One of the biggest challenges when you’re cycling through the seasons and for many hours at a time is that the light conditions change. For example, although mirrored lenses work well in bright sunshine, they’re not very effective in low light.

The best cycling glasses can cope with varying light conditions, from bright sun to deep shade or even darkness, where only clear lenses will work. Some have built-in technology that automatically deals with any light level.  

Some cycling sunglasses have interchangeable lenses with different lens tints.

For example, they might come with three lenses: a dark lens or mirror lens for bright sunlight, a yellow or orange lens for medium light conditions and low light conditions, and a clear lens for night riding.

Then you can carry your spare lenses with you and simply swap them out as you need them.

Another option is photochromic lenses, which darken when exposed to bright light and return to clear as the light dims. Photochromic lenses are very useful if you’re riding through a variety of terrains.

You don’t have to carry a spare lens with you or worry about lens swapping on the move.

Note that photochromatic lenses are not the same as lenses enhanced with ChromaPop™ technology. Photochromic sunglasses darken when exposed to UV light, while ChromaPop™ boosts color contrast.

One thing you don’t want when cycling is polarized lenses. While they do cut the glare, they can also interfere with depth perception and prevent you from seeing water on the road, which could be dangerous.