How to Find Good Cycling Glasses and What to Look For

Glasses are an important accessory for any serious cyclist. They protect your eyes from the elements and improve your vision while riding. Many think selecting good cycling glasses is as easy as choosing new sunglasses, but they actually come in a lot of varieties and serve different functions. Know what your needs are and find the right pair for you.

Frames

Selecting cycling glasses frames is more than deciding which ones complement your face shape. You want them to have a good fit so they'll stay on your head when going over that unexpected pothole and not slip off when you sweat.

Most cyclists prefer a wraparound style, whose lenses are supported by a band going all the way around your head and not just two arms over your ears. Wraparounds are better fitted to your head and provide more protection from flying debris and glare from the sun. Many frames are fitted with air holes over the lenses to allow ventilation and prevent fogging. This is especially important for those who wear contacts.

The frame material is also a key factor when buying glasses. They should be high quality plastic, resistant to bending and twisting. Many cycling glasses are made of a shatterproof plastic called polycarbonate. It's important your glasses can withstand an accident so you don't end up damaging your eyes with sharp pieces of your broken shades.

Before purchasing, try on different styles to find the best fit and most comfort. The last thing you want when cycling is to be distracted by ill fitting glasses.

Cycling lenses come in many different types and colors. Each color lens serves a different purpose, so its best to examine when you cycle and over what terrain. Here are some of the colors lenses come in and what they do for your vision:

• Gray – is a good all-purpose color, especially effective for brighter days.
• Amber – provides good contrast and is recommended for trail riding and uneven terrain where sharp vision is a must. Some say amber also helps prevent fatigue for riders.
• Rose – is another color recommended for uneven terrain and provides good contrast in low light and overcast days. Keeping with the old adage about rose colored glasses, they can also have a calming affect on the wearer.
• Green – reduces visual strain and allows less neutral color perception.
• Clear – are best for night riding where glare is not an issue, but protection from flying debris and bugs is still very important.

The majority of glasses brands offer frames with interchangeable lenses, so you can choose the right color for the conditions of the day. Another option is polychromatic lenses that change color depending on the light. And always be sure your lenses protect your eyes from UV rays. Some come with an anti-glare coating for further protection from the sun.

Those who need prescription lenses for their cycling glasses have two options: direct glaze and Prescription Optical Inserts. A Direct Glaze is essentially putting prescription lenses in your cycling glasses. Some style minded cyclists prefer this method because they look like normal glasses, but a downside is you can't interchange lenses. Prescription Optical Inserts clip behind the lenses of specially made cycling glasses. This is the preferred choice of contacts wearers because the inserts can be removed if the cyclists decides the wear contacts that day. Prescription Optical Inserts also allow you the interchange the glasses lenses for different conditions, but some fashion conscious cyclists don't like that you can see the inserts.

Choosing the perfect cycling glasses is extremely important for your eyes. They must fit properly, so they are comfortable and don't fall off when riding on bumpy terrain, enable you to see properly in any light, protect from debris and UV rays, and meet any prescription needs. When shopping, you may have to test out several styles and spend a little more for higher quality, but the wrong glasses can negatively affect for your vision and be a danger to you and others on the trail.