Cycling glasses have become an essential accessory for any cyclist, whether they ride a mountain bike or a road bike. Not only do they protect your eyes from the sun's rays, but they also shield you from wind, dust, insects, and small stones that can jump up from the road while pedaling.
However, when choosing cycling glasses, it is important to go beyond just the design or aesthetics. They are a safety and comfort element, so the quality of the lenses and the ergonomics of the frame play a key role in the cyclist's protection and performance.
Why use glasses in mountain and road cycling?
Both in MTB and in road cycling, exposure to the elements is constant. On mountain bikes, trails can be full of dust, mud, or low branches that can compromise visibility and cause discomfort in the eyes. On the other hand, on road bikes, speed generates a constant airflow that can cause dry eyes and make it difficult to see if you do not have proper protection.
Glasses not only protect you from these external factors, but they also improve your riding experience by offering greater comfort and safety.
We spoke with Sunglasses Restorer, specialists in sports lenses, to find out what aspects we should consider when buying quality cycling glasses:
What good lenses should have
The lenses are the most important element of cycling glasses. They must provide protection against ultraviolet radiation, protection against impacts, and offer good visibility, since the last thing we want is for them to fog up, crack, or prevent us from seeing properly. Below we indicate the main characteristics that good lenses should have.
That they have EU/FDA approval
The first thing we should look for is that the lenses have the ultraviolet protection certification from the European Union (or from the FDA if they are made by a North American manufacturer). This certification guarantees that the lenses comply with the regulations regarding ultraviolet radiation blocking. Glasses that do not have this certification are not recommended, since we have no guarantee of the level of safety they offer against the sun or impacts. "When we put on dark lenses, our eyes dilate. If those lenses do not have the correct protection against sunlight, more UVA and UVB radiation will reach us," explains Gerardo Zarzo from Sunglasses Restorer.
They should be made of polycarbonate
Besides protection against the sun's rays, cycling glasses must also protect us against impacts, whether from small stones kicked up from the road or a fall. "Polycarbonate material is ideal for any sports glasses where there is a risk of breakage, such as airsoft, padel, or industrial activities," says Gerardo Zarzo. It is a material with high impact resistance and also offers good optical properties.
They should provide a good field of vision
This aspect is crucial. When we choose sunglasses, we must make sure that when we put them on, we do not see the frame when looking in any direction. This is why cycling glasses do not have a frame on the lower part of the lens, but are only held by the superior part. "If the glasses do not have a good field of vision, they will be uncomfortable, because they will force us to look through the edges of the glasses. And on the road, this is something you never want," says Gerardo Zarzo. In addition to offering a very wide field of vision, it is also important that the lenses have good optical definition. Unlike conventional sunglasses, cycling glasses usually use very curved lenses. This way, they can cover a larger field of vision and fit better. This degree of curvature sometimes makes the image we see through the lens slightly distorted. That is why we sometimes have the feeling that objects look bigger when we look at them through cycling glasses. This phenomenon forces our eyes to make an extra effort to correct the focus. If we are going to spend many hours wearing them, it is important to choose cycling glasses with good lens definition and clarity.
They should have ventilation
The last thing we want when we are in the middle of a bike ride is to have to stop to defog our glasses. Hence the importance of good cycling glasses having ventilated lenses and, if possible, an anti-fog treatment. "This will allow air to circulate between the face and the back of the lens. That way, they won't fog up," says Gerardo Zarzo. The way to know if the lenses of cycling glasses have ventilation is very simple. We just need to check if the superior part has small holes or slots.
They should be interchangeable or photochromic
Not all lenses filter light in the same way. And not every day will we encounter the same level of brightness and solar radiation when we go out cycling. Even during a single ride in one day, we may find sections where the sun is clouded over, sections where it shines more intensely, and sections where the light is dimmer, such as when riding along a trail that passes through a dense forest. That’s why some models of sunglasses are sold with several types of interchangeable lenses. "This is an advantage, as it gives us the possibility to change lenses depending on the weather conditions. On a very bright day, we would need quite dark lenses to be comfortable. Whereas if you prefer mountain biking through forests, or go out on a cloudy day, lighter or photochromic lenses are ideal," says Gerardo Zarzo. One advantage of photochromic lenses is that they darken according to the brightness at any given moment. On the other hand, we also have polarized lenses, which prevent glare and sunlight reflections in all situations, offering great protection against light. However, in low-light conditions, they are not as practical.
They should be impact-resistant
Cycling glasses are an element of both active and passive safety. Active safety elements are those that help prevent accidents. In this sense, glasses prevent us from being dazzled by the sun, getting our eyes irritated by the wind, or having mosquitoes or dust enter our eyes, which could cause a fall. Passive safety elements, on the other hand, are those that, in the event of an accident, prevent the damage from being worse. That’s why it’s important that the lenses of cycling glasses are impact-resistant, since in the event of a fall, a poor-quality lens could shatter and injure your face or eyes.
What a good frame should have
As for the frame, the most important thing is that it guarantees good grip and comfort and that it is durable. Here, one point to consider is the type of material it’s made of. "It has to be hypoallergenic, moldable, and resistant at the same time. There’s no need to go for high-end materials like unobtainium from Oakley or the graphene from Rudy Project, but at least they should be made of good quality acetate," says Gerardo Zarzo. It is also important that the material is lightweight, since we are going to wear the glasses for several hours and we don't want to feel uncomfortable. "The temple tips, which are the ends of the temples and allow the glasses to be adjusted over the ear, should be made of a non-slip rubber. This provides extra comfort and grip. And it's much better if these tips are replaceable." Cycling glasses should offer good support to prevent them from moving or falling off when we go over a rocky path, a bumpy section, or down a mountain road. But above all, the comfort of glasses should be measured with the helmet on. It's important that they don't cause scratches, pressure, or pain on the ear. There is a debate about whether it is better to wear the glasses inside or outside the helmet strap. Some cyclists prefer to wear them inside the helmet strap, as this gives them greater support. However, the most recommended way is to wear them outside, so that in case of a fall they will fly off and we avoid them breaking and injuring our face.
Are shield sunglasses better?
Recently, so-called shield sunglasses have become fashionable, which instead of having two separate lenses, form a single lens that covers the whole face. As advice, Sunglasses Restorer recommends the two-lens type. "It's not a commandment, but two-lens sunglasses usually provide a better field of vision. Shield sunglasses are lighter and more comfortable, but sometimes they do not meet all the ergonomic requirements for vision," concludes Gerardo Zarzo.