What to consider when searching for motorcycle glasses

Trying to find the right glasses for riding a motorcycle? Needless to say, there are countless options when searching for motorcycle glasses. When it comes to style, that's up to the individual. There are other considerations than just the style when searching for the right glasses. Here, we are going to explore the key considerations when selecting riding glasses.

Safety

Finding the right pair of riding glasses is about more than just what looks cool. The glasses that a rider wears is a critical piece of safety equipment, and of course they should look cool too! Motorcycle eye protection should meet ANSI standards. You probably see this in descriptions of some sunglasses. ANSI stands for American National Standards Institute. It is an organization that standardizes testing in many different industries, but mostly related to work place safety. It is a long boring read, but it covers the effectiveness of the glasses in sustaining an impact among other things. As technology advances, they often update the standards. Currently, the standard is ANSI Z87.1 2020. You may also see glasses with 2015 or even a 2010 date. Motorcycle glasses may also carry other certifications. Common certifications are CE and EN. These are certifications that are common and may be required in European countries when a product claims to be Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). When selecting motorcycle eye protection, this would be the first thing to check. A cheap pair of sunglasses from the gas station are probably not going to provide the level of protection needed when a piece of gravel hits the lens when you are running 80mph. It is also worth mentioning that the visor or face shield of a helmet should also meet this criteria.

Which Lenses are right for you?

The types of lenses you choose can come down to a few criteria. First, if you wear prescription lenses it should be pretty obvious that this is a must have. It doesn't matter if the glasses protect your eyes from a bug or rock if you could not see the car in front of you anyway. The technology has improved a lot over the years for cutting prescription and progressive lenses for use in motorcycle glasses, though your choices may be more limited than if you did not need prescriptions and it will certainly be more expensive.

Motorcycle glasses also can be polarized or nonpolarized. Polarized lenses block certain wavelengths of light from passing through the lens, which can greatly reduce the glare and provide greater clarity on a sunny day. Polarized lenses can be a great option, but they can cost quite a bit more.

The next consideration is about what time of day you will be riding. Many riders keep two pair of glasses with them. They will have they standard dark tinted sunglasses and a pair of "clears". If you wear dark tinted sunglasses at night, visibility can be very limited, which isn't very safe. Now, I have been out later than I expected and only had a dark pair of glasses more than I would care to admit. If you are in town or a well lit area, you would probably be okay. Get off the beaten path or a country road and you will be staring at near darkness. That is why most riders will also keep a pair of night time glasses. These are usually clear or amber. There are alternatives to carrying around an extra pair of glasses though. Many glasses designed for use on a motorcycle have the ability to change the lenses. This was my go to for years. It is a lot easier to carry an extra set of lenses in your pocket than another pair of glasses. Once the sun goes down, you just swap them out and you are good to go. The other option, and what I wear now, are what are called photochromic lenses. These are also more commonly known as their brand name of "Transition Lenses". Basically, it is a clear lens, that when exposed to direct sunlight darkens. These are a great option because you only have to have one pair of glasses and do not have to carry anything else with you. One drawback I have found is that their usefulness is limited. If you wear the same glasses in your car as you do on the bike, they will not darken in the car because of the UV protection in automotive glass. So, I only wear mine while riding. Some riders complain that these lenses do not get as dark as they like. A great tip is to put your photochromic glasses in the freezer for a few hours before you ride. I do not understand the science behind it, but it does make them more responsive to the sunlight.

Foam or no Foam?

Many motorcycle glasses offer foam padding that is attached to the inside edge of the glasses frame where it would press against your face. The foam is designed to create a better seal around your eyes and keep out dust and debris. The foam can also help reduce the chances of the glasses fogging up from your breath on colder rides. The main drawback to foam padding is that it can wear out and make the glasses uncomfortable. Typically, the glasses will out last the foam padding attached to them. This shortens the useful life of the glasses. On more budget friendly motorcycle glasses, the foam is simply glued to the frame of the glasses. When exposed to the elements or with the passage of time, the foam could just fall off. I would recommend looking for glasses with a removable foam insert. The foam can be temporarily affixed to the glasses, but removed or replaced when needed. Personally, I only wear my foam inserts in colder weather and remove them when it's warm out. As I mentioned, the foam does a great job of reducing fog on the lenses on a colder ride.

Fog Coating

Many motorcycle glasses offer a coating that is applied to the lens to reduce fog. Glasses typically only fog over in colder weather. When the warmth of your breath comes in contact with the cold lenses, they will fog over. So, if you only ride in warmer weather, paying extra for an anti fog coating is probably a waste of money. Having worn many glasses with this feature and without, I will say all glasses can fog over. Admittedly, glasses that have the anti fog coating may not fog as bad or as quickly, but they can still fog over. This is especially true if you are wearing a face mask as it directs your breath toward the glasses. As I mentioned before, the foam on the glasses can help reduce this effect.

Searching for the perfect pair of motorcycle glasses can seem overwhelming, as there are a lot of great choices on the market. As a brand, I recommend Wiley X. They are an American based company and all of their glasses are ANSI Certified. They also make riding glasses branded as Harley-Davidson. So, it is a great way to get the same quality without paying the additional mark up for the logo.