read many LED displays, including my favorite gas pumps...

I know, you could always take them off, it's just my personal choice.

[TT RDHS]

I don't use polarized sunglasses when riding, although I love them, and here's why:

~ they do block glare on a wet road, but they also make it really hard to see diesel spills! ...

~

+1
They make it hard to see ANY slick surfaces.
If you are skiing or on a boat, they are excellent, but not on a bike.

[papasong]

BTW, the Ztek Pyramex glasses I mentioned above are not polarized.

[Flashdog]

I feel the opposite. As a former water cop and merchant mariner polarized lenses are something I've worn for years while riding a motorcycle. Last year I finally bought a helmet with a tinted screen so I would not have to wear sunglasses underneath. That lasted one trip! I put on an untinted screen and went back to wearing my polarized glasses.

Yes, they can create issues reading LCD screens, so tilt your head a bit when needed.

Yes, they can cause issues with seeing the lamination marks on other peoples back windows. So?

Yes, they can cause issues with looking through yet another layer like rainbow patterns.

On the other hand, this idea that they will stop you from seeing the slick surface of a puddle is ludicrous. The use of polarized lenses will stop the bright glare of surface water but they will make it possible to see the puddle edge. They also stop the glare on EVERYTHING else so you don't have to squint all of the time.

[Mollygrubber]

"While these lenses are ideal in almost every situation, it is not wise for skiers, snowboarders, or motorcycle drivers to wear polarized sunglasses. Sometimes, polarized sunglasses will prevent a person from seeing details clearly. When shadows are blocked, snow sports and motorcycle driving can be dangerous. Skiers and snowboarders may not be able to determine a small jump from a large hole, and motorcycle drivers may not be able to see the difference between pavement and wet pavement"

(quote from a sunglass lens manufacturer)

Hey, to each his own. I love polarized lenses MOST of the time, but they do make certain things (example: liquid) look different from normal, and I need every advantage I can get when riding - and to avoid every avoidable hazard.

If I misinterpret that dark spot in the middle of a corner to be a new asphalt patch when in fact it's a diesel spill, well, to me it's not worth it.

Motorcyclists have enough to worry about, why give yourself a reason to doubt your eyes too?

I use non-polarized sunglasses, and I don't squint. You can use whatever you like...