Bikes July 4, 2019 Despite their straightforward name, the best cycling sunglasses do more than just stop you squinting as you reach the end of your incline.In fact, from upping the contrast to reducing glare, reacting quickly in the face of sunny spells to keeping grit, grime, flies and worse out of your eyes, there’s quite a lot they can do. But now you know you need some, don’t just make the change you have left after buying a stunning new road bike, go for the coolest-looking pair and be done with it. There are a few little considerations to keep in mind first.Best bikes of all typesBest mountain bikesThe best cycling jerseysHow to buy the best cycling sunglassesWhen cycling, whether it’s on the road or halfway up a mountain, we’d do well to remember the advice of The Libertines and not look back – or forward, for that matter – into the sun. But it's more complex than thatThe choice of lens color doesn’t just come down to whether you’d rather look like Johnny Depp in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas or Johnny Depp in real life. Like different classes in an old-school RPG, each color gives away a particular power: yellow lens sunglasses up the contrast, making it easier to differentiate between road and sky on those all-too-abundant grey days; blue lenses reduce glare and stress on the eyes, and are useful in low light; and brown or amber lenses improve depth perception. Clear lenses, while not much cop in bright sunlight, are obviously better if you’re more of a night rider, as they’ll keep all that grit and other miscellaneous flying nastiness out of your eyes without rendering you legally blind. After that, you have good old grey, a classic option if you’d rather your special kit didn’t look too much like the special kit, or you just don’t need your world to be that much higher definition while cycling. Photochromic lens sunglasses, finally, are the most exciting of the bunch. Their tint changes depending on the intensity of the light, just like Reactions lenses in everyday glasses, meaning you don’t have to pull over and change your specs when the sun vanishes behind or comes out from, a cloud. You can just keep on truckin' (cycling).1. Oakley Jawbreaker SunglassesThe best cycling sunglasses overallSpecificationsUV Protection: YesLens type: PrizmAdjustable nose piece?: NoFrame material: O MatterReasons to buyLight and comfortableExcellent at keeping out flying crapSuperb lensesReasons to avoidNo adjustable nose piece Oakley's eyewear is usually on point, and these are insanely good. They're comfortable to wear, the frame is lightweight, and the clarity of the Prizm lenses is exemplary, with no interference to forward vision when you're looking down, nor peripheral vision when looking straight ahead. You can easily forget you're wearing the Jawbreaker, and they’re adjustable at the temple to three different lengths, to accommodate for various helmets, and big heads. Simply great specs all around, in short.2. Rudy Project Tralyx SunglassesBest cycling sunglasses for adjustabilitySpecificationsUV Protection: YesLens type: PhotochromicAdjustable nose piece?: YesFrame material: GrilamidReasons to buyAdjustable temples and nose pieceLight but durable constructionReasons to avoidNot the best in low lightWhile they might not look as swish as Oakley’s Jawbreakers, these performance sunglasses still cut a sharp figure out on the road, and their cutting-edge design ensures they stay put. The adjustability system means that the nose pads can be altered to fit any face shape without pinching or rubbing, as well as changing the height of the glasses and their distance from the face to prevent potentially dangerous misting.That innovation extends to the frame, too, which is made of light but shock-resistant thermoplastic Grilamid, making for glasses that are both unnoticeable and durable – a great combo.If the Jawbreaker doesn't suit your facial real estate, look no further than the Rudy Project Tralyx.3. Smith Optics PivLock Arena Max SunglassesBest oversized cycling sunglassesSpecificationsUV Protection: YesLens type: Carbonic TLTAdjustable nose piece?: YesFrame material: TR90Reasons to buyTotal coverageUnrestricted viewReasons to avoidNot the best lookers If you can’t imagine anything more off-putting than constantly seeing a bit of frame in your field of vision while you’re trying to beat your PB, go for full-coverage cycling sunglasses like these from Smith Optics. Not only does that oversized, frameless design offer an unrestricted, uninterrupted view of what’s ahead of you – whether that’s a stunning mountain vista or just your mate Dave’s iconic yellow jersey – it also offers a greater line of defence against debris, and a closer, more comfortable fit to what Smith Optics diplomatically calls 'larger faces'.4. POC Do Blade Cycling GlassesBest cycling sunglasses for damper conditionsSpecificationsBest for: Durability and flexibilityUV Protection: YesLens type: PhotochromicAdjustable nose piece?: YesFrame material: GrilamidReasons to buyGreat weatherproofingLight but toughReasons to avoidCome up a bit largePOC makes some of the most safety-conscious and technical products this side of fellow Swedes Volvo. These weatherproof sunglasses aren’t afraid of anything, least of all fog and drizzle. The polycarbonate lenses are treated so that water simply pearls off (no windscreen wiper fingers for you!) and dirt and grime banished. All of the lens tints available have been optimized for road cycling, meaning you’re more likely to spot potential hazards like potholes in time to skirt disaster. Thanks to a Grilamid flame, they’re also flexible, giving these glasses a winning combo of near-weightlessness and durability.5. Endura GlassesBest reactive cycling sunglassesSpecificationsUV Protection: YesLens type: PolycarbonateAdjustable nose piece?: YesFrame material: Not specifiedReasons to buyAnti-fog and anti-slipReactive lensesReasons to avoidChanging lenses a bit fiddly The photochromic lenses in these sunglasses not only adjust to changing light conditions so you don’t have to keep pulling over and swapping pairs; they’re also treated with a super-hydrophobic coating to repel water in the foulest weather and resist fogging when the sun shows its face again. Changing lenses can be a little fiddly, but it's arguably worth it, given how comfortable they are, despite gripping your face like a limpet. Some may find that some of the frames creep into their line of vision when going downhill, but that's hardly the end of the world.6. Tifosi Marzen SunglassesBest cycling sunglasses for styleSpecificationsUV Protection: YesLens type: PolycarbonateAdjustable nose piece?: NoFrame material: GrilamidReasons to buyVersatile design with interchangeable armsNon-slip ear and nose piecesReasons to avoidNose piece not adjustableGrilamid construction shows its face, on your face, once again here. But Tifosi’s Marzen sunglasses are decidedly stylish compared to most rivals, looking less like a specialist kit or a basic fly disguise, and more like sportier Ray-Bans. They are rather more technical than the coffee-shop looks might suggest, however: ‘Swivelink’ technology lets you swap between ‘sport’ and ‘lifestyle’ arms at will, and grip when on the sprint is remarkably good for such a cool-looking pair of specs.7. Sunwise Equinox SunglassesBest budget cycling sunglasses, with a pleasingly secure fitSpecificationsUV Protection: YesLens type: PolycarbonateAdjustable nose piece?: NoFrame material: PolycarbonateReasons to buyWraparound designReally great valueReasons to avoidLenses aren’t polarisedThese wraparound sunglasses have been lauded by reviewers for their secure fit, meaning they stay put even when you’re sweating like a pig (or 'gently misting', or 'glowing'; whatever turn of phrase you prefer) while tackling an incline. Changing lenses is extremely simple, with four lenses taking you from gloomy days to ultra-bright sunshine, via a simple clicky system. Given that you get said four lenses, a comfortable, close fit, and a high-coverage design for under £40, you can definitely call this pair of specs a bargain. It doesn't look cheap, either.
