Mir3886

I started cycling (road, MTB) in the late 90s and have been out of it for the last 7-8 years pursuing other activities. One thing I’ve recently noticed getting back to it on social media (yeah I know) and pros are that the sunglasses now look like ski goggles.
I proudly rocked Oakley M Frames for years so I get the wrap around look but does everyone else enjoy these new shapes?
Also, what brands do you guys like?

Climb14er

I wear Oakley Half Jackets, have for many years, with different lenses for various light levels. Have served me very well. No reason to change.

Troul 

too big & they tend to fog faster. Regular sized shades.

Bigbus

I've been wearing my pilot frames for almost 50 years. They never go out of style and ask me if I even care.

WhyFi

The current trend of larger glasses is primarily being driven by the less obstructed view afforded by taller glasses when in an aggressive position and looking out along the top of the glasses. If you don't position yourself this aggressively or if you have helmet/cap that is going to obstruct that view anyway, there's no functional reason to go that route.

sovende

The primary reason for wearing "sunglasses" while bike riding is (or at least should be) to provide protection from harmful solar radiation and minimize potential for injury from any number of environmental hazards (branches, road debris etc). Secondary reason (the primary reason for many) is to look cool and sexy to whom ever they are wishing to impress 😜. I've had many types of "eye pro" over the years and yes even the "cool / sexy" ones 😉. As I age, I've decided that "cool and sexy" are less important than "high level protection"! Currently, I've been using UVEX Genesis military grade "eye pro". Clearly not as "cool and sexy" as what's available but I've found them to be way more than adequate. The impact resistance will certainly provide protection from nearly anything encountered during a bike ride. They have high level UV protection. They are scratch resistant and have an anti-fog coating. Additionally, the design incorporates airflow venting to further minimize fogging. OK, they do have a bit of a "bug eye" look but I've seen worse 🙄. That does allow for excellent vision without any interference from the frame or edges of the lens. The fit is very comfortable and the "Croakie" type retention strap keeps them in place.
Bottom line is, of course, personal preference! I do imagine that there are a great many options available that may even meet both levels of priority 👍!

CAT7RDR

Own a nice pair of Oakley Black Iridiums, but prefer plain yellow or brown tint safety glasses with 2.0 bifocals. Many bugs have met their end on my safety glasses.

Troul 

nah, the sunglasses I wear, I can wear at night... day, rain or shine & still look sane. Now shirts, I'm too sexy for my shirt. So I wear a jersey or an active slevelessless top.

pvillemasher

I wear big Roka glasses. When I'm in the drops I have an unobstructed view of the road, helps prevent neck pain because I don't need to lift my head up to see

sovende

I have a clear lens that I can easily swap out for a night ride 😎.
RE: shirts, I hear ya! I have a collection of cycling jerseys that l'll wear when it's cooler (short and long sleeved). Sunny, mid day Summer rides are almost always sleeveless 😉.
If I was, younger, thinner, unmarried (and a lot of other things to include looking like the Antonio Banderas of 30 years ago &#128580, I might consider riding shirtless (with bibs) but alas, I'm none of those things 😜!
Back on topic, my UVEX Genesis "shades" are perfect for me!

DeadGrandpa

I have worn polarized sunglasses for decades, and found no perceptible difference between sunglasses from the fishing supply area of Walmart and designer offerings from REI or outfitter stores. I go for gold tinted reflecting lenses personally.

ramzilla

I've got a whole drawer full of Uvex safety glasses in all levels of tint from clear to dark and even chrome. They're good value items that wear well and look good.

400E

Similarly, I get 3M safety sunglasses or clear safety glasses from a hardware store. Cheap, good impact resistance, and UV protection.

Sy Reene

Are there such things as sun-contact lenses?
Edit: googled.. these look like the ticket, though I don't need a prescription. If these sold these on a shelf at the local CVS it might be worth a try. Doesn't solve the need for protection from thrown pebbles or whatnot though
https://www.cnet.com/health/these-tr...d-i-love-them/

SpeedRanger

Are these considered giant glasses?

Nyah

I am unfamiliar with the large frames you're asking about. I primarily choose sunglasses based on whether they have brown hued, polarized lenses or not (they must have both of those features). After that, I compare them on how they fit, how much they block light coming in from above the frame. And very important: the frame must be thin enough to accommodate a clip-on bicycling mirror. I look to budget sources and have never paid more than $17/pair. I've gotten a few redundant pairs from Target. I noticed that Walgreens might be a good source too but have yet to check them out.

fietsbob

# 4) I'm By the ocean in the PNW, they're rarely needed because it's often overcast, with clouds..

cubewheels

I use a cheap $1 polycarbonate clear safety glasses bought from the hardware store too! I have the one-piece bigger ones which offer excellent view.

I hope never to test its impact resistance but everything else, comfort, visibility, fog resistance, washability with water, even longevity, it is surprisingly good! Never really needed shaded glasses and I always ride in high noon sun in the city near the equator. Brighter view is especially important when riding in a crowded city, helps reduce response times like dodging people who suddenly jump into your path.

merrman

Polarized smith sunglasses regular sized with blue or rose tint. Do the cycling specific glasses make you faster. 😉

indyfabz

The primary reason I wear glasses when I ride is so that I can see clearly enough to ride safely.

Phil_gretz

My primary reason for wearing glasses is to protect my corneas from damage. I use cycling-specific glasses with interchangeable lenses. Clear for night or pre-dawn riding. Amber for diffuse light/overcast conditions. Dark for direct sun.

Cycling specific doesn't mean production glasses that are "cross-marketed" to bicyclists. It means that the lens position is raised relative to the nose bridge, allowing you to look through the lens while peering under the brow line, as riders do. Also, light weight, wrap around, grippy silicon pad arms and nose pads. Are they "large" or "oversized"? I'd say no.

Hiro11

This isn't a new thing. 80s cycling glasses like the Oakley Eyeshade were absolutely huge ski goggle looking things. The early ones even had foam brow pads. Jawbreakers are a deliberate reference back to the Eyeshades and Factory Pilots. When I first started racing in '87, I searched high and low for a pair of Rudy Project Super Performance glasses which were a very large wrap around design. These were like a holy grail for a cycling kid in late 80s America, I never found a pair for sale. The current Oakley Sutro looks very similar to those classics. The smaller designs didn't really start to be popular until the early 90s when the Oakley Blades came out. Lance made that style famous in the late 90s / early 2000s.

Personally, I currently like the 100% S2 and Racetrap. If you don't want to spend that money, no name Chinese brands (non-bootleg) on Aliexpress have recently started producing some nice designs for $15 shipped with lots of lenses. I have many, many pairs of sunglasses now.

BNSF

I have to wear some sort of glasses (large ones being better than small) because I have Rosacea and it primarily affects me in my eyes. Specifically, it does something to my tears which makes my eyes sting badly if they start to get watery. They sting badly as if I'd put in drops of burning acid! Some days are perfectly fine but on some days the slightest breeze will bother me within a couple minutes. Blocking the wind is critical so the large glasses are a must.

DrIsotope

My sunglass lenses are bigger than my everyday glasses, for whatever that's worth. I don't think they're "huge" or "oversized," though. They're also prescription, so I shop for glasses with a different set of considerations.

The more I hear people talk about just using clear-lensed whatever, the more I feel like I'm the only blue-eyed person left. I have to wear sunglasses, because as far as my eyes are concerned it's just really, really bright outside-- clear or cloudy.

But hey, "better than average night vision," according to the ophthalmologist.



You know UV rays go straight through clouds, right? Heavy overcast might block 20% of rays. Photokeratitis is a thing.

HobieKen 

I wear the prescription Costas that I wear when on my kayaks and sailboat. When I raced mountain bikes and wore contacts, Oakleys were the rage. After losing several pairs on the trails, I started wearing cheap copies I bought at the flea market, didn't hurt as bad when I lost or broke them. So no preference I just wear what I've got.