OAKLEY RACING JACKET
($150; 800-403-7449; www.oakley.com)
Lens: Iridium coated polycarbonate (Rx-able)
The price may seem a bit stiff for polycarbonate lenses, but we're not just talking eye protection here—we're talking art. The Racing Jackets' X-shaped plastic frames are coated with a lightweight metal alloy and coupled with black iridium lenses, a design almost MOMA-worthy. With the looks comes serious clarity: The lenses provide optical correction along three axes (left-to-right, up-and-down, and foreground-to-background) instead of the usual two. Despite their aggressive wrap, I couldn't detect any distortion during a road ride under full New Mexico sun. Unfortunately, the one-piece frames have no hinges, and they seem a tad weak where the temple meets the earpiece; a little extra reinforcement would help during a full skid on an oil slick. But at a moment like that, it's likely you won't be worrying about your shades.

CARRERA ARCH
($75; 800-659-3527; www.carrerasportusa.com)
Lens: Polycarbonate (Rx-able with a $40 adapter)
A venerable name on European bike- and ski-racing circuits, Carrera is no stodgy traditionalist when it comes to sunglass design. The Arches have sleek, aerodynamic lines guaranteed to make you look like a Festina domestique. Plus they boast separate, interchangeable polycarbonate lenses. The frames consist of a single strip of molded plastic running along the top edge of the lenses and hinged to temples made of steel and rubber. The rigid temples strengthen the frame, while the flexible rubber-coated metal earpieces adjust to fit.Andiamo!

Kent Black reviewed tools for repairing and maintaining bikes and skis in the October 1999 issue of Outside.