What Are The Best Sunglasses for RC Pilots?

[Aros]

I have noticed in recent years my eyes have become very sensitive to glare. I can never seem to find the perfect shade and protection of sunglasses that allows me to see my models as well as I need to. I always take my sunglasses off before flying because I would rather fight the glare and "see" the model better than have the sunglasses on and not see the model as well because maybe the tint is too dark or so. I think this paradigm has created a situation where my eyes are now more sensitive to glare than ever so it is imperative that I find a quality pair of sunglasses that not only fight glare and provide all the necessary protection to my eyes, but allows me to see the model crystal clear.

When I was younger, I would buy $200 sunglasses and then proceed to break or lose them. From then on, I vowed to only buy sunglasses in the $20-30 range, and of course I never lose those. But at this middle-aged portion of my life I think it's time I get smart about sunglasses, especially in this hobby. So I am looking for sage advice when it comes to the best RC sunglasses out there. Please pitch it to me, I am ready and willing to invest.

[fhhuber]

I'd look for polarized amber lenses. The amber tends to bring out contrast. Some "shooting glasses" will have the right combination.

Those "infomercial" glasses that have the white picture show an eagle when the glasses are put on are polarized (simple trick to do with any polarized filter) I'm not sure what color lens.

[Aros]

Thanks fhhuber...I will look into polarized amber lenses...

[F22trainer]

While I cannot use polarized lenses in my line of work, my Silhouettes are the best I have ever had. Even non polarized I have not found anything like them for anti-glare. But I can also say if they weren’t a gift I would not have spent that much either, but damn they fit and function quite well.

[Aros]

Thanks, any particular model or just any of them from that company? For both aesthetics and function I am looking at these as well:

https://www.oakley.com/en-us/product/W0OO9188

[Woodcock]

While I cannot use polarized lenses in my line of work, my Silhouettes are the best I have ever had. Even non polarized I have not found anything like them for anti-glare. But I can also say if they weren’t a gift I would not have spent that much either, but damn they fit and function quite well.

I'm with you Trainer. I would say any regular old analog lens you can find would be great, problem with polarized lenses is they can make things virtually disappear, or impossible to view. My favorite sunglasses of all time for seeing things were those old school Oakley sunglasses with the shiny gold lenses. They literally lit up the world for me. Good luck.

W

[Aros]

That's what I was looking at with these Oakleys...If the before and after of this photo is even close to accurate, sign me up!

[F22trainer]

I never tried the Oakley’s. Always liked the Raybans, but I like what yer seein’!

[Dirty Dee]

I have a pair from this company, works great:

https://www.z-xg.com/store/Pilot-Style-Teal-p68560691

https://www.z-xg.com/copy-of-extreme-glare-vs-polarized

[Aros]

Nice! A bit cheaper price range too which I like...Love the options! Thanks for the info!

[Aros]

Saw this on a commercial over the weekend. Too good to be true?

https://www.trytacglasses.com

[quitcherbitchen]

I have a pair from this company, works great:

https://www.z-xg.com/store/Pilot-Style-Teal-p68560691

https://www.z-xg.com/copy-of-extreme-glare-vs-polarized

I bought an Extreme Glare two years ago. Prescription too. Absolute crap. The coating came off almost immediately. There is only a limited warranty. They claimed I left the lenses in my car and the heat cooked them. That was bull____. Do yourself a favor and buy Oakley or Hobie polarized. Yes reading the transmitter is harder, but my 10 year old prescription Hobie are still working good. Just need to update the prescription to meet my eye needs as I aged.

[Dirty Dee]

I bought an Extreme Glare two years ago. Prescription too. Absolute crap. The coating came off almost immediately. There is only a limited warranty. They claimed I left the lenses in my car and the heat cooked them. That was bull____. Do yourself a favor and buy Oakley or Hobie polarized. Yes reading the transmitter is harder, but my 10 year old prescription Hobie are still working good. Just need to update the prescription to meet my eye needs as I aged.

Weird, I had my coating start to flake off, and they asked me to mail them back. They sent me a replacement.

[quitcherbitchen]

The coating is lousy. I think you may have paid for the warranty, where as I went cheap. Anyway, I was mad at the guy enough because he lied about what happened to my old lenses. He never mailed them back and things didn't go well from that point on. I guess it pays to play nice when they blue face lie to you about how you never sent the old lens with the frame and then later when their product takes a dump they remember you weren't too happy the last time around and they void your warranty right over the phone without even seeing the lens. Enough said. $300 down the toilet.

[mr.frankenjet]

my glasses never leave the car except to fly so they stay safe. After getting Maui Jim's I never can use anything else, everything just gets so clear. Well worth the $$

[BobinAZ]

I wear progressive glasses so I get the lenses that turn dark and are polarized. Seems to work fine out here in the Sunny desert.

[Ron1950]

I have some seringetti brown lenses and some rayban blue pilot shades...the brown seems to take the glare off and makes the plane easyer to see then the raybans

[flyguysc1]

I have a pair off the yellow lens glass that I got from the hardware store for cloudy days that brighten things up a lot and a pair of Smith’s sunglasses for all around flying on sunny days. Yellow lens costs $20.00 Smith’s $200.

[SanExup]

The newer photocromatic lense glasses are great. I have a visor for my moto helmet, ski goggles, and safety glasses made with Transition lenses. The company name is Transition. The moto helmet is clear then tints, where the ski goggles and glasses are both yellow and then tinted to black. I love them. In and out of shadows, they adjust so rapidly that you aren't waiting for them to catch up with low light levels. They are worlds better than prescription photocromatics in terms of how rapidly they change.

[xviper]

The way I've seen some guys fly at my field .............. the best kind is a blindfold.