The best pilot sunglasses
 

Is there any source were we could see some comparison tests etc on this subject? I would like to see scientific, unbiased data.

Cheers

Taking a bit of edit license here and posting Moderator Bad Medicine's reply to an earlier thread.
"Sunglasses are a topic dear to the heart of aviators. There are a number of factors which determine the suitability or otherwise of sunglasses for use in the aviation role.

Narrow frames that carry large lenses are the most desirable from a field of view standpoint. The most critical problem with frames arises from the presence of wide sidearms which can significantly impair the peripheral visual field.

Lenses should not be too dark, and should transmit at least 15% of incident light. The tint used should be "neutral density"
(N.D.), that is, a greyish tint that does not distort colour perception. Much has been written about the perceived benefits of various coloured lenses, especially in regard to contrast and perceived brightness. Coloured lenses have been shown to reduce the colour information received, and to have a detrimental effect on both perception and reaction time.

Lenses of polycarbonate material are preferred because of their impact-resistance and ability to absorb ultra-violet and infra-red rays. However, these lenses can scratch easily. Harder materials may be suitable, however these may be more prone to shattering in an impact.

Different jurisdictions and countries have standards to which sunglasses are manufactured. Sunglasses should be chosen which conform to the appropriate standard. For example, the current Australian Standard ensures that sunglasses meet acceptable standards for lens quality, frame strength and lens retention and also ensures that sunglasses provide adequate protection from solar radiation.

Polarising sunglasses should not be used when flying. The polarising filter interacts with the cockpit transparency to produce a distorted and degraded visual image. This effect can also be seen with laminated car windscreens. Better keep the polarised lenses for fishing.

Pilots who wear prescription spectacles can choose from a number
of options for glare protection. Prescription sunglasses with N.D.15 lenses can be obtained, or N.D.15 clip-on or flip-up sunglasses may be worn over prescription spectacles.

Back to the original issue of photochromatic lenses. Photochromatic lenses have several disadvantages that render them unsuitable for use by pilots.

Firstly, their transition times are relatively slow. Photochromatic lenses take about five minutes to increase their density to the level of sunglasses, but more importantly, the bleaching time from maximum to minimum density can be as long as 30 minutes. Although there is a rapid lightening of the lens in the first five minutes, this may be too long when there is a sudden variation in light during a descent into or under cloud, or because of a rapid change in cloud cover.

Their second disadvantage is that, even when fully bleached, photochromic lenses still absorb slightly more light than untinted lenses. Since vision is critically dependent on ambient light levels, even this small decrease of light reaching the eye through photochromatic lenses is undesirable, especially at night or in low light levels. The inherent degradation of these lenses with time causes them to progressively become darker, as they become unable to reach the fully bleached state. This effectively prohibits their use in flying or controlling air traffic.

I hope that "sheds some light" on the subject.

Cheers,

BM"

Thanks Hawk,

I was just getting to that. Not much scientific evidence unfortunately, but the principles are pretty well established.

Cheers,

BM

personally i swear by oakley minutes. i know not very scientific, but just shedding my two pence worth. Reduces the glare to an absolute minimum, yet still let more than enough light through. I find they are especially good when the sun is very low on the horizon. Use them for flying all the time even when there is minimal sunlight they help me see better and spot many features (when flying vfr) that i couldn't possibly see when i lift them up. (except when there is no sun). I even use them when driving. Oh and they look good too:O

OK Bad Med..I jumped in as I thought you might be vroom..vrooming around the countryside in your little helicopter.:ok:

Unscientific, but I love my Serrengettis. Comfortable, good depth perception and something to do with the blue end of the spectrum that I've forgotten.

Just one thing though, don't wear them and then stick your head out of the window of a 182 - at least, if you do...don't turn and look behind you :(

Another good thing about Serengeti's is that they don't distort the colours of the various displays in a Glass cockpit aircraft.

My latest pair of Serengettis have a titanium frame and are darker at the top than the bottom of the lens. Ideal in the Airbus. But I've been thru a few pairs as the frames are a bit on the light side - easily crushed (even with the most careful handling).

Used Serengetti's for ten years now. I'm in the enviable position of being able to try them all.

Strip flying, gliding and flying a glass cockpit with HUD - I stick with them after trialling all the others in the aircraft for extended periods.

That said - we all know many reading will be more interested in fashion:{ :{ :{

Regards
Rob

For fifteen years I have sworn by Oakleys, who have consistently had a clear lead in lens quality and UV A/B and IR cancellation scales. I lost my last pair sailing in an almightly wipe-out on a 14 foot skiff, and found my new pair at Sunglass Hut at Denver. They are by Maui, model MJ408-02, fully polarized with a polycarbonate frame that I can bend inside out and sit on in the cockpit without worry of damage. Whatsmore, they fit incredibly well under the earcups of the headset, being flexible, and the vision change from panel to the real world is painless due to the correct tinting (for my eyes anyhow). If it hadn't been for a delayed flight I would have stuck to Oakleys (which I still wear when sailing and skiing due to the close face fit)

Hope it helps

:ok:

I swear by my Serengetti glasses as well. Mine are expensive corrective lenses. The tinting is excellent and cuts the UV haze and are a real 'plus' when flying approaches down to minimums.

Polarised lenses do not work in Boeing airplanes as the windshields are polarised. The combination of polarised lenses and the windows creates 'black spots'.

Serengetti's with the Drivers gradient lense are brilliant on EFIS aircraft.

I've got the Lassen frames which have a wrap around shape which prevents light entering in at the sides, unlike the flatter Aviator frames which were designed to be worn with helmets.

Got them off the internet for $115, best buy I've ever made!

I stick on my big, blueish Revo. Very expensive, but for what I am concerned, the best lenses available. Lost the first pair, found the same in Verona for E170, it was a steal of USD 275 at Sunglass Hut in Miami, some months ago.
Anyway, a hard to find item.

If I may add my 'two penn'orth' to this now unscientific debate, I have to agree with several of the previous posters regarding Serengeti Eyeware.

As a previously 'died in the wool' Ray Ban user, I was given the opportunity to try a pair of Serengeti Lassen sunglasses belonging to a colleague, and I was hooked. I now own a pair of Serengeti Velocity Titanium glasses, with Drivers Gradient lenses. These are photochromic (go lighter and darker with less or more light), graduated so that the bottom portion is lighter...excellent for glancing at the instruments, wrap around so avoiding light leakage at the side (a problem with my Ray Ban Aviators) and coated with a filter which removes the nasty part of the light spectrum that causes damage.

Since using these glasses I have been really impressed with them and find myself squinting less at altitude above cloud and it is so much easier to read the EFIS screens. Colleagues of mine have tried them and bought some (I wish I had shares!).

They come with a beefy case which can withstand most of what hits it at the bottom of my bag. The downside is that they aren't cheap (RRP £170 ish) but try them out in a High Street chain store like Sunglass Hut and then buy them online for big savings (particularly from the States). I bought mine from E Bay. Ultimately, what price do you put on your eyesight? These are good enough to be NASA's official sunglasses of choice, for astronauts.

Have a look:

http://www.serengeti-eyewear.com/dri...gradient_1.htm

Fullforward, didn't I read somewhere that choice of suglasses, is like choice of dog food.....quality isn't actually related to price.

I'm no expert, but I've got good vision and a fat dog.

Is their any science behind the choice of sunspecs?

Stop Stop Stop - thanks for the advice will ditch Ray-Ban and have just ordered a new pair of Serengeti Lassens! Will post my verdict in a couple of days. At least there is always plenty of sunshine here in the "sunshine" state!

Update - the Serengeti's work very well in the aircraft, all instruments remain very clear and the harmful rays appear to be blocked out nicely. Out of the 'office' the tint does not seem dark enough for the Florida sunshine. (This may be due to being used to much darker Oakleys - which are not a lot of use in the aircraft!) The build quility is excellent and the storage case is very smart and offers a great deal of protection. I would definitely recomment the Seregeti's for flying.

Where to buy Serengetis
 

Lots of people have been posting on this and many other sunglasses discussions that Serengetis are an excellent brand for the cockpit. However, I am struggling to find a shop in the UK that stocks them. Like suggested, I shall probably buy them over the net from the states to save a few pounds but would prefer to try on a few pairs before shelling out for a pair.

Does anyone know of anywhere that stocks them on the UK high street?

Sunglass hut found at most UK airports stock Sereneti glasses.

Hope you locate some

SF

Really? I was in a Sunglasses Hut the other day and was told that the UK stores no longer stocked them. You know of anywhere else? Guessing a trip to Central London is on the cards to find somewhere.

I definately saw a selection of Serengeti sunglasses in Sunglass hut in Glasgow Airport no more than 10 days ago, but not anywhere else!
SF

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;)

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.

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!

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.

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/

Serengeti's
 

I bought mine at The London Airshow last year. I think I paid seventy pounds for them.

HP

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?

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.

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. :cool:

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!

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...:ok:

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 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.

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

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:D

Go onto ebay and get them shipped over from North America, serengetis should cost no more than £65 including postage.

Still using my Serrengheti's........great!

Also use Oakley A Wires for a change, but still prefer the others!

I use a £6 pair from Matalan's ;)

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

regarding prescription lenses, I bought some 52mm Randolphs and just had prescription lenses fitted at my local optician :ok: