Cycling Sunglasses Keep Getting Bigger

Wrap sunglasses have been around in some form since the 1960s, but it was the 1980s that put sports shields on the map when Greg LeMond famously raced the World Tour in Oakley Eyeshades. LeMond put shield sunglasses on the international stage and Oakley Eyeshades changed the face of performance sunglasses and cycling, setting the standard by which cycling sunglasses are measured today. Sports shield-style glasses have been standard equipment for athletes and cyclists ever since.

The current trend in cycling sunglasses is for maximum coverage, where bigger equals better. From well-known brands like Tifosi, Oakley and Smith to up-and-coming brands like Vallon, maximum coverage offers bold aesthetics and serious performance.

We’ve been testing several pairs of full-coverage cycling sunglasses this spring. It’s taken some time to get used to the look of oversized frames, but the wide coverage feels great from the first use. Check out the Vallon Watchtower, the Smith Split Shift MAG and the Tifosi Moab cycling sunglasses.

Vallon Watchtower Full Coverage Sunglasses

The Vallon Watchtower – 80s-inspired full-frame cycling sunglasses with wide coverage

Vallon may not have the name recognition of a bigger brand like Smith or Oakley, but they are equally as dedicated to creating quality sunglasses as the big brands. Born in the mountains near Verbier, Switzerland, Vallon brings a fresh take to a small range of performance sunglasses, including the Watchtower cycling sunglasses.

Part retro ski shades and part modern cycling shields, the Watchtower sunglasses are arguably more all-around in appearance than most cycling-specific sunglasses without sacrificing coverage. They combine high-end shatterproof Zeiss optics with sustainable nylon frames featuring recycled fishing net fibers.

They are competitively lightweight and feature a fixed-tinted lens of your choice, offering 13-14% visible light transmission depending on your color choice. The 80s-inspired frame is lightweight and durable and comes with interchangeable silicone nose pads (3x) to find the right fit.

We found them comfortable and offering excellent goggle-like coverage. The Watchtower sunglasses are a great choice for road and gravel cyclists who need glasses that hold up to bright conditions all day long.

Price: $169 Frame Width: 160mm Frame/Lens Height: 55mm
Weight: 32g Includes: Microfiber pouch, 3x interchangeable nose pads (S, M, L)

_______________

Smith Shift Split MAG Shield Sunglasses

The Smith Split MAG – full-coverage cycling sunglasses with Smith ChromaPop lens technology

If you’re looking for maximum coverage, you can count on the Smith Shift Split MAG sunglasses for wall-to-wall lenses and low-profile frames. Although not the widest of the group, the dimensions reflect lens width versus frame width, and they have the tallest lens of the glasses tested. Their split-frame design maintains an obstruction-free view and a lightweight, barely there feel on your face. Smith’s proprietary ChromaPop™ lens tech boosts contrast for terrain-defining clarity with natural color. True sports shield sunglasses, the Split Shift MAG offers interchangeable lenses featuring Smith’s MAG™ system for relatively quick, easy changes.

If mountain biking is your thing, it’s hard to beat the versatility of a light-sensitive photochromic lens option that adjusts to match the light conditions. While they don’t adjust instantly, the photochromic lens generally offers more visible light transmission than a fixed tint and works great for partial sun to full shade riding. If your riding includes wide open spaces and full sun, prob best to roll with the fixed tint option with a backup low-light lens option

While Smith describes the Split Shift as a medium to large fit, I’d call them large to X-large. A two-position adjustable nose pad helps fine-tune the fit to match your face, and auto-lock hinges make for easy on and off with one hand.

Price: $285 Frame/Lens Width: 140mm Frame/Lens Height: 60mm
Weight: 29g Includes: Bonus clear lens, microfiber pouch, hard case

Tifosi Moab Full-Frame Shield Sunglasses

The Tifosi Moab shield sunglasses – full-frame cycling sunglasses with three interchangeable lenses

If you’re not familiar with Tifosi sunglasses, you should be. They offer modestly priced sunglasses that compete with the big, expensive brands. With a price tag that’s one-third the cost of the Smith Split Shift MAG, the Tofosi Moab shield sunglasses exceed expectations based on their low cost.

The Moab shields are full-frame sunglasses with wide coverage and changeable lenses. For $80, they include three lenses and a hard case for storage. What’s the catch, you ask? No catch, really. These are solid performance cycling sunglasses for anyone looking for wide coverage and swappable lenses. While they don’t feature branded lens technology like Zeiss or ChromaPop, they use Tifosi’s standard Clarion shatterproof polycarbonate lens, which offers a crisp view of the trail or terrain ahead. They are also available with Tifosi’s light-sensitive Fototec lens option, making them a great choice for mountain biking and storm day skiing. The lens is vented to reduce fogging.

They feature high-quality Grilamid frames, a lightweight, strong thermoplastic used by most big sunglasses brands.  The frames feature adjustable arm pieces that allow you to customize the fit to your face shape and hydrophilic rubber pads that swell when wet, keeping them in place when you sweat. They also feature fully-adjustable nose pads that let you dial in the fit to match your face. Tifosi sells small parts for the Moab sunglasses, including spare lenses ($15), ear pieces ($5) and nose pads ($5), should you lose or break parts.

While lens changes don’t feature a slick magnetic or pivoting system, they are straightforward enough.  You simply pull down on the frame at the nose piece to pop the lens free. The Tifosi Moab cycling sunglasses offer high-performance features for a relatively affordable price.