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Bolle
Breakaway Vigilante
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Submitted by
Tim
a Cross Country Rider
from Grand Rapids, MI
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Yankee/Ft. Custer | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$29.00 | | Purchased At: | I am in the optical industry | | Strengths: | Great frame and concept with exceptionally durable lenses and frames. | | Weaknesses: | Sand and dirt easily get into the lens groove. | | Similar Products Used: | Bolle only | | Bike Setup: | moab two, duke sl, ritchey ocs pro z mountain rims, xt components | | Bottom Line: | Buy these, I have abused these for nearly 4 years and have just recently re-ordered the same frame. I have over 5000 trail miles on these. I work in a optometric field and would highly recommend this product to anyone. I have no financial interest in this product or company FYI. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JAMES STAUBER
a Weekend Warrior
from BEDFORD, NH USA
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Bearbrook | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$59.00 | | Purchased At: | performancebike | | Strengths: | 4 interchangeable lenses. | | Weaknesses: | poorly built,.... quality control leaves a great deal to be desired. My frame snapped in half when I was changing lenses. | | Similar Products Used: | Bolle Knife edge ,... a much more durable pair of sunglasses. | | Bike Setup: | GT I drive 1.0 | | Bottom Line: | Defective crap,.... bought them at 50 % off from performancebike,.... I sent them back and requested a refund,... best thing about performancebike is their refund phenomenal policy | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
timothias
a Cross Country Rider
from usa
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | the moon | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | replaceable lenses, tie the frame in a knot, and it remembers it's original shape, get a case, 4 sets of lenses, and a nifty cleaning cloth. The rubbers nose & ear thingies are replacable too. and they fit my big noggin. chix dig them too. so, yah | | Weaknesses: | kinda hard to find lenses, might have to get your mom to change them for you the first few times.. | | Similar Products Used: | too many | | Bike Setup: | trek 700, bontrager & shimano stuff... | | Bottom Line: | great shades, protects your eyes from the poison darts the natives are throwing at you... heh, ok maybe not that good.. you get the point. cheap too!
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Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Salt Lake City
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | The Crest Trail (at th moment) | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$125.00 | | Purchased At: | PerformanceBike.com | | Strengths: | Multiple lens's, Rx inserts are the best I have comew across | | Weaknesses: | The slide off my face a littlw | | Similar Products Used: | Oakleys several pair (before wearing glasses), Smith Moab's | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Enduro Pro | | Bottom Line: | I would have to say of the different glasses I have tried with the Rx inserts these are the best. I liked my Smiths but the inserts suck in my opnion. These i do not see the edge of the insert, good lens selection comes with them. the only problem is that they have a tendancy to slide down my nose when I have the Rx inserts in. I am going to try the bending of the temples, or an X-tra stick on nose rubber. If they did not slide they would be a 5 but since they slid they get a 4.....ps I had my perscription filled at Sams club (polycarbonate lens were only 50.00 ... | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Marshall
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | optical store | | Strengths: | rx inserts | | Weaknesses: | impossible to install lens. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bottom Line: | Dont bother. I'll go buy some oakleys | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Clinton
a Weekend Warrior
from Mechanicsville Va.
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Performancebike.com | | Strengths: | Everything | | Weaknesses: | Sometimes when I have the very dark lenses in and my black helmet on, I fill like I should be in some cheap B movie. | | Similar Products Used: | Oaks, Rudys | | Bike Setup: | Trek 930 STEEL BABY YEAH | | Bottom Line: | These are by far the best glasses I have ever had or tried. At first, I had a problem with removing the lenses, however that was do to the fact that I glanced at the instructions, noticed it was in French, and proceded to try it on my own. After failing I went back to the directions and lo-and-behold below the French, was English. So, after reading that, it was a snap, and I have not had a problem since. For 70 bucks, you get a nice looking pair of glasses, case, and 4 lenses, that can't be beat. I admit, some glasses probably look better, the new smiths and oaks look pretty nice, but they also sell for 100+, and thats just crazy! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Webb
a Cross Country Rider
from Tallahassee, FL
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance/Local eyeglass place | | Strengths: | *Easy to change lenses
*Great Rx insert
*Very nice carrying case | | Weaknesses: | A tad bit on the heavy side with the Rx insert, not too bad though. | | Similar Products Used: | Everyday glasses
Oakleys w/ contact lenses | | Bottom Line: | If you're looking for a great pair of cycling glasses and you wear Rx lenses, you can't go wrong with these. The four different colored lenses are extremely easy to change out and as long as I'm moving, they haven't fogged up. A vast improvement over wearing my everyday glasses, or contacts with a pair of Oakleys; I found my eyes drying up with either option.
The carrying case not only keeps the glasses, but stores and organizes the extra lenses as well. The one thing I wish for in the lenses is a polarized version I could use when I'm out kayaking.
Performance has a good deal on these and will fill the Rx for an extra $50. Not a bad deal considering I paid over $80 to have the Rx filled at a local eyeglass place. And if you're worried about the Rx insert falling out, don't; it snaps firmly into place and won't come out unless you take it out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gordo
a Weekend Warrior
from AZ
Date Reviewed: December 15, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Strengths: | Light, comfortable, 4 sets of lens for any lighting condition. A big plus is that they dont make you look
like a moron.(think Oakley racing jackets)
After a brief period of learning how to install the other
lens, it's now a breeze to pop in a different set and go!
| | Weaknesses: | None that I've found. | | Bottom Line: | What can you say about a pair of shades you can use for just
about anything, on or off the trail.
If your in this for the fun of the ride, buy them.
If your all about looking like a "racerboy wannabe geek",
go with the "jackets"! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jorin Green
a Racer
from Rosetown, Sask Canada
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | A smooth road | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$75.00 | | Purchased At: | Local eyeglass shop | | Strengths: | Multiple lenses, comfortable. | | Weaknesses: | Fog up, some weaknesses in manufactoring | | Similar Products Used: | Demoed Smith Sliders | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale CAAD3 | | Bottom Line: | A good pair of glasses. I am on my second pair... I scratched a lens on the first pair a couple of weeks in, and Bolle replaced it for free. The only problem was that the replacement lenses they sent we a little different size and shape (change within the product line, and I had an old pair??) and they damaged my frame. Bolle replaced the whole works... for free!
I really like them for riding. They are very comfortable, the 4 sets of lenses allows you to match lighting conditions, and the optical quality is very good. They do fog up a bit, but anti-fog spray should fix that. You also need to be careful, as the lenses will scratch, as any good lens usually will. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a
from Sonoma County, California
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Wine Country roadie | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Takes Rx
Cool enough to wear off the bike (I got yellow frames)
Easy lens change. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Briko ZEN, Performance Radial | | Bike Setup: | Kestrel road bike | | Bottom Line: | These glasses are great for what they are - one of the few that don't look truly dorky and take an Rx adaptor.
They come with 4 lenses - people forget that if you use Rx and ride late you can't just take off your sunglasses. It's so easy to change these lenses (and carry extra pair in jersey pocket).
I wash the lenses in running water and they have no scratches. The frames are a bit wide, but they grip so well that they don't slide off - I always put them on before my helmet so they go under the straps.
I even wear them off the bike - cool yellow frames.
They're not as cheap as Smith MOAB (but I don't like the look of them), but they're certainly cheaper than Rudy Project or the other competitors. They're also cheaper than my Briko ZENs which need a concentrated 15 minutes to change lenses and make you look like an insect. For Rx ability alone, they get top marks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil Bowman
a Cross Country Rider
from York, PA
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Whitetail Ski Area | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | tough, stylish, easily replaceable lenses, quality lenses | | Weaknesses: | the lenses scratched easier on my newest pair than on my others. | | Similar Products Used: | oakley m-frames, blades(remember them?), bolle phat naja, bolle naja | | Bike Setup: | GT XCR 1000, z-1 x-fly, bontrager race, xt | | Bottom Line: | If one reads the directions, the lenses are not only simple to replace, but they pop right out with little effort. They also go right back in very easily. They stay in very well. I have never had a problem with these glasses. I also have had three different pair because I like them so much. The complaints that I've seen below seem to be user errors more than anything else. If you cannot change your lenses easily, you are probably not doing it right. As far as the issue with the prescription lenses, I could not tell you, I don't wear glasses. For all non-prescription users, these cannot be beat! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Christopher Grimes
a Cross Country Rider
from Thurmont, MD USA
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | light weight, good ventilation, stays put, rx insert doesn't push them out too far | | Weaknesses: | can be hard to change the lenses | | Similar Products Used: | bolle edge | | Bottom Line: | these work very well for off road riding, teh lenses supplied offer a good variety for differing situations, the size fits me at least very well, they do not sit heavy on the face, and thus far have not come off, even in hard hits and tough crashes. generally I run the cinnamin lenses, they offer a good compromise between sunblocking, and contrast enhancement, so much so that obstacles on the trail seem to jump out, instead of stay hidden. I would say they are probably the best thing going for someone who needs an rx insert, wants versatility in lense options, and if you do it right they can be gotten very reasonably, I paid about 130 for mine with the rx insert and rx lenses, due to a coupon ont the web site of sterling optical. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shawn Ashkenasy
a Weekend Warrior
from Hayward, Ca
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Coolest Looking specs around. Light, and strong. The insert. Lots of options with the different colour lenses. | | Weaknesses: | You love them so much you start wearing them everywhere. | | Similar Products Used: | none. | | Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper 99 comp | | Bottom Line: | Well worth it. Almost everyone I meet wants to know where I got them. I have crashed many times and these specs have held up every time. I even had a handle-bar strike me in the face 100% of the impact was on the eye-wear and they didnt even scratch. I must have gotten the best made specs...not sure but I sure love these shades. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Columbus, MS
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | The Rx adapter and the lens changing systems work fairly well. | | Weaknesses: | The quality of the product is poor. Worse yet, the company refuses to stand by their products. The rubber temples wore out shortly after the warranty period. Shortly after that, the rubber nose pieces broke. Overall, I have been disappointed with these glasses, and I would never buy any more eyewear from Bolle. | | Similar Products Used: | Regular sunglasses | | Bottom Line: | Bolle has some good ideas, but their quailty and customer support are horribly lacking. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Russell Seaton
a Weekend Warrior
from Kansas City
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | paved roads | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Good looking. Comes with clear and gray lenses in package. Relatively cheap when extra lenses are figured in. | | Weaknesses: | Poor quality control. Poor method of lens changing. No cable temples. | | Similar Products Used: | Bolle Crono Shield, young mountain bikers won't remember these. | | Bike Setup: | road bike | | Bottom Line: | Did I mention these glasses have poor quality control? They do. Thankfully I bought them from Performance catalog. They have a great return and customer service department. The left lens of the yellow and pink lenses did not fit. Called Performance and they sent a new pair of each. Not a big deal since I will only use the clear at night and the gray during the day. But still.
The prescription insert was filled by Performance. Looking through it is a little different than looking through my regular glasses. Don't think anything is wrong with the prescription. Just how close it is to my face and the angle or something. Not real bad but a little different when first putting them on. Forget about it when I'm actually riding. Would not want to drive with these glasses though.
I use a Take A Look rear view mirror. Clipped onto the left arm of the sunglass frame. Again the way the glasses sit and angle or something makes it harder to see behind me using the mirror. Maybe the road bike position affects this and using the rear view mirror would be OK in the upright mountain bike position. With the Bolle Crono Shield, I just wore my small regular wire rimmed glasses underneath these big goggles. No problems.
I wanted to look cool and be able to use lenses at night to protect my eyes from the cold wind. So I bought the Vigilante at a great price. The coverage is good. My head is narrow yet these fit just fine. Don't think I would like the less coverage Parole. Changing lenses requires you to yank on the sunglass frame in such a manner you think you will break it. Not the best way to change lenses. Case is nice and the glasses actually fit inside. This was not the case with my Bolle Crono Shield. They didn't fit the case. Not that I actually use the case for anything other than storing the spare lenses.
The prescription insert and the sunglass frame were not straight with one another. The left lens of the insert was about 1/4 inch lower than the right lens of the insert when compared with the top of the sunglass frame. Somehow the plastic insert frame and/or sunglass frame warped after making and they do not line up. This may not have affected performance but it was still crooked. So I sent them back to Performance. Will get them back next week probably.
The gray frame Performance sells is not that great a color. So I am trying to get the black color. Think the silver Colorado Cyclist sells is the best looking. The yellow color Nashbar sells is ugly. The arms are not cable temples. So they don't stay on your face all that well. I guess straight temples that fall off your face are cooler looking than great functional cable temples. You can bend the ends of the temples so they stay on your face much better than the way they come. Not as good as cable temples but somewhat acceptable. I bent my arms down quite a bit to make them stay better. Just go slow and easy.
Do I recommend them? Well, they are the coolest looking prescription insert glasses around. No doubt about that. Probably most durable too. The frame looks and is tough. It will take some work to break it. But I think the older less cool looking Bolle Edge line of glasses with the changeable cable temples would be a better choice. Don't know if the insert is the same. I might be stuck with this style unfortunately. If you are looking just for cool looking glasses with many lens colors these might be OK since you don't have the prescription insert problems. Of course you can also choose many other sunglasses too. One with a different lens color for each type of ride.
I'll rank them a 2 since they might be OK once the quality control problems are fixed. Unfortunately, they are inferior to the Bolle Edge line of glasses becasue of the missing cable temples. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mikepsu
a Cross-Country Rider
from Arlington, Va
Date Reviewed: December 27, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Comes with 4 lenses | | Weaknesses: |
frame loosens up after a couple months, but they manage to hang-on to your head
I find myself pushing them 1/4 inch up my nose whenever I stop | | Bike Setup: |
large head, brown hair, brown eyes, standard neck shock | | Bottom Line: | it is nice to change from a sweaty dirty, lense to a clean lense for the drive homeGreat overall, I lost a pair after a year and bought another, have had them for a year. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Avy
a Racer
from Melbourne, Australia
Date Reviewed: October 28, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Appearance (go for the silver/black).
Lenses interchange.
Quality (especially the finish) | | Weaknesses: |
Small gap in the frame's centre is annoying.
Expensive, but worth it. | | Similar Products Used: |
None. I can't find other wrap-arounds that fit!! | | Bike Setup: |
Raceline (Aussie brand although assembled in Taiwan)Ultra Alloy road bike with Ultegra, Easton Elan aluminum, Mavic Open Pro's. | | Bottom Line: | The Vigilante (here in Oz anyway) is strictly for block heads (that includes me!). If you have a narrow or medium head profile, go for the Bolle Parole (similar style). I found the Vigilante to be the only wrap around shades for wide heads. Many non-standard lenses to choose from, but expensive. Rubber non-slip liners around the ears are definitely not non-slip! You may need to adjust fit around the ear with the dealer's heat machine. Great looking shades, but I've seen a few get crushed under wheels in a race. Be careful! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stephen
a Racer
from SF
Date Reviewed: August 26, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Excellent lens quality
included lenses
Very comfortable
Nice storage case
Easy lens-switching.
Good coverage around your eyes.
Additional air-hole.
Cool gooding looking!
RX Insert | | Weaknesses: |
None so far!!! | | Similar Products Used: |
none | | Bottom Line: | I wear my RX then I ride and it stay on... Cool! So! Go get them.......8-) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob Grabowski
a Cross-Country Rider
from Queens, NY
Date Reviewed: August 2, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Excellent lens quality
Large selection of included lenses
Extremely comfortable
Protective storage case | | Weaknesses: |
Difficult to put on while wearing a helmetDoesn't fold as compactly as some.
Storage case somewhat bulky. | | Similar Products Used: |
Various glasses from Bolle and other manufacturers | | Bottom Line: | Wonderfully comfortable with excellent optical quality. The only annoyance is that the design of the frames and earpieces make it difficult(but not impossible) to put these on while wearing a helmet. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Henkka Wennerstrand
a Racer
from Helsinki, Finland
Date Reviewed: July 4, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Easy lens-switching.
Lots of different lenses for varying conditions.
Light!
Good coverage.
Additional switchable air-hole.
Very good-looking! | | Weaknesses: |
None that I can think of. | | Similar Products Used: |
Bolle Edge II, Bolle Parole, 2x Adidas(can't remember model).. | | Bottom Line: | I've used them for only about 1 month or so, which means I can't say anything about durability yet.
Overall they're the best eyewear I've ever had.
I warmly recommend these to anyone who wants good quality for a reasonable price. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kent
a Weekend Warrior
from Morris County NJ
Date Reviewed: June 8, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
RX Insert option
Overall design
Storage case compact design | | Weaknesses: |
I'd like to see a bit tigher side coverage, but it's good to begin with. | | Similar Products Used: |
Oakley Pro-M | | Bottom Line: | I bought these specifically for the RX insert option. When used with this option they provide excellect functionality. When compared to the Oakley Pro-M, these glasses are cheaper, provide nearly the same coverage, removeable RX inserts and provide more compact storage. The only areas I feel the Oakleys excel, is a more secure fit, and greater wind deflection. The Vigilante gets a 5-star from me for a wide range of functional uses and good product design!
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Submitted by
Big T
a Downhiller
from Alamogordo, NM
Date Reviewed: May 18, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Cloudcroft Ski Area | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Typical Bolle quality. Four interchangable lenses. Nice RX insert option. | | Weaknesses: |
None so far. | | Similar Products Used: |
Bolle Edge II | | Bottom Line: | Not as much protection as the Edge II but way cooler looking. Stylish colors, good quality and a great price (around $100) make them hard to beat. Try them, you will not be disappointed! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vik
a Cross-Country Rider
from Columbia, MD
Date Reviewed: May 9, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Stylish and very durable. Comes with four interchangeable lenses for changing conditions and a nice carrying case. | | Weaknesses: |
A little tricky to learn how to switch lenses. | | Similar Products Used: |
Perfomance Radial sunglasses with scrip insert. | | Bottom Line: | A great pair of sunglasses with a prescription insert. Very light and great looking, but strong. On my second ride with them, I did a serious face plant while trying to go over a log. The glasses were unscathed, which I could not say for the rest of me. The left lens suffered a minor scratch. Bolle had a replacement to me in 3 days. Great customer support. | | Overall Rating: |
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