Best cycling glasses for 2023: Protection from the sun plus heaps of style

For a lot of people choosing the best cycling glasses is mostly a style decision, and that's totally valid. They are far less important to your overall performance than many other things, though more important than the best cycling socks, but for me, they are my favourite accessory and so this guide is always my favourite one to pull together. Over the last 18 months or so I've been swapping between well over 30 pairs of cycling glasses in all weathers, and with a variety of the best road bike helmets too, to see what works and what doesn't to help you make the right choice. If you are in need of vision correction I've also put together a parallel guide to the best prescription cycling glasses too. 

There are a bundle of all-rounders that all offer something a little different, along with some lightweight options, a few specialist pairs, and some budget options that I think easily mix it with more premium pairs. Whether you want a massive mono lens or a classic wraparound pair I've got you covered, plus if you're in any confusion there's a comprehensive guide at the bottom of the page to help you out. 

The Oakley Encoder are my overall favourite of the bunch, but as the seasons change and we enter winter the 100% S3 definitely come into their own as they come with a clear lens for riding in the dark.

Quick list

In detail: Best cycling glasses available today

Best all-purpose cycling glasses

While there are distinctions in this list, and on the market in general, for cycling glasses, the reality is that you can essentially wear any set of cycling glasses for any kind of cycling. You don't need to buy road cycling glasses if you've already got a pair that work for you when you're on an MTB for example. The eight options below are my favourites of the generalists. They all follow a similar design, with a full or half frame, and a single large lens to provide sufficient coverage against the sun and the wind. 

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 and 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, a pair of sunglasses I didn't get on with really. 

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 unimpinged 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. 

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. 

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. They're certainly a less arresting visual package than the whopping mono lenses of the POC Devour and the Oakley Sutro, 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.

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 picking up fingerprints and smudges. 

If you want to cosplay as Tadej Pogačar then look no further... Yes, I am aware he uses a new model now but Scicon seems to release a new pair of cycling sunglasses every month, and I've decided these are my favourites from the seven pairs I've used so far. 

Where the Aerowatt really stood out to me was on cold winter rides in their ability to resist fogging. After a hard effort followed by a stop at some lights, there isn't a pair on the market that won't fog up to some degree, that's just physics, but these clear more or less immediately once you get going again, thanks I suspect to the two large upper vents. These are much larger than those on other lenses and then blanked out at the rear by the frame so that any solar radiation doesn't sneak through into your precious eyeballs. 

They're definitely a Euro aesthetic, with lots of flashes, vents and angles, and while this isn't to my tastes I know it absolutely will be to some. The lenses don't have fancy monikers like 'Prizm' and HiPER', but despite this, they are excellent in full sun, and in low light, you can swap to the included clear lens. 

Despite the best efforts of the bendable arms and nosepiece, I couldn't make them feel terribly secure or overly comfy on my small head though, so bear that in mind. The build quality too felt a little cheap considering the price.

My colleague rates them a smidge more highly than I do, so if you want to find out why then read his full review. 

The Oakley Jawbreaker really was a watershed moment for cycling eyewear, and while they're a little long in the tooth from a style point of view they can still mix it with the most modern cycling glasses on the market to this day. 

The mono lens is smaller than some now, but more heavily wrapped, meaning the field of view is decent, but you can still notice the frame in your eye line. Like nearly all models from Oakley, the Jawbreaker is also almost unshakeable in its retention, and the tuneable arm length means they rarely if ever mess with your helmet cradle. The arms themselves are rather narrow though, so not as comfortable on a long ride as others.

As with other Oakley options too you get a wide range of lens choices, and while they don't come with a spare the Jawbreakers have the best lens swap system of any pair of cycling glasses, mostly because there's no bending or forcing, If you ever do need to kit yourself out with a different lens (if you get the Prizm Road you probably won't, except for mucky use) the frames simply hinge apart, meaning the replacement just slots in and you never feel like you're going to break anything. 

More moving parts can mean more failure points, but I have owned a pair of these myself for a good five years and the only thing that went wrong with them was some of the arm grippers peeled away after three years of constant use. 

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. 

I have a pair with the Prizm 24k lens, and while it isn't as contrasty in low light as the Prizm Road option, it's better in very bright sun (nothing beats it in this environment), and having a wall of gold on your face looks kinda cool. 

Aesthetically I think the Sutro 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 swap lenses (again, just get the Prizm Road, trust me). The main drawback however is the lack of any arm grippers. More than any other pair of cycling glasses, despite the firm grip the arms try to maintain on my temples, if I'm on a sweaty ride they slip down my nose a little. If you've a big head then this may be no problem.

If the full frame doesn't appeal to you then there is a Lite version with a half frame and options for a vented and a more angular lens. 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, which are essentially the same.

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. The options below with one exception are frameless, which means there's less material to impact your peripheral vision. They are also in my experience a better choice on a really hot day, allowing more airflow and generally feeling less stuffy, though the lack of a frame makes them a little less rigid and less secure as a result. 

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, mean 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. 

As per the Radar EV Path, the EVZero Blades from Oakley cover those of you who want a more 'normal-looking pair of cycling glasses, but with a flyweight package. They are the lightest on test by a fraction of a gram, but lack the retention of the rest of the Oakley range; the mono lens doesn't have enough structure to hold them in place on smaller faces, though the arm and nose grippers do an admirable job all the same.

Despite the more pronounced wrap the field of view is noticeably smaller than the other lightweights, more on a par with the Radar EV Path, except without the bulky upper ridge to disrupt the line of sight. 

Despite the less sturdy feel you do still get fantastic optics, and despite the fact the lens flexes a little when you wear them it didn't produce any noticeable distortion. As ever, I suggest you go for the Prizm Road option if you're primarily going to be road cycling, but these likely have a larger multisport appeal (those pesky runners again) so pick your poison accordingly. 

Lens positioning is important. A lens that is low-slung on the face works well for more upright positions, but as soon as you get long and low on the bike in an aero position you very quickly start looking through the upper boundary of the lens. 

If you're a rider who rides in an aero position for the majority of the time then I suggest you go for the Hypercraft from 100% over the POC elicit. The lens sits noticeably higher on the face by comparison, and while the optics aren't quite so good they are comparable in many other ways. 

A clear lens is included, and while the swap is easy it does feel a little like you're breaking the arms off. Retention is similar to the Elicit too, though the waspish, narrow arms are less comfortable on longer rides. As per the S3, too, the longer arms with a minimal wrap can interfere with helmet cradles if you're small of head. 

Another big selling point over the Elicit is the price; especially on sale, the Hypercraft are a lot cheaper, making them a more attractive proposition if you want a set of lightweights for more occasional use. 

There is a full review encompassing all that I liked and disliked on site already, so have a browse if these tickle your pickle. 

Considering they are a half-frame, the Roka Matador Air are still extremely lightweight. Used by the SD Worx team they offer a different visual package, with arms that join the lower half of the lens. This is claimed to offer benefits whereby the arms don't interfere with helmet straps, but I've never found that to be an issue on any of the countless pairs I've tested. Nonetheless, it still looks cool in my eyes, especially in my beautiful/hideous "Miami waterfront in the 80's" custom colourway.

The optics and field of vision are slightly left wanting, particularly in low light, compared to other options at this price point, but they do offer unmatched retention for lightweight, and stellar comfort. The combination of low weight, good grippers, and just the right level of arm compression means I could happily wear them 24/7 (I sleep on my back so it's fine). 

These are definitely a pair better suited to smaller heads in my opinion, and while they don't come with a clear lens the lens swap is very easy. Given how long I've been using them I've written up a full review for your perusal if these seem like something that'd suit you. 

Best budget cycling glasses

Cycling glasses are, especially at the top end, very expensive. You definitely get an increase in performance, but as with things like the best budget road bike helmets, you don't always need to spend top dollar to get great performance. While the options below aren't necessarily 'cheap' (that is a very personal definition), they represent the best of the more affordable end of the market. 

Of all the budget cycling glasses I tended to reach for the Endura Shumba II more than others, and while it's partially about performance, it's also cos I think they look noticeably more premium than many at the lower end of the market. So much did I like the aesthetics that I took them on a bike launch press trip, which is often a fashion parade for the world's cycling journos.

As well as looking great they have a very uninterrupted field of vision, only slightly perturbed by the Endura logo that sits betwixt your eyebrows. The arms grip solidly, as does the nosepiece, and even in the full heat of a Mediterranean summer they didn't feel overly stuffy, only needing to come off on slow climbs. 

The main gold lens is brilliant in high sun, though unsurprisingly lacks the contrast of multilayer options. On the flip side, you do get a yellow and a clear lens in the box that are easily swapped out as and when necessary.

My only real irritation with the Shumba II was the propensity to produce heavy internal reflections with a low, following sun. This is only really an issue in winter, or on those long summer evening rides when you come back from the post-ride beers a little later than planned. 

There's a full review of them going into why I think they punch well above their price point. 

Much like the Shumba II, I rate the Bolle C-Shifter alongside much more premium offerings. In all honesty, I found it hard to choose between these and the Shumbas, with both performing excellently, but the Shumba lenses performed better in full sun than these, and they come with two spare lenses.

That being said the C-Shifter are a great pair of cycling glasses, with a silhouette that's similar to that of the 100% S3 but in a slightly smaller package. The build quality is up there with the best, the materials feel premium, and the hinged nosepiece is great if you have a wonky beak like mine, as you can tune each side individually. 

Much like the 100% options the arms are long, and so if you've got a small head they may not play so nicely with your helmet straps. The arms are, however, wide enough to be comfortable, with gripper strips only on the inside which adds to the premium look. 

Despite not being the best of the bunch, the lens shape is very good. The mono lens is tall enough to never really put the frames in your eye line, regardless of your riding style, but they aren't so tall that they will start to impact on your helmet brow; a very happy medium indeed. 

The Dorado II from Endura is something of a chameleon option, especially with the photochromic lenses I have on this pair (as I'll go into later, these are rarely my ideal choice).

The Dorado II is very similar to the Shumba II, except that the lenses are slightly smaller, and the wrap a little less extreme. This means a noticeable reduction in the field of view. The lower half of the frame, a contrast black in this case, can be removed and replaced simply with a nosepiece, making them a half-frame option. In all honesty, this would be my preference as it improves the field of view, but it's mostly an aesthetic decision. 

The arms are narrower than those of the Shumba II, and only with grippers at the tips meaning they held my temples with smooth plastic, but it didn't seem to matter overly, primarily due to the tuneable nosepiece. Pinch it into the optimum width and it'll pick up the slack with no problem.

As mentioned above, I'd go for a normal sun lens and use the spare yellow and clear options for low light in general, but I can see where photochromic has an appeal and a genuine use case. 

The BBB Fuse has all the hallmarks of a decent pair of budget cycling glasses: Solid construction, spare lenses, and a decent grip. Where they stand out from the other budget options is in terms of coverage. The lens isn't necessarily the largest, but the combination of the lens size and the lens wrap means there's very little interference from the frame, even in a distracting colour like white. 

Another great feature for those with small heads is that the arms are grippy for their entire length, along with a heavy wrap. This means they're definitely going to stay put on smaller heads and shouldn't pose too many issues with helmet cradles.

The main lens clarity and sun protection were decent, though the mirror finish looks a little cheap in comparison to some. Like the Dorado II, the Fuse also features a bendable nose bridge, further enhancing its overall security. 

They wouldn't necessarily be my first choice, but they're absolutely good enough to be included amongst the others on the list. 

Best specialist cycling glasses

There were a few pairs of sunglasses that I've been testing that I loved, but defied categorisation. Giant lenses, aero gains, bold new tech, and some more casual options. I have loved using all the options below, but I appreciate that, more than any others on the list, these are definitely a more specialist, more considered purchase. 

There's been a slow arms race in the world of cycling glasses as to who can make the biggest pair. POC has, with the Devour, created something akin to a nuclear bomb, in that they are just truly gargantuan.

The sheer size of the lens has many benefits. You get a huge field of view, but more than that you get unmatched protection from the elements, be they sun, rain, wind, muck, or anything else. The feeling of protection the Devour offers is only really matched by actual goggles. This is why, for bad weather riding in winter, they are my go-to.

With such a whopper of a lens comes some drawbacks, however. The height makes it far more likely to interfere with your helmet, and unless it's the right setup these do often get pressed into my nose, especially over bumpy terrain. The lowers also touch my cheeks when I smile, but that's not an issue because cycling is a serious pursuit and nobody would be mad enough to enjoy themselves while riding, right?

These are a wild pair of sunglasses, and for some of you they will be perfect, but they have a very out-there look, are noticeably heavy, and the hooked rather than grippy arms mean they won't necessarily stay the optimum distance from your face.  

The second of three in this section from POC is the Propel, the only pair of sunglasses I can think of that have been designed with aerodynamics in mind. Personally, I love them, and while there aren't many lens options the silver Clarity options I have are brilliant. 

They are the most heavily wrapped glasses I've ever used, offering peerless peripheral vision. Somehow, despite the heavy wrap, they don't ever encroach on your eyes or eyebrows. You can see the frame that only exists on the lower edge, but given these are aero focused, when you're in an aero tuck you will be looking much higher up and the field of view is perfect. They feel like you're wearing a visor more than a set of cycling sunglasses, and they look it too.

They're also the most secure of any of the POC offerings, with a brilliant replaceable nose gripper combined with a much better grip from the curved lens/frame. The arms are hooked rather than grippy, as per the Devour, but they hold much better in this case.

My colleague Josh Ross has written a full review and loves them about as much as I do. 

I don't see the titanium version of the Poc Elicit as a truly viable consumer product, but rather a proof of concept from a manufacturing standpoint. They are essentially the same as the plastic version of the Elicit, but the arms here have been 3D printed in titanium from titanium powder that would otherwise go to waste.

They are very, very expensive, only available in small quantities, and the arms don't even hinge, but if you want some bragging rights then there's no finer set of glasses. Don't come riding with me though, as I've had my set custom anodised to match my shoes and bike, because I'm truly a certified Very Lucky Boy.

In performance terms, they are exactly the same as the plastic Elicit, except they grip better. That's basically it, but despite this, I still feel cool as hell rolling out in them.

Sometimes you want to ride your bike not in kit. Commuting, trips to the pub, just generally pootling about in the evening sun. What, then, do you wear instead of cycling sunglasses? Well, whatever you like.

If, however, you want a pair of casual glasses with a sprinkle of cycling performance then the collaboration pair between Article One and Mission Workshop would be my pick. They look on the face of it, and on my face, like a classic pair of tortoiseshell sunglasses, but they have a tuneable nosepiece like many others on this list and arm grippers. 

I'm not going to lie to you and say they're as good on the bike as a pair of dedicated cycling glasses, but as someone with a small head they certainly stay put better than any casual pair of shades I've used, plus they look great. Article one has a few more styles with grippers too if these aren't to your tastes, and they're also as good (I've used four pairs so far).

How to choose the best cycling glasses for you

If you've scrolled through all the models and have ended up with more questions than answers worry not, hopefully, we can answer them all. Cycling glasses have evolved greatly in the last couple of decades to the point now where there are competing proprietary lens technologies, baffling shapes, and a mix of frame styles too.

We'll go into what makes a good lens, what makes a good frame, some things to look out for in terms of fit and a few more things.

If you're torn between two pairs or even more, you don't necessarily need to break it down to stats though. All the cycling glasses in this list will provide the legally required UV protection or more as they are from reputable manufacturers, so if you've got a gut feeling that you just like a pair then go for it. None of the pairs included here will let you down, that's why they're on the list.