The best sunglasses for cycling are the ones that allow you to see well while reducing the amount of sun and ultraviolet radiation reaching your eyes.
A good pair should provide protection from all types of light, such as sunlight, headlight glare at night, and artificial light such as a lamp or streetlight in evening or shaded areas.
Unfortunately, no sunglasses can block 100% of harmful rays. For this reason it’s important to understand what levels and types of UV radiation different sunglasses block to make an informed purchase decision.
Although polarization has no effect on limiting incoming light, many cyclists prefer polarized lenses because they reduce reflected glare—a significant source of distraction when cycling on the pavement or near water or snow.
In addition to finding a pair of sunglasses that effectively reduce the total amount of light you’re exposed to, they also need to fit well.
- 【Lightweight Design】-Ultralight Frame Weight only 19.2g. you will forget you are wearing them in the middle of an adventure you cannot let heavy sunglasses weigh you down .X-TIGER Sports Polarized Sunglasses are ideal for usage by motorcycle ,cycling, driving, running, baseball,fishing, racing, golf,skiing and climbing, trekking or other outdoor activities enthusiasts.Inner frame can be used for shortsighted lenses.
- 【UV Cut】Polarized sunglasses use very good material for safety and impact resistance, and it stands out for its ultralight, clear, elasticity, stability and impact resistance. Villains harmful to the sun and to the UV reflection (UVA and UVB) harmful reduce the load on the eyes and ensure a comfortable view.
- 【Stress Resistant TR90 Frames】-An active lifestyle means that your sunglasses will have to be tough and rugged enough to meet up to whatever challenges you throw at it. The specially designed Stress Resistant TR90 Frame can meet up whatever you dish out to it and more.
- 3 INTERCHANGEABLE LENS- All the lens 100% UV400 protection coating, blocks 100% harmful UVA & UVB Rays. Restore true color, eliminate reflected light and scattered light
- CLEAR, SUPERLIGHT, STYLISH AND DURABLE- Cool Rimless jacket frame design enables clear lower vision field. Lightweight design is ideal for motorcycle and cycling bicycle, driving, running, fishing, racing, skiing, climbing
- SOFT RUBBER NOSEPAD,Let Your Nose Feel Comfortalbe While Wearing Torege Sports sunglasses for Cycling Running Fishing Golf .
- 🚴【4 Interchangeable Lens】KAPVOE cycling Glasses equipped with 4 interchangeable UV protection lenses, but only the black lens is polarized. Restore true color, eliminate reflected light and scattered light. HD Clear lenses suitable for cloudy In low-light environments, the vision is clear. Yellow lenses are suitable for night and dark environments, enhancing light.
- 🚴【Polarized & UV400 Protection】: The use of polycarbonate polarized HD coating mirror lenses have excellent optical quality, can restore true colors, and reduce reflections. UV400 protective coating, blocking 100% harmful UVA and UVB rays, which can eliminate glare and reduce eye fatigue, making the scenery clearer and softer. protect your eyes from sand, wind, and sunlight resistance.
- 🚴【TR90 Frames & Myopia frame】: The lightweight and sturdy Stress Resistant TR90 frame makes the weight of the entire bicycle glasses only 34g. Comes with a myopia frame, It can be stuck in the groove near the nose clip of the sports sunglasses. Don’t need to install tools. You can enjoy cycling or outdoor exciting sports even if you are myopia.
- POLARIZED SUNGLASSES: Dazzling design makes you stylish in the crowd, polarized sunglasses restore true color, eliminate reflected light and scattered glare to protect your eyes perfectly.
- UV400 PROTECTION: lens of polarized sunglasses 100% UV400 protection coating, block harmful UVA & UVB rays when you are cycling, driving, fishing, skiing, running, tennis, racing, playing golf, etc.
- COMFORTABLE & LIGHTWEIGHT: The anti-skid nose pad and silicone temple make these sports sunglasses fit more comfortable on the bridge of your nose and above the ears.
- 🎁【Three Interchangeable Lenses】: Ukoly Sports sunglasses has three replaceable lenses for different uses, the yellow one is for night/dark environment, the gray one is polarized suitable for driving, the colorful one is for outdoor activities under the sun.
- 🎁【Removable Myopia Frame Design】: Ukoly Polarized Sunglasses provide detachable myopia frame for sports enthusiasts with myopia, allowing them to enjoy exercise.
- 🎁【Adjustable Rubber Nose Pad】: There is an adjustable rubber nose pad on cycling sunglasses. You can adjust the nose pad according to your nose. It will more comfortable because it is made of high quality rubber.
- High Grade Switzerland Tr 90 Material Frame: Super Lightweight, Stylish And Durable; Dimension-Lens Height: 40 Mm (1. 57 Inches); Lens Width: 64Mm (2. 52 Inches); Leg Length: 140Mm(5. 51 Inches); Nose Bridge: 30 Mm ( 1. 18 Inches); Frame Length: 140 Mm (5. 51 Inches)
- Tac Polarized And Mirror Coating Lens- Offer 100% Uva&Uvb Protection Against The Sunlight Filtering 100% Of All Uva/Uvb/Uvc And Harmful Blue Light Up To 400Nm. Restore True Color, Eliminate Reflected Light And Scattered Light And Protect Eyes Perfectly
- Package & Accessories: Each Rivbos Sunglasses Are Packed In Hard Protection Portable Case And Colour Box, Pouch/Strap/Cleaning Cloth Ect. Included
- ChromaPop lenses
- Hydroleophobic lens coating
- Extra ChromaPop Contrast Rose Flash lens
- 【Adjustable Nose Pad】A well-designed detachable and adjustable nose pad for any face type. The nose pad has soft stainless steel inside, which is not easy to break and has a long service life. The nose pads are made of a comfortable rubber material that will not cause discomfort to the nose even if worn for a long time.
- 【TR90 - Light Weight, Easier To Carry】 All frames are made entirely of lightweight, rugged TR90, and you won't feel discomfort even after wearing them for a long time. New upgrade packaging of the cycling sunglasses uses a lighter material, which can be hung on the waist and is more convenient. Fresh New Look!
- 【Convenient Lens Replacement】 Differentiating other sports sunglasses to replace lenses requires almost the decomposition of glasses - HUBO SPORTS's sports sunglasses replacement lens can be completed in a simple step. Pull the nose pad down partially, take the lens out, put the lens you need to replace, and finish.
- UV400 PROTECTION: 100% UV400 protective for this sports sunglasses. Which is good for keeping lens clear. In daily use, our glasses can provide a more enjoyable cycling experience.
- DURABLE FRAME: Full frame design with PC memory material, cycling sunglasses has great durability, combine with high-quality lens can protect your eyes from strong impact.
- POLARIZED LENS: ROCK BROS polarized lens can show the most reality and colorful world to you. Increasing contrast and deepening perception, thereby protecting your eyes perfectly, ideal for partly cloudy to sunny conditions, also good for cycling, fishing, running, climbing, etc.
- Grilamid TR-90 frame is lightweight and durable for all day comfort.
- Hydrophilic rubber nose pieces, ear pieces and brow bar provide a no-slip grip: the more you sweat, the more they grip.
- Polycarbonate lenses are shatterproof, scratch-resistant material.
Although perfectly fitted sunglasses are more comfortable in warm climates, improperly fitting glasses can be quite uncomfortable.
Check out my tips on buying the right cycling sunglasses to help ensure your new glasses fit well and feel great when riding.
Ready for some examples? Let’s take a look at five different types of good sunglasses suitable for bike touring…
The best cycling sunglasses are wraparound with extra-wide lenses made from polycarbonate
lens material—a type of plastic offering the best impact resistance with very little distortion when compared with glass or standard plastic lenses .
These lenses have wider peripheral vision than other lens types, which is helpful when drafting behind other cyclists or when riding in close quarters with motor vehicles.
Wraparound sunglasses are perfect for bike tours because they offer the best protection against wind and road debris.
They almost completely enclose your eyes to block out wind, dust, rain, insects, stones thrown up by cars and trucks, etc. The downside?
Wraparound lenses can sometimes feel claustrophobic if you wear them in non-competitive situations where you’re not drafting behind someone…but this is true of any type of cycling glasses (see my post on how to avoid eyestrain while wearing sunglasses ).
The lenses should be made from polycarbonate
lens material that blocks 100% of UVA & UVB radiation,
and the frame should be made of light and durable materials like carbon fiber, titanium or polycarbonate.
And they should provide ample coverage to block reflected light due to polarization.
For insulation, I like glasses with removable side shields (see photo).
Some examples of good sunglasses for bike touring include: Performance Sunglasses (by KASK), Rudy Project Rydon RX-500, Bolle Carve cycling glasses, Cébé Around S3 road running sunglasses, Smith Optics PivLock V2 Max sunglasses . All these models are available in polarized versions if that’s your preference.
I’ve tried dozens of different types of cycling glasses over the years on my bike tours; some better than others…and some that I wouldn’t recommend.
Here’s my pick of the top three models for bike touring:
POC Lobe’s sunglasses come with two interchangeable lenses [BEST VALUE]: For years my favorite cycling glasses were a set of Rudy Projects (see photo).
But in my opinion, they don’t hold a candle to the POC Lobes…which retail for about $100 less!
The frames and lenses are nearly identical in terms of fit and coverage; both offer 100% UV protection, but the POCs provide better overall vision quality due to superior anti-fog protection .
They also have more modern styling which I find quite appealing. What really sets these glasses apart is their interchangeable lens system, offered at no extra charge.
The lens swap-out is a breeze and only takes a moment…but you’ll need to buy the replacement lenses from Sikk Optics .
Pros:
Good value, interchangeable lenses, great coverage for wind & dust [ go to POC Lobe’s product page ]
Smith Optics PivLock V2 Max sunglasses provide a great fit and a ton and a half of coverage for wind & dust [PRICEY] :
- The thing about classics is they slip across decades. The Lowdown 2 sunglasses could be from this season, next season, or 1962. The bio-based frames have soft rubber nose pads, so they don't slide down your face when you break a sweat. They come with your choice of crystal-clear Carbonic lenses or Smith's color-boosting ChromaPop.
- VISION: ChromaPop lenses enhance contrast and natural color to make the details pop, Carbonic lenses offer impact resistance and clear optics, Smudge and moisture resistant coating for easy cleaning and clear optics (ChromaPop option only), Anti-reflective coating improves clarity and reduces eye strain (ChromaPop option only), 100% UV protection
- FIT/INTEGRATION: Medium fit, large coverage, 4-base lens curvature is just right for everyday wear, Megol nose pads provide non-slip grip so glasses stay put
- Carbonic TLT lenses
- Small case and microfber bag
- Medium fit / large coverage
- ChromaPop Plus Polarized: Smith's durable ChromaPop+ Polarized lenses deliver more clarity than our standard ChromaPop lenses and are up to 10% lighter for all day comfort - while also offering anti-reflective, water and oil resistant coatings.
- EVOLVE Eco-Material Construction. Our proprietary Evolve material incorporates 53% bio-based material into our injected-polymer sunglasses. Smith sunglasses are the largest eco-friendly sunglass collection in the world.
- HYDROLEOPHOBIC - water and oil proof coating repels moisture, grease and grime. A barrier between your lenses and the world. Water will bead up and disperse without streaking. Smudges from fingerprints are wiped clean easily.
- Vision: Anti-reflective and hydroleophobic lens coatings; Lens options- ChromaPop glass Polarized lenses, Techlite polarized glass TLT lenses, ChromaPop+ polarized lenses, ChromaPop polarized lenses
- Included: Integrated / detachable sunglass leash
- Fit: Medium-large fit / large coverage; hydrophilic megol nose & temple pads for a secure fit; Out-of-sight spring hinges; 8 base lens curvature
- CHROMAPOP POLARIZED. Our ChromaPop Polarized lenses are optically tuned to give you visual comfort and impact protection with enhaced glare reduction while also offering anti-reflective, water and oil resistant coatings with 100% UV protection
- HYDROLEOPHOBIC - water and oil proof coating repels moisture, grease and grime. A barrier between your lenses and the world. Water will bead up and disperse without streaking. Smudges from fingerprints are wiped clean easily.
- ANTI-REFLECTIVE coating. Vacuum applied, Anti-Reflective coatings on the back side of the lens will eliminate bothersome sidelight reflections.
- CHROMAPOP filters specific wavelengths of light that cause color confusion, to deliver greater definition, natural color, and unmatched clarity with 100% UV protection in any lighting conditions.
- HYDROLEOPHOBIC - water and oil proof coating repels moisture, grease and grime. A barrier between your lenses and the world. Water will bead up and disperse without streaking. Smudges from fingerprints are wiped clean easily.
- ANTI-REFLECTIVE coating. Vacuum applied, Anti-Reflective coatings on the back side of the lens will eliminate bothersome sidelight reflections.
- ChromaPop lenses
- Anti-reflective and hydroleophobic lens coatings
- Medium fit / large coverage
- ChromaPop lenses
- Medium fit / medium coverage
- Custom Smith metal hinge
- Medium fit, medium coverage
- 4-base lens curvature is just right for everyday wear
- Megol nose pads provide non-slip grip so glasses stay put
- Vision: Anti-reflective and hydroleophobic lens coatings; Carbonic TLT lenses
- Fit: Medium fit / medium coverage; Adjustable silicone nose pads; 6 base lens curvature
- Frame: Stainless Steel construction
These are my favorite cycling glasses…but I have to be honest here: They’re not the best value.
But if you can afford them, they offer terrific all-around performance with plenty of protection from wind, dust and debris. They come with 3 sets of interchangeable lenses (smoke, clear and photochromic); plus you can buy additional lenses from Smith as well.
Pros:
Great coverage for wind & dust, top-notch anti-fog performance, good impact resistance, modern styling
Cons:
- Very pricey
Giro Xar cycling glasses offer an eye-catching design with a huge field of vision [MILD VALUE]:
I was impressed by the Giro Xar glasses on my recent bike tour through New Zealand because they fit so well and offered fantastic coverage.
They come with 3 sets of interchangeable lenses (smoke, clear and photochromic); plus you can buy additional lenses from Giro .
Pros:
Great coverage for wind & dust, top-notch anti-fog performance, modern styling
Cons:
Pinching bridge between the eyes when wearing them in a non-competitive situation [ go to Giro Xar product page ]
At the end of the day, there are dozens of great cycling glasses models out there. The ones I like best are the POC Lobes (for value), Smith Optics PivLock V2 Max (for performance) and Giro Xar (for style).
Check them out for yourself at your local bike shop or online and have fun looking good on your next bike tour!
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