Steve R Posted March 2, 2004 Posted March 2, 2004 After a first drive in my aero-screened car the other day I've wisely decided to invest in a decent set of impact-resistant sunglasses and a helmet. Firstly, can anyone recommend a particular brand/model that of sunglasses that works well in keeping wind/bugs/stones out of yer eyes and is shatter-proof? Secondly, anybody got any feedback on the Bell X-15 helmet, good or bad? Also, where's cheapest mail order? (I don't want to pay Demon Tweeks prices if possible ). Thanks, Steve. Quote
Blatman Posted March 2, 2004 Posted March 2, 2004 I use Oakley sunglasses. They are pretty tough, and I believe they are tested for impact resistance. Can't help on the helmet except to say that you really should get along to your nearest Motorsport/motorbike supplier and try a few on. Bell helmets give me a headache, but Arai's and Shoei's fit me fine, as do most of the Simpson range....... Quote
adhawkins Posted March 2, 2004 Posted March 2, 2004 Merlin have got some relatively cheap helmets in at the moment, something like 90 quid or so. They'd be expensive mail order though, but if you're within travelling distance of Castle Combe they might be worth a look. Also, Motorsport Events sell a Bieffe Alex Wurz helmet for about 60 quid (plus P&P, or delivered free to one of their events). As to eye wear, I wear Wiley XL1s. They're excellent. They wrap around the eyes and are quite a snug fit so keep the wind out too. I got mine as part of a bulk buy on 'the other side'. Andy Quote
DavidR Posted March 2, 2004 Posted March 2, 2004 I use ESS ICE ballistic eyeshields ESS Goggles select ICE eyeshields. They can stop a shotgun pellet as shown on the website. Plus they are very comfortable and come with three interchangeable lenses. Clear, Grey and Yellow. I have more info if you need it. David. Quote
higgsti Posted March 2, 2004 Posted March 2, 2004 on sunny days i wear oakleys(£80 ) i also have a set of safty glasses made by bolle who also make sunglasses the were £5.00 but i do want some xl1s tried contacting them but only an answerphone.helmets spend as much as you can afford try a few on mine is made by uvex the back of the helmet is contoured to stop windturbulace(stops your head bobbing from side to side)and is also approved for racing Quote
Ecdtheow Posted March 3, 2004 Posted March 3, 2004 I purchased a pair of Oakley A frame Glasses for £120 a lot of people said I was wasting my money. I've had them now for five years and they've done me proud. They've been sat on people have used them when they have borrowed my car, I've gone out and found them in the passenger footwell covered in mud they did need a little bit of persuasion to get the the left arm back into shape and a soak in a bowl of warm water was all that was reqired to shift the crap from the lens and they are still hanging in there I honestly cannot praise them enough and when I come to replace them (when ??) no other manufacturer will be in with a chance of taking my money from me . Quote
Steve R Posted March 3, 2004 Author Posted March 3, 2004 Thanks folks. I really like the look of those Wiley XL-1s. The way that they seal to your face like goggles seems like a very good idea (I had problems with my eyes still watering with my current wrap-around shades). Trouble is, can't seem to find a stockist in the UK. Any ideas? Quote
adhawkins Posted March 3, 2004 Posted March 3, 2004 I don't think there is one. Might be worth a post on the other side to see if another group buy is planned. If not, perhaps arrange one yourself? I paid something like 30 or 40 quid for mine... Andy Quote
Spencer Posted March 3, 2004 Posted March 3, 2004 I'm with Blatman & "ecdtheow"...Oakley rock!!....I've got a pair of A-Frame's that I use for snowboarding too, they've taken some big falls and are just fine, available in many colour frames and even more lense types...double glazed too (mainly to prevent steaming up in the snow) Oakley A Frame Goggles I've also got a pair of "Water Jackets" which do a good job of staying on your head, as they have a permanently attached leash on the back of the arms, that can be tightened right-up to secure, but not as encompassing as a goggle (or helmet of course)....look to be similar to the Wiley's above. They're quite large for a sunglass frame, ie., they do seal quite well against your face..the ones with holes in were designed for yachting, to let water out! (just in case you're wondering) Oakley Water Jackets HTH, Spen Quote
Blatman Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 Oakley's customer service is excellent too. I have had some very recent experience with this, and I rate them very highly...... Quote
Spencer Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 Oakley's customer service is excellent too. I have had some very recent experience with this, and I rate them very highly..... Again, agree....I used to live down the road from them; they're in Letchworth, Herts, and needed to replace a few pairs that over the years have broken...the Cust Rep girl said that if i paid them £15 for each broken pair (all out of warranty), thi is effectively an insurance policy, where they'll replace the frames....plus, if that was no longer a current model, they'd let me choose another pair (from any of their ranges, not just a like-4-like) for half-price!...needless to say I ended up with practically one of each model! AND I'm sure she forgot to charge me the original £15/pair...larrff But yep, very helpful. Quote
Steve R Posted March 4, 2004 Author Posted March 4, 2004 Thanks for all the advice. Have found a place in the US that will ship me a pair of the Wiley XL-1s at a reasonable price so i've gone for those, mainly because I liked the idea of a pair that seal to your face (to stop watering eyes, plus I suffer badly from hayfever so they may help! ). Bizarrely the manufacturer themselves would not ship outside of the US due to security reasons, but their stockists would... Quote
adhawkins Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 Is it worth raising the idea of a bulk buy with the stockist? Anyone else interested? I might be interested in some replacement lenses, or maybe the 'hard' carrying case they do. Anyone else? Andy Quote
thos Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 @SteveR - I had trouble trying to find somewhere to ship me WileyX's too, took me a while, but found a place in Australia (?! which would do them online for me. Afterwards was sent a link to Froogle which has lists of loads of places doing them: http://froogle.google.com/froogle Quote
chrisbin Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 or maybe the 'hard' carrying case they do. Anyone else? Andy Just for your info', I got one of the "hard" cases when I bought mine (again, on the other side!. Its fine for storage on the garage shelf but is really a bit big to consider using in the car IMHO. It has room for the glasses plus 2 or 3 sets of replacement lenses, with foam cushioning between, so is not exactly compact...... HTH Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.