I only ever wear photochromic glasses.
I have one pair for riding and one for everyday - both variable prescription as well as variable tint.
I have one of them on at any time I’m not in bed.
99% of the time I wear photochromic glasses outdoors, whatever I’m doing. For casual use I have cheap ones, and for more serious cycling or XC skiing I have PHO bifocal photochromics from BZ Optics in two tints: clear to lightish grey (mainly for cycling), and lightish to darker orange (mainly for skiing in flat light or when it’s really bright). I also have very dark non-bifocal non-photochromic lenses that can be swapped in for horribly bright days (spring skiing).
While I normally wear sunglasses outside, for hiking in particularly dim conditions no glasses at all is sometimes better, but you need to beware of sticks - a friend got one in her eye once.
In dappled shade the only answer is to be careful as nothing is going to react fast enough when things can change multiple times per second.
Photochromic (Oakleys) for me as well- always. I don’t understand how people ride with such dark lenses. There are too many potholes and other obstacles to watch out for.
I find that Oakleys seem to stay clean longer than other glasses, and are easier to clean when dirty. They must have a special coating.
I’ve got prescription progressive lenses (not inserts), and that’s a bit expensive. So my cycling glasses are my only shades. Photochromic lenses aren’t really an option since IMHO none work well enough inside a car. My lenses are polarized and brown. They’re terribly dark and are fine under trees and in bright light.
I had a set of Tifosi red/pink photochromic lenses that I loved, I sadly broke them when I stumbled on a hike and was carrying them in my hand. I have Tifosi podiums which have clear, low light (amber / pinkish) and Grey with red reflective high light lenses. I am hoping to get another set of photochromic as I think they are a great choice for variable light. I have a pair of yellowish specialized photochromic but the frame/temples have become uncomfortably tight recently, so my 8 year old wears them now.
I agree with others, it’s probably a “run what you brung” or “use what you have” situation.
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3M safety glasses from Bunnings for ten bucks (that’s Australian dollars, so about three bucks in beautiful New England) is my go to from March to September.
I use the Julbo Density Reactive glasses here in PDX, and yes. Make sure you get the 0-3 variant; the different colors are different. Probably not dark enough for Moab, but I’ve loved them here.
I have prescription lenses and have to choose do-it-all lenses, so photochromic lenses are it. They don’t get as dark as proper sun glasses, but they still reduce eye strain. And in the dark they are essentially as good as clear lenses. (I think mine absorb around 5 % of the light in their brightest “setting”.)
‘alf your luck, Pete.
I envy anyone of “our” age who can still see well without prescription glasses. 
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