I'm off shopping today for some new aviation sunglasses.

I've had a load of Oakleys in the past and the plastic framed examples have proven strong and light, but the lenses always scratch easily.

I know that Oakley have their "flack jacket" and "radar" models which now come with interchangeable lenses.

Or should I just buy some Serengeti glasses instead?

If you have used any of the above in the cockpit, pls give me you opinions.


thanks in advance,


Sicknote

Always had Bolle and rayban then tried serengetti drivers............will never look at another brand. Purely belter!

Been a Ray-Ban person for some 15 years until I tried a pair of Serengeti Drivers. Won't be wearing anything else. They also darken in bright sunligt. The best ever sunnies for cloudy/overcast days.

What Serengeti model do you have ?

Thanks for the advice guys.

Looks like the Serengetis might be getting the nod after all.

Apparently the Oakleys have bulky arms which can cause problems with certain headsets...pity as they look great!

best,

Sicknote

Not sure if these are any good, thought about having a look at them myself; a good time for a review I guess

http://www.voneeyewear.com/about.html

Serengeti for me while flying and if you happen to be a member at COSTCO then they do a pair there for £86inc same pair on the internet £140 very thin arms that sit right next to your head so dont interfere with headsets

Avoid polarised lenses - unles you like looking through the wierd psychadelic lines across your plastic canopy.

I used to fly with a pair of metal framed Ray-Bans that had a polarising element, without any problems - until we fitted a new KX-155 nav/com; with the Ray-bans on, the unit looked as if it was switched off and it took a stomach-clenching couple of minutes for me to clock what the problem was....DOH!

I now fly with some trad 50's Ray-bans with the arms bent over a hot kettle (so they lie flat against my head with the head-set on) which, imho, are the canines-clackers.

.... or if you fly on an FAA ticket - polarized lenses not allowed

On a different note: can you get the Serengetis with corrective lenses ? I have special bi-focals made with a 'near vison' (i.e. reading) inset that sits a bit higher then usual and is calculated for the distance to the instrument panel. Will need to change these later in the year. For the time being, they live in old Ray Ban Aviators frames, but am open to suggestions - and everyone seems to love the Serengetis !

Another vote for the Serengeti. I have the Vidi frame with corrective lenses - comfy to wear and great for flying, driving and skiing.

I have polarised lenses and have no trouble viewing the twin Garmin 430 kit in the plane I fly with my head in "normal flying position".

I just got some Serengetis Velocity from the states. Ordered online, delivered in 2 weeks, $90 dollars, plus £9 odd VAT so they cost me about £60.00 quid all in. Im very impressed with them so far, driver gradient lenses are excellent.

Judging by the state of the transparencies in most rental singles I have ever seen - the exact make of sunglasses you wear is a pretty academic issue.

Keeping the canopy clean is far more important, especially at this time of year when it gets peppered with bug juice.

SB

Does anyone have "Skylet" glasses from Carl Zeiss?
Many glider pilots recommend them here. These glasses seem to be the official sunglasses of the german national glider team...

Can You get Serengetis with corrective lenses?

Another vote for Serengeti. I won't wear anything else.

Oakley Crosshairs, brown lenses. Doing fine for me.

have used these, for a few days now, both cockpit and soaring, very good so far. http://www.mile-high.info/index.html

Will.

Big thumbs up for V:one sunglasses!! I already posted on another sunglasses page, but have had them for a few months now and i am very pleased. I had tried some serengettis but i preferred the v:ones (and they were cheaper too ). Topgunn - I saw a few good reviews for them too in loop and TP.

WILL5023,

They look interesting, especially to someone like me who needs corrective lenses. I can imagine them to be great in a soaring situation - but how are they in a cockpit ? Reason I ask is the huge difference in light between outside and inside (i.e. instrument panel). I fly with graduated glasses for this reason, but these, of course, are not interchangeable

i have been using Oakleys since i started flying, well it was all analog then, but now i seem to have problems seeing thru glass displays/CRT's... currently using the Radar series, am gonna try the Serengeti and see for myself 1st hand why most of you had a change of heart....