The best sunglasses for cycling are the ones that allow you to see well while reducing the amount of sun and ultraviolet radiation reaching your eyes.

A good pair should provide protection from all types of light, such as sunlight, headlight glare at night, and artificial light such as a lamp or streetlight in evening or shaded areas.

Unfortunately, no sunglasses can block 100% of harmful rays. For this reason it’s important to understand what levels and types of UV radiation different sunglasses block to make an informed purchase decision.

Although polarization has no effect on limiting incoming light, many cyclists prefer polarized lenses because they reduce reflected glare—a significant source of distraction when cycling on the pavement or near water or snow.

In addition to finding a pair of sunglasses that effectively reduce the total amount of light you’re exposed to, they also need to fit well.

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Although perfectly fitted sunglasses are more comfortable in warm climates, improperly fitting glasses can be quite uncomfortable.

Check out my tips on buying the right cycling sunglasses to help ensure your new glasses fit well and feel great when riding.

Ready for some examples? Let’s take a look at five different types of good sunglasses suitable for bike touring…

The best cycling sunglasses are wraparound with extra-wide lenses made from polycarbonate

lens material—a type of plastic offering the best impact resistance with very little distortion when compared with glass or standard plastic lenses .

These lenses have wider peripheral vision than other lens types, which is helpful when drafting behind other cyclists or when riding in close quarters with motor vehicles.

Wraparound sunglasses are perfect for bike tours because they offer the best protection against wind and road debris.

They almost completely enclose your eyes to block out wind, dust, rain, insects, stones thrown up by cars and trucks, etc. The downside?

Wraparound lenses can sometimes feel claustrophobic if you wear them in non-competitive situations where you’re not drafting behind someone…but this is true of any type of cycling glasses (see my post on how to avoid eyestrain while wearing sunglasses ).

The lenses should be made from polycarbonate

lens material that blocks 100% of UVA & UVB radiation,

and the frame should be made of light and durable materials like carbon fiber, titanium or polycarbonate.

And they should provide ample coverage to block reflected light due to polarization.

For insulation, I like glasses with removable side shields (see photo).

Some examples of good sunglasses for bike touring include: Performance Sunglasses (by KASK), Rudy Project Rydon RX-500, Bolle Carve cycling glasses, Cébé Around S3 road running sunglasses, Smith Optics PivLock V2 Max sunglasses . All these models are available in polarized versions if that’s your preference.

I’ve tried dozens of different types of cycling glasses over the years on my bike tours; some better than others…and some that I wouldn’t recommend.

Here’s my pick of the top three models for bike touring:

POC Lobe’s sunglasses come with two interchangeable lenses [BEST VALUE]: For years my favorite cycling glasses were a set of Rudy Projects (see photo).

But in my opinion, they don’t hold a candle to the POC Lobes…which retail for about $100 less!

The frames and lenses are nearly identical in terms of fit and coverage; both offer 100% UV protection, but the POCs provide better overall vision quality due to superior anti-fog protection .

They also have more modern styling which I find quite appealing. What really sets these glasses apart is their interchangeable lens system, offered at no extra charge.

The lens swap-out is a breeze and only takes a moment…but you’ll need to buy the replacement lenses from Sikk Optics .

Pros:

Good value, interchangeable lenses, great coverage for wind & dust  [ go to POC Lobe’s product page ]

Smith Optics PivLock V2 Max sunglasses provide a great fit and a ton and a half of coverage for wind & dust [PRICEY] :

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These are my favorite cycling glasses…but I have to be honest here: They’re not the best value.

But if you can afford them, they offer terrific all-around performance with plenty of protection from wind, dust and debris. They come with 3 sets of interchangeable lenses (smoke, clear and photochromic); plus you can buy additional lenses from Smith as well.

Pros:

Great coverage for wind & dust, top-notch anti-fog performance, good impact resistance, modern styling

Cons:

• Very pricey

Giro Xar cycling glasses offer an eye-catching design with a huge field of vision [MILD VALUE]:

I was impressed by the Giro Xar glasses on my recent bike tour through New Zealand because they fit so well and offered fantastic coverage.

They come with 3 sets of interchangeable lenses (smoke, clear and photochromic); plus you can buy additional lenses from Giro .

Pros:

Great coverage for wind & dust, top-notch anti-fog performance, modern styling

Cons:

Pinching bridge between the eyes when wearing them in a non-competitive situation [ go to Giro Xar product page ]

At the end of the day, there are dozens of great cycling glasses models out there. The ones I like best are the POC Lobes (for value), Smith Optics PivLock V2 Max (for performance) and Giro Xar (for style).

Check them out for yourself at your local bike shop or online and have fun looking good on your next bike tour!