Despite their near-endless shape and colour options, the best cycling glasses are not just an expensive fashion accessory for looking cool at the cafe stop; the best cycling sunglasses perform a vital function by allowing you to see the road ahead clearly at speed while protecting your eyes from insects and grit. They also provide protection against harmful UV light, wind and rain and must do so all without fogging up.
Just like the best road bike helmets, to work correctly, they must fit securely without slipping down on rough surfaces, regardless of how much you sweat, and be comfortable to wear for however long you find yourself in the saddle.
The quick list
Great coverage and striking aesthetics ensure that the Encoder is a favourite amongst riders. Oakley's Prizm lens provides outstanding clarity, which genuinely makes a difference.
Despite its affordable price point, the Tifosi Rail impressed us, even when compared to the bigger brands. The Photochromatic lens worked well within its slightly more limited range, and the fit was comfortable and secure.
The Goodr Wrap G is a heavily styled pair of glasses that work surprisingly well as cycling glasses. If you describe your rides with words like "Rad", these glasses are right up your alley.
Oakley's EV Zero Blades continue the brand's enviable run of producing some of the finest eyewear available. Secure and comfortable, they resisted fogging up and reacted quickly to changes in light.
With crystal-clear optics, sturdy frames, and stylish looks. The SunGod Velans FF are a solid choice for someone looking to use one pair of glasses on a mix of road, gravel, and mountain rides.
Italian brand Salice is a lower-cost alternative that performed very well in our tests. The optics were impressive, and the frame proved itself to be very comfortable.
See three more of the best cycling glasses
Designed in collaboration with Lidl-Trek women's world tour team, it is understandable that the Demo at heart is heavily performance oriented. Given the lack of focus in the market for smaller faces, this really sets the Demo apart.
While the Ruckus has a somewhat understated and simple design, it performs excellently once on your face, offering superb all-weather performance.
What sets the Hype apart is their Maximum Ventilation System, which improves airflow and reduces fogging, especially when climbing. On test, this worked very well. Combined with the excellent clarity, the Hype is one to consider.
Best Cycling Glasses and Sunglasses 2025
Best overall cycling sunglasses
Oakley Encoder glasses give you the frameless pro look
If the futuristic look is for you, the Oakley Encoders offer a high-quality feel and fit securely thanks to the frameless design and jaunty cut of the lens which plays nicely with helmets and high cheekbones.
Although the Prizm lens cannot be changed on this model, the wraparound coverage also delivers incredible contrast and excellent clarity, ensuring improved vision to help clearly navigate road surface changes and objects within the surrounding environment. On test, we also loved the protection that the large lens provides, from the elements and from airborne objects like insects and grit.
Read more: Oakley Encoder sunglasses full review
Best budget
The Tifosi Rail boasts a frameless design for improved vision and lower weight
The Tifosi Rail is a large lens rimless design with good wraparound protection. We reviewed the Clarion Fototec lens version with a light-sensitive lens with between 14% and 74% light transmission, so it will handle the full range of daytime conditions.
We found the fit to be good, with no tendency to slip when riding and there's little misting. The Rail is a good alternative to pricier photochromatic glasses from other brands, even if the response to changes in light conditions isn't quite as fast as it doesn't go quite as clear as some of the pricier alternatives
Read more: Tifosi Rail Clarion Fototec cycling sunglasses full review
Best coverage
Goodr Wrap G's are a fun, stylish option for cyclists and festival goers
I love these glasses. They are cheap, fit really well, and have solid polarized lenses for the price. The trouble is that style has crossed into function here. I would love to see these glasses offered with an additional clear lens or possibly a photochromic variant. The lenses come out easily enough, but there’s only one in the box.
The coverage, fit, and feel are pretty awesome. The arms are incredibly long and curved so they go well beyond your ears. This gives the glasses a tight fit but also distributes pressure to a wider area so you’re not just relying on one spot on the ears. This meant that I felt great wearing these even on longer days. That being said, the extreme colouring on the lenses can strain your eyes after a while.
In the fancy box, you get a second slightly larger nose pad and a microfibre bag for storage.
I think the Goodrs are a fun option, and they will be a great addition to anyone looking to add some whimsical vibes to their rides. There are multiple colourways to choose from, most of which give off nostalgic vibes. They would be perfect for rides to the local music festival on the waterfront!
Best photochromic sunglasses
A photochromic lens ups the versatility of the Oakley EV Zero Blades
There’s very little to be critical of with the Oakley EV Zero Blades. The photochromic version - there are six colorways in total - is an excellent shoulder season and winter pair of sunglasses that not only keep the dust and grit out of your eyes, but also offer unobstructed viewing, and clarity that is so good it took us a while to believe it.
It didn’t matter if we were riding on a bumpy or smooth piece of road, the glasses stayed in place. Neither was it a concern that they would fog up, ensuring that perfect clarity and vision were available at all times.
They’re not the cheapest on the market - this is Oakley, after all - but they are a guarantee of excellent fit and vision with a big tick in the stylishness box too.
Read more: Oakley EV Zero Blades photochromic full review
Best for multi-discipline
The SunGod Velans offer burly frames, clear optics and a stylish aesthetic
I fell in love with the Velans because of how versatile they are. When dealing with a variety of light conditions on all-day rides, you want to wear something that keeps your eyes comfortable and protected. The Velans, with their Iris HV Blue lens, do just that. The polarization keeps everything as sharp as possible, and the photochromic has you covered from the darker light of the forest to the open road with full, direct sun.
The transition is quick in the open sun, lighting up surprisingly fast when that sunlight disappears. I spent many miles in the trees with the Velans, and they tend to stay in their lighter transition throughout. Only on the meadow sections with intense direct sun would they begin to transition. I could've done with a slightly darker shade on long road sections pedalling into the sun. If you’re looking for a bit more shade, but still want the versatility of the photochromic lens, they offer the Iris Smoke, which is a tad darker than the HV Blue.
These frames fit securely. I would say that they are tighter than most of the other frames I reviewed. If you have a broader head (I am 7 ⅝”) or are sensitive to pressure, these might be a little too tight for you — the half frames might have a bit less rigidity. The four included nose pads allow you to dial in the fit, and the ear socks have a lovely rubber feel that stays in place even when you’re pouring sweat. Hinges snap into place nicely and remain closed when you're hanging them on your shirt/helmet/bike.
I was a little bummed to find out that clear lenses were not included. You can purchase spares on the site, but clear lenses are $60, an outrageous price for a clear piece of plastic. During our long, dark, and muddy winters, it is essential to have cheap clear lenses to keep your eyes protected. No one wants to ruin their fancy polarized photochromic lenses with a day in the slop, but if you get the Velans, you'll want to consider some hardware store safety goggles for your winter setup.
When ordering, you'll have all the options at your fingertips. Do you prefer the rigidity of the full frame, the lightness of half frames, or why not both? You can grab one of their stock colourways or customize your own. Sungod has an excellent website and ordering process; it is awesome to see they are a certified B corp. They give 1% for the planet and have a wonderfully illustrated impact report available. On top of that, they offer a lifetime warranty on all their products. All of this adds up to a purchase that you can feel good about.
If Sungod included a case and clear lenses, these would be contending for my all-time favourite pair of cycling glasses.
Best retro look
Salice offers Italian chic without the cost
The Salice 022 sunglasses go large with the retro visor look, allowing them to rival many of the highly desirable brands for looks and, thanks to their simple yet effective design, performance.
We liked that the minimalist wraparound lens coverage kept the weight low and, with their forward-angled design, they were better at keeping the lenses free of sweat streaks than glasses that sit closer to your face.
With the fact that they’re made in Italy and of course that they have the bold looks of the Oakley Sutro, the Salice 022 sunglasses are a great lower-cost alternative to the premium cycling sunglasses brands.
Read more: Salice 022 sunglasses full review
Best for smaller faces
Koo Demos is a good option for smaller faces
Designed with the Trek-Segafredo pro teams in mind, it's no wonder that the Koo Demos hit the target when it comes to performance.
Our small-faced rider found that the one-sized (medium) glasses fitted comfortably straight out of the bag, although it's worth noting that they do come with an interchangeable nose piece to ensure a perfect fit.
Thanks to the Zeiss polycarbonate lens, the glasses provided excellent clarity; four effective ventilation ports prevented fogging even on heavy-breathing rides on cold winter days.
They are priced well against their peers, undercutting similar options on the market by a fair margin in some cases, making these a great pro-level option for many riders.
You can read the full review of the Koo Demos glasses here. We've also reviewed the Koo Spectro and Koo Supernova if you fancy something Koo but don't fancy the Demos.
Read more: Koo Demos Sunglasses full review
Best understated performance
The Smith Ruckus are versatile, all-day classics
The Ruckus is my favourite pair of glasses from my testing period. They have a simple design, ample coverage, and a great fit. They feel light but secure on your face while staying put in rough terrain.
These glasses are simple, comfortable, functional, and durable. They are in between a frameless and half-frame design, with a piece of plastic along the top of the lens that adds extra rigidity yet offers enough flex to fit different head shapes and sizes.
The nose and ear pads are almost as comfortable as the Oakley Unobtainiun, but slightly less squishy. Both do an excellent job of holding on even when covered in sweat. Oakley has the edge when things get exceptionally wet. I found myself wiping the nose pads on the Ruckus to ensure they stayed in place.
The lens transition to dark is quick—it feels less than a minute from being in full sun. The transition back to clear is a bit slower, which can be an issue in the darkest woods. A little break in riding full gas when hitting the dark is helpful.
Smith also includes a low-light rose lens that is great for cloudy days but isn’t quite as good as a simple clear lens when things get wintery dark or for nighttime rides. This second lens is a huge bonus and something that Smith does on most of its offerings. It extends the life of your glasses by 200%!
Smith also nails it with their included extras. Their glasses come in a hard case with ample space for the glasses, an extra lens, and a soft bag.
The Ruckus are a no brainer. These are the jam if you want a functional pair of glasses that work well in any condition. They might not win you a bunch of cool points, but they won’t trigger anyone either. The lifetime warranty and included accessories make the price tag a lot easier to swallow.
Best for anti-fogging
The KOO Hype Sunglasses are great for covereage and anti-fogging
The Koo Hype sunglasses use a Grilamid frame for impact protection. The arms are designed to wrap around the head to provide better security, and rubber grips are included on the arms to aid this.
The big deal with the Hype is the Maximum Ventilation System, which is essentially a central frontal port on the glasses and temple vents to improve airflow and reduce fogging, especially when climbing in humid conditions. On test, this worked very well, with the unobtrusive centre vent working well to prevent any fogging.
The spherical Zeiss optic lenses offer fantastic clarity and a decent level of hydrophobic performance. The glare protection is incredibly effective. The supplied Super Pink Mirror lenses are for brighter conditions, letting in 13% of transmittable light, but thanks to their high clarity, they perform well even in murky or cloudy weather. Our only wish would be for a photochromic lens option.
Read more: Koo Hype Sunglasses full review
How we test the best cycling glasses
Testing the best cycling glasses and sunglasses is similar to testing the best bike helmets. While we will put them through their paces when it comes to on-bike performance, fit and comfort are somewhat subjective and depend on the tester's head shape and nose bridge. Where possible, we always ensure that we obtain more than one expert's opinion; however, this isn't always possible.
So, who are we, and why should you trust the opinions of the Cycling Weekly team of cycling experts? We have hundreds of years of experience, quite literally. Not only is our publication a cycling institution with over a hundred years of heritage, but our team has spent much of their lives, and continues to do so, riding and testing bikes.
What are we looking for when testing the best cycling sunglasses? As I mentioned, comfort and fit are the main factors in how we judge sunglasses. We'll also assess the ventilation and anti-fogging properties, protection and coverage of the lens, the field of vision the glasses offer, as well as other concerns such as adjustability and, of course, value for money.
While we cannot test safety-critical or lab-quality performance in areas like the lenses, we will comment on the clarity of a lens as a subjective aspect and how it enhances the environment around us.
For more on how we test all the best cycling products, you can find all the details via our How We Test page.
Meet the testers
Charlie has tested many of the glasses featured in this guide, and given his location in the Pacific Northwest, where there is always some moisture, he has been well-placed to put many of the best cycling glasses through proper temperature changes and conditions. Charlie is from a predominantly Gravel and off-road background, where the dependency on glasses is arguably far greater, due to constant light changes and increased protection requirements.
The best cycling glasses: How to choose
Interchangeable lenses can help fine-tune for different light conditions
What are the best lens options for cycling glasses?
The most important part of any pair of the best cycling glasses is their lenses, as the tint of the lenses will dictate the conditions in which you can wear them.
Many more expensive glasses have lenses that are suited to a range of light conditions. The Oakley Prizm lens, for example, excels across a range of weather.
However, you don't have to spend a huge amount of money to get a pair of glasses with fancy photochromic lenses. Interchangeable lenses which can be swapped out according to the weather are a decent alternative and generally mean that replacements are a lot cheaper and easier to come by.
Most of the best cycling glasses that come with interchangeable lenses will come with three different options. First, you should have a standard shaded lens that provides 100% UV protection and helps dim bright sunshine when riding in the height of summer. However, they shouldn't be so dark that you're struggling to pick out the road surface if you find yourself descending down a heavily wooded lane.
The second lens should have a yellow tinge, which will be great for brightening things up when riding in overcast conditions, making it easier to spot rough road surfaces in flat light. And finally, they should come with a clear lens that is there for when you're riding after dark.
Depending on the design, changing lenses can be fiddly, though, and, unless you're careful, often results in thumbprints on the lenses that need to be cleaned off.
What are photochromatic lenses?
The other option for riding in changeable conditions is photochromic or photochromatic lenses, which adjust their lightness and darkness according to the conditions. Back in the day, these might not have been ideal for cycling, as they wouldn't change quickly enough if you were riding in and out of shade.
However, those on the latest and best cycling glasses are much better, offering quick changes in tint from almost clear through to dark enough for bright summer riding. Choose these if you want to ride in various conditions, but don't want the hassle of having to change lenses.
They're handy if your ride takes you from bright sunlight to heavy shade.
Cycling sunglass lenses are getting larger and larger
What lens size and shape are best for cycling sunglasses?
Aside from the color of the lens, there are a number of other things to look for when picking your pair of the best cycling glasses.
First of all, you want decent coverage. As well as sunshine, you want your lenses to keep bugs, water, and wind out of your eyes (with the latter being particularly important for those wearing contact lenses). One-piece lenses are usually the best for this.
Peripheral coverage to the sides and bottom of the lenses is important, as glare that creeps in here can be distracting. You also want to make sure that the frames are, as much as possible, out of your field of vision as they can obscure obstacles - hence the current trend to larger and larger lenses. Frameless designs are useful in this respect.
What are the best cycling glasses for riding in the rain?
The best cycling glasses might come with lenses that have a hydrophobic coating. When combined with a cycling cap, the best cycling glasses are handy for cycling in the rain, and a hydrophobic coating ensures that water doesn't stay on the lenses, impeding your vision.
Misting can be a problem when riding in damp conditions, when it's cold or just when you get a sweat up tackling a hill. Some of the best cycling glasses come with venting slots or other features to help guard against this. For example, the KOO Hype not only features an excellent coating but also excellent venting, regardless of the speed you are travelling.
Finally, at some point, your sunglasses are likely to be knocked off a cafe table, so an anti-scratch coating is a crucial consideration, especially if you've invested heavily.
Choosing the right Frame and Style
When you pay for your new cycling glasses, most of the money will probably go towards buying the frame rather than the lenses, so you want to make sure that you're getting good value in this area too.
The most important thing is that the frame fits well. The tips of the arms should fit snugly around your temple just above your ears, holding them securely in place even when you're looking down or swinging your head from side to side when sprinting out of the saddle. However, you don't want them to be too tight; otherwise, they will become uncomfortable quickly.
The best cycling glasses have rubber pads that grip the side of your head to hold them securely in place without needing tight arms and so that they're not relying on hooking over your ears. There are also a few with adjustable or bendable arms to ensure a good fit.
Another critical area to look at to ensure the frame fits properly is the nosepiece. Most cycling glasses feature adjustable or swappable rubber nosepieces that can be customised to fit the dimensions of your nose. That's crucial, as you don't want the glasses slipping down your face if the nosepiece is too wide, or sitting too high and falling off entirely if it's too narrow.
It's also important to ensure that the frame and fit work well with your helmet. Our guide to the best bike helmets discusses some nice touches that some brands have incorporated to ensure helmet and glasses harmony, whether on or off your face. Brands that sell both helmets and sunglasses, such as Oakley, Kask/Koo, and Rudy Project, have often specifically designed their glasses and helmets to work together.
Frame-wise, broadly there are three different styles of design: full frame, half frame and frameless.
All offer similar function (although some full-frame cycling glasses might have a problem if the upper or lower part of the frame is in your eye line), so which variety you decide to go for depends on the look that suits you, and the priority you give to weight and of course, what fits.
Many road riders choose frameless or half-frame glasses, but bear in mind that in a crash, they provide less protection for your face from the sharp edges of the lens.
- Full Frame - Tend to be a little heavier, however, as a trade off lenses tend to be interchangeable. They also offer more protection in a crash providing extra protection against any lense damage or any sharp edges. However these frames can restrict the field of view, which means the glasses tend to be much bigger, mean you can run into issues with helmet compatibility.
- Half Frame - Basically what is says on the tin and tries to take the best of full and frameless glasses. Offering my flexibility when it comes to lense choice and protection in an the case of accident, whilst increased field of vision. You will find many of the glasses featured in this guide are this style.
- Frameless - arguably the most popular amongst road cyclists for their excellent field of visions and a generally less of a need for low light lenses etc. The trade off with frameless designs is they can offer much less adjustment meaning you will likely need to shop out to find one that really fits your face shape.
Adjustable nosepieces can help fine-tune the fit
Frequently asked questions about cycling glasses
Can I buy prescription cycling glasses?
If you wear prescription glasses, you may want to look into getting prescription lenses for your cycling glasses too.
Some of the best cycling glasses brands - for example, Oakley and Bollé - can supply prescription versions of most lens styles. Other brands provide clip-in inserts which can sit behind your sunglass lenses, although this tends to reduce your in-focus field of vision. Both options do come at extra expense and can be ordered via opticians.
The alternative is wearing contact lenses underneath your normal cycling glasses.
If you're paying a lot of money for your new cycling glasses, then you should hope they come with a hard case to keep them safe
Are there any other features to look for in the best cycling glasses?
Aside from the glasses themselves, there are several other details to consider when purchasing your cycling glasses.
First off, it's nice to have a hardshell case that will be useful if you're throwing the sunglasses in a bag and travelling with them. Second, you should hope for a soft microfibre cloth to help keep the lenses clean. You may also find a lens cleaning cloth or a kit that includes a spray. Other brands offer a soft case that doubles as a lens cloth.
Finally, always check out the colour options; some of the brands offer a vast choice in frames, arms, and lenses. This allows you to ensure the all-important matching with kit when it comes to outfit planning.
Another trend is complete frame customisation. It's an option that Ekoi and Oakley offer, among others.