Mountain Biking Specific Sunglasses

Many riders wonder what is so special about cycling specific eyewear. Are cycling glasses mostly about style or is it about function? While what type of sunglasses you wear on the trail is personal preference, there are benefits and functionality to cycling specific sunglasses that make them more desirable. Below we will discuss some of the benefits of using cycling sunglasses over your regular sunnies. We do recommend our clients wear some type of eye protection at our clinics and this article can help you make an informed decision regarding your eye protection choice. 

Protection
Your vision is one of the most important aspects to riding safely, effectively and efficiently. We talk about vision a lot here at Women in the Mountains. You can read more about vision in these other articles - Where To Look When Riding and Vision for Mountain Sports. It should be no surprise why we want to protect your eyes and vision at all costs. Have you ever been cruising along and your eyes have started to water from the impact of the wind rushing against your face? Have you experienced a bug getting caught in your eye and impairing your vision or concentration? These slight interruptions or annoyances can cause accidents, crashes and injuries. It is also common for mud, dirt, sticks, rocks and other debris to get kicked up by your tires. Untrimmed or unmaintained tree branches or shrubbery can also hit you in the face or be the objects or source of impact when crashing. Wearing sunglasses provides protection against these hazards while riding and helps your vision stay uninterrupted.

Frames 
What is so special about cycling specific frames? 

• You will find better coverage and frames that wrap around your face which provides side protection and a better field of vision. 

• Cycling glasses remain securely fastened to your face when riding on dirt, rocky, rooty or rough terrain. There is nothing worse than your sunglasses continuously sliding down your face to the tip of your nose; this can be a huge distraction while riding. 

• Cycling specific frames are also designed to fit with helmets better. You may find your non-cycling eyewear rubbing up against your helmet in weird and uncomfortable positions. That being said, we highly recommend trying cycling glasses on with your current helmet to identify how they will work together.

• Frame materials of cycling sunglasses are also specific. Materials need to be able to withstand impact or be flexible in the case of a crash. You don’t want to wear glasses that could potentially break into sharp objects and cut your face. Please never wear eyewear or sunglasses biking that have glass lenses, this is extremely dangerous. We also don't recommend wearing sunglasses with metal arms. 

Lenses
Let’s talk about lenses and lighting. Many of us have experienced or ridden with standard shaded lenses. Mainly these glasses are meant to dim bright sunlight, which is great if you are riding in heavily exposed areas with little shade or dim light (i.e. desert riding). For areas with variable lighting - overcast skies, riding in and out of shade cover - standard shaded lenses are typically too dark. Dark lenses in these conditions make it difficult to see clearly or pick out objects or definition in the trail. This can be scary and even dangerous for mountain bikers, especially when traveling at high speeds. 

In short, your lens color matters in relation to mountain biking. In fact, your lens color is the most important factor to consider when picking out a cycling specific pair of sunglasses. You will want to determine what lighting or conditions you ride in most frequently and seek out a lens that will maximize your vision and clarity out on the trails. You will find that many cycling specific sunglasses have interchangeable lenses so you can use different lens colors for different conditions. Below we will give a brief overview of different tints and lens colors found on sunglasses. 

• Clear
  Many cycling sunglasses or goggles come with a clear lens, in addition to the main lens. Clear lenses are great in low light when night riding or when there is dense cloud cover. You are still protecting your eyes and your vision isn’t impaired by a tinted lens. If you don’t have a clear lens, you can also consider wearing clear safety glasses in these conditions. Clear lenses definitely have their use when riding, but we also recommend finding another lens or pair of sunglasses that will also protect your eyes in other conditions. See how the Smith Wildcats can do both below! 

• Yellow
  Yellow lenses work great in dim, low light conditions. A yellow lens will improve visibility on the trail, improve depth perception and brighten your surroundings. 

• Amber or Brown
  Amber or brown colored lenses work well in varying conditions. These lenses will brighten up your surroundings and improve depth perception, but will also provide comfort in sunny conditions, reduce glares, block blue light and heighten contrasts between green and blue backgrounds such as grass or sky. This is a very popular lens color for golfers or for those participating in water activities.

• Blue or Purple
  Blue or purple lenses are great for low light conditions, enhancing color perception and reducing glare. These lenses work well in foggy or misty weather and are often used in snow sports. 

• Red or Rose
  Red or rose lenses are very popular for sports and outdoor activities. They work well in varying conditions. The red and rose tint block blue light, improve visibility, depth perception, provide the greatest amount of contrast and enhance detail. Check out the Prizm Road and Trail Lens by Oakley below.

Mountain Biking Sunglasses
We wanted to mention some of our favorite mountain biking specific sunglasses. Stayed tuned for a future article discussing more cycling and mountain biking sunglasses on the market as well as a full review on our POC Devour and Aspire Sunglasses! 

• POC Devour Sunglasses
  The official sunglasses for the Women in the Mountains team in 2021. The Devour sunglasses provide incredible protection and coverage and give a wide field of view with their frameless design (If you prefer a smaller lens check out the POC Aspire). In addition to great coverage and protection we love the adjustable temple and nose pieces to fit different head shapes / sizes and ensure a secure fit for all riders. The breathability and anti-fogging technology also excels in comparison to other cycling sunglasses. The Clarity Trail Silver Mirror Cat Lens has been fine tuned and is specific for trail use. This lens will sharpen colors found on the trails like greens and browns. They work well in both bright and lower light conditions, but also come with a clear interchangeable lens for low light. These sunglasses are the perfect all around eye wear for mountain bikers and cyclists and we advocate that they are the best on the market! 

• Oakley
  Oakley’s Sutro Lite Prizm Sunglasses are some of the most beloved lenses for cyclists and mountain bikers. The Prizm lens allows you to easily go between shade and bright light while enhancing your vision in both conditions. These lenses will also increase your depth perception on the trail and allow you to spot rocks, roots or any other objects on the trail whether in shade or bright light. This lens enhances reds and browns. You can learn more about Oakley’s different lens colors here. The Oakley Jawbreakers and Oakley Sutro are some of the most popular mountain biking glasses by Oakley. Stay tuned for a full review on the Prizm Road and Trail Lenses. 

• Smith Wildcat
  The Smith Wildcat sunglasses have quickly become a cycling favorite. These sunglasses also feature a larger, goggle style lens to offer the most protection. We wanted to specifically highlight some of the lens options paired with the Smith Wildcats that are optimal for riders and mountain bikers. First, let’s discuss their Photochromic Clear to Gray Lens. If you aren’t familiar, photochromic lenses change their tint or color based on the light exposure. This has been popular with prescription eyewear. Eyeglass wearers would step outside with their regular, everyday glasses and have their glasses transform (change tint) to become sunglasses. While that fad has mostly come and gone, now think of this in terms of biking! This is invaluable for riders who ride in variable light conditions and need to easily adjust between brighter to dimmer light. Smith’s Photochromic Clear to Gray Lens shifts from clear to gray when exposed to sun or brighter light. This is a great option for those riding in variable conditions (dark to light, light to dark) and in areas with dim light from tree cover or overcast skies. Then for those riders in more consistent brighter or intense sunlight (desert, exposed riding) the ChromaPop Red Mirror or ChromaPop Black is popular as it enhances clarity and helps you see more detail in bright light out on the trails! 

Improve your riding experience with a pair of cycling glasses working with you and not against you. Take time to understand the lens you are purchasing and what benefits it will provide you. 

Other Factors to Consider
Here are some other factors to consider when choosing your next pair of cycling sunglasses. 

• Anti-fogging
  Look for anti-fogging technologies in the glasses that you purchase. There is nothing worse than a pair of foggy sunglasses on the trail. Look for vents designed for maximum air flow or anti-fogging coating applied to the lens. 

• Fit
  Ensure that your sunglasses are going to fit your head comfortably as well as stay in place while being active. You don’t want your glasses sliding down your nose or face while you ride. Look for adjustable features if you have a narrow face or petite head. Look for silicone grippers or features along the arm of your glasses or adjustable nose pieces to help customize the fit. Lastly, try your glasses on with your helmet. With glasses increasing in size, there is no guarantee that your glasses are going to fit well with your helmet unless you are staying within brand for both your cycling glasses and helmet. You can find that with both POC and Smith. 

Here at Women in the Mountains we highly recommend our clients wear some type of eye protection at our clinics and while riding. If you don’t have cycling specific eyewear then bring and wear your everyday sunglasses, as long as they don’t have glass lenses. Even a pair of clear safety glasses will work!

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