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7 Best Cycling Sunglasses in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Last Updated on

couple cyclists wearing sunglasses

If you like to cycle, you know that a good pair of sunglasses can make a big difference in your comfort and enjoyment. However, with so many different brands available, it can be difficult to sort through them all to find a pair that works for you. If you want a new pair of cycling sunglasses but aren’t sure where to start, you’ve come to the right place. Here are reviews of several models, along with the pros and cons of each, so you can see the differences between them. There’s also a buyer’s guide, so you’ll know what to look for as you shop around

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A Glance at Our Winners in 2024

Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Tifosi Optics Crit Sunglasses Tifosi Optics Crit Sunglasses
  • Multiple color options
  • Interchangeable lenses
  • Large lenses
  • Best Value
    Second place
    SSP Eyewear Puyallup Polarized Sunglasses SSP Eyewear Puyallup Polarized Sunglasses
  • UV 400 protection
  • 1-mm thick lenses
  • Side accent lenses
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Oakley Flight Jacket Sunglasses Oakley Flight Jacket Sunglasses
  • Huge lens
  • Durable
  • Multiple lens options
  • Best for Children
    Julbo Cover Sunglasses Julbo Cover Sunglasses
  • Unique fit
  • Soft comfort material
  • Maximum eye protection
  • SSP Eyewear Cowlitz Polarized Sunglasses SSP Eyewear Cowlitz Polarized Sunglasses
  • UV 400 protection
  • 1-mm lenses
  • Rubber nose and ear pads
  • The 7 Best Cycling Sunglasses

    1. Tifosi Optics Crit Sunglasses — Best Overall

    Tifosi Optics Crit Sunglasses

    Polarized: No
    Flexible: Yes

    Tifosi Optics Crit Sunglasses is our pick as the best overall cycling sunglasses. They come in many different colors, including black, red, gray, and white, to help you find something that you like. The lenses are interchangeable, so you can create new styles, and they are quite large, so your eyes are well-protected. They also adapt to ambient lights to provide a clear view.

    We found the Tifosi glasses to be quite durable but also quite expensive.

    Pros

    • Multiple color options
    • Interchangeable lenses
    • Large lenses
    • Adapts to ambient light
    Cons
    • Expensive

    2. SSP Eyewear Puyallup Polarized Sunglasses — Best Value

    SSP Eyewear Puyallup Polarized Sunglasses

    Polarized: Yes
    Flexible: Yes

    SSP Eyewear Puyallup Polarized Sunglasses is our pick as the best cycling sunglasses for the money. These sunglasses have polarized lenses that reduce glare and have UV protection, preventing harmful sunlight from damaging your eyes. The thick 1.1-mm lenses provide protection from flying debris, and the side accent lenses are attractive and functional.

    The only downside is that they scratch easily.

    Pros

    • UV 400 protection
    • 1-mm thick lenses
    • Side accent lenses
    • Cleaning cloth
    Cons
    • Scratch easily

    3. Oakley Flight Jacket Sunglasses — Premium Choice

    Oakley Flight Jacket Sunglasses

    Polarized: No
    Flexible: Yes

    Oakley Flight Jacket Sunglasses are our premium choice of cycling sunglasses. These have a huge lens that will provide maximum protection for your eyes, and they are quite durable. When purchasing these glasses, you can select from multiple lenses, including one that doesn’t provide any tint, only eye protection. You can replace the arms, and the aerodynamic design helps them feel more comfortable on your face while riding.

    The downside of the Oakley Flight Sunglasses is that they are extremely expensive and don’t provide polarization or UV protection.

    Pros

    • Huge lens
    • Durable
    • Multiple lens options
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • No polarization

    4. Julbo Cover Sunglasses — Best for Children

    Julbo Cover Sunglasses

    Polarized: No
    Flexible: No

    Julbo Cover Sunglasses is our pick as the best cycling sunglasses for children. These glasses are extremely rugged and will put up with intense abuse. The wrap-around design provides maximum eye protection, and the soft-comfort material ensures that they are comfortable while your child is wearing them.

    We recommend these Julbo sunglasses if you frequently go cycling with a child, especially on dirt roads. The downside is that they’re expensive for something that a child might not take care of, and there is no UV protection.

    Pros

    • Unique fit
    • Soft comfort material
    • Maximum eye protection
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • No UV protection

    5. SSP Eyewear Cowlitz Polarized Sunglasses

    SSP Eyewear Cowlitz Polarized Sunglasses

    Polarized: Yes
    Flexible: Yes

    SSP Eyewear Cowlitz Polarized Sunglasses are extremely attractive glasses that will look fantastic on any rider. The thick 1.1-mm lenses provide extra protection from flying debris, the polarized lenses can help clear up your view by eliminating reflections, and the ultraviolet protection will keep dangerous sunlight from damaging your eyes. The rubber nose and ear pads enable you to tailor the glasses to your face, and it even comes with a microfiber pouch for storing your glasses when you’re not using them.

    The downside of the Cowlitz model is that it scratches easily, and if you don’t use the rubber nose pads, the glasses will slide around on your face.

    Pros

    • UV 400 protection
    • 1-mm lenses
    • Rubber nose and ear pads
    • Includes microfiber pouch
    Cons
    • Scratches easily
    • Slides around

    6. ROCKBROS Polarized Sunglasses

    ROCKBROS Polarized Sunglasses

    Polarized: Yes
    Flexible: Yes

    ROCKBROS Polarized Sunglasses are attractive cycling glasses that have a large curved lens that helps reduce glare by eliminating harsh reflections. The lens is also polarized to remove glare coming from surfaces on the ground and provide UV protection. A special air inlet provides superior ventilation that prevents the glasses from fogging while you’re wearing them.

    Unfortunately, the ROCKBROS lens scratches easily, and it’s quite thin, so it may not be as durable as some other lenses.

    Pros

    • UV 400 protection
    • Air inlet
    • Large, wrap-around lens
    Cons
    • Thin lens
    • Scratch easily

    7. Queshark Cycling Glasses

    Queshark Cycling Glasses Sports Sunglasses

    Polarized: Yes
    Flexible: Yes

    Queshark Cycling Glasses have a modern design that many people enjoy, and you can choose from several colors to match your personal style. The large lens is polarized to reduce glare, and it also provides UV protection. You can replace the frame temple that holds the arms, so you never have to worry about broken arms, and the glasses are lightweight, so they’re comfortable to wear while riding. You even get three interchangeable lenses to use in different situations.

    The downside of Queshark cycling glasses is that the arms feel flimsy, and only one of the three lenses that come with your purchase is polarized.

    Pros

    • Lightweight
    • Replaceable lens
    • Multiple color choices
    Cons
    • Not all lenses have a polarized coating
    • Flimsy arms

    Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Cycling Sunglasses

    Polarization

    Polarization is one of the most important things to look for when selecting a pair of cycling glasses. The polarized lens blocks light coming into the glasses horizontally, which is usually the result of reflections off the ground. These reflections can make it more difficult to see, so filtering them out can give you a sharper image.

    Ultraviolet Protection

    Lenses that provide UV protection will filter out the harmful rays from the sun. UV light can burn and damage your eyes, reducing your ability to see, so choosing a lens that filters out the harmful light is a good idea, especially if you like to cycle during the day.

    Lens Size

    When cycling, you need your lenses to provide you with good visibility, but they should also protect your eyes from flying debris, as you can encounter dust, rocks, discarded cigarettes, and more while riding. Large lenses will provide better protection, so make sure the glasses cover your eyes well.

    Comfort

    Your cycling sunglasses will not be much use if they’re uncomfortable and you don’t want to wear them. Unfortunately, many glasses don’t feel awkward until after you wear them for several hours, so it’s important to look at as many reviews as you can about a particular brand to see what other people are saying about them.

    Durability

    Since many brands of cycling sunglasses can be quite expensive, it’s important to find a pair that’s as durable as it is functional. We recommend glasses designed to flex, as they can conform to your head for a better fit and are better able to withstand the stresses of normal use.

    Appearance

    Naturally, you want to choose a pair of sunglasses that looks good on you so you will be happy wearing them while you ride. Many brands have several colors to choose from, and a few even let you switch out the lenses.

    Conclusion

    When choosing your next pair of cycling sunglasses, we highly recommend our pick for the best overall. Tifosi Optics Crit Sunglasses have many color options, durable construction, and a large protective lens. They are lightweight and comfortable to wear, even in hot weather. Another great choice is our pick for the best value. The SSP Eyewear Puyallup Polarized Sunglasses have thick lenses that will better protect your eyes from flying debris. They are polarized and provide UV protection at a low cost.


    Featured Image Credit: Dmitriy Frantsev, Unsplash

    About the Author Ed Malaker

    Ed Malaker is a veteran writer who contributes to a wide range of blogs covering information on computer programming, pets, birding, tools, fitness, guitars, and optics. Outside of writing, Ed is often found working in the garden or performing DIY projects in the house. Ed is also a musician, spending his time composing music for independent films or helping people repair their guitars.