About a hundred yards in front of me a big plume of dust erupted. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride had done it again. As Danny Ocean’s character once said, “You lose focus in the game for one second and someone gets hurt.” Running up to him, we realize most of the impact was taken by his face. A huge dead branch on the side of the trail slammed very close to his eyeball. Luckily, my friend was wearing a pair of shatter-proof glasses saving his eye. Looking back at this experience, we realized that these lenses were the only reason his eye didn’t get seriously injured or worse blind him. This then raised a question: “So what’s the best MTB glasses?”
What to Look for in MTB Glasses
Keep Safety In Mind
Most of us that enjoy gravity fed two-wheeled fun have spent at least a few grand on our mountain bikes. And yet when it comes to safety, many of us cut corners. Heck, it wasn’t until our friend almost lost his eyesight did we realize the importance of finding the best MTB glasses. Not just for vision, but for safety as well.
What’s ANSI Z87.1?
If you’re really serious about your safety, consider picking a brand that meets or exceeds the national standard known as ANSI Z87.1. ANSI stands for the American National Standards Institute, and they’ve established a standard set of criteria to use for testing, marking, choosing, and maintaining eyeware protection. The goal is to prevent or minimize injuries from eye hazards that you’d find on the trail or at a construction site. The rigorous tests they go through include such hazards as:
- Blunt Impact
- Splashes and droplets
- Dust
- Small dust particles
Wrap Around For Protection
Besides falling off your bike, expect to have flying debris shot at you as well. An odd tree branch sticking out on the singletrack. Dirt and rocks being kicked up from a friend’s bike tire. Look for glasses that wrap around, protecting your eye from many angles and not just what’s coming at you straight ahead.
Consider Your Environment
Think about what kind of trails you normally ride. If most of the tacky dirt you’re shredding is in the woods or you live in a cloudy place, you’ll want lenses that help in low-light. On the other hand, if most of your shredding is done in super sunny terrain like the desert or the high alpine, full-on glare needs to be considered. If it’s a place that has a lot of variability with sunshine, the best MTB glasses will give you the opportunity to switch the lenses.
Not All Faces Are The Same
Let’s “face it”, the world is filled with different faces. Some have perfect cheekbones. Others have a long or short nose. This means the best MTB glasses aren’t just about safety or fashion, but also how they fit you! So, it’s a good idea to go to a local shop or sporting goods store like REI that has a BIG selection or even reach out to the company directly to see if there’s a way to try them out.
Consider Your Helmet
Even though they may look and feel great on your head, consider trying them on with your helmet. This is especially important if you’re riding in the spring or fall when the temperatures are a bit cooler. When the gap is bigger between the top of the glasses and your helmet, the wind will rush in giving you a VERY cold forehead. To help make sure this doesn’t happen, focus on how the glasses fit compared to your brim and sides of the helmet. Another cheap alternative is to buy a skull cap.
Cycling Sunglass Technology To Consider
Photochromic Lenses
When talking about the coolest sunglass technology, the one that stands above all others are the photochromic lenses. It’s a lens that darkens on exposure of sufficiently high frequency. Or on the other side of the spectrum, if you enter a super shaded section with low light conditions, it’ll return to a clear state. In simple terms, one lens to rule ALL conditions.
Polarized
If you’ve been out on a sunny day in the mountains or on the water without sunglasses, the one thing you’ll notice is the amount of glare around you. Glare distorts the true color of objects making them blend into each other. A polarized lens removes all that AND helps objects appear sharper and clearer. Just think of the advantage of racing down a trail. Instead of being caught unaware, you’ll see rocks, stones, trees, and whatever else is coming at you.
UV Protection
This should be a no brainer. When you’re out on your bike, even on cloudy days, you’re going to have some sun hitting those eyeballs. Even 3M safety glasses provide UV protection. Be that as it may, not all UV protection is the same. Look for UV400.
Riding Glasses
Julbo
Been there, done that doesn’t even begin to describe Julbo well. The company was founded in 1888, yes as in 1800’s, by Jules Baud. Deep in the French Alps, he designed the first pair of protective eyeware for men hunting crystals in the region. In no time at all, his eye protection became THE standard for all mountaineering endeavors on ice. Although the Vermont Classics are still worn by mountain guides to this day, for mountain biking, it was all about the Fury but now the Density is their new best of breed. Out of all the glasses on this list, this one is by far the best value for the price.
Julbo Density
Specs
Retail Price: $180 (nonphotochromic) – $260 (w/REACTIV)
UV Protection: UV400+ (In addition to UV400, it also blocks out UVC rays.)
Polarized: Yes, some of the models do provide this option
Lens Replacement: Yes
Case: Yes
Check Prices: Backcountry.com , EVO
Features
What these light glasses lack in fashion, they more than make up in their technology. The Fury was known for providing some of the best peripheral vision out of the group and the Density has now upped it AND put it in a lighter frame. Combine that with the option to get their proprietary REACTIV photochromic lens, and you have yourself a winner.
POC Sports
The Swedish company POC Sports made a big splash in 2005 for their ski helmets, their focus on safety, and love for the outdoors. All of this translates well to their mountain bike sunglasses. Just like Ikea, their design is simple yet refined and still focused on performance. They have a few options, but from what we’ve read and seen, their Aspire Clarity model is the one you’d want to get.
POC Sports Devour
Specs
Retail Price: $299 – $330 (photochromic)
UV Protection: UV400
Polarized: Yes (can even get them with Photochromic lens)
Lens Replacement: Yes
Case: No
Check Prices: Backcountry.com
Features
For years, the Aspire was POC’s flagship MTB sunglass, but like a lot of brands on this list, POC has seriously leveled things up with the Devour. The rubberized nosepiece keeps them locked in place whether you’re sweating through a big climb or getting hammered by rain mid-ride. And POC still partners with legendary optics manufacturer Carl Zeiss, whose Clarity lenses are tuned to boost contrast and sharpen trail detail by filtering specific parts of the color spectrum.
What really sets the Devour apart, though, is the huge bump in coverage. The oversized lens gives you noticeably better wind protection, a wider field of view, and improved peripheral vision when things get fast and loose. The updated fit also feels more modern and secure without being overly bulky.
Oakley
Since almost the beginning, the company Oakley has been fanatical about their cycling eyewear. Just look up American cyclist and Tour De France winner Greg LeMond to read about their past. Not just focused on style but function as well, the array of options is one of the biggest to this day. Their top of the line Oakley Flight Jacket are a technological marvel. It includes things like a special tab in the middle to allow you to adjust where they sit on your nose. In addition, the top of the glasses has no frame allowing you to maximize fog reduction. For a little less funky but still a kick ass pair, also consider the Oakley Radar EV Path.
Oakley Encoder Strike
Specs
Retail Price: $293
UV Protection: UV400+ (In addition to UV400, it also blocks out UVC rays along with harmful blue light.)
Polarized: Yes
Lens Replacement: Yes
Case: Yes
Check Prices: Backcountry.com
Features
If you remember what we talked about earlier with safety ratings, Oakley’s performance models aren’t ANSI Z87.1-certified safety glasses, but they are built to meet or exceed ANSI Z80.3 standards for optical clarity and impact resistance. Translation? They’re not workshop-rated, but for riding, they’re some of the toughest glasses out there. Beyond durability, Oakley’s patented HDO (High Definition Optics) tech does a seriously good job eliminating distortion, giving you sharper vision and better depth perception when the trail gets fast and chaotic. You can also grab the Encoder Strike with a photochromic lens, which makes changing light conditions way less of a headache.
Another big plus is how modular the system is. Swapping lenses for different conditions is easy, and replacement nose pieces and stem sleeves are readily available once the originals wear out. Compared to older Oakley designs, the Encoder Strike also steps things up with better helmet integration, improved descending protection, and a noticeably wider field of view.
Smith Optics
Smith has been around for a LONG time in the snowsports world for eyewear. Since 1965, they’ve continued to push the envelope on goggle technology. Firsts include such innovations as the double-lens for fog free skiing, interchangeable lenses, and a roll-off film for motocross riders. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise these decades of technology have translated easily to their mountain biking sunglass line as well.
Smith Attack Mag MTB
Specs
Retail Price: $285
UV Protection: UV400
Polarized: Yes
Lens Replacement: Yes
Case: Yes
Check Prices: Backcountry.com , EVO , REI
Features
While the Wildcat has taken over as Smith’s flagship thanks to the industry wide move toward oversized shield designs, I don’t care what anyone says… the Smith Attack Mag MTB is still the king. And compared to a lot of today’s flagship glasses, they’re actually pretty reasonably priced while still packing in all the premium features you’d want from a high end pair of riding glasses.
One of the most annoying things on trail is getting sweat, dirt, or fingerprints all over your lenses mid ride. Smith solved that by adding a moisture and smudge resistant coating that keeps the optics cleaner longer. They also use their patented Smith MAG system, which makes swapping lenses insanely quick and easy.
Not a fan of the bright light lens it ships with? Every model also includes a bonus ChromaPop low light lens that’s perfect for cloudy days, forest riding, or late evening sessions when visibility starts to drop.
Pit Viper
Attitude. Funky style. To this day, I remember vividly the first time I saw Pit Viper sunglasses in a ski flick, and I was like, “Huh?” It was so etched in my brain that I had to learn more. Was this a fad? Gimmick? To my surprise they aren’t. They’re designed well and for a ridiculously good price (half the price or more!) In addition, the company doesn’t take itself too seriously either. Seems fitting. We’re all out there to have fun not do a job!
Pit Viper Originals
Specs
Retail Price: $80 – $130
UV Protection: UV400
Polarized: Yes
Lens Replacement: No
Case: Yes
Check Prices: EVO , Amazon
Features
Although the big companies talk a big game about impact ratings, the Pit Viper Originals show that they’re in actuality “well endowed.” They’re one of the few that have an impact rating of ANSI Z87+. The polarized lenses are perfect in nearly every condition unless it’s super dark out. And the adjustable nose piece and two adjustment pieces on the arms will make sure they fit right. In summary, if you’re ok with reliving the 80’s or hearing something like, “The 80s called and they want their sunglasses back” then you’ll LOVE these gems. They’re not just for mountain biking either, but rather all outdoor activities like backcountry skiing, hiking, or chilling at the jacuzzi.
3M Safety Glasses
We had to at least give a nod to the “no frills” option for those who are on a tight budget. 3M safety glasses will protect your eyes, provide some UV protection and all for only a few bucks. But just like a hard tail versus a full suspension carbon bike, you get what you pay for.
Specs
Retail Price: $35
UV Protection: 99.9% percent of UVA & UVB
Polarized: No
Lens Replacement: No
Case: No
Check Prices: Amazon
Features
3M Safety glasses are just like what the name entails. They meet the requirements of ANSI Z87.1. Fit well with a helmet (or hard hat). Absorb almost all of the UVA & UVB light. As anyone that has worked on a construction site or done home renovations knows, you get lots of stuff thrown at you. So, the lenses are anti-scratch and have a Scotchgard anti-fog coating so that you can work OR ride in wet and humid environments. Just like an old Toyota 4Runner… it’ll get the job done and keep running forever.
With all these things in mind, who makes the best MTB glasses? Just like a car or truck, it all depends on the person. For a super techy person that’s willing to drop the dough, look for sunglasses with a photochromic lens. All about the no frills manual transmission truck that’ll do the job but still show style in the parking lot, then The Pit Vipers are a good choice.
What do you ride with? Is there another company or model we should add to this list? Something that you don’t like or do? Drop us a line under the comments to let us know.
