Questions for you guys! Do you ride with sunglasses? I am not talking about any prescription stuff. I have been getting dirt in my eyes and my eyes water as I build up speed, which is cool while also hitting stunts. I have been looking at some glasses, but would like some opinions and hopefully you guys can point me in the direction I am looking.


What I would like to get is a larger size lens, like an Oakley Jawbreaker or something similar size. I would also like the lens to be easily changeable, as I plan to have lens for different light settings. If you have any other tips or suggestions on other considerable factors, please let me know. I have never worn MTB sunglasses before so any information would be helpful!


Another note, I don't like safety glasses. I have worn plenty from my construction/shop experience. They don't have a great fit and used to slip on me quite often.

I use Oakley Flak. These are not inexpensive. They wrap around so may remind one of safety glasses. These do keep wind and debris at bay. Available both prescription & non-prescription. I cycle mtb & road with Prizm Road lenses in daylight, & clear lenses at night. Oakley offers a less dark Prism Trail lens expressly for mtb riding. It’s supposed to be better in repeating bright/shade/bright conditions. Mine are prescription and work well for me. Got ‘em from SportRx in San Diego online. YMMV

Yes! I had an old pair i used for jogging. Those broke so i went to Dicks and picked a $20 pair of glasses that are polarized and have UV rejection. Maybe someday i will look into something more expensive but for now they are working fine.

I have two sets of tifosi podium xc glasses. I went with them mainly down to price. As nice as a set of Oakley would be I can't justify the money when there is a high chance of breaking them or loosing them. The Tifosis are still quality glasses but if you take your time and watch ebay you can pick them up for $30-40 new. I ran cheapo glasses for years and was ok with them but after having the Tifosis it would be hard to go back.

I use Oakley Flak's and change the lenses for the situation.

Ryders Fyre

To be honest, I'm not a professional yet, and I have no glasses for riding, but I'm planning to buy one.
I see, Oakley Flak are pretty popular, right? Are them suitable for the newers? Any advice are welcomed.

Always have,always will for safety mainly.

Another vote for Oakley Flaks... I have Prescription ones and I use them for most everything; Causal chilling, Biking, Hiking, Geocaching, ATV/SxS riding, Target Shooting and Shooting Competitions, etc.. etc...

Not cheap, but all day comfortable and good protection from UV, Rocks and ricochets and other eye dangers... I'd buy again. Actually I'm on my 3rd pair in about 10+ years.

given that you are from ****tsford, sunglasses aren't going to help you.
I've been riding on the North Shore for 20+ years, mostly without glasses.
Most of the riding we do is technical, and slower speed, so not much thrown back in your face.
I assume your riding is similar.
However, I do have a pair of Smiths with the interchangable lenses. Dark sun lens, orange, and yellow.

Sunglasses in the forest of the Pacific NOrthwest ?..... you can't see anything even on a bright sunny day.
On a dark rainy day, the yellow lens is awesome.... its like someone actually turned on a light in the dark forest, and keeps stuff out of your eyes for the decents where you do get speed.
The orange lenses are good for the days when its not so dark in the woods.

Oakley Flak Jackets. Work well for my usage and I swap out the lenses depending the day/light.

I've worn glasses since 3 yrs old. For me, clip on sunglasses work, flipped down when sunny, up if in a shady section. You may not wear rx glasses, but you can get non-rx glasses that would accommodate clip on sunglasses. The glasses can be held on with securely with "loops" made for that purpose. Any eye center should be able to fix you up with frames with non-rx lenses. Clip on sunglasses are available just about anywhere.

Big box store safety glasses, clear or amber.

I wear glasses with transitions lenses when in the tree line it doesn't help much.

Gotta agree 100% with ya! I have a pair of glasses with transition lenses--tried 'em once in the woods--and only once.

My riding varies. Some days its fast and loose and some days slower and technical, some days its everything. I shouldn't have labeled the thread as sunglasses, as I am looking for clear lenses, maybe a slight smoke lens and a yellow lens. My problem is my eyes water from going fast and I have gotten dirt/mud in my eyes every ride this fall. How do you like your smiths? What do lenses run you?

The smiths are about 15 years old.. Came with yellow, orange and sunglasses lenses that slide out. Easy switch. I only wear them on dark days when the trails are really wet, or if we are doing a lot of fast downhill riding where you def don't want stuff in your eyes.
They don't fog up unless you stop, and they don't slide down.
I'm sure there are other good brands out there. You are only really going to need the clear or yellows unless you ride in the open a lot.

I have $1.49 clear safety glasses that fit over my prescription frames. They do a good job of keeping debris and wind out and I just demonstrated (since it's cold now) that they keep my eyes from watering when it's below freezing. I think the brand is Cordova, probably these:

https://www.cordovasafety.com/produc...-ec10s-retail/
https://www.ruralking.com/cordova-sl...lasses-spec10s

Flak 2.0 XLs here. Have them in the trail Prizm lenses which provide good contrast in the varying light conditions encountered on my usual rides. They're also super light and fit really well. Good enough to stay on during a tumble.

Check out the prescription sport/motorcycle glasses at Walmart. The frames were less then $100 a few years ago. This takes the sting out of my prescription lenses.

I use safety glasses purchased from an industrial safety supply store. I bought three pair...clear, smoke (indoor/outdoor) and dark. They are fairly large and wrap around and they look like most super expensive high end glasses. Only $7.00 with small corrective inserts for reading. Without the inserts they're only $3.00.

Tifosi Podium XC with the "Light Night Fototec" lenses, (photochromic).
Best cycling glasses I've ever had.
Tint ranges automatically from 25% to 75%; No interchangeable lenses needed.

I lose sunglasses all the time so I've taught myself not to be picky. I usually get something that looks like Wayfarers. The present pair was $30 from Costco, Puma branded

Stihl [the chainsaw folks]...safety rated...$14...lose 'em, bust 'em, scratch 'em, you're not out that much. Look good...I tell folks they're Italian...Milan.

I like https://www.ryderseyewear.com/ photochromatic glasses.