Your Cart
Your shopping cart is empty!
Sunglasses are essential for cyclists, regardless of whether you’re climbing Alpe d’Huez, riding berms and hopping tree roots in the woods, or navigating traffic on your morning commute. From the Tour de France on TV to your local charity group ride, you’ll see cyclists of all ages and abilities donning their sunnies for their ride.
We’ll discuss how and why sunglasses for cycling are vital, give you top tips for choosing the best lenses for cycling, and outline some of the top brands on the market today. So if you want to look great, keep safe, and make your next ride more comfortable, keep reading.
Why Sunglasses Are Essential for Cycling
Sunglasses are as important to cyclists as a helmet, hi-vis clothing, padded shorts, and your water bottle. Cycling and sports sunglasses offer a huge range of benefits when worn. They protect your eyes from UV rays and, when polarized, reduce glare from the road, grass, buildings, and water.
Secondly, cycling shades protect your eyes from the wind and debris from the road or trail. Not only does this cause discomfort, but it can also be unsafe. When traveling at speed, anything in your eye such as dirt or tears from the wind will make it harder to see… just look at the Tour de France on TV and you’ll see all the big names like Sepp Kuss, Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard sporting their cycling eyewear.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Cycling Sunglasses
Choosing the best sunglasses for cycling will depend on a few factors, but with a little consideration, you’ll find the perfect pair for your needs.
UV Protection
UV protection is vital, and cycling is no exception. Prolonged exposure to UV rays can harm your eyes and increase the risk of long-term conditions like eye cancer, cataracts, and even snow blindness. Choose cycling sunglasses with 100% UV protection. Often you’ll see this advertised as a UV 400 rating.
Lens Material and Color
Polycarbonate lenses offer the best combination of clarity, durability, and affordability. Available in a wide range of colors, which can also be polarized, they’re often a great option. Premium cycling sunglasses often use polyamide lenses, which is also the preferred material for The Sunglass Fix! Virtually shatterproof, flexible, and offering exceptional clarity, they’re hard to beat.
At the other end of the scale, acrylic (AC) lenses are cheap and cheerful but are best suited to occasional use. We don’t recommend using glass lenses. Although they offer excellent clarity, they’re heavier and can be prone to cracking or shattering if you have an accident.
Different color lenses offer a different experience, and which you choose will depend on your needs. Remember, you should still wear cycling shades even on cloudy or rainy days.
- Black/Gray: A great, versatile option that provides a neutral tone and works well in any situation.
- Brown: These offer excellent depth perception and contrast, as well as good low-high light performance. Brown lenses highlight well against a green background.
- Green: A popular choice for outdoor sports, green lenses were originally developed for aviation pilots. They maintain natural colors, while great on the ocean and for clear blue skies. Good for different light levels.
- Blue: They provide excellent clarity and color perception. They’re great for use on or around snow, and water. A popular color and a good overall performer.
- Red/Rose: Soothing for the eyes due to their natural blue-light reduction, they’re great for long-term wear and enhancing depth perception. Work best in mid-low sunshine.
- Yellow: Hands down the best choice for low light conditions such as cloudy or rainy days. Great for blue-light blocking, as well as cycling at dawn or dusk.
Fit and Comfort
Fit and comfort are just as important for the best cycling sunglasses as lens material and color. Your new pair needs to provide a good level of coverage and fit well on your face. Cycling sunglasses must fit comfortably and securely on your nose, temples, and behind your ears. If they’re too large then they may fall off when you move, and if they are too small they can create pressure points and discomfort.
Wraparound sunglasses are a popular choice for cyclists, as they offer plenty of coverage, including from the side, and are more aerodynamic. For an even lighter feel, some people choose rimless or half-frame sunnies.
Ventilation and Anti-Fog Features
Cycling sunglasses usually have features that help with ventilation and prevent fogging, especially when you’re riding slowly. Look for design elements such as holes in the frames or lenses, and anti-fog coating.
Durability and Impact Resistance
Cycling, even a leisurely ride or commute, can be hard on your eyewear. Debris from the road, bangs, vibrations, and even accidents can all damage them. Choosing durable plastic frames and polycarbonate lenses is often a good choice for longevity. As we mentioned, glass lenses are not a good choice for cycling sunglasses because they run the risk of cracking or shattering.
Top Brands for Cycling Sunglasses
There are many brands that make some of the best cycling sunglasses, from well-known names to indie designers. Here's a look at some top choices.
- Oakley: Arguably the most famous cycling sunglasses manufacturer, Oakley makes a wide variety of premium models that are used by some of the best in the world. Popular models include Flak, Racing Jacket and Half Jacket, which offer excellent cycling performance, while the Holbrooks work well for everyday wear too. Not cheap, but hard to beat.
- Nike: A global leader in sportswear, Nike brings its expertise to cycling eyewear with a range of high-performance models designed for both casual riders and professional athletes. Known for their sleek designs and innovative technology, Nike’s cycling sunglasses, like the Nike Skylon and Nike Show X2, offer superior comfort, durability, and protection from the elements.
- POC: Swedish style meets cutting-edge tech. POC offers some of the best cycling eyewear, with popular models being the Aspire, Crave, Devour, and Elicit.
- Adidas: Known for its innovation in sports gear, Adidas brings its advanced technology to cycling eyewear. Popular models like the Adidas Evil Eye Evo and Adizero are designed to offer superior fit, durability, and optimal vision. These performance-focused sunglasses are perfect for athletes tackling everything from challenging trails to long road rides.
Other popular brands for cycling sunglasses include Tifosi, known for offering high-quality yet affordable eyewear for both men and women, SunGod, a newer brand renowned for its customizable lenses and eco-friendly production, and Rudy Project, a favorite for its cutting-edge technology and adjustable designs, making it a top choice for professional athletes.
Cycling Sunglasses for Men and Women
Most cycling sunglasses are unisex, but some manufacturers do offer gender-specific designs.
Sunglasses for Men
Cycling sunglasses for men often have larger and wider frames to provide more coverage to the eyes and face, as well as bigger lenses. They often also have longer arms and earpieces for a better fit.
Sunglasses for Women
Cycling sunglasses for women will usually be smaller and lighter, to better fit a woman’s face. These models may also be available in more traditionally feminine colors, though this is purely cosmetic.
Tips for Cycling on the Road
Cycling safely on the roads requires paying attention, clear vision, and maintaining a sense of what’s around you. Wearing high-quality bike riding shades will help keep wind and debris out of your eyes, allowing you to focus on traffic and spot hazards like potholes. What’s more, these are all vital for driving, and cycling sunglasses can also be some of the best sunglasses for driving.
Enjoy Your Rides with the Best Sunglasses
As we’ve seen, investing in a pair of high-quality cycling sunglasses is essential for your comfort and safety on two wheels. They offer protection from the sun, wind, and debris, as well as improving your vision. There’s a huge range of options to choose from to suit your needs, from affordable to premium, simple to tech-filled. What’s more, if they get scratched or broken you can easily replace the lenses with high-quality lenses from The Sunglass Fix!
So, get your cycling shorts on, don your helmet, and slide your sunglasses on for your next great ride. Just remember, cycling eyewear ALWAYS goes over your helmet straps, not the other way around. We don’t know why… that’s just the way it is.
