|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Optilabs Scorch review
On 28/08/07 I ordered two pairs of Optilabs Scorch cycling glasses, the
first with single vision photochromic lenses, the second with single vision gold mirrors. They arrived a little less then 2 weeks later. Prior to that I had for several years commuted wearing a pair of Adidas Gazelles with prescription inserts (I wear contact lenses for weekend rides). I think the Scorch glasses merit a detailed review. FIT 4/5: Obviously fit is personal. What fits me might not fit you. I probably have a fairly average size and shape of face. The Scorch glasses have a secure, comfortable fit. The one problem I initially had was that it felt as though the lower edge of the frame was touching my cheeks, which in my experience leaves lens coatings vulnerable to the effects of sweat. I no longer notice it, so perhaps it's not actually a problem. 5 months on there is no sign of any sweat damage to the lenses. I would prefer it if the nose pieces could be adjusted inwards, or if the angle of the arms could be adjusted, to move the bottom of the frame away from my face, but the Scorch frame cannot be adjusted in any way (unless, unlike me, you're willing to try using heat to bend the arms of an expensive pair of glasses). On the plus side, the Take-a-Look mirror fits better on these than on any of the three other pairs of cycling glasses that I own. STYLING 1/5 A big disadvantage of ordering glasses online is that you can't see what the glasses will look like on your face before ordering. Optilabs offer other designs, but the Scorch frames come in either silver with red flames, or black with grey flames. I love red, and I was worried that black frames might look quite severe with a full frame design (all of my other cycling glasses and all of my regular glasses for the last 10 years have had, at most, half frames). So I ordered the silver and red - if black with red flames had been offered I would probably have chosen that. Black might have suited me better. The silver frames have a glam rock look that I don't think suits me. My kids love it, and the wife says they look fine with cycling kit. I was initially disappointed with the appearance of the mirrored lenses, which don't look as reflective or (to my mind) as cool as other gold mirrored sunglasses that I've owned. The Scorch lenses are also polarising, though, and I suspect that a greater degree of mirroring combined with the polarising filter might result in too little light transmission. The performance of the lenses more than makes up for any disappointment with the appearance. PERFORMANCE 5/5 The clarity of vision with the Scorch glasses is superb. I wouldn't find the photochromic lenses adequate in bright sunlight, but with 18 years experience of wearing photochromic lenses I knew that before I ordered. That's why I ordered a second pair with mirrored lenses, which are ideal. The ultimate test is that of riding on a wet road into a low morning sun. I get slightly dazzled wearing the mirrored Scorch glasses, but nowhere near as much as in my old glasses. The polarising filter in the mirrored lenses initially made it difficult to read my computer from certain angles, but that was a fault in the computer display rather than the lenses. I've since replaced the (7-year-old) computer and have no problems with the new one. They're extremely effective at keeping wind out of my eyes up to at least 30mph in warm weather, though my eyes will start to water above about 20mph in cold weather and around 15-20mph in freezing conditions. (Bear in mind while reading this that I ride a recumbent and haven't tried them on an upright bike). At the same time, peripheral vision is almost as good as if I was wearing contact lenses. I can just about see the edge of the frame out of the corner of my eye. The relative lack of peripheral vision was never a huge problem with my old prescription inserts - after all, I could easily compensate by turning my head - but good peripheral vision is always nice to have. One of my main reasons for replacing the Gazelles with these rather than getting another pair of glasses compatible with my prescription insert was the problem of misting up. In cold or damp weather, once I got moisture between the insert and the front lens of the Gazelles there was no way to get rid of the condensation without dismantling the glasses. With a single pair of lenses condensation is less of a problem. If they're not kept clean enough then in cold weather the mirrored lenses (more than the clear lenses) have a tendency to steam up when I stop, but unlike the Gazelles they clear rapidly when I start moving again. Another reason was reflections. With the Gazelles it was impractical to ride without a peaked cap in sunny weather, regardless of the location of the sun, because I could see my skin reflected on the inside of the glasses. With the Scorch it's not a problem. DURABILITY ?/5 One concern that put me off on several occasions when I was thinking about ordering, but slipped my mind when I actually ordered, was the resistance of the lenses and coatings to scratching when I wipe rain off them with a glove. We'll see how it goes, but certainly after 5 months of wiping them dry with a soft glove finger whenever it rains there are no visible scratches. CUSTOMER SERVICE 5/5 Optilabs staff were friendly, helpful and a pleasure to do business with. VALUE FOR MONEY 5/5 For the price of a single pair of Scorch glasses you could get a pair of cycling glasses with a prescription insert and interchangeable lenses for different lighting conditions. But they wouldn't be as good. The Scorch glasses might seem expensive to someone who doesn't wear glasses, but a single pair is less than I paid for any of my last 3 pairs of everyday glasses and I should get several years use out of them. If you cycle a lot, can't ride without eyesight correction, don't want to wear contact lenses every day and don't have any serious financial problems, these are worth the money. I was disappointed that the glasses were supplied with soft cases. The day they arrived I ordered two Bloc Rocket hard(ish) cases from Wiggle, effectively bumping up the price of the glasses by a little under a fiver a pair. -- Danny Colyer http://www.redpedals.co.uk Reply address is valid, but that on my website is checked more often "The plural of anecdote is not data" - Frank Kotsonis |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Optilabs Scorch review
Danny Colyer wrote:
On 28/08/07 I ordered two pairs of Optilabs Scorch cycling glasses, .................I think the Scorch glasses merit a detailed review. Thanks for posting the review. I currently use Bolle glasses (interchangeable coloured fronts, with a prescription bit behind), and have been considering Optilabs, etc, when replacement is due. -- Nigel Cliffe, Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/ |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Optilabs Scorch review
Danny Colyer writtificated
the wife says they look fine with cycling kit. "They look fine with cycling kit" or "they look no worse..." www.redpedals.co.uk/danny/cycling/dressforwinter/19dressedforwinter.jpg |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Optilabs Scorch review
On 13/02/2008 21:33, Mark T wrote:
"They look fine with cycling kit" or "they look no worse..." www.redpedals.co.uk/danny/cycling/dressforwinter/19dressedforwinter.jpg That picture was taken 2 or 3 years before I got the Scorch glasses. The glasses in the picture are Adidas Gazelles. I don't think I've got a picture of me wearing the Scorches. -- Danny Colyer http://www.redpedals.co.uk Reply address is valid, but that on my website is checked more often "The plural of anecdote is not data" - Frank Kotsonis |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Optilabs Scorch review
On Feb 14, 6:33 am, Mark T
pleasegivegenerously@warmail*turn_up_the_heat_to_ reply*.com.invalid wrote: Danny Colyer writtificated the wife says they look fine with cycling kit. "They look fine with cycling kit" or "they look no worse..." That sounds very like the sentiment behind a comment a friend made when we realised we'd both left our fleecy hats at home on a winter trip to the highlands. We stopped of to buy some and I was told the one I chose suited me. It was only in passing a few years later (on another winter trip) that she told me that she meant just that - it suited me, not that it looked good. :-/ Graeme |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Optilabs Scorch review
Thanks for the review. Mirrors (!) what I think about my Optilab
single vision photochromic Sprints (proved durable over the last 2 years), but the squarer shape and lighter arms of the Scorch are probably better for lower 'off the bike geek factor' (for when you forget your social lenses) |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Light review.. | David Martin | UK | 20 | October 29th 05 05:39 PM |
review - PRO, The Movie | k.papai | Racing | 2 | December 17th 04 03:47 PM |
Review: Pro | Tom Kunich | Racing | 12 | December 4th 04 12:52 AM |
Review: Pro | Tom Kunich | Racing | 0 | December 2nd 04 04:16 AM |