You’ve probably noticed professional cyclists wear sunglasses all the time, even in the winter. And if you’re on the fence about cycling sunglasses, there are plenty of practical reasons why you, too, should wear sunnies while cycling.
The most obvious benefit is protection from harmful UV rays. Unfortunately, these harmful rays have been shown to cause various eye-related complications, including keratitis, cataracts, and even total blindness. In addition, constant exposure to sunlight and wind can dry your eyes out, inevitably leading to eye fatigue.
Finally, cycling sunglasses with great coverage protect your eyes from many projectiles, including bugs, dirt, pollen, and small stones.
So, whether you should wear sunglasses while cycling is settled; the only bit left is the lens color you should choose. And you have plenty of options! Keep reading for the best lens colors for cycling in every type of condition (plus scroll down for our handy visual guide).
The Best Lens Color for Cycling
Red / Amber
Red and amber lenses are some of the best lens colors for cycling because they provide the perfect contrast against yellow colors standard with road signs and road lines. This allows you to spot yellow lines and signs better on your bike, making it safer to ride.
In addition, red and amber lenses are versatile. You get the proper visible light transmission for low light conditions, such as riding at dawn or dusk. This versatility is practical when switching between shade and sunny stretches.
In short, red and amber lenses are ideal for most light conditions you’re likely to encounter while cycling.
Rose
Rose lenses are great for cycling sunglasses because they offer terrific color contrast. These lenses work best where the dominant environment is green or yellow. A great example is cycling through wooded roads or mountain biking.
This color contrast is particularly useful for spotting small details and obstacles quickly. Rose also offers terrific depth perception. Again, this is important when cycling on uneven terrain at high speed.
Finally, like red and amber, rose is also an excellent choice for variable light conditions. Your eyes can adjust when transitioning between sunny roads and shady trails. Rose is also a perfect tint for improving your visual acuity, especially in low light or cloudy conditions.
Yellow
Yellow lenses are ideal for extreme low-light environments. Think of indoor track cycling, dense mist, haze, or fog. Yellow lenses have minimal tint, which is suitable for allowing natural light into your eyes.
Yellow lenses also help to filter blue light and enhance contrast. This lens tint is ideal for sustained low-light conditions but doesn’t perform well under bright sunlight.
So you might want to avoid this tint if you’re anticipating varied light conditions, such as long stretches of sunlight coupled with detours in wooded terrain.
Otherwise, yellow is the perfect tint for early mornings or dusk riding. In addition, the yellow lens will help brighten the environment in low light conditions.
Clear
Clear lenses allow the most amount of natural light through to your eyes. Therefore, clear lenses are perfect for night-time riding and indoor cycling. As a result, you can maintain your natural visual acuity while protecting your eyes from debris and other hazards.
Clear lenses do not distort colors. This means you can spot obstacles quickly when riding at night. These lenses are also perfect for overcast days.
Cycling Specific Lenses
Today, not only can you find the best colors for cycling lenses, but you can also buy cycling-specific lenses. These types of lenses take into account the unique challenges cyclists face.
Currently, there are two leading brands of cycling-specific lenses, Oakley Prizm and Nike Road Tint:
Oakley Prizm Road and Trail
Oakley currently offers two main cycling-specific sunglasses, Oakley Prizm Road and Oakley Prizm Trail. Both lenses feature Oakley’s proprietary Prizm technology designed to increase contrast regardless of the light conditions.
Oakley Prizm Road is engineered explicitly for cycling or running on tarmac. The lens technology accentuates black and gray colors on the road. Therefore, you’ll be able to spot cracks, potholes, bumps, and other texture changes.
These lenses are also designed to deal with changing light conditions. So you don’t have to switch lenses depending on the external conditions. In addition, Oakley Prizm Road features 20% visible light transmission (VLT) that works well in sunny and cloudy conditions.
Similarly, Oakley Prizm Trail lenses are explicitly designed for cycling or running. However, this lens is designed for cycling on a trail.
Prizm Trail lenses are specially designed to help spot transitions such as roots, rocks, and sand on the trail. In addition, Prizm Trail features a higher light transmission at 36% VLT. The high light transmission helps to compensate for light obstructions like tree canopies and shadows.
Nike Road Tint
Nike also has its cycling-specific lenses known as Road Tint, that you can find available in Nike Tailwind, Windshield Elite, and Victory Elite sunglasses. Road Tint offers superior clarity for both trail and road conditions, while also enhancing color.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Best Sunglasses for Cycling?
The most popular cycling-specific sunglasses include Oakley, Roka, and Nike. These sunglasses are specifically engineered to solve the most common cycling-related problems.
You can find the best sunglasses for cycling based on their lenses and frame. For example, good cycling lenses should allow you to spot obstacles quickly, therefore, you’ll see contrast-enhancing technology applied to cycling lenses.
For the frame, you want comfortable sunglasses. Again, you’ll be sweating, so earsocks and nose pads with extra grip are a must-have. Furthermore, Oakley’s cycling glasses feature Unobtainium grips to ensure your sunglasses stay put all day.
Finally, let’s not forget eye protection. The ideal pair of sunglasses should offer wide coverage. Plus, the lenses should also optimize your peripheral vision.
Are Polarized Lenses Good for Cycling?
Yes, Polarized lenses are great for cycling since they help to block out glare and other harmful light that can make it difficult to see while you’re riding.
Glare is one of cycling’s biggest challenges. Excess light bounces off cars, grass, and water, and it makes it difficult to see. Plus, it can lead to eye fatigue during long rides.
Polarized lenses are specifically designed to cut glare. As a result, you’ll see clearly without squinting. This is especially beneficial when cycling in bright, sunny conditions.
Polarized lenses make transitioning between sunny and shady patches easier on your eyes. And these lenses may be a better choice for cycling than photochromic lenses since photochromic lenses do not darken or lighten fast enough for cycling in changing light conditions.
What Light Transmission is Best for Cycling?
The best light transmission for cycling depends on the lighting conditions. We’d recommend between 15%-25% VLT for outdoor cycling and 75% VLT or higher for indoor cycling.
As a rule of thumb, higher visible light transmission (VLT) means that the lenses let in more natural light through to your eyes. So, low-light conditions require high VLT. Conversely, you want lower VLT for bright conditions.
For example, 0-19% VLT is perfect for extremely sunny days. On the other hand, these sunglasses are darker, so they don’t work well for indoor cycling. 20-40% VLT is the perfect sweet spot for outdoor cycling. The lenses perform equally well in bright light and lower-light conditions.
Above 40% VLT is ideal for outdoor cycling with low low-light conditions, such as hazy or overcast days.
Finally, 75% VLT or higher is perfect for indoor and night cycling. These lenses are almost transparent and let in maximum light to your eyes.
Are Polycarbonate Lenses Good for Cycling?
Yes, Polycarbonate lenses are an excellent choice for cycling since they are impact-resistant and lightweight.
Polycarbonate lenses have become the leader in sports lenses since they are lightweight, have impact-resistance qualities, and provide some of the best optical clarity.
However, polycarbonate lenses are less scratch-resistant compared to alternatives such as polyurethane. We’d recommend asking if your lenses come with a scratch-resistant costing since some manufacturers do this to enhance the lens quality.
Want More?
Looking for more information on the best sunglasses, lenses, and more? Join our community today and check out our other useful guides below:
- Best Cycling Sunglasses of 2022: Top Brands Ranked
- The Best Oakley Cycling Sunglasses | Ranked & Reviewed
- Polarized vs. Non-Polarized Lenses – Differences Explained
