Best Sunglasses for Cycling: What To Look For and How To Choose

Cycling outdoors can involve many unexpected conditions such as rain, wind, sun, bugs, and debris. The right pair of shades will enhance your ride because they can reduce how much you’re distracted by the elements. Luckily, we have some tips to choose the best sunglasses so your next time cycling can be smooth sailing.

Why Wear Sunglasses While Cycling?

Why wear sunglasses while cycling? Well, wearing sunglasses while cycling is a crucial factor in making sure you have the safest and most enjoyable ride. You’ll want a pair of sunglasses that performs as well as you do. Sunglasses can help protect you from the elements such as rain and debris. If you’re going down a path at 15 miles per hour, trust me, you’re going to want to have something to shield your eyes.

What Do You Need to Look For in Sunglasses?

So, what do you need to look for in the right pair of sunglasses for cycling? Well, to make sure you’re maximizing functionality, there are 4 main things to look for in a pair of sunglasses: Versatility, protection, comfort, and frame strength. These four features combined will ensure that you have the best ride possible.

#1 Versatility

What does versatility mean when it comes to sunglasses? And why is it important for cycling? Well, when you’re cycling through different light conditions like going through dappled light on a forest trail, or a lot of direct sunlight and glare on a busy street, you’re going to need a pair of sunglasses that are adaptable to those varying light conditions.

Versatility can be achieved by carrying a pair of replacement lenses OR getting a pair of sunglasses with photochromic (transition) lenses. Switching out the lenses in your sunglasses to suit your individual needs is easier than ever, especially with Fuse lenses. Here at Fuse, we have over 20 different lens tints and shades that can easily be placed into your existing sunglasses.

Choosing the Right Color/Tint

Yellow and brown tinted lenses help in low-light conditions, like early morning or dusk, so you can see the road ahead of you better by brightening the contrast. Swapping out your lenses in the mid-afternoon when the sun is shining brighter than ever, will help to block even more of the light. Our recommended lenses for cycling are the Sapphire Mirror, Yellow Polarized, G15, or photochromic. The best part is our lenses start at only $24.99!

However - if you feel like swapping out your lenses takes too much time, photochromic lenses may be the right option for you. These are transition lenses that adapt to the changing light, getting darker when you need more protection from the sun and lighter when you’re in low light conditions. To learn more about photochromic lenses be sure to check out our blog and YouTube channel!

#2 Protection

Coverage and polarization are key when it comes to eye protection.

Coverage refers to the bend in the glasses, or how much they cover your eyes from the front to the sides. The more elements you have to deal with, the more coverage you’ll want from your sunglasses. The Fuse Egmont or 3 Rooker sunglasses are great for sun and wind protection and can be customized to include polarized lenses.

Polarized sunglasses keep your eyes safe from glare that can temporarily blind you bouncing off a metal or flat road. Glare can be detrimental to your eye health if you don’t protect your eyes from it. Being blinded by glare could potentially cause an accident while you’re riding. To learn more about polarized lenses and why they’re the best cycling accessory since the helmet, check out our Fuse News blog.

#3 Comfort

Sunglasses comfort varies from person to person. Some might prefer a lighter weight to their glasses, while others will enjoy the comfort fit of a heavier pair. So it’s important to try different pairs to decide which weight is most comfortable for you. Options such as nose padding can also contribute to comfort. Our Fuse Egmont frames feature nose padding that will keep your glasses comfortably on your face through any terrains you may encounter.

#4 Frame Strength

Frame strength is important because you never know what a ride is going to bring. In terms of durability, the best material for cycling sunglasses is Tr-90. You’ll want to be sure the sunglasses you use are this kind of material, especially if you need impact resistant sunglasses. TR-90 is a kind of lightweight polymer material that has high flexibility, ultra-durability, and incredible comfort. Our 3 Rooker frames are a great lightweight option made with TR-90 material, like most our sunglasses here at Fuse.

Sunglasses for Every Occasion

Here at Fuse, you can get a pair of durable, high quality cycling sunglasses without spending an arm and a leg. We make it easy to create a unique new pair of sunglasses or customize replacement lenses for your existing sunglasses. If you’re interested in learning more about Fuse Lenses replacement lenses, be sure to check out our “Guide to Fuse” blog or join in some informational fun over on our YouTube channel.