Cycling sunglasses are an important accessory for any biker. They keep your eyes safe from insects and road debris, but also protect them from the sun glare and wind. When choosing your cycling sunglasses, focus mainly on the lenses and special features the sunglasses offer.
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The most important aspect of cycling glasses are the lenses. In sports eyewear, lenses are made of shatter-proof material to make sure they don‘t endanger your eyes in an accident. When choosing your sunglasses, pay attention to their colour tint and UV protection.
Tinted lenses
Cycling sunglasses should match the lighting conditions in which you usually ride. Tinted lenses can improve visibility in low light conditions.
- Clear - choose these if you ride when it’s dark outside – at night, during rain, etc.
- Darkened - grey, brown, and black lenses are suitable for sunny weather, as they dim the bright sunlight.
- Brightening - yellow, orange and pink lenses improve terrain contrast, making them suitable for cloudy light conditions and hazy weather (fog, twilight, etc.).
Lens properties
- Interchangeable - allow you to change the lenses to match the current lighting conditions; saves you from having to own multiple pairs of glasses.
- Photochromic - these lenses lighten or darken as conditions change, which makes them a good option on days with variable weather and shifting shadows.
- Polarised - reduce glare and light reflections, making it easier to see on bright days with water or snow around.
- If you wear prescription glasses, look for sunglasses with an RX insert?.
Solar filter (UV protection)
Different lenses also have different levels of UV protection. For cycling sunglasses, you can choose from categories S0-S4 - the lower the number, the less UV radiation they block and the clearer they are. In Central and Western Europe, we recommend choosing sunglasses marked as S1-S3.
| UV protection level | Light transmission | Intended for |
| S0 | 80-100% | Night rides, protection against wind and debris |
| S1 | 43 to 80% | Suitable for twilight and low visibility |
| S2 | 18 to 43% | Suitable for mild sunny days |
| S3 | 8-18% | Suitable for bright sunlight |
| S4 | 3-8% | Very bright sunlight, high altitude conditions, etc. |
Lens shape
- Your sunglasses must not slip down your nose. There are sunglasses with an adjustable nosepiece, if you have trouble finding sunglasses that fit.
- The lenses should also be reasonably ergonomic (i.e. elongated and wrapping around your head) to match the shape of your nose and eyelids; otherwise, you’ll have gusts of wind blowing in from the sides and sun glare disrupting your peripheral vision.
