The best pilot sunglasses
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Private Pilot magazine from Sep 2003 did an independant study to find the best sunglasses based on various tests showing prismatic power, refractive power, definition etc. Oakleys came out well in front, Serengeti were 7th.
I can't remember the web link but I do have a copy of the .pdf file if anyone can make sense of it. It's light reading for an optician but mostly gibberish to me
I can't remember the web link but I do have a copy of the .pdf file if anyone can make sense of it. It's light reading for an optician but mostly gibberish to me
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The supposedly bulletproof lenses on my Oakleys broke twice (once just from being hit by my car door when I closed it. I changed to Serengetis in February and find them the best sunglasses I've tried in 40 years. I bought them in Sunglass Hut and then wore them for extended periods every day when I was ferrying a helicopter from Europe to Nigeria. I found them very comfortable and can thoroughly recommend them. I also had a pair of Vuarnet's (bought in France) for many years and found them very good.
The Cooler King
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Serengeti are the BUSINESS! bought oakley a-wires before i came out to florida for ppl..........someone loaned me their Serengetis for a flight and i was straight down to the mall!
120 dollars! - very restful on the eye, colour true and traffic is easier to spot!
120 dollars! - very restful on the eye, colour true and traffic is easier to spot!
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Hello,
I'm looking to buy myself a new of sunglasses for the cockpit. It's a great coincidence that this topic is current. So far I've been looking at the Classic Aviators from Ray-Ban. Someone earlier has already advised against Ray-ban, why is this so?
I've looked at Serengeti's and they look great, but at the moment I can only really afford £100 tops.
I'm looking to buy myself a new of sunglasses for the cockpit. It's a great coincidence that this topic is current. So far I've been looking at the Classic Aviators from Ray-Ban. Someone earlier has already advised against Ray-ban, why is this so?
I've looked at Serengeti's and they look great, but at the moment I can only really afford £100 tops.
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Why not try those cheaper USAF-Sunglasses if you don't mind looking a bit topgunish?
http://www.armynavysales.com/Merchan...egory_Code=SUN
just $ 40
-bayonet temples (will fit under heavy headsets)
-grey lenses (for true colours)
-heavy duty metal frame (but slightly heavy to wear)
found them in the UK too:
http://www.flightstore.co.uk/search....6.item_id.162/
http://www.armynavysales.com/Merchan...egory_Code=SUN
just $ 40
-bayonet temples (will fit under heavy headsets)
-grey lenses (for true colours)
-heavy duty metal frame (but slightly heavy to wear)
found them in the UK too:
http://www.flightstore.co.uk/search....6.item_id.162/
Last edited by Kerosene Kraut; 31st Mar 2005 at 08:54.
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Given the choice...
Serengetti Drivers were the best glasses I've ever used. The gradient lens allowed a takeoff into sun and then once into a positive climb go staight onto the clocks (well EFIS). Unfortunately, I left them on the plane one day and nows there's a Ginger with a nice pair of...
Where can you get Serengetti Drivers at a resaonable price?
Where can you get Serengetti Drivers at a resaonable price?
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This issue was very fully explored under the thread “Sunglasses” originated by vaqueroaero on 28 Nov 2002 in the Non-Airlines Forums - Rotorheads forum. To return to the original request, I presume Fullforward has long since bought some sunglasses but for anyone else interested Hidalgos, Inc of Wimberly, TX has some useful technical data on their website. This gives the pros and cons of various lenses, how to select sunglasses for various uses, and a Lens Light Transmission Chart. They state:
“For the technical folks, we use a Hoya ULT-2000 Universal Light Transmittance meter to make our measurements. This instrument measures visible light levels in the 400-760nm wavelength range, the ultraviolet light in the 310-400nm range, and the infrared light in the 760-1200nm range. The wavelength of the light is measured in nanometers (nm).”
Having mentioned Hidalgos, Inc, does anyone know their current status? I recall that a few years ago the owner was considering retiring because of ill health. However, the website seems to have been updated since then so perhaps they are still as active as ever. I have since early March emailed them four times to ask for a paper catalogue. I have not received any response or a catalogue. It will be appreciated if someone would confirm whether or not they are still in business. I hope they are. Thanks.
“For the technical folks, we use a Hoya ULT-2000 Universal Light Transmittance meter to make our measurements. This instrument measures visible light levels in the 400-760nm wavelength range, the ultraviolet light in the 310-400nm range, and the infrared light in the 760-1200nm range. The wavelength of the light is measured in nanometers (nm).”
Having mentioned Hidalgos, Inc, does anyone know their current status? I recall that a few years ago the owner was considering retiring because of ill health. However, the website seems to have been updated since then so perhaps they are still as active as ever. I have since early March emailed them four times to ask for a paper catalogue. I have not received any response or a catalogue. It will be appreciated if someone would confirm whether or not they are still in business. I hope they are. Thanks.
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Fellows,
Lets settle this once and for all, shall we? The only shades that combine both the great lens technology, AND don't make you look like a 1980s LAPD motorcycle cop are OAKLEYS. If you can't look cool in your shades, then what's the point?
Wouldn't you agree? Thank you.
Spektor.
Lets settle this once and for all, shall we? The only shades that combine both the great lens technology, AND don't make you look like a 1980s LAPD motorcycle cop are OAKLEYS. If you can't look cool in your shades, then what's the point?
Wouldn't you agree? Thank you.
Spektor.
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best pilot sunglasses
perhaps the science is in the choice of dog, or pet food. I don't have a dog but my eyesight is pretty good too. It's probably the carrots together with 'pedigree chum' that does it!
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Ser
I used to own a pair bout 5 yrs ago until I left them behind at the BRU Hilton and the nice housekeeping mngr said they were never dere...
Any way, I hav greasy skin and the Ser used to slide down my nose all the time... More so in chop. To me dey were on the heavy side.
I am back to RB (wit the new Italian lences, not old B&L), bluish shade lite metal frames. Happy. Only have to use CRTs at 90% brightness.
But I am tempted to get some new lighter Sers...
Any way, I hav greasy skin and the Ser used to slide down my nose all the time... More so in chop. To me dey were on the heavy side.
I am back to RB (wit the new Italian lences, not old B&L), bluish shade lite metal frames. Happy. Only have to use CRTs at 90% brightness.
But I am tempted to get some new lighter Sers...
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I have had my Serengeti 555nm - VELOCITY TITANIUM with the graded tint for three yeard now and love them! You have to carefull with the frames as they are Titanium and if you bend them they are done.
I plan on buying them again when the time comes.
I plan on buying them again when the time comes.
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I certainly love my Serengetis but I have found that for the GA environment Shields are a great solution. They have an elastic strap not arms so that my Dave Clark noise cancelling headphones are comfortable for over 5 hours. The lenses provide 180 degrees of distortion free vision and they do a huge range of lenses including prescription.
I have just seen on www.shieldseyewear.com that they have downgraded their lifetime accidental damage guarantee to two years, but is still good.
But the best feature is the float on the back of the cord. So in the event of my ditching my aircraft in the North Sea at least I will still have my sunglasses.
They claim to be the only polycorbonate lens that is Optical Class 1. Don't be put off by the $50-80 price tag.
I have just seen on www.shieldseyewear.com that they have downgraded their lifetime accidental damage guarantee to two years, but is still good.
But the best feature is the float on the back of the cord. So in the event of my ditching my aircraft in the North Sea at least I will still have my sunglasses.
They claim to be the only polycorbonate lens that is Optical Class 1. Don't be put off by the $50-80 price tag.
Last edited by fullyestablished; 19th Jul 2005 at 17:00.
re Serengetis in the UK
The 'Driving' section of the Sunday Times has recently been offering a very good deal on Serengeti sunglasses (30% off the RRRP, if I recall correctly. More if you buy more than one pair).
I've had a quick look and, unfortunately, I can't find an online version of the offer.
For the record, go for the 'Drivers' or particularly the 'Drivers Gradient' lenses. I've been using them for the last couple of years and they are very good at improving the contrast, particularly in flat light conditions. Highly recommended.
B73
The 'Driving' section of the Sunday Times has recently been offering a very good deal on Serengeti sunglasses (30% off the RRRP, if I recall correctly. More if you buy more than one pair).
I've had a quick look and, unfortunately, I can't find an online version of the offer.
For the record, go for the 'Drivers' or particularly the 'Drivers Gradient' lenses. I've been using them for the last couple of years and they are very good at improving the contrast, particularly in flat light conditions. Highly recommended.
B73
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I wear Oakley WHY™ 8.1 which are superb for GA under the DC headset. Very light, barely tell you're wearing them, superb lenses and cover the entire field of vision brilliantly. Will definately be replaced by same glasses, indeed already have been once!
I swear I don't work for oakley
I swear I don't work for oakley
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I wish I could chop & change, but as I need prescription lenses, Oakleys come in around £230, and the frames kept breaking, which was fine while they replaced them under warranty, but now the new 'fives' frames are a different shape! I had prescription serengetis about 15 years ago, they were great but staggeringly expensive. Plus when your prescription changes you have to buy new standard glasses *and* new sunglasses! My Oakleys and Serengetis now sit gathering dust in a drawer.
Flip-downs over standard glasses are just too uncool to think about.
A helmet with tinted visor only costs about the same as a few sets of sunglasses and will last several prescriptions-worth, but can cause some unwanted attention when worn around the pool or in the car, so it's not a real substitute for general use...
Just another expense to add to a pilot's list!
BW
Flip-downs over standard glasses are just too uncool to think about.
A helmet with tinted visor only costs about the same as a few sets of sunglasses and will last several prescriptions-worth, but can cause some unwanted attention when worn around the pool or in the car, so it's not a real substitute for general use...
Just another expense to add to a pilot's list!
BW