Sunglasses from 90 to 250 euros - Shield glasses for road cyclists in the TOUR test

Cycling glasses are valuable for cyclists in two ways: they are important as protection for the eyes - and as a fashion accessory, they emphasise personal style. The latest trend is for glasses with panoramic lenses. Apart from fashion aspects, the exciting question is whether XXL lenses also offer XXL protection and vision.

Which tint do I need?

For the Central European summer, tinted lenses of category 3 or 2 are recommended. These allow between 10 and 40 per cent of sunlight through and are considered suitable for road traffic during the day. "However, the tint should also be based on the cyclist's eyesight," advises Jens Heymer, a lecturer in sports optics from Bielefeld. He advises against lenses that are tinted too darkly, as they can dangerously restrict vision in shady forests or poorly lit tunnels. Incidentally, the tint has no influence on protection against harmful UV radiation; even clear lenses can offer UV protection. Polycarbonate is a commonly used material for lenses; it is robust and easy to mould. Most cyclists perceive a mirror coating as a fashionable feature, but it can also improve glare protection and reduce reflections. In our experience, mirrored lenses are very sensitive to scratches - in contrast to a tinted dark lens, you can see them immediately.

Double lens surface for shield glasses

A total of a dozen manufacturers accepted our invitation and sent in test goggles with EC-certified UV protection and fixed tinting (mostly category 3). The cheapest models for 90 euros come from Scott and Uvex, the most expensive with prices over 200 euros from Bollé, POC and Smith. The largest visors are on the goggles from 100Percent, Bollé, POC and Rudy Project. Compared to conventional cycling goggles with two separate lenses, their surface area is almost twice as large at around 80 square centimetres. The goggles from Smith are the only frameless model in the comparison.

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Attention to the fit

On many XXL glasses, the temple hinges are not positioned at the height of the upper edge of the lens, but lower down. Depending on the shape of the nose cut-out, this can have a decisive influence on the fit of the glasses and the position of the lens in front of the eyes - and therefore also on the field of vision and eye protection. If, for example, the slim cut-out of Rudy Project glasses meets a wide bridge of the nose, the lens sits so high that it can collide with the eyebrows and forehead, while the wind whistles into the eyes at the lower edge and the frame edge disturbs the field of vision. The models from Bollé, Glorify or Scott are far more flexible and adaptable; however, the temple ends of the Bollé are not rubberised and therefore do not hold quite as well.

Visually good does not equal expensive

We measured the imaging performance of the lenses using two laser pointers aimed at a crosshair. Not all of the glasses hit the target in this test. In practice, this means that their lenses can slightly distort the view and you can't see obstacles at the right distance, for example. In this category, the goggles from Bollé, Oakley, Rudy Project and Smith deliver a flawless picture. The goggles from POC, Alpina and Smith have very robust and scratch-resistant lenses.

Conclusion: Surprisingly, even very expensive models such as the 100Percent do not offer flawless optics; others cannot be customised and the lens cannot be changed, as is the case with the Rudy Project, for example. In addition, the practical test of a dozen models shows that the giant lenses are not necessarily better than smaller calibres. They can only fulfil their potential as protection against wind and insects with a clear view of the road and cockpit if they fit snugly on the nose and nestle against the head comfortably. If you don't take this to heart, you may look cool with your new goggles, but you won't have the best view.

Twelve Shield sunglasses in the test

Care tips for your sunglasses

The lenses of sunglasses are sensitive - especially the anti-fog protection on the inside or the mirror coating on the outside. Sports optician and active cyclist Simon Tepasse from Bocholt explains the most important care tips:

• Light soiling, such as fingerprints, is best removed with the microfibre cloth supplied.
• Briefly soak splashes of dirt or dried sweat with water and a drop of shampoo or shower gel and rinse off with lukewarm water.
• Paper tissues or kitchen paper are unsuitable for cleaning. The wood contained in the cellulose can scratch the surface.
• Do not use alcohol-soaked lens cleaning cloths for plastic lenses; they are only suitable for real glass.
• Do not use standard household washing-up liquids! Their non-ionic surfactants can cause the coatings to swell and soften, causing them to dissolve over time.

Correction 20 July 2021: The test winner goggles from Smith are not the "Shift Mag" as originally named, but the "Attack Mag Max". We apologise for the error.

You can download the full test with detailed scores for optical quality, scratch resistance, features and handling below for €1.99.

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You can download the complete test as a PDF file here