The best mountain bike sunglasses can transform your ride from a sketchy eye-watering blur to a thrilling high-definition experience. Not only do the best MTB glasses keep your vision clear and defend against harmful UV rays, but they're also vital protection against mud, dust and general trail debris. They can also protect your eyes in the event of a crash.
For riding glasses to perform at their best, they need to fit well, so getting the right ones for you and your proportions is a must. Oversized frames are definitely in vogue right now, but they are unlikely to work well if you have a smaller head. If that's you, avoid the Smith Syncline, Oakley Sutro, POC Devour and Madison Crypto models featured here.
With all of these considerations in mind, our experts have been putting the best mountain bike sunglasses to the test to compile this in-depth buying guide. We've covered every option here, from top-of-the-range to budget models.
Skip to the bottom of the article if you need advice on what to look for when choosing the best mountain bike sunglasses. Or if you're looking for models suited to a wider range of uses, see our guides to the best cycling glasses, and best cheap cycling glasses.
Best mountain bike sunglasses overall
All Julbo Fury models use the same lightweight full coverage frame, this holds the lenses in the center only to stop distortion and makes switching optics super easy. Ventilation gaps right across the top and sides, and a lower edge cut-out keeps steaming up to a minimum, too.
You can see the frames themselves all around your peripheral which might annoy some, but we found it's not enough to significantly reduce the field of vision. The soft shock-absorbing fixed nose pieces and elastomer ear grips keep the Fury secure even on the most furious descents. The locking hinges are still firm on all three sets, even after months of heavy use. There are also Fury S glasses for smaller heads, and kids' versions.
We found that the Class 1 optical quality is excellent with various fixed tints available. What really sold us on the Fury however, was its outstanding toughness. We tested three sets of Furys in pretty much constant rotation for several months, and they’re still virtually unscathed.
Our reviewer Guy Kesteven reported: "Not only does the Julbo Fury offer zero distortion, steam-free clarity, secure comfortable fit and full coverage protection in a variety of easy switch optics and frame colours, it's also outstandingly tough, which boosts its value right up to a wise investment rating."
To find out why we gave them a maximum five-star rating, read our full review of the Julbo Fury sunglasses.
Best budget mountain bike sunglasses
Tifosi is best known for designing top-performing sunglasses in all shapes and sizes at super-affordable price points. The Sledge is large lens option and aims to bring big coverage and styling with a wallet-friendly price tag.
The Sledge comes equipped with Smoke, All-Condition Red, and Clear interchangeable lenses. Not only does this make them great value, but it also means there's a lens tint option for every condition imaginable.
It's not just the lenses that have been well thought out though. The glasses look good with a frame that balances ventilation with aerodynamics in equal measure. Included in the box are a zipped hardshell case and a soft microfiber cleaning pouch.
I tested the Tifosi Sledge glasses over several months, and they were excellent performers that punched above their price tag. Three lenses means they are really versatile too.
For more info, see the full Tifosi Sledge review.
Best mountain bike sunglasses for field of vision
Despite the 100% Speedcraft SL's somewhat road-orientated stylings (they are Peter Sagan's glasses of choice), they are a great choice for off-road use too.
With a feather weight and an almost completely uninterrupted field of vision, we found it's easy to forget that you're wearing them. The pair I tested comes with the mirrored lens, clear lens, soft case, and spare nose grip that all fits nicely in a hard case.
The hydrophobic lenses stop large water beads from forming and while I found they occasionally misted up when I was working hard, the fogging quickly cleared. The Speedcrafts may look a little delicate, but I tested them on muddy, wooded trails for several months and the lens was still scratch-free.
The 100% Speedcraft SL is definitely a premium piece of eyewear. The overall package is comprehensive and helps make these top-end riding sunnies a worthy investment.
Check out our full review of the 100% Speedcraft SL sunglasses.
Best mountain bike sunglasses for comfort
Smith has decades of experience in eyewear design, so it's no surprise that this recently launched model hits the mark in a great many respects.
The Syncline gives goggle-like levels of eye coverage in a pair of MTB glasses. That means a huge lens (145mm wide by 70mm tall), with plenty of curve to give a super wide field of vision. The optical clarity is excellent too.
The glasses felt light on my face during testing and, despite their size, weigh just 35g. I didn't experience any pressure around the sides of my head or ears when riding in them for extended periods. Rubber sections on the arms give extra grip and comfort, while the rubberised nose-piece has three levels of clickable adjustment to help you dial in the best fit. Smith's proprietary rubber (called Megol) is designed to give extra grip when in contact with sweat.
The lens height can cause issues with deeper-fitting helmets, but to negate that, Smith has added a rubber bumper on top of the glasses where they could come in contact with the brim. I definitely experienced some rattle on rockier descents, but the bumper meant that it was less annoying than it might have been.
There are five different options available for a range of light conditions, including a photochromic model. They all come with a spare clear lens and a very neatly designed hard case.
Best mountain bike sunglasses for lens quality
The Prizm Trail Torch lens that came with my test Sutro sunglasses is superb. The rose-coloured tint enhances contrast, making it easier to pick out what's what on the trail and works well in varied or dappled light conditions.
It's also extremely hardy. I've been riding in Prizm-lensed Sutros for several years, and despite being roughly shoved in packs and pockets, they are still scratch-free. In fact, I've got a pair of Oakley Radar EVs with a Prizm lens that I've had for over a decade, and it's still in great condition.
Despite affording substantial eye coverage, the Sutros rarely fog up, aided by a fairly deep nosepiece that helps to allow plenty of air to flow around the frames.
The Sutros weigh in at 32g, and feel pretty light on the face with no pressure on the ears. The arms were a good fit for my head, but they are on the longer side, so they did interfere with some deeper-fitting helmets, such as the Bell Super Air.
The Oakley Sutros are an excellent option for trail riding, that work brilliantly in all but the most dimly lit wooded trails.
Best photochromic mountain bike sunglasses
We've tested a number of different glasses with photochromic lenses and while they all darken rapidly, they take several minutes to clear again – which isn't great when you plunge from full sun into dark wooded trails. What makes the Rudy Project Cutlines stand out from the competition is that it uses a red-tinted ImpactX 2Laser lens, which works well even when darkened on dimly lit trails.
Another standout feature that really impressed me was how well the lens resists damage even after months of mistreatment during testing. Despite being shoved in pockets and packs – even when already dirty – the lens is still scratch and blemish-free.
It also stubbornly resists fogging most of the time. I did get some faint misting when coming to a stop after arduous hot climbs, but it cleared rapidly as soon as I started moving again. In my review, I summed up the Cutlines as "Overall, these are the best photochromic sunglasses for MTB I've ever tested."
For more, see the full Rudy Project Cutline review.
Best mountain bike sunglasses for optical clarity
Koo is the sunglasses partner for the helmet manufacturer Kask, and has a small range of sunglasses from casual to premium on- and off-road performance models. Spectros and Demos are at the top of this range, with the Demos being more orientated to off-road use, whether that's mountain biking, cyclo-cross or adventure riding.
They come with a Zeiss lens that wraps around the face to give better peripheral vision. The lens is vented and the glasses sit reasonably away from the face to keep them fog-free, although in our tests we found that does invite the possibility of more dust, bugs or debris getting inside.
Thin arms, two-position adjustable nose piece, ribbed nose pieces and Megol elastomer strips meant they played well with every helmet we tried them with, and we found they stayed securely in place when riding.
Reviewer Guy Kesteven reported that the, "Demos sunglasses deliver excellent optical clarity in a stable, comfortable format. They’re particularly good if you spend a lot of time head down, looking up in an aero tuck."
Best mountain bike sunglasses for coverage
Big sunglasses are on trend and whether you think they look cool or ridiculous, larger lenses have their benefits, offering a better field of view and more protection. If you are looking for the biggest pair of mountain bike sunglasses, nothing comes close to the POC Devour.
The huge interchangeable Carl Zeiss lens is mounted over the front of a smaller full-frame, which allows POC to offer unmatched coverage without affecting the ergonomics of the glasses. There is the option of a regular lens, Clarity Trail, or Clarity Road which gives complete protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays and is treated with an anti-scratch and Ri-Pel hydrophobic and oleophobic treatment to combat dirt, water, and sweat.
While they are designed to pair perfectly with POC's own helmets, we found they played well with all the other MTB helmets we tried too, despite the massive size. The adjustable arms sit close to the head to avoid any interference with deep helmets, although the hooked ends means they don't work with most in-helmet storage.
Our reviewer Graham Cottingham reported: "Unless you want to wear goggles, no other eyewear offers close to the coverage and field of view as the Devours, making them one of the best options out on the trail. The comfortable fit means they will also cross over to gravel and road duties too."
For more details, check out our POC Devour review.
Best goggle-like mountain bike sunglasses
Ok, technically, the Fox Purevues are goggles, but we've included them in this list as they have some glasses-like features and are made for open-face helmets, so they are worth considering and work really well.
Google-level eye coverage gives excellent protection, but the Purevues also afford decent peripheral vision – just like the best glasses. They're secured with a goggle strap, so there's almost no risk of them slipping off mid-ride.
Despite being designed for open-faced helmets, the Purevues work just fine with full-faces too. With less padding than regular goggles and fully open sections on either side of the nose, ventilation is really good, with fogging being a rare occurrence even when sprinting up bike park climbs in a full-face.
The cut-outs on the lower edge of the lens mean there's a little more pressure put onto the padded cheek sections, but I found the Purevues were comfortable to wear for long periods, making them ideal for trail and enduro riding.
At 102g, they're lighter than most goggles, but without a full external frame, the lens is not as well protected as other models. The slightly domed lens shape is a little unusual and a look that may not work for everyone.
Our test pair came with two clear lenses, but the red-coloured Vivid option has been well-received elsewhere and is said to work well in low light. As well as an extra lens, you also get two nosepieces, and everything comes in a sturdy storage case.
Best affordable mountain bike sunglasses
The large, big-coverage design of Madison's Crypto glasses is in line with all of the best glasses currently available, and the fact that the brand produces this awesome package at a killer price point is a big bonus too.
Madison ships all Crypto glasses with three lenses, all of which best suit certain conditions and environments. We're big fans of the clear option for UK winter riding, the darker option is great for bright days and sunnier climates, while the rose-tinted lens is a great all-rounder.
Thanks to the adjustable nose piece and non-slip rubber arm tips, you can be assured the Cryptos are going to remain secure when riding. The addition of a sturdy hard case and soft pouch means they'll be safe when you're not wearing them too.
We're also keen on the Crypto's more casual styling, which looks good off the bike as well as on.
How to choose the best mountain bike sunglasses
With so much choice out there, it can be really difficult to make a decision. Luckily we're here to help, so if you're struggling to figure out which mountain bike sunglasses would suit your needs more, here is everything you need to think about first.
What type of coverage should I look for?
When it comes to protecting your face from errant trail debris, the larger the lens, the better the coverage. However, too big, and not only will you look like the third member of Daft Punk, but your glasses will likely interfere with your helmet.
Ideally, the best mountain bike sunglasses have some curvature to wrap around your face for a bit of side protection but also to prevent wind and light from sneaking around the edge and making your eyes water.
What type of lens is best for mountain biking?
Leave your sunnies with glass lenses at the trailhead. We love a good set of Ray-Bans or other fashion-focused shades, however, if they have a glass lens, you're putting your eyesight in danger. At the risk of flogging a dead horse, the primary duty of eyewear on the trail is to protect your eyes, so when that pebble your riding mate kicks up hits the glass sitting in front of your peepers at 60kph, what do you think is going to happen? Instead, go for sunnies with polycarbonate lenses or similar impact-rated material that won't shatter into your eye.
Also, look for some type of hydrophobic coating at the very least on the outside of the lens. When moisture and oil come into contact with your glasses, whether it be from a stream crossing or sweat dripping out of your helmet, a lens with this coating will bead and run off instead of smearing and obstructing your vision.
It's also worth looking for a bit of venting in the lenses to prevent them from fogging as you slog up a steep fire road.
What colour lens works best for mountain biking?
Most of us will encounter various amounts of tree cover when mountain biking, so having the right colour and tint lens makes a huge difference in seeing that slick root well before you ride over it. Lenses with red or amber tints increase contrast and help your eyes pick out trail details – even in dimmer light conditions such as woodlands.
Many optical brands are offering colour filters on their lenses, like Oakley's Prizm and Smith's ChromaPop. Each brand's system is slightly different, but they all use special dyes to filter individual colours to increase contrast and for better detail recognition and depth perception.
What frame do I need?
The frame of the best mountain bike sunglasses will largely determine their fit. Avoid metal-framed glasses as they are not designed to withstand any kind of impact, and in a crash, they will create sharp edges around your eyeballs and face.
Many riding glasses are half-frame, meaning the frame will connect to the lens on the top half, leaving the bottom edge exposed; though a new crop of riding sunnies sees the frame run along the bottom edge of the lens. There are also plenty of full-frame and frameless glasses, too.
Is the fit important for mountain bike sunglasses?
A good pair of glasses should only touch your nose and your head just behind the ears. You want to look for a rubber nose piece with a bit of adjustability built-in, and the ear stocks should have plenty of length, but shouldn’t be so long they interfere with the retention system on your helmet.
As these three points are what keep your glasses stuck to your face, in addition to the rubber nose piece, look for grippers on the ear stocks, which should provide enough tension to hold the glasses on but not give you a headache.
How we test the best mountain bike sunglasses
Our experts tested these sunglasses out over many months in different light conditions, and various weathers, from cold and wet to dry and dusty. We assessed their performance in a wide range of categories, including coverage, optical clarity, steaming/fogging, fit and comfort, stability, weight, lens changing systems, and durability.
