Sunglasses

[Ralph Z.]

OK. I have seen this a million times. Why do vintage racers wear clear visors on the helmet and sunglasses?

Why not just wear a smoked visor?????

Is this just a vintage thing or is there more to it?

[a. pettipas]

Apparently they don't invest as much time as us trying to look cool?

[TimH]

Prescription sunglasses for us old farts.

[Ralph Z.]

Why not prescription glasses and a smoked visor????

[marchsv]

My sunglasses are not bifocal lenses.

[Matt King]

Some people only have one visor for their helmet. If it's sunny, you wear sunglasses. If it's not, you don't.

[RussMcB]

Why would a smoked visor be better than a clear visor and sunglasses?

I wear prescription glasses and it's a lot easier to change glasses than to change a visor. No tools involved. :-).

[Ralph Z.]

To me, it just looks weird.

[Dick R.]

To me, it just looks weird.

For autocross I use progressive lens with Transition/photogray "sunglasses" and a clear visor. That way I have whatever amount of "sunglasses" I need without having to change visor .

I look weird in any case so no big deal . . .

Dick

[Frank C]

Photogray prescription glasses. I am an old guy who wears bifocals, but only need the distant vision for driving. I think your concern is weird, Ralph.
- Frank C

[dc]

10 years ago I would have thought the same, but today, I need progressives to see both the road clearly as well as the dash and gauges. I would be one of the old guys wearing glasses under the helmet, but I'd probably also use a smoked visor to increase the effect of transitions (which aren't dark enough for me).

Sucks getting old.

[Ralph Z.]

OK, I get it. Most have a real need or at least a meaningful convenience factor for wearing sunglasses. No offense intended. Maybe I'll try it some time.

[dalz]

Maybe, since smoked visors weren't common back in the day, fashion-foward vintage guys are trying to duplicate the appropriate-era look.

One of the true all-time greats, Pelican Joe Leonard:

[EYERACE]

For autocross I use progressive lens with Transition/photogray "sunglasses" and a clear visor. That way I have whatever amount of "sunglasses" I need without having to change visor .

I look weird in any case so no big deal . . .

Dick

A Lexan visor does not transmit UV - therefore your lenses should not change

[Dick R.]

A Lexan visor does not transmit UV - therefore your lenses should not change

Good point! I hadn't thought about that. However, for autocross the lenses really don't have a chance to change back for the short time the visor is closed butI need the tinting when the visor is open or the helmet is off between runs.

Thanks!

Dick

[Mark_Silverberg]

I find that polarized sunglasses - especially if they have curved lenses - will cause an interference pattern when looking through a the curved visor. Thus I tend to wear a smoked or tinted visor.

I typically wear progressive lenses but only use a single correction in the car . I can not get the glasses to sit down on my nose in the helmet so I would be looking through the wrong prescription when driving.

[starkejt]

If you wear a smoked visor, how is everyone supposed to see your vintage Persol 714 sunglasses (with blue lenses to match your Heuer Monaco 1133)?

[flat tappet]

If you wear a smoked visor, how is everyone supposed to see your vintage Persol 714 sunglasses (with blue lenses to match your Heuer Monaco 1133)?

If you were the Dos Equis man, you would never drive with your visor down....or, for that matter wear gloves......so everyone would be able to see your BLING........LOL.