How to Choose Cycling Glasses | Buyers Guide 2022
Cycling sunglasses not only elevates your look and ensures a style statement, but at the same time, they are considered as a crucial accessory for a seamless riding experience.
When you want to buy a pair of sunglasses, it might not always be easy to determine where to start and how to start. To help you find the best one for rides, we have created this guide "how to choose cycling glasses" after extensive research and reviews so that you can buy the best pair without any difficulties.
So, without further ado, let’s start.
How to Choose Cycling Glasses; Everything You Must Know
Page Contents
- How to Choose Cycling Glasses; Everything You Must Know
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Polarized lens – what does it mean?
- What is UV400 protection?
- Are Polarized lenses worth it? What are the benefits of polarized sunglasses?
- What are photochromic lenses?
- How does a photochromic lens work?
- What are the benefits of photochromic lenses?
- What Color Lens Is Best For Cycling?
- Why Do Cyclists Wear Yellow Glasses?
- Is Photochromic Better Than Polarized?
- Which are the best lenses for winter?
- Wrapping Up
Why should you wear sunglasses when cycling?
Wearing a sunglass while you riding not only enhances your look but at the same time, it also provides some additional benefits to ensure the best convenience for your eyes. Some of the top reasons you should wear cycling eyewear are:
Rain
One of the top reasons bikers wear sunglasses is to protect their eyes from environmental factors including rainfall.
When it’s raining and riding, it will protect your eyes from the raindrops and keep the vision clear.
In addition to the raindrops, these also keep away the cars splash from your eyes and make sure that you have incredible visibility.
Wind
Even when the weather is not windy, a strong wind still blows in your face when you are riding bike super-fast. Moving fast draws wind from the surrounding. When such strong wind blows in your face, it causes watery eyes and might blur your view.
If you want to avoid this phenomenon, then don’t forget to put on an excellent pair of biking sunglasses; this will halt the wind from blowing in your eyes and protect your visibility.
Also, as you can see better, there are fewer possibilities of accidents or collisions.
Protect Your Eyes from Dangerous UV Rays
Most cyclists spend a lot of their time under the sun for riding purposes, especially in the summertime. Cycling under the sun is not a problem; the problem is repeated exposure to UVA and UVB radiation from the sun. This phenomenon will have adverse effects on your vision and might cause permanent eye problems.
If you want to protect your eyes from these damaging effects, there is nothing better than adopting a pair of sunglasses. The polarized lenses of the glass will absorb the sun’s rays and keep your precious eyes protected.
Hide the Pain and Suffering You're Going Through
It’s very natural that if you hadn’t slept at night or have been crying a lot, your eyes will get puffy and start showing dark circles around.
If you don’t want others to know about the sufferings you are going through, a pair of sunglasses will prove to be a great friend to you. in addition to protecting your eyes, it will also hide your suffering from the onlookers.
Fashion Statement
Even though cycling goggles are mainly because of protecting your eyes, it also involved being fashion wear in recent years. Stylish cyclists adopt trendy, colorful sunglasses to add an edge to their look while also protecting their eyes.
What should I look for in cycling glasses/cycling goggles?
It would be best to keep in mind that bike sunglasses are far different from the eyewear we wear regularly.
They have different features and factors which make them different from the others. To find cycling sunglasses for your upcoming rides, you need to keep in mind some crucial aspects of buying the most suitable one that is as easy as ABC.
Type of Lens
The lenses are the most important part. It is what sets a pair of cycling sunglasses apart from any regular sunglasses.
There are different types of bike glass lenses that you can choose from. Let’s know more about these lenses so that selecting the best one is easier than before.
Standard Lens
The standard lens is the most common and most used type of lens of the lot. These lenses provide 100% UV Protection and have a light transmission between 15% to 30%, which means that they can dim bright light and convert them to light comfortable.
These glass lenses come in various tint colors to suit your personal preference and add fun to your outfit.
Photochromic (“photogrey”, “transitions”) lenses
Photochromic lenses are considered as the most versatile sunglass lenses because of their incredible properties. These lenses can adapt to the surrounding light conditions and regulate the brightness of the light according to your eyes comfort level.
They have a light transmission rate between 20% during bright daylight and up to 70% during low light conditions.
Even though the Photochromic lenses are an excellent option for changeable surroundings, they are not the best choice for environments like sun-dappled woodland. Photochromic lenses are also referred to as photo grey lenses or transition lenses.
Polarized Lens
The most heard and talked about names in the sunglass world are maybe the “polarized lenses”. These lenses are immensely popular among riders because they help cut glare and reflection and block reflected lights from the road surface and the surroundings to keep you safe and sound during the riding sessions.
Yellow/orange lenses
Another type of lens that bikers love is the yellow/orange lens. These special types of lenses are perfect for low light conditions and brighten up the road ahead so that you can avoid any potential collision and accidents.
Clear (not tinted) lenses
Clear lenses don’t have any tint, color, or other items; they are just basic. Riders love these lenses as they provide an excellent view when riding in dark or low light conditions. As they have a light transmission of almost 100%, they don’t cause any difficulties when riding in the dark.
Frame Technology
The frame technology of sunglasses for cycling also differs from the others. In addition to being fitted, the frames also need to be lightweight, flexible, and strong. Let’s discuss the prominent feature an excellent cycling goggles frame should provide to the users:
Grip
One of the most important aspects to keep in mind is the frame's grip to ensure a perfect fit.
A true biking glass will come with both the nose and temple grip to make sure the glass sits perfectly on your eyes and won’t fall off due to any jerking or bumps while riding. The grips are extremely important if you are using prescription cycling sunglasses.
Weight
Sunglasses for cycling have to be lightweight; there cannot be an exception to this rule. If you wear a relatively heavy pair of sunglasses over your face, then it will not only cause discomfort for you when you are riding but at the same time, will also slip off now and then, resulting in annoyance.
On the other hand, a lighter frame will not any extra burden over your face and will make you forget about the existence of it on your face; it will feel like they’re not even there.
Coverage & Fit
The fit of the cycling sunglasses is extremely important as it determines whether it will stay on the face perfectly or fall off during your ridings.
But when deciding the fit, you must keep in mind that in the case of biking goggles, how they will fit under your helmet is more important than how they fit on your face. During riding sessions, you do not wear the glass alone, you pair it with the helmet and therefore, helmet fit is crucial.
In addition to a great fit, the coverage of the glasses is also important. The wraparound glass design is more popular among bikers because it provides more coverage and extended peripherals to protect your eyes from weather conditions and dirt and debris from the surroundings.
Full or Half Frame
Another aspect to consider when searching for the best sunglass frame is whether it features a full or half frame.
This is important because the frame circumference determines the level of support and impact resistance of the sunglass While full-frame sunglasses offer an optimum level of support for the lens and ensure excellent impact resistance, they are slightly heavy in weight and have a narrower field of vision.
On the other hand, half-frame or ‘frameless’ sunglasses are lighter than full-frame ones, but the lenses of these glasses are more vulnerable and can break and hurt your eyes in the event of an accident.
Lens Technology
When selecting the perfect lenses for glasses, some features and factors work better than others.
You just need to know what works the best and what you should avoid scoring the perfect pair of sunglasses for cyclists.
Lens Material
One cardinal rule you must follow when choosing a lens biking sunglasses is always to avoid glass lenses. Glass lenses are a bad idea for biking for several reasons.
First of all, glass lenses are not safe for your eyes at all. If you met with an accident or suffer from a single fall, these lenses will break promptly and has the potential to hurt your eyes badly.
Moreover, as glass is a heavy material, it makes the lenses heavy and causes discomfort to your face.
To enjoy the best benefit from your sunglasses, pick the one that comes with polycarbonate or Trivex lenses, as these materials are incredibly lightweight and offer shatterproof performance for additional safety.
Contrast Enhancement
After picking the right lens material, you must decide the contrast of the lenses you want to try; dark or light lenses?
As the sunglass you are purchasing, it’s always the best decision to pick light lenses mainly because of the safety issues.
While dark lenses will cause you to miss the roads' obstacles, light ones will enhance contrast and help you see everything on the road.
Transitions (Photochromic) Lenses
Transitions lenses are a must-have for bike sunglasses. This is because these lenses automatically adjust itself with the changing light and allow you to enjoy excellent visibility throughout your bike ride.
It doesn’t matter whether the riding condition is dark or bright; these lenses provide you immense clarity and incredible accuracy.
Interchangeable Lens
As the name suggests, glasses with interchangeable lenses come with a handful of differently-tinted lenses that can be attached to the frame according to your needs and preferences.
Sunglasses with interchangeable lenses are an excellent alternative to the Transitions (Photochromic) Lenses. You can easily swap one lens for the other depending on the lighting condition of the surroundings.
UV protection
Another aspect to look for when choosing a sunglass lens is its ability to block the sun’s rays. If the lenses don’t offer UV protection, it’s best not to pick them because UV rays have the potential to harm your eyes and cause visibility problems over time.
Prescription Lenses
If you are someone with eyesight problems and still want to wear cycling sunglasses, then there are few things you must keep in mind before making a purchase.
If you use a contact lens to enhance visibility, you must pick a sunglass with maximum coverage. This will keep away grit at arm’s length. The benefit of wearing lenses is that it allows you to change your sunglasses without hampering your vision.
On the other hand, if you are not comfortable wearing contact lenses and prefer to wear glasses, the best option is to visit the optician and set your required power on your sunglasses. You can also have the sunglasses lens made up of your prescription from the brand shop.
Other Considerations
In addition to the above features, there are few other factors that you must keep in mind before buying a pair of cycling goggles. They are:
Shock Proof
When you buy a pair of biking sunglasses, you want it to be strong and durable. And that’s why never forget to look for the shock-proof feature. This coating makes the lenses strong and safe and prevents them from breaking easily.
Air Vents
When you ride, heat and sweat from the surroundings tend to get inside the glass and get trapped between the lens and your face causing unworkableness and fogging.
To get rid of such problems, get a sunglass with air vents on its lenses because these micro vents provide maximum ventilation and breathability and prevent the lens from fogging up.
Anti-fogging
The anti-fog coating is one crucial feature and you must keep it in mind when searching for sunglasses for biking.
This special coating over the lenses prevents fogging up during certain conditions and promises you to keep safe. If the glasses fog up when you are cycling, you instantly lose vision, which can cause severe accidents.
However, as the anti-fog coating is tough to blend with other glass coatings, manufacturers often offer better wraparound frames instead of the anti-fog treatment.
Anti-scratch / shatterproof
It doesn’t matter which type of lens you choose or what’s the color of it; the best goggles should come with an anti-scratch/shatterproof coating to make it safe and secure.
When you are riding on the road, the sunglass is exposed to dirt, debris, and other abuses from the road and these things can scratch your glasses and make them look bad.
Adjustability
A custom-fitted sunglass is very comfortable and serves its purpose the best. And to enjoy the custom fit, don’t forget to look at a strap with it. This strap allows you to personalize the fit around your head so that the goggles don’t move around or fall off your face.
Tips for Taking Caring for Your Sunglasses
Let’s get to a few professional tips to take care of our favorite bike goggles is easy and gives us the best service.
#1: Simply clean glasses with hand soap and lukewarm water
We often make one mistake: cleaning the sunglasses with rubbing alcohol, Windex, vinegar, or other household cleaners.
But this is a big NO-NO when it comes to sunglasses for cyclists. These cleaners are extremely harsh and have the potential to destroy the coating of the lens completely.
To clean your glass properly, don’t hesitate to use gentle hand soap and lukewarm water. This amazing combination will remove the dirt and debris from the glass yet preserve its color and coating.
You can also use an approved lens cleaner for the additional safety of the glass.
#2: Use the right cloth to clean them, too
People always tend to clean their sunglasses with clothes without knowing the consequences. Normal clothes can leave streaks on the lens and can result in a visibility problem.
It would be best if you always used a microfiber cleaning o wipe the lenses for safety purposes. A microfiber cloth can easily remove the dirt and debris from the glass surface without any streaks or smudges.
#3: Keep them safe and protected
Keeping your favorite biking glasses protected is essential to ensure its longevity and phenomenal service. One way to keep it safe and protected is by using a hard case. It doesn’t matter where lenses are plastic or glass. Keeping them inside the case will ensure that they are safe from scratches and any eventual breakages.
#4: If cycling in heavily forested areas, make sure you have photochromic lenses
Heavily forested areas can create an illusion in your eyes. They can also create visionary problems because of the monochromic color palate.
One way to keep your vision clear and enjoy a safe ride is by using a pair of sunglasses with photochromic lenses; this special kind of lens adapts to the light condition easily and gives you a very clear vision even in forested areas.
The difference between cycling and “ordinary” sunglasses
By now, you know that cycling sunglasses are different from the ones we use every day- not only by looks but by features also. Let’s have a quick look at the difference between a pair of cycling and “ordinary” sunglasses to understand even better.
When it comes to the glass's fit, biking goggles need to be fit perfectly to the helmet rather than on your face. However, you have to pay attention to how it fits on your face for any regular sheds.
While the regular ones come with standard lenses, biking sunglasses have more curved lenses and wrap around the side of your face for better protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Polarized lens – what does it mean?
In simple words, polarized lenses are the type of lens that cuts out glare and reflection. This invisible filter reduces the amount of reflecting light entering into your eyes and makes sure that your eye is comfortable even in the brightest of light reflections.
It reduces strain on the eye and also makes images appear sharper and clearer for a better view.
What is UV400 protection?
UV400 protection means that it provides total protection against the harmful UV rays of the sun. Sunglasses with the UV400 mark means that they will block 99 to 100 percent of UV light and keep your eyes safe and secure.
This special marking means that the glasses will block all light rays with wavelengths up to 400 nanometers, including UVA and UVB rays, and keep them in the bay to ensure that your eyes don’t hurt even under extreme sun exposure.
Are Polarized lenses worth it? What are the benefits of polarized sunglasses?
The benefits of polarized sunglasses will surely leave you in awe. This special glass coating not only blocks glare and reflective lights to provide clearer vision in bright lights but at the same time, it also ensures minimal color distortion and increases color contrast for a more true to life view.
Polarized lenses are totally worth your money because, aside from all their amazing advantages, they reduce strain on your eyes and keep them safe as well as active.
What are photochromic lenses?
In simple words, a photochromic lens is an optical lens that automatically darkens due to overexposure of light and makes sure that your eyes don’t dazzle because of such bright lights.
This versatile lens has a light transmission rate between 20% during bright daylight and a maximum of 70% during low light conditions and therefore, can be used for most of your riding conditions, including dusk to dawn.
How does a photochromic lens work?
The photochromic lenses use a special kind of dye to coat the surface that reacts when hit by bright sunlight.
When the lenses are exposed to the bright light, they automatically darken and adjust the brightness to a comfortable level. The extent of darkness depends on the intensity of UV rays.
What are the benefits of photochromic lenses?
There are numerous benefits of photochromic lenses. In addition to changing the lens color due to bright light, these lenses also ensure your eyes immense comfort.
As the bright light doesn’t hit your eyes, they don’t strain the eyes and make sure they are safe. These amazing lenses also reduce glare and provide UV protection for additional safety.
What Color Lens Is Best For Cycling?
Amber and rose-colored lenses are the best cycling choices as they increase visual acuity and ensure incredible visibility. These colors also offer the brightest field of vision and are most suitable for weak to no sunlight. Because of their extraordinary color contrast, these tints can be used for road cycling and mountain biking.
Why Do Cyclists Wear Yellow Glasses?
Many riders prefer yellow sunglasses because they filter out more of the blue wavelengths of light and increase color contrast for a better view, especially in low or flat light conditions.
Is Photochromic Better Than Polarized?
Both of these lenses have their own set of benefits and drawbacks. While polarized lenses are permanently darker and greatly reduce glare, they will remain the same under low light. On the other hand, photochromic lenses are not permanently dark and change color depending on its surrounding.
The one you should choose depends on your reference and the conditions you ride on.
Which are the best lenses for winter?
When you are cycling in the winter and the surrounding is heavily-frosted due to snowfall, adopt a pair of sunglasses with photochromic lenses. These lenses easily adapt to the light condition of the surroundings and give you a very clear, distinctive vision in winter conditions.
Wrapping Up
After going through this buying guide carefully, we are sure that you now know everything you need to know about how to choose cycling glasses according to your needs and the cycling conditions you ride on.
We hope that you enjoy the best of your ridings with the most suitable pair of cycling eyewear in the upcoming days.
