I need to buy my wife a pair in preparation for our next trip. Anyone have experience with this and where is the best place to get them?

You might want to consider Pilla Sport. Here is a link to one of my blog articles on their products. The blog article contains a link to Target Solutions Online. That will take you to an email contact for Pat Fountaine.

Mention that I referred you and Pat will do his best to take good care of you. Pat is a great guy and his service is outstanding.

I recently referred one of my clients from the UK and he has been very satisfied working with Pat and Pilla. I do not receive compensation from Pat or Pilla.

Here are a few links to the Pilla Website. This is the shooting sports brochure. These links will take you to the technology section and the store.

I've got Pillas. Nice glasses, but pricey. For me, their interchangable lenses (three different colors) seem to scratch too easily for me. I tried to buy a extra set of lenses from Pilla, but was told that they wouldn't sell me one pair of extra lenses; I had to buy the complete outfit all over again. I also wasn't impressed with their booth at SCI. Some woman was manning it last year and she literally went out of her way to ignore me as I approached the booth. I didn't stop. Bad PR in my book on both counts.

Good info so far thanks!! I want to hear the pluses and negatives. When I google searched it looked like one infomercial after another. Thats why I asked for some boots on the ground opinions.

Where in Alaska do you live? If in or near Anchorage go see Dr. Reber or Dr. Gonnason. You can get them from any quality eye doctor,, it isn't dificult, I do it for folks all the time,, and warranty the lenses for a year for scratches etc and frames for breakage. Much easier than a mail off place where you have no "real" person to talk to. If they are local you can drop by and get service on the glasses.

Decot Hy Wyd are excellent options.

www.sportglasses.com and www.decot.com

I also use standard Ray Ban "Shooter" glasses with clear poly carbonite Rx lenses and regular black frame Ray Ban's with grey tinted Rx lenses. Both have wrap around cable temples.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
I've got Pillas. Nice glasses, but pricey. For me, their interchangable lenses (three different colors) seem to scratch too easily for me. I tried to buy a extra set of lenses from Pilla, but was told that they wouldn't sell me one pair of extra lenses; I had to buy the complete outfit all over again. I also wasn't impressed with their booth at SCI. Some woman was manning it last year and she literally went out of her way to ignore me as I approached the booth. I didn't stop. Bad PR in my book on both counts.

Use Enough Gun-Sounds like you have had a bad experience. Pilla products are more expensive than cheap shooting glasses but the old adage you get what you pay for is just as true with shooting glasses as with other products. One of the processes contributing to their higher cost is the lens manufacturing process.

The Pilla HDX lenses are molded in glass molds which eliminate imperfections as opposed to metal molds used by the competition which causes stress. The Pilla lenses are poured and are not forced into a mold under pressure like the competition. Lenses are not dip tinted or surface tinted. Instead the technology is infused into the lens material. Color enhancement is also balanced. This ensures you will see the entire color spectrum. This is critical when hunting. Lenses that simply tint what you see to one color causes you lose the ability to see depth of field.

The competition flash cools their lenses as opposed to allowing them to slow cure. The result is Pilla makes one lens in the same amount of time the competition mass produces 40,000 lenses. Pilla’s goal is to produce the finest distortion free lenses on the market. There are many other items unique to Pilla that adds to the manufacturing costs.

Pilla lenses carry a lifetime warranty against breakage and at no additional cost to the customer. The fee for replacement of scratched lenses are a $60 deductible.

I spoke with Pat Fountaine and verified that individual Pilla lenses are always available for purchase. You can contact Pat through the links I previously provided should you decide to get a replacement or purchase a different lens.

Pat would welcome the opportunity to get involved in resolving any issues you are having. He would like the opportunity to speak with you about your experience at Safari Club and your previous inquiry about the purchase of an extra pair of lenses. In Pat’s opinion, it does not sound to him like a PILLA company rep...rather and nonetheless unfortunately, an under motivated and certainly unprofessional dealer.

If I can help you further in some way please let me know.

Thanks Shawn for the reply. When I ordered my Pillas, I called and dealt directly with Pilla. In fact, I purchased them directly from Pilla, not through any dealer. Unfortunately, I do not have the name of the gentleman that I spoke with at Pilla about the replacement lenses. If they have changed their policies since my purchase then I would welcome a call.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
Thanks Shawn for the reply. When I ordered my Pillas, I called and dealt directly with Pilla. In fact, I purchased them directly from Pilla, not through any dealer. Unfortunately, I do not have the name of the gentleman that I spoke with at Pilla about the replacement lenses. If they have changed their policies since my purchase then I would welcome a call.

I sent you a PM with contact information. Please let me know if I can assist further in any way. I can assure you that Pat will be able to assist in resovling this issue promptly.

My shooting glasses are my far vision prescription for my vision. Had the lenses made just for looking far and not for reading. I also got clip on polarized lenses as clip ons and use when needed.
Had prescription area enlarged on glass lenses both up and down and across.

Mike

Been there and done all of the above - believe me.

Here's what we are now doing.

Go to the sunglass store / go online and have your wife pick a set of frames she really likes and can see well enough throuh to serve as shooting glasses.

Then have your optician replace the factory lenses with either "Hoya" or "Crizol" transition type lenses. Get the full deal: transition, anti-scratch, anti-reflective, polycarbonate.

I have found that by having a pair of glasses that change with the daylight / weather conditions really is a lifesaver when off in the bush /traveling.

The problem with "shooting specific" glasses is that they tend to be fragile, VERY unfashionable and are always where they are and not necessairly where you need them, when you need them.

I carry two pairs with me - one has a set of +1.25 mini-bifocals for use on the plane / when reading around camp.

I use Costa Del Mar frames with the above set up...Every trip somebody sees these on mre and ends-up ordering a set for themselves - makes total sense and covers a lot of bases!

I second what Jeff says. Also consider finding An OD who is hunter friendly. If she is going to shoot have him adjust the optical center a bit. Meaning you do not look out of the center of the lens when you shoot.
Also if using bifocals have the near vision part made in an upside down U in stead of the normal right side up U.

Both make a big difference.

Keith

I had a pair of the transition lenses and in the evening objects darker then the the available night.

Mike

Mike,

I "think" I understand what you are trying to say. (?)

Remember, one can have transition type lenses tinted any color they like - Amber for instance to aid in low light situations...

JW

Call Decot Hy Wyd in Phoenix and tell them what you want. I was just on the phone with them and they are really dialed in to the needs of a hunter/shooter. They have a very helpful web site.

Just wanted everyone to know that Pat Fountaine has subsequently helped me straighten out my prior issues with Pilla. He bent over backwards to assist me in getting a new set of lenses for my Merlins and in the process, sold me on another great pair of Pilla Sebring frames and four additional lenses. Thanks Pat and thanks Shawn! Good guys both!

Thanks for the kind words Vaughn. I am glad that Pat was able to correct the problems you previously encountered and ensure your satisfaction with Pilla. Pat is a great guy always dedicated to customer service. I recommend him to all of my clients without hesitation. Thanks for allowing us both the opportunity to assist you in correcting this problem.

quote:

Originally posted by RCG:
Decot Hy Wyd are excellent options.

www.sportglasses.com and www.decot.com

I also use standard Ray Ban "Shooter" glasses with clear poly carbonite Rx lenses and regular black frame Ray Ban's with grey tinted Rx lenses. Both have wrap around cable temples.

They talked me out of what I wanted and sold me what 'was best for me'.

I listened to them because they are the 'experts'.


Expensive mistake on my part.

Decot Hy-Wyd shooting glasses are outstanding. I use my skeet shooting glasses with interchangeable lenses. I have yellow, a soft red and a grape colored set of lenses. I used these in Africa, yellow in the early and late soft light and the darker colors in the sunshine. The lenses are adjustable up and down for shooting as well. This keeps you from bumping the stock with the lenses. In fact, I use these same glasses for pheasant hunting, deer hunting, and big game hunting. The only thing is I find them a little difficult to use with binoculars. So the Decot glasses haved hooked ear pieces. I found myself a little uncomfortable when constantly pulling the glasses off to look through my binoculars. I send my regular prescription from my in-town optometrist and forward them to Decot. You can also meet with their reps at many of the national skeet and trap shooting events. I wouldn't be surprised if they made the next NRA National Convention in St. Louis next year.