Best cycling glasses: They're more than just sun protection

I'm now in my third year of curating this guide, and it remains my favourite. As with the best cycling socks, I'm not going to pretend that the best cycling glasses will have a transformative effect on your ride, but there are certainly very noticeable differences between a great pair and one that doesn't make the cut.

In the last few years, I've tested out well over 60 pairs of cycling glasses, and as well as this guide I've also put together a partner page for the best cheap cycling glasses, as you can pick up some truly excellent pairs nowadays for a pretty small investment if you know where to look. In this latest iteration, a few pairs have been replaced by better models as I try more and more pairs out.

For years Oakley has been the big name in sports eyewear, and while I've also put together a dedicated guide to Oakley cycling glasses there are plenty of amazing options beyond the big O. If you need vision correction I've also put together another guide to the best prescription cycling glasses, as there are a good few options out there. 

Each pair has been assessed for fit, build quality, wind and sun protection, and particularly important to me is how they perform in low light. I've also got a solid collection of the best road helmets in the cupboard, so how they fit into vents is also tested too. While my standout favourite remains the Oakley Encoder with a Prizm Road lens, there are plenty of options that I regularly rotate through depending on the conditions. 

If you're not sure of what to look for or get confused by all the acronyms and lens types worry not, there is an FAQ section at the bottom of the page to help guide you. 

Quick list

In detail: Best cycling glasses available today

Best all-purpose cycling glasses

The cycling glasses below are my picks for jack-of-all-trades riding. They'll stand you in good stead for road or gravel, and I'd wager MTB too, though that's not my area of expertise. 

They all fit well, provide an excellent field of vision, and consequently protect you well from both wind and debris. They are mostly at the higher end of the price bracket, but for the extra outlay, you'll get better materials, and lenses that perform better in low light and that are free from distortion. 

As modern lenses improve and can cover nearly all light conditions, many manufacturers are opting to revert back to a single lens option, rather than a swappable set.

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I have the opportunity to wear more or less any cycling glasses on the market, but when I'm not testing something new the Oakley Encoders are the pair I always come back to. They're not perfect, but they hit a Goldilocks zone offering incredible optics, a brilliant field of view, and a combination of fantastic retention without becoming uncomfortable. They are also the only frameless pair of cycling glasses that hold this well, far better than any of the lightweight options, thanks to the ridge at the upper edge of the lens. 

While the lens isn't the biggest, the wrap is moderate so the field of view is very good. The real star though is the lens tint itself: The Prizm Road lens is the best on the market for clarity, contrast, and importantly given that you can't swap the lenses, use over a wide range of light conditions. I've used the Encoder in full, peak summer sun all the way through overcast conditions, to near twilight.

The nose and arm grippers ensure the whole package stays in place with a tenacity that's unmatched by anything else. The only drawback is that the nosepiece, replaceable to tune the fit, has a wide rubber halo that does slightly encroach on the field of view. If I had to keep only one pair from my massive stash of cycling glasses it would be these. If you want to know a little more I've written a full review, so you can delve even deeper. It's also worth noting that, visually at least, the Encoder shares a lot with the more maverick-looking Oakley Kato. I prefer the Encoder, but the Kato is also decent if you like the look.

Everything I've said here is also true for the vented variant, the Encoder Strike. It's a slightly different lens shape, but not enough to make it perform any differently. If you live somewhere particularly humid then go for these instead. 

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If I don't reach for the Encoders I usually grab the Demos from Koo, the eyewear sister brand to Kask helmets. The Demos share a lot of the same qualities that make an excellent pair of cycling glasses, those being good retention, good optics, and an unimpeded field of view. 

The Demos sit a little higher on the face than the Encoder, and as such are slightly better suited to more aero positions where you're looking more through the upper portion of the frame. The Zeiss lenses are a little lighter in tint but offer similar clarity and contrast. Perhaps not so brilliant in really strong sun, but in lower light they're much the same. 

Unlike the Encoder, you can swap the lenses easily on the Demos, though no spare is included, which feels like a letdown at this price point. All the same, the build quality feels excellent, with a really solid hinge. 

Honestly, the main thing that I didn't like about the Demos was the packaging. If you're environmentally minded then it'll probably enrage you too, as a single pair of sunglasses came in a box larger than one that would contain a pair of hiking boots. Within this large box was an intricate inset structure, which then housed another cardboard box and sleeve, within which the glasses case and sunglasses themselves were housed. I've no idea if this is still the case, but it was ridiculous.

My colleague Josh Ross has penned a full review for the Demos, and our opinions tend to match up nicely, so dive in if you want to find out more. 

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I've got the S3 from 100% in a colourway that's a clear homage to Gulf Racing. Given the brand's background in American Motocross, it feels semi-fitting. The soft-touch finish, something that you can only really get from 100% to my knowledge, does also lend a noticeably premium feel to proceedings, though if you have greasy hands from a dropped chain the frames can hold stains more than others.

Finish and colours aside the S3 are a brilliant pair of cycling glasses. Perhaps not as complete as the Demos and the Encoder, but still very good. The nosepiece doesn't hold so well, and while the arms grip very well they are quite long and don't have a strong wrap meaning they're more likely to interfere with the rear cradle of a helmet.

The HiPER lenses, an orange base with a silver exterior in this case, are excellent in both shape and contrast. A little less good than the Prizm offerings from Oakley and the Clarity lenses from POC, but on the flipside you get a clear lens in the box with every set of 100% glasses, so you can use them at night and in the winter with ease. For really filthy gravel rides this is excellent as you can just throw the clear lens on and not worry about scratching off the lens coating with grit.

Another benefit to these, mostly for aesthetic reasons, is the wide range of colour options. I'd always advocate for choosing the lens you need first, but I appreciate that for a lot of you cycling glasses are a style-first decision, and so if you need options then you'll have many to choose from here. 

My 100% S3 review goes into all the reasons why I think these are the best choice if you spend a lot of time riding outside in winter. 

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The Radar EV Path aren't really my cup of tea, but they do exist in a space in the market that transcends purely cycling, and offer a true multisport offering that will no doubt appeal to many. This is reflected in a truly dizzying array of lens options available, from the brilliant Prizm Road to golf and watersport-specific options. 

They also offer an aesthetic package that doesn't necessarily scream 'cyclist', which may be a bonus to some of you, particularly if you engage in sports other than cycling too. 

They're certainly a less arresting visual package than the whopping mono lenses of the POC Devour and the Oakley Sutro Lite, though the smaller lens does offer a more limited field of view, particularly at the top of the lens where the frame does encroach a little on things when in a full aero tuck. I found the frame did basically sit against my eyebrows too, which was a little annoying. 

All this aside you're still getting brilliant Oakley optics, and a retention only really topped by the Encoder. If you're into more than just cycling (maybe you do insane things like running too, no judgement) and want something that works well while in an upright position, these are hard to overlook.

My Oakley Radar EV Path review goes into why I think these still have a place amongst the best on the market.

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Cycling glasses from POC all have a similar aesthetic; a big lens with rounded edges that are noticeably wider than the competition. The Demos have size, the Elicit have low weight, and the Propel have aero. The Aspire are the generalist, and though they have some drawbacks I think they're the coolest looking sunglasses on the market, especially in the tortoiseshell that I've got. This may be thanks to their use by the EF Pro Cycling teams, but whatever it is it works for me. 

The large lens, full frame, and thick, tuneable arms make them one of the heaviest pairs on test, and while the retention isn't quite so good at the nose, the bendable arms can be shaped to fit even my tiny pea head easily, so they don't go anywhere. 

The Clarity lenses are second only to the Prizm range for me, and offer a huge field of view. Not so uninterrupted as that of the frameless Elicit, but not far off. The size and lack of vents do mean I tend to not take them out on absolutely roasting days, as they can be a little stuffy, but most of the time they're fine as they sit quite far from the face. 

Lens swapping isn't the easiest, and they don't come with a clear lens like some other POC options, but much like with Prizm lenses, I tend to not feel like I need to swap until it's basically time to just take them off and stow them in the helmet. It also goes without saying that they play very nicely with POC helmets. One thing about POC lenses particularly is that I've found they're more prone than others to pick up fingerprints and smudges. 

If these look like they might float your boat then head to my POC Aspire review for all the details. 

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I think any fan of pro cycling is lying to themselves if they say they don't enjoy a bit of 'pretending to be a pro racer'. Whether it's sprinting for town signs or dressing the part, it's very much part of the fun, and while the Kato wasn't my favourite pair of cycling glasses they are used by a great swath of the peloton and have found particular favour among the sprinters. 

The wrap is enormous, meaning they have a peripheral vision only really matched by the equally wrapped Poc Propel. The Prizm Road lens is just as brilliant as it is on any other model, though around the nose shield, there is a small bit of distortion.

The lens takes some adjustment; because of the nose shield, you need to adjust the rake angle of the lens so the gripper, and not the lens itself sits on your nose. It's fiddly, but once it's done it's fit and forget.

My main issue with the Kato is that they're very breezy. I sometimes found my eyes watering on long, fast descents, and so if you are torn between these and the similar-looking Encoder then I suggest the latter.

However, aesthetics are a big part of cycling glasses, and if these appeal to you then they are still a decent set of shades, and won't let you down, especially if they make you feel like Jasper Philipsen. 

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Normally I eschew photochromic lenses. Modern lenses are so good nowadays that they feel slightly unnecessary, but the Spatz Shield made me reconsider. Spatz is better known for making overshoes for riding in torrential rain, but it's now expanded into eyewear, and I'm happy to report it's done so successfully. 

The Shield is another very big option, up there with the Demos, and the thick transparent plastic full frame design means they feel extremely sturdy. This, combined with the thick arms at the temple make them the most solid feeling of any I've come across.

So good is the Photochromic lens that I haven't bothered using the included Iridescent Red option. The red lens looks to be a pretty standard affair, but from the brief tests I've done, it does lack the contrast of top-tier options. If however, you want a lens that changes with the conditions then this is the pair to opt for. 

The photochromic lens has a subtle purple tint that, when they are fully transparent, just takes any edge off things, and feels a little like those blue light-blocking glasses. It's subtle, but when it's overcast it makes a difference and will stop you squinting.

While massive, they do sit quite far from the face and do get a little breezy, but not to the point it becomes a real annoyance. The lens swap too isn't the easiest, mostly as the frames are so sturdy, but it's far from a pain too.

To find out all the ins and out of these head to my Spatz Shield sunglasses review.

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While the Jawbreaker set something of a benchmark for cycling performance eyewear, the Sutro for some time set the standard for "having a massive lens". While it's not the biggest, smaller than the POC Devour and even the 100% S3, it offers many of the same advantages, primarily an enormous field of view. 

Having used both the Sutro and the Sutro Lite (and the Sutro Lite Sweep), my advice is to go for the Sutro Lite. The Lite, as well as ditching half the frame, also adds arm grippers, and so the retention is drastically improved.

I have a pair with the Prizm Sapphire lens, and while it isn't as contrasty in low light as the Prizm Road option, it's better in very bright sun.

Aesthetically I think the Sutro Lite is a great look, but they do fall down on some performance metrics. The lack of lens venting is one, as is the inability to easily swap lenses (again, just get the Prizm Road lens, trust me). They sit far enough from the face though, that venting isn't a huge issue. The only real bugbear I had with the normal Sutro was the lack of arm grippers and the Lite more than fixes this. 

They are big, though. If you have a small face then they may well swamp you, and may also start interfering with the brow of your helmet.

There's even a titanium version too, rivalling the POC Elicit Ti for the bling factor. We've got a full review of the Sutro Lite, if you want to know more.

Best lightweight cycling glasses

Not just for the weight weenies and those riding the best lightweight bikes, having a truly featherweight pair of cycling glasses comes in handy in far more important ways than just shaving a couple of grams. 

Most options are frameless, and in my experience are a better choice in hotter climates. The low weight is great, but they are generally a little more airy, so they're what I reach for if it's muggy, or if I'm doing a ride with protracted climbs to allow a little more airflow to my face. 

The tradeoff is that they tend to feel a little less secure on the face, so are less suitable for gravel riding in particular. 

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If you want a featherweight pair of cycling glasses then these are, in my opinion, the best in the business. They're a little more expensive than the Hypercraft from 100%, but the lenses and field of view are better.

As with most frameless pairs the retention isn't so secure as with a frame, so on a small head they feel looser, but they do a good job with quality arm grippers and a replaceable nosepiece. The rounded edges to the lens, along with its size, meaning the edges feel like they almost blend seamlessly into the periphery, adding to the feeling that you're not really wearing any glasses at all.

If you want to go bling then there is a titanium version, and those do grip even better and are lighter, but at least the arms on these plastic versions hinge. 

As per the other POC options, the lenses are excellent, though prone to smudging. The benefit for me is that thanks to a large lens that sits far from the face and no frame, they are lovely and airy on scorching days without any real issues letting wind get to your eyes. They don't feel nearly as stuffy as the Aspire, but they also are a little more fragile feeling. 

The lens swap is simple, with both the main lens and the included clear spare featuring a socket that the arms simply slide onto. Think of it less as a lens swap and more as an arm swap. Check out our POC Elicit Clarity review for all the rest of the details.