It’s prime cycling season and time to hit the road, and for some cyclists, there is no such thing as a bad day to get on the bike. But no matter the season, you always need a good pair of sunglasses before you go for a ride.
Cycling sunglasses don’t just help keep the sun out of your eyes, they also offer protection from road debris and harmful UV rays. And over the last decade, advances in lens and frame technology have offered cyclists more clarity, ventilation, and versatility than ever before. From a clear lens for night rides to interchangeable lenses and anti-fog coating, you can have it all.
That’s why we’re rounding out the best pair of sunglasses for cyclists this year, including our top 11 cycling sunglasses ranked and reviewed! And keep reading for our complete cycling sunglasses buyer’s guide for exactly what to look for in frames, lenses, and more.
Table of Contents
Our #1 Best Pick for Cycling Sunglasses
Oakley Jawbreaker
Turn on any major cycling event, and you’ll find Oakley Jawbreakers (Product Link) leading the pack. And for a good reason – these are simply great cycling sunglasses.
Featuring a lightweight O Matter style with a full frame, the Oakley Jawbreaker has everything you need for the road or trail. Its polycarbonate single-shield lens is vented to provide excellent airflow and avoid fogging while providing maximum coverage. Plus, with Oakley’s impact-resistant Plutonite lens material, the Jawbreaker lenses protect your eyes from dirt, bugs, and road debris. And these lenses provide 100% protection against UVA, UVB, and UVC rays.
You’ll also find Oakley’s Prizm lens technology on the Jawbreaker, offering contrast and color enhancement built for cycling. We’d recommend Prizm Road or Prizm Trail lenses, depending on your type of biking, but from our experience, you can’t go wrong with either. These lenses make it easier to spot debris and hazards on the road and make your environment pop around you for a more enjoyable and vibrant ride.
For more, you can read our complete comparison of Prizm Road and Prizm Trail lenses.
Finally, we love Oakley’s Switchlock technology that makes changing lenses on the Jawbreaker quick and easy. Lifting the nose piece unlocks the bottom of the frame for a fast, simple shield switch. And you can even customize the length of the temple arms with a simple lever lift.
The Jawbreaker is a collaborative effort between Oakley and pro cyclist Mark Cavendish. These sunglasses are made for cyclists, and it shows in everything from their design and versatility to their helmet compatibility.
Jawbreaker Highlights
- A large shield lens design that provides maximum coverage and peripheral vision protection
- Three temple length adjustments for optimal helmet compatibility
- Unobtainium ear socks and nose pads for increased comfort and decreased slipping
The Best Cycling Sunglasses Ranked & Reviewed
11. Tifosi Rail
The Tifosi Rail (Product Link) is a super sleek, frameless, single shield style. And its lightweight Grilamid nylon temple arms and adjustable nose piece offer durability when paired with an impact-resistant lens.
We love the Rail’s oversized style, which is best suited to large and extra-large faces and heads. This frame has a big wrap and a deep 59.5 mm lens, offering excellent coverage and sun protection.
Overall, the Rail looks great and offers a vertical field of vision unobstructed by its frame.
Tifosi Rail Highlights
- Interchangeable lens with three included (blue, red, and clear) and other colorways available
- Hydrophilic rubber ear pads and nose piece offer extra grip when you sweat and all-day comfort
- Relatively inexpensive at under $100 (And one of our favorite budget cycling sunglasses)
10. Blenders Eyewear Phantom Boss
From Blenders Eyewear, we have the Phantom Boss (Product Link), another affordable option for cycling sunglasses. Featuring a medium-to-large wrap-style frame, the Phantom Boss has a single shield polarized lens.
The lens on the Phantom Boss is 59 mm deep on either side of the bridge, so be aware that this is an oversized style when ordering. But along with that oversize look, you’ll also get plenty of coverage and excellent protection from the sun.
If you love a big pair of sunglasses that makes a big statement, the Phantom Boss if for you, with its angular and bold frame. We’d recommend trying them on before buying to make sure they’re compatible with your helmet and other gear.
Phantom Boss Highlights
- Made of durable TR90 plastic frame with large shield lenses for maximum coverage
- Adjustable temple arms and nose pad to help the oversized lens work on more face sizes and shapes
- Great budget pair of sunglasses under $75
9. 100% Speedcraft Sunglasses
100% is a brand, like Oakley, that got its start with Motocross accessories. Since their debut in 1982, they’ve expanded and now carry eyewear and other gear for cycling, running, baseball, and more.
The Speedcraft (Product Link) is a semi-frameless design with a single shield lens. The frame on these sunglasses consists of an upper rim and a lower piece around the bridge. It’s a very high-tech look with extra venting in the lower frame and temple arms.
The Speedcraft doesn’t have the big wrap of some of the other styles, with a 5.5 base curve. However, it still offers good coverage and a deep lens with a mostly unobstructed lower field of vision.
100% has invested in technology. Their contrast and color-enhancing lens is called the HiPER. It is available for the Speedcraft, which has TR90 plastic frame components. TR90 is durable, flexible, and lightweight, making it a good choice for cyclists.
The Speedcraft is available in several lens colors ideal for cycling. For full sun, they offer the HiPER in Red Multilayer with a mirror coating. For low light conditions, you can choose a HiPER coral lens or Flash Gold Mirror lens with an included clear lens.
The Speedcraft is also available with 100%’s proprietary polarized lens technology and with a photochromic lens. Unfortunately, it is not available in prescription. But it is available in three sizes, with the SL and XS designed to fit smaller faces.
100% Speedcraft Highlights
- Versatile temple arms are adjustable, vented, and have rubber tips for extra grip in sweaty condition
- Specialized lens coatings repel dirt, water, and oil
- Interchangeable polycarbonate lenses are 100% UV protective and highly impact-resistant.
8. Oakley Sutro
The Sutro (Product Link) is an Oakley classic. With its big wrap and deep 56.7 mm single shield lens, it offers excellent coverage. In addition, the full O Matter frame is light and durable.
The clean lines and minimalist planes on the temple arms give the Sutro a little Oakley flair without taking away from the supreme functionality of the style. The original Sutro is an extra-large frame. Oakley offers a scaled-down version in the Sutro S.
If you’re looking for some extra airflow in your cycling sunglasses, try the Origins Collection with vents along the upper lens. If you like a semi-frameless style with unobstructed lower vision, check out the Sutro Lite. The Sutro also comes in a low bridge fit.
Oakley Sutros are available with Prizm Road, Prizm Trail Torch, and Prizm Low Light lenses. These are fantastic cycling lenses with a big, bold look.
Sutro Highlights
- Fully customizable with multiple frame, temple, and icon color options.
- Interchangeable shield is easy to use
- Unobtainium nose piece adds grip to keep the frame in place during wet or sweaty rides
7. Roka SR Series
Roka is one of the top prescription eyeglasses and lifestyle sunglasses brands in addition to their sports performance line. But that doesn’t mean they scrimp on sports technology. The Roka SR Series (Product Link) is a sleek single shield style that comes packed with innovation.
With excellent protection and coverage, the Roka’s C3’s polycarbonate lenses sit within its nylon frame for a super lightweight pair of sunglasses. And Roka offers a great selection of performance coatings, including anti-scratch, polarization, mirror finish, anti-fog, smudge, and moisture resistance.
Along with the latest in lens technology, Roka offers a variety of lens colors available for the SR Series. For cycling, we’d recommend Bronze or Fire Mirror for sunny days and the rose-hued HC Ion for low-light conditions. Plus, scroll down for our cycling sunglasses buyer’s guide, where we review the best lens colors for every environment.
Finally, Roka SR sunglasses are available with prescription lenses. Additionally, there are only three lens colors available: graphite, silver mirror, and shift photochromic carbon.
Still, we love the Roka SR series sunglasses for their sleek design, maximum coverage, and a wide variety of lens colors.
Roka SR Series Highlights
- Oversized shield lens design that gives you plenty of coverage from all angles and lets you change lenses quickly and easily
- Removable nose pad with GEKO technology offers extra grip, water resistance, and comfort
- Temple arms with Titanium core wire allow for an adjustable, custom fit
6. Rudy Project Cutline
The Rudy Project is an Italian company that’s been around since 1987, with sports-inspired designs. And their Cutline (Product Link) sunglasses are one of their latest frames built for running and cycling.
Rudy Project Cutline sunglasses are a single shield style with a large wrap that curves around your face. Rather than a traditional frame, the Rudy Project features bumpers designed to provide maximum comfort between the frame and your skin. On the Cutline, you’ll find three of these rubber pieces—one running the full length of the lens top and one on either side of the lens bottom.
And since the bumpers are removable and interchangeable, you can choose a frameless or semi-frameless look with an unbroken vertical visual field. You can also customize the look of your Cutlines by choosing from a wide selection of colors for bumpers, nose pads, and temple tips.
For lenses, the Cutline is fitted with the company’s Powerflow Extreme ventilation, designed to reduce fogging. Plus, its interchangeable lenses are exceptionally easy to change with just the touch of a button.
Cutline Highlights
- Large single shield lens design with non-slip nose pads and ear stem tips that are fully adjustable for a customized fit
- Available with over ten lens colors, including photochromic options
- Enhanced ventilation in the lens and frames prevents fogging and is available in prescription lens options
5. Smith Optics Attack Max ChromaPop
Smith Optics brings us the Attack MAG Max (Product Link), a rimless, big wrap style with their proprietary ChromaPop lens technology. This technology is similar to 100%’s HiPER, with both lenses helping the eye differentiate between colors and highlighting contrast.
The Attack MAG Max features a large lens that makes this frame great for medium-to-large heads and faces. This lens size gives terrific coverage and protection from sunlight and debris. And the frame’s minimalist styling makes the shield lens pop in its design while providing unobstructed viewing.
We love the Smith’s MAG lens interchange technology found in this frame, making lens changes fast and easy. Today, Smith offers the Mag Max frames and lenses in various colors, including ChromaPop Red Mirror and ChromaPop Contrast Rose (both are excellent choices for cycling).
Smith Attack Max Highlights
- Mergol temple tips and adjustable nose piece for extra comfort and grip
- Each pair comes with an extra ChromaPop Contrast Rose lens
- Large shield lens is coated to repel water and oil, allowing you to clearly see even when wet or sweaty
4. Oakley Encoder
Oakley Encoder (Product Link) sunglasses are one of the latest styles from the brand. Featuring a rimless style and made of lightweight O Matter material, this frame is built for cycling. Its single shield lens has features that give it the integrity of a frame without the disruption in your field of vision, a first for Oakley.
Designed to work well with helmets and hats, the Encoder features Oakley Prizm lens technology designed to enhance color and contrast in specific environments, including cycling. We’d recommend checking out Prizm Road, Prizm Trail Torch, and Prizm Field lenses.
Encoder Highlights
- Lightweight O Matter frame with low profile temple arms designed to fit well with hats and helmets
- Unobtainium nose pads and temple tips for increased comfort and decreased slipping
- Large frame design with oversized shield lens designed to provide maximum field of view in downward cycling positions
3. Nike Windshield Elite Road Tint
Nike Windshield Elite (Product Link) sunglasses are a semi-rimless style modernized by a sleek, straight top frame that leaves the upper edge of the single shield lens exposed.
Significantly more angular than many of its counterparts, the Windshield Elite offers excellent coverage and protection as well as an open lower field of vision. And the design builds vents into its style above the bridge to reduce fogging.
You’ll also find Nike’s Max optics lenses designed to provide the ultimate visual clarity. Available in either Road Tint or Field Tint, we’d recommend trying the Road Tint for most cyclists and bikers. This lens is designed to block our harsher light while highlighting colors found while road cycling.
Windshield Elite Highlights
- Rubber stem tips are cushioned for extra grip and comfort
- Nike’s floating nose pad adds extra ventilation as well as impact absorption
- Super lightweight, aerodynamic, and comfortable
2. Oakley Radar EV Path
Oakley’s Radar EV Path (Product Link) sunglasses are one of the most popular sports frames on the market. With a modern take on the shield lens design, the Radar EV Path is a standard fit frame with extended peripheral lenses for an excellent field of vision, coverage, and UV protection. And this half-frame style has an organically curved lens that’s optimized for cycling.
Made of light O Matter frame material and Unobtainium rubber-wrapped temples, the Radar EV is comfortable all day. Plus, the Radar features impact-resistant Plutonite lenses that block 100% of UVA, UVB, and UVC rays.
Adding to its technology, you’ll find Oakley’s Prizm lenses, like Prizm Road and Prizm Trail Torch, available in the Radar EV Path. These lenses increase contrast and color while making details and hazards easier to spot. Plus, available polarized and Iridium coating help to reduce even more glare and decreases eye strain.
Oakley offers the Radar EV Path in 23 different lens types and multiple frame colors on their site. And is a very customizable frame with a lot of styling options.
Radar EV Path Highlights
- Available with Oakley Authentic Prescription Lenses
- Unobtainium on nose piece and ear stems decreases slipping and increases comfort
- Temple arms and upper lenses provide extra venting
What to Look for When Buying Cycling Sunglasses?
Frame
Like any sports sunglasses, your cycling shades need to be comfortable and fit well. And that means a lightweight frame that’s sized correctly.
We’d recommend lightweight frame materials like Oakley’s O Matter or TR90 nylon found in ROKA, Smith, and other brands. These lenses are ideal because they are strong, durable, and light enough to wear all day. And these high-quality plastics are easy to clean, so they’ll look great for years.
It’s also essential to choose a frame that is compatible with your helmet. You don’t have to choose a frame made for cycling, but you do need one that fits comfortably and doesn’t reduce the safety of your helmet.
Once you’ve got your frame selected, you’ll want to focus on lenses.
Lenses
Lens technologies have improved drastically over the years, from better polarized lenses to color and contrast-enhancing that helps make your rides more enjoyable.
For cycling, we’d recommend impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses with UV protection. These lenses will help protect your eyes from any debris or hazards while also shielding them from the sun. Plus, polycarbonate lenses are lightweight, so you can easily wear them for all-day rides.
Depending on the brand, you’ll also want to explore contrast-enhancing lenses like Oakley Prizm or Nike Road Tint. These lenses are the latest in eyewear innovation and provide an optimal viewing experience while enhancing contrast and color around you.
Venting and Anti-Fogging
When you’re riding on a hot day, the last thing you want is foggy lenses. That’s why the top cycling sunglasses on the market today offer vented lenses and frames to prevent fogging. And many now even offer anti-fogging lens coatings that help double your protection.
Typically this is only an issue for more serious cyclists who ride in downward positions, but it’s still a noteworthy feature as you shop for sunglasses. Especially as these vents also help to keep you cool during hot summer rides.
The Best Lens Color for Cycling
The best lens colors for cycling are red/amber, rose, yellow, and clear, but the specific lens will depend on your riding conditions and weather.
Amber and red lenses are great for sunny-day rides and help to provide increased contrast against the greens and blues of a typical summer ride. Plus, these colors can help improve depth perception and reduce eye strain by blocking the blue light.
If you’re riding in lower light conditions, like dawn or dusk, we’d recommend rose or yellow lenses. Thanks to their lighter tints, these lenses allow more light while still providing contrast against your environment so you can see clearly.
And finally, for night rides, you’ll want to choose a clear lens. While not required, clear lenses at night help to protect your eyes from bugs and debris while still letting you see clearly.
For more, check out our guide to the best lens colors for cycling in every environment!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Cycling Sunglasses Worth It?
Yes, cycling sunglasses are worth the price since they help protect your eyes from harmful UV rays and injury from road or trail debris. Every cyclist knows that what’s on the road doesn’t necessarily stay on the road. Don’t risk your vision by cycling without protective eyewear.
In addition to protection, the newest cycling sunglasses and technologies make your rides even more enjoyable. Contrast-enhancing lenses provide an improved visual experience for your ride, with better clarity, contrast, and color!
You wouldn’t ride without a helmet to protect your head, so don’t ride without glasses to protect your eyes. You can’t put a price on clear vision!
Are Polarized Sunglasses Good for Biking?
Yes, polarized sunglasses and lenses are good for biking since they help to reduce glare and eye strain. But polarization is a little…polarizing (pun absolutely intended). While some people love polarized lenses, others don’t see a large enough difference to justify the increased cost.
The primary function of a polarized lens is to reduce glare. While some of the specialty lenses for cycling help to cut glare, polarized lenses offer even more protection. And glare can be more than just annoying, it can also be painful, cause eye strain, and even cause accidents.
If you ride where there are reflective surfaces, we’d recommend polarized lenses since you’ll often encounter more glare. But, if you’re someone who has issues with polarization or depth perception, try contrast-enhancing lenses with a dark tint to provide similar protection.
Are Ray-Bans Good for Cycling?
The short answer is no. But it’s more complicated than it seems. Ray-Ban makes an excellent pair of shades for almost everyone. They’re high-quality and timelessly styled. But the company does not specialize in sports performance eyewear.
While your Ray-Bans are fine for a short, casual ride, if you’re spending any significant time in the saddle, you’re going to prefer sunglasses built for cycling.
Ray-Ban doesn’t offer the type of performance lenses, wrap styles, and superior venting that makes cycling glasses from sports brands more effective. It isn’t that Ray-Bans are bad for cycling. Other brands are simply more dedicated to the unique needs of cyclists.
What Sunglasses do Professional Cyclists Wear?
Pro cyclists make the same choices as amateurs, just with more resources. For sunglasses, they look for protective, high-tech lenses, a comfortable fit, and good coverage.
The most popular brands amongst professional cyclists are Oakley, ROKA, 100%, and Smith sunglasses. Top riders like Mark Cavendish have even co-developed Oakley products, like the Jawbreaker sunglasses he wears during events.
Other pros like Thibaut Pinot have been spotted wearing the Radar EV Path, while Egan Bernal often sports the more casual Sutro. Chris Froome likes Flight Jackets. Oakley and pro cycling go back decades, and the company continues to be an extremely active team sponsor.
Riders who have a sponsor usually get to choose what they want from the company’s line. That makes brands like Oakley popular since they have a lot of variety to offer the athletes.
Peter Sagan and his Bora Hansgrohe teammates wear 100% sunglasses. Sagan likes the Glendale. The Defender is a favorite for riders who are sponsored by The Rudy Project.
Why Do Cyclists Wear Sunglasses Outside their Helmet Straps?
There are two reasons cyclists like their helmet straps under their sunglasses: comfort and safety. Putting the temple arms of your sunglasses between your helmet strap and your skin squeezes your sunglasses and alters their fit. The result is sunglasses that are not sitting properly.
Optics and clarity can also be affected, and it simply isn’t comfortable to have anything between your helmet and your face.
The only way to make it comfortable to put your sunglasses inside your helmet straps is to loosen the straps. And that isn’t safe. Your straps need to be tight to maintain the proper fit and protection of the helmet.
There isn’t enough room to comfortably and safely fit your sunglasses inside your helmet straps. If you want to make your sunglasses more secure, invest in a pair that fits well and get a cord or leash that doesn’t interfere with your helmet.
Have A Question?
Want to know more about the best cycling sunglasses? Or have a question? Let us know in the comments below!
