Choosing Motorcycle Eye Protection (Glasses)

Every motorcyclist not wearing a helmet with shield should have at least two pairs of motorcycle glasses: a pair of glasses with clear lenses for night riding (or riding in the rain) and a pair of sunglasses. Motorcycle glasses are made specifically for high speeds—they do not shutter easily and attach firmly to your head.

Lenses

Polarized motorcycle sunglasses are highly recommended because they cut glare, do not shutter easily, reduce eyestrain, and give you a clean view of the road. You can find both clear and dark polarized motorcycle glasses. Darker polarized lenses provide more protection from glare and the sun. Polarized lenses do not have coating—they are made of polycarbonate, a material that naturally blocks harmful UV rays.

Some motorcycle glasses have transition (photochromic) lenses. Transition lenses are good for both day and night riding. How do transition lenses work? Darkness and lightness of lenses depend on the amount of sunlight they are exposed to—darker by day or on cloudy days and lighter at night. Transition lenses, however, do not get as dark as fully polarized lenses and so are less comfortable for people who are more sensitive to sunlight. Transition lenses are also made of weaker material than the polarized.

Mirrored motorcycle sunglasses have mirrored lenses. Protective coating (mirrored coating) covers the outside of mirrored lenses, making the lenses look like mirrors. These lenses are more breakable than the polarized polycarbonate lenses and thus offer less eye protection.

When buying your motorcycle glasses, you should also consider lens color and scratch resistance. Did you know that in low light conditions, like dusk and rain, yellow lenses improve vision? It’s best, for obvious reasons, that your lenses are also scratch resistant.

Frames

Motorcycle goggles and wraparounds offer the most protection to your eyes: they keep the wind, plus they protect the area surrounding your eyes. As for other frames, make sure that the sides are wide enough. Fogging is the downside of motorcycle goggles. When buying new motorcycle glasses, especially goggles or wraparounds, check if they have ventilation.

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