Oil your favorite bike, pump up your tires, and don't forget your sunglasses! As most cyclists know, the right pair of sunglasses can make or break your ride, and having suitable lenses is a big part of it. Check out our guide to the best lens colors for cycling sunglasses so you can be fully prepared for your next ride.

Table of Contents

1. Video Review
2. What are the Best Lens Colors for Cycling Sunglasses?
A. Recommended Lenses
B. No-Go Lenses
3. Other Lens Features for Cycling Sunglasses
A. Photochromic Lenses
B. Polarized Lenses
C. Lens Material
4. Prescription Cycling Sunglasses at SportRx

Video Review

What are the Best Lens Colors for Cycling Sunglasses?

Recommended Lenses

Contrast enhancement is very important for cycling. Our favorite cycling lenses have a rose tint, but you can also try brown, if you need something a little darker. Both of those lens tints provide contrast, and having contrast will really help you spot potential obstacles.

Our top recommended lens tints for cycling are:

  • Rose
  • Brown
  • Copper
Rudy Project Exception Kit 1 limited edition sportrx collaboration

Rudy Project Exception Kit 1 - Racing Red Lens

Shop Rudy Project Exception Kit

For some specific lenses we love for cycling, any of the following are great options:

Out of those, Oakley PRIZM™ Road (not including Road Black) and the SportRx lenses are available in prescription. Like Oakley PRIZM™ lenses, SportRx lenses are designed to improve clarity, contrast, and comfort during various activities. However, they are placed at an affordable price. Since 2013, the SportRx lens collection has grown to include 34 color combinations and are exclusively available at SportRx.

No-Go Lenses

We don't recommend a dark grey lens for cycling. When you're road cycling, you're surrounded by grey from the asphalt, shadows, pot holes, or debris. Adding a dark grey lens may cause you to miss obstacles and affect your reaction time. For cycling, a lighter lens is always better.

Other Lens Features for Cycling Sunglasses

Photochromic Lenses

These lenses, better known by their brand name Transitions®, are lenses that change tint based on UV light. They're usually available in grey or brown tints, and we say that if you really need grey, a grey photochromic lens is better than a plain dark grey lens because of the changing tint. It also won't be as dark as a non-photochromic lens.

Polarized Lenses

Whether to get polarized lenses is up to you. We go more in detail on this in Should You Get Polarized Cycling Lenses?, but polarized lenses have their pros and cons when it comes to cycling. However, most lenses made for cycling, like PRIZM Road, are not polarized.

Lens Material

This last one is really important: Don't wear glass lenses on the bike. Wearing more casual sunglasses for cycling has been more popular lately, and if that's you, that's totally cool, just make sure the lenses aren't glass. It has no impact resistance and can be very dangerous to wear while cycling.

Prescription Cycling Sunglasses at SportRx

Need prescription cycling sunglasses? Done. When you shop with us, you’ll find video guides and tooltips throughout the build process as you customize the perfect pair. An answer to all your questions is at your fingertips, and if you want to chat with an expert, Contact Us. We’ll put you in touch with one of our friendly in-house opticians who can help you build your prescription cycling sunglasses.

Ditch risky online shopping with the See Better Guarantee. Try your sunglasses for 45 days. If you’re not satisfied, send them back. Get a full refund, exchange, or credit towards a better pair. And return shipping? Covered. Get your pair of prescription cycling sunglasses at SportRx today!

If you want more information on what to look for in cycling sunglasses, check out our Cycling Sunglasses Buyer's Guide.

Shop All Cycling Sunglasses