I have to be honest and say that when I began cycling, and had next to no accessories, I’d look at people wearing glasses such as these and think they were trying to be something they’re not – a professional cyclist. I’d stereotype these people as MAMILs (Middle Aged Men in Lycra) – This was partly as I was a bit skint, but I also didn’t see the positive effect that glasses with a clear lens could have on your ride.
However, I’ve since got my hands on a pair of DHB Pro Triple Lens sunglasses and must admit that I can now see that they’re more than just a smart looking pair of specs. And at £35.99, they’re not unaffordable either.
I’ve been trying these glasses out for the last couple of weeks. As you can probably tell by the name, they come with three different kinds of lenses:
- A clear lens for low-light conditions
- A smoke (multi-coloured) lens for very sunny conditions
- An orange lens which cuts down glare when conditions are variable.
Being a Londoner I’ve only really had the need for the clear lens so far, even so, the glasses have won me over.
Big lenses mean your whole eye, and the sensitive skin around your eye is protected, and the rubber arms mean they rarely slip down your head. The padded case that they come in, provides useful slats for the two lenses that aren’t in use, keeping them protected from scratches.
Is it easy to change the lenses?
This is the only real down point for me. I struggled to change the lenses when I first opened the package. Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t suitable for the smoke lens, so I needed to change to the clear lens, but the lack of an instruction booklet meant that I had to fiddle around with them myself. Not an issue, but I did get the feeling that the lenses were quite sensitive and so I was a bit fearful that I might end up damaging either the frame or the lenses. Not an issue thankfully, but instructions would have helped.
Do they really help then?
When riding I didn’t immediately feel the difference. My commute to work starts with a steep downhill (not so much fun on the way home!) which usually causes a bit of a tear in my eye at full tilt. I have very sensitive eyes so I may not be the best judge, but unfortunately the specs didn’t prevent my teary eye on the downhill slope. But later on in my ride I really felt the difference – especially when a bit of gravel crashed off my left lens. Without the specs on, I’d have probably been rubbing at my eye for a minute or two, but the lens was a great protector there and meant I was able to carry on cycling at normal speed.
It was on my ride home that the glasses became handy once more. The glare of bright car lights, and from those ridiculously bright rear bike lights that some people have, was deflected off the lens without affecting my visibility at all.
Don’t you look like a bit of an idiot?
If I was a fashion conscious person I probably wouldn’t be able to leave the house each morning head-to-toe in Lycra. Thankfully I’m not, so it didn’t bother me. I guess they don’t look great – unless you actually are trying to look like a pro – but if fashion is a concern to you I’d suggest that the benefits of the specs far outweigh the minor negative of not being from the Calvin Klein catalogue.
Overall Review
As I say, I wasn’t previously a fan of cycling gear but the Pro Triple Lens Sunglasses by DHB are affordable, comfortable and practical. I’ll continue to build my own opinion, particularly when the weather turns and I need to use the other lenses, but apart from the initial difficulty of changing the lens and the fear of doing damage, these are a great addition to my cycling wardrobe and make my ride more comfortable, and probably safer too.
4/5 – The DHB Pro Triple Lens Sunglasses available for £27.99 at Wiggle
I have the non-pro version of these which have, in my opinion, a less garish set of lenses. A cyclist should always wear some form of eye protection, small stones and grit flicked up by cars in winter or summer bugs at sunset can ruin your whole day !
I normally wear corrective glasses but will often wear contacts and these glasses to avoid risk of shattering and so that I can take them off if starts to rain (when being able to see clearly matters more).
The only downside I’ve found is a propensity to fog up quite badly whilst stopped at traffic lights but I could probably treat the lenses with something to help that. They clear quickly once under way again.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-triple-lens-sunglasses/
Hi Ben – absolutely. Very solid and, to be honest, the presentation of the glasses (solid zip case, with slots for each lens not in use, as well as a soft drawstring case) defies the price. Definitely worth the money I’d say.
Down here in Somerset and probably all over I find them an absolute necessity at all times. If you’ve ever been hit in the face by a falling beetle from a tree you’ll be glad you had your eyewear on. Also in the warmer months flies, gnats and virtually any other flying insect will fly straight in to your eye the very time you’re not wearing your eyewear!! You don’t put up with that for long. Most regular cyclists I ride with including Myself always wear the eye protection. Mine are a cheapo pair of Madison’s. Had the same clear set for three years. I never touch the screen with bare skin of fingers (skin will put micro scratches all over it and over time will always present halos when the sun shines degrading one’s vision) and always rinse the screen under running water when returning home.
If you take care of them they will last a long time. But they are quite delicate in construction so will not stand up to much abuse.
I’ve got the DHB womens glasses, and they’re equally as excellent. I love DHB stuff – its so reasonably priced as well. I don’t think I would have made the foray into winter bib tights if it wasn’t for them 🙂
I’ve been wearing a similar set from Decathlon for years now priced around £17.99. You get 4 lenses – clear, yellow, red, black – in a case. The lenses aren’t very scratch resistant and fog up when stopped at red lights but I’m not very careful with them. I can’t see them on the website (no surprise) but they always been available at Canada Water, London store.
I have these glasses and they are ideal – lenses are easy to change and they came with a good case
They look pretty, but I have a tendency to lose sunglasses. And in my experience, if you drop this interchangeable type, I find the lenses have a tendency to pop out and end up under the wheels of the nearest bus. Plus they scratch when you swap out the lenses.
I have a couple of pairs of Decathlon own brand cycling glasses, one clear, and one dark. And at less than half the price of these for 2 pairs.
Same here, Decathlon clear glasses for me. Mates joke I look like something out the chemistry lab but for the daily commute they’re perfect and cheap (6.99?ish).
There is no logic in the prices of cycling sunglasses.
I miss affordable photochromic cycling glasses with an insert for prescription. It doesn’t seem to exist…
Wiggle sells Rudy Project but that’s above £ 200,00 (£ 134,99 for the glasses + £ 62,30 for the insert) and you still have to add the cost of your prescription glasses…
I don’t consider that as affordable
Clear glasses are also great on windy days (lots of dust and leaves in the air) and especially in the snow and rain. Cycling in a snow flurry can be blinding without gogs.
Glasses are essential whilst riding
I heard of a cyclist who was hit in the eye by a large fly and came off his bike whilst descending a hill during the summer. I have also been hit by bugs around the eyes
Do they have them in white so they can match the rest of my pro cyclist look gear?
I had mine for well over a year but the rubber on the nose piece split and they don’t do replacement. Now have a pair with a solid nose rest. Essential piece of kit for me, usually wear prescription glasses, but on longer rides use contact lenses and a pair of cycling glasses. Needed for protection from bugs and sun.
These were recommended to me earlier this year when my last pair broke. I’m not convinced by them but it could be that they don’t fit every face type.
They don’t completely cover my eyes (I can see over the top of the frame) which is a pain & they slip when I start sweating. They replaced a pair of Endura transition ones (around £40) but aren’t as good IMHO.
They are fine as normal sunglasses though & I’ve also used them for running for which they’re OK.
I found i need glasses when cycling in the snow as it falls slower and all seems to go in my eyes and sting……although wearing glasses when its snowing is a bit bizarre…..
I use glasses when riding on the Brompton, stops flies in the summer and grit at other times of the year entering the eye.At my place of work safety glasses are worn all the time due to the nature of the environment, You will be surprise at the different types and styles available, ok so they don’t have some fancy brand inscribe logo but the do protect your eyes also have sunglasses too! See Arco website much cheaper too!
I have 2 pairs of these glasses. I bought the 2nd set when I thought that I had lost the first one. They are great, wear them all the time when cycling and also for other sports. I got hit full on in the eye by a cricket ball, the lens popped out but wasn’t broken or scratched. I just had a slight cut but otherwise the glasses saved me from much more serious damage.
I have used all 3 lens styles at different times cycling in all conditions. I have 2 gripes. (1) they fog up when I have to stop at traffic lights, or for other reasons. They quickly clear when I start moving again. (2) the rubber nose bridges on the 1st pair have rotted through with moisture. I have been told that I can’t get replacements which make this pair less comfortable.
Overall I recommend these to any cyclist.
Happy to read this blog and thanks for sharing. Would you like to try LAMEDA cycling sunglasses?