Everyone, who’s ever got something in their eye while out on their bike knows how important it is to wear eyewear. Whether you like simple transparent lenses or fancy mirrored ones in rainbow colour, we’ve got all of them in our store.
So… which ones to choose? We decided to prepare an easy guide for you!
Frames
The style, size, and fit of the frames determine your comfort and safety on the road. In recent years, cycling-specific sunglasses went through a total makeover, which made them safer, and much more fashionable. Today you can find sunglasses that easily could be shown off on a catwalk as fashion statement pieces. Made from lightweight materials, they can easily be worn on all-day rides and be unobtrusive.
As far as frame styles go, we can choose from small frames with small lenses to big and wide frames with huge lenses, sometimes one-piece, which are in style right now.
Here’s an example of a smaller sized frame (Tifosi Tyrant 2.0)
Big frames with tall and wide lenses offer great comfort and improved visibility. There is a big variety of different styles on the market now, so you can easily find a style that suits you.
Modern cycling sunglasses come in different shapes. You can find fully-framed glasses or partially-framed (semi-rimless) ones that don’t have a top or bottom edge, exposing the lens in that place.
Fully-framed glasses are a great option if you want to add some structure to your look. They look particularly good on people with softer facial features.
An example of fully-framed glasses (Oakley Jawbreaker)
Semi-rimless glasses are well suited for someone who wants to emphasize their bold look. Their contemporary look adds to the style factor and makes a great look with a modern, well-fitted kit.
Semi-rimless glasses with an exposed bottom edge (Oakley Radar EV)
Semi-rimless glasses with an exposed top edge (Oakley Flight Jacket Kokoro Collection)
One of the benefits of the big frames is the improved vertical visibility, especially when you’re riding in a more aggressive position and pointing your head way up. They also provide more protection against insects.
A downside of this style of glasses is the potential of sweat buildup on the contact points of the frames and lenses, but some models have lenses with cut-outs that provide some ventilation and circulation of air during hot rides.
Lenses
When it comes to lenses, there is also a great variety of options to choose from. Whether you want dark, tinted, polarized, or even photochromic lenses, you can get those and even more. Some manufacturers sell interchangeable-lens glasses which allow you to swap between different styles of lenses. It’s also worth noting that some brands offer prescription lens options (like Oakley).
Nowadays, lenses are made from polycarbonate plastics, which won’t shatter and damage your eyes in case of a fall.
Oakley Plazma with Prizm Sapphire polarized lenses
Tifosi Aethon Fototec with photochromic lenses
100% Daze PeakPolar with dark lenses
100% Speedcraft Air with mirrored lenses
Goggles
Goggles aren’t really suited for road cyclists and casual mountain bikers (but rules are made to be broken!). They are designed for hardcore biking, such as Downhill or Enduro, and are made to be worn with a full-face helmet (but recently riders have been wearing them with enduro open-face helmets). They provide great visibility and protection and are held with elastic straps over the helmet, so they don’t slide off your face.
Goggles come in a variety of different colours and lens styles, but the function is the same, regardless of the make and model.
100% Accuri2 goggles, available in different colours and lens choices
100% Strata2 goggles in bright colours
Summary
Now you know the key differences between cycling glasses. With so many different styles, you can really elevate your looks while being safe and having great visibility on the roads and trails. Always remember to choose high-quality lenses with appropriate UV protection for sunny days. Well-made and well-fitted glasses reduce strain in the eyes, protect from sunburns and vision damage from the sun, and are safe during a fall.
Our picks
For fashionistas
Great all-rounders
Budget-friendly
For the casual cyclist
For trail shredders
Check out even more models of glasses on our website
