The feeling of freedom offered by riding a motorcycle is hard to explain but simple to understand once you find yourself behind the handlebars. However, that freedom comes at the expense of the many comforts and safety measures offered by standard automobiles.
A relative lack of safety is something all riders have to accept, but it’s also why they need to do everything they can to take their security into their own hands. Every piece of a rider’s equipment plays a role in adding to their safety and comfort, and a good pair of motorcycle glasses can make all the difference.
Whether you’re on the hunt for a great pair of sunglasses to reduce glare and improve visibility or a full face covering to keep dust and wind from causing irritation and distraction, we’ve got you (and your eyes) covered in our list of the top 10 motorcycle glasses currently on the market.
Before we dive into the list, let’s go over the criteria we used for selecting our products and a brief rundown of how the reviews are structured so you can quickly find the perfect pair of motorcycle glasses for your needs.
What to Look For in Our Reviews
When it comes to motorcycle glasses, there are a lot of factors to consider regarding your specific needs and preferences. Each product review will detail the important aspects of that product by looking at the product from three distinct angles: practicality, quality, and the type of person we believe would get the most out of that product.
Practicality
In this section, we’ll talk about the product’s intended purpose, additional features, and important aspects regarding its ease of use. This section focuses on viewing the product from a function over form perspective and will detail the use cases and practical benefits of each pair of motorcycle glasses.
Quality
Every product on our list provides a strong quality to cost ratio, but your specific needs and wants will ultimately decide whether the item offers enough benefits to warrant its cost. No one likes wasting their money and we want to make sure you have all the information you need to decide whether a product is worth the asking price or not. This section is dedicated to describing the quality of the item regarding its materials, build quality, and its design and overall execution.
Who It’s Best For
Our list is packed full of great motorcycle glasses, but finding the ideal product for you is all about figuring out what exactly you’re looking for and which product best meets those needs. This section is dedicated to identifying the aspects of the product we think are most important and the type of person who would most likely be able to make the most of those motorcycle glasses or goggles.
We end every product review with a final pros and cons section that will briefly recap the key aspects of the product so you can quickly scan through the page and find the best pair of motorcycle glasses for your needs with ease.
Without any more stalling, let’s rev up and get into our list of the top ten motorcycle glasses money can buy. We have a more in-depth guide below.
Top 10 Best Motorcycle Glasses 2020
1. Best Overall Motorcycle Glasses: BELINOUS Riding Glasses
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
These Belinous Riding Glasses provide excellent value at a reasonable cost thanks to their interchangeable lenses and intelligent design. With four lenses that can be easily switched out, these motorcycle glasses are excellent eye protection for riding in various weather conditions and lighting.
The elastic foam padding located around the frames provides comfort for the wearer as well as protection from the lenses getting fogged over during long rides or cold weather. Designed in the style of wraparound sunglasses, these Belinous Riding Glasses are comfortable and lightweight enough for wearing on or off your bike.
Quality
These motorcycle glasses strike a great cost to performance balance by combining intelligent design with sturdy materials. All of the lenses are constructed from scratch-resistant and shatterproof polycarbonate material and the smoke lenses offer UV400 eye protection—a must-have for daytime motorcycle rides for dealing with dangerous, vision-impairing glare.
Belinous is confident in the quality of its product and offers an 18-month warranty that covers any defects in their riding glasses so you can rest easy knowing your money won’t go to waste on these.
Who It’s Best For
These Belinous Riding Glasses are an easy recommendation thanks to their versatility, affordable price point, and sturdy construction. You might not earn any fashion awards for these, but they are perfect for new riders looking to get some comfortable and functional eye protection without breaking the bank.
These motorcycle glasses are also comfortable enough to wear for general outdoor activities like fishing, hunting, or just going for a hike. The interchangeable lenses allow you to easily and quickly switch between the different lens types to best suit the current conditions outside.
Pros
- Sturdy and practical
- 100% UV protection for the eyes
- 18-month warranty
- Inexpensive
- Versatile with 4 easily interchangeable lenses
Cons
- Not the greatest looking glasses on our list
- Only the “smoke” lenses offer UV protection
2. Best Premium Motorcycle Glasses: Oakley Gascan Sunglasses
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
If you have a helmet and a full face mask, a solid pair of sunglasses with polarized lenses that offer UV protection for your eyes and reduced glare are all you really need. Oakley is known for its great sunglasses and these are fitted perfectly for wearing inside a full motorcycle helmet thanks to their wraparound style and tapered arms that allow the frames to fit snugly around your face and head. However, they are not exclusively targeted at motorcyclists.
Quality
Sure, you can buy a pair of polarized lens sunglasses for a fair amount less than these, but you’ll notice where all the corners were cut after a few moments of close inspection. Oakley is a respected eyewear brand that has put time and money into developing custom materials and processes specifically engineered for providing the utmost in comfort, longevity, and visibility.
The lenses on the Oakley Gascans offer 100% UV protection to keep your eyes safe while also improving visibility by cutting down on glare. The wraparound style of the frames and lenses provides better peripheral vision than boxy glasses while also protecting you from indirect glare that happens when sunlight seeps in around the edges of standard sunglass styles.
Who It’s Best For
These Oakley Gascan Sunglasses are great for anyone looking for a solid pair of sunglasses but their design makes them particularly well-suited for motorcycle riders. These are an easy recommendation thanks to Oakley’s attention to detail and superb quality.
These glasses are great for general purpose use and are easily comfortable enough for continued use all day long. They also come in a ton of different color options so you can easily customize the look to fit your preferences.
Pros
- Fantastic optics and eye protection
- Stylish and sturdy
- Come in a large variety of style options
- Built to last
- Comfortable and practically designed
Cons
- Not designed specifically for riders
- Pricier than most options on our list
3. Best Budget Motorcycle Glasses: MF Payback Sunglasses
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
With how cheap these are, it’s kind of amazing just how well these motorcycles glasses perform. These boast UV 400 lenses that have a double-sided coating that protects the lenses from getting fogged up during use.
The foam padding around the eyes helps to seal off the excess wind to prevent tearing up when riding without a proper face covering. The padding also reduces light leaking that can negatively impact visibility while on the road. Unfortunately, the rubberized coating on the pads around the eyes can lead to a sweaty face especially when worn on a hot day due to the poor ventilation and breathability of the material.
Quality
These glasses are surprisingly well-made considering how inexpensive they are. These aren’t going to win any awards for sturdiest or most attractive riding glasses, but they get the job done at a price that simply can’t be beaten without making major sacrifices either to performance, comfort, or both.
You aren’t going to find a better pair of motorcycle glasses at this price, but a cost this low is only achievable by cutting some corners. The MF Payback Sunglasses aren’t particularly comfortable due to the aforementioned sweating issues. The rubber ear pads on the arms of the glasses can cause some friction and pull at the hair around your ears, but overall these are reasonably comfortable and completely functional.
Who It’s Best For
These are great motorcycle glasses for the budget-minded among us who just want something that cuts the frills and just works. If you’re looking to try out motorcycle glasses for the first time but aren’t sure whether you’ll like using them, these are the perfect tester set. The MF Payback Sunglasses also make for a great stocking stuffer or gift idea thanks to their affordability.
Pros
- Seriously cheap motorcycle glasses
- UV protection against eye damage and glare
- Foam padding to prevent light and air leaking into the eyes
Cons
- Not the sturdiest riding glasses out there
- Comfort is a little lacking especially for warm weather rides
4. Best Over-the-Glasses Goggles: Pacific Coast Airfoil Riding Goggles
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
Over-the-glasses goggles are great for people who wear corrective glasses or those who want to keep their glasses and face protected while on the road. These Pacific Coast Airfoil Riding Goggles offer 100% UV protection, making them perfect for prescription glasses owners that want to add a bit of glare and eye damage protection.
Quality
With shatterproof polycarbonate lenses, these Pacific Coast Airfoil Riding Goggles boast a sturdy construction combined with solid design sensibilities and all offered at an affordable price. On the downside, the foam padding on these goggles are a bit on the cheap side and can get a little itchy for some. The plastic body is solid but a little cheap feeling overall with the plastic components on the straps being particularly chintzy.
The flexible strap is solid, thick, and wide enough to offer reasonable comfort and a secure fit. Most glasses fit easily inside of these goggles, as they are designed specifically for wearing on top of your glasses, and the fit is snug without creating any pressure points. The lenses also do a good job of staying clear and easy to see through thanks to anti-fogging technology.
Who It’s Best For
These riding goggles were designed specifically with glasses-wearers in mind and those are exactly who we’d recommend these to. Having said that, wearing glasses is by no means a necessity and these riding goggles are perfectly suitable for being worn on their own.
The smoke lenses offer 100% UV protection so you can use these on their own or go for the clear-coated lenses and put sunglasses on under them. These Pacific Coast Airfoil Riding Goggles do an excellent job of protecting expensive eyewear like prescription glasses or these great Oakley motorcycle glasses on our list.
Pros
- Fits perfectly over glasses
- Anti-fogging for great visibility
- Comfortable with no pressure points
- Affordable
Cons
- Foam padding could be a better material
- Plastic components are on the cheap side
5. FAGUMA Sports Sunglasses
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
While not designed specifically for motorcycles, most riders will get a lot of bang for their buck with this great pair of polarized sports sunglasses. Their curved design and thin, tapered arms allow them to easily fit even when you’re wearing a full-face helmet. Comfortable and practical enough for everyday use, these glasses are great for improving visibility and reducing eye strain and damage caused from UV rays.
Quality
While these aren’t made to survive the apocalypse, they are sturdy and well-built enough for most practical applications and are well-suited for wearing while riding. The lenses offer 100% UV 400 protection which is a must-have for riders who need to maintain maximum visibility even in the bright sun. The lenses are also shatterproof to protect the eyes from damage in the event of a collision.
Who It’s Best For
These Faguma Sports Sunglasses are a solid pair of UV protection lenses that are suitable for any outdoor activities. While they aren’t specifically designed for motorcycle riders, they are well-suited for the task thanks to their slim and flexible arms and the wraparound design of the frames.
These glasses come in a wide variety of colors and styles so you can easily match them to your personal style. They also have a 30 day 100% satisfaction guarantee so you can try them out and get your money back if you aren’t happy with them after your first month of use.
Pros
- UV 400 eye protection from sunlight and glare
- Inexpensive
- Comfortable and lightweight
- Shatterproof lenses
- Available in numerous styles
Cons
- Not specifically designed for motorcycle riders
6. Best Standard Motorcycle Goggles: Bobster Cruiser 2 Goggles
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
These Bobster Cruiser 2 Goggles are made with the budget-minded motorcycle fan in mind. As to be expected from a company that specializes in eyewear for riders, these goggles have everything you’d want to find in a pair of riding goggles. The lenses are shatterproof and offer 100% UV protection from eye damage and wreck-causing glare.
These goggles also sport foam padding around the eyes to provide a seal that prevents air and light from leaking into the eyes. Bobster also ventilated their Cruiser 2 Goggles to prevent them from getting fogged over on long rides or in inclement weather conditions. The strap is standard fare, but provides a snug fit and reasonable comfort.
Quality
Bobster has made a name for themselves in the motorcycle niche as manufacturers of solid and practical eyewear and these Cruiser 2 Goggles are one of the most popular products they make thanks to their sturdy build quality and comfort.
The lenses are great and they come in 3 coatings (smoked, amber, and clear) that can be easily interchanged depending on the time of day and the rider’s preferences. Our main complaints are that the strap could be more comfortable and we’re not big fans of the open cell foam because the material can get a little itchy.
Who It’s Best For
These are an easy recommendation for any rider looking to try out motorcycle goggles for the first time. Bobster is one of the most well-respected motorcycle eyewear manufacturers and these are an excellent entry-level offering that provides all the features a rider needs to keep themselves safe and comfortable during road trips.
Pros
- Inexpensive yet well-built
- Offers 100% UV protection
- Excellent ventilation to prevent fogging and provide comfort during long rides
- Interchangeable shatterproof lenses for riding in different lighting
Cons
- The strap and foam padding could be better
7. Global Vision Outfitter Motorcycle Glasses
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
These motorcycle glasses are sort of a hybrid of goggles and glasses thanks to their oversized design that allows these to be worn over the top of standard glasses. The side ports give increased peripheral visibility compared to other glasses and goggles like these, but the smaller form factor of these makes them a little hit and miss for glasses wearers.
Not everyone can comfortably wear their glasses under these, but they do offer solid eye protection from wind and debris without negatively impacting visibility much.
Quality
Made with a nylon frame, these Global Vision Outfitter Motorcycle Glasses are sturdy and comfortable enough for longer rides. The lenses have an anti-fog coating to maintain visibility and the frames and lenses are both ANSI certified as safety glasses so they will do a great job of protecting you from rocks, dust, and wind during your rides.
The foam padding does a decent job of reducing light and air leak so your eyes stay unobstructed and dry while you’re on your bike.
Who It’s Best For
These Global Vision Outfitter Motorcycle Glasses are a very affordable way to try out motorcycle glasses. They are especially nice for riders who wear prescription glasses and want to keep them protected during their rides. The lack of UV protection makes these less than ideal for wearing on their own in sunny conditions, but they can be paired with smaller sunglasses to great effect.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Solidly constructed
- Can fit over prescription glasses to protect them
- ANSI Z87.1+ rated for safety
Cons
- May not fit over some glasses
- Not rated for UV protection
8. Best Motorcycle Face Covering: Detachable Fogproof Face Mask Goggles
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
This GGBuy Detachable Fogproof Face Mask and Goggles set allows you to easily swap between standard goggles and full-face protection at any time. The face mask sports vents and a breathing filter to keep dust and large particulates from getting in your mouth or airway.
The goggles offer UV protection to keep your eyes protected from the sun and your vision safe from glare. Using this as a full face mask will help keep your face warm during cold rides, and combining this with a half helmet will allow you to easily adjust your gear setup to match the current weather conditions. Furthermore, this mask and goggle combination is excellent for other sporting activities such as playing paintball, snowmobiling, and dirt biking.
Quality
With a price this low, you can expect some concessions made to the overall quality of the product. Having said that, this mask and goggles combo set is surprisingly well-made and fairly rugged.
The goggle lens is made from shatterproof polycarbonate material that offers UV protection and sports an anti-fog coating so you can maintain maximum visibility at all times. The body of the mask and goggles are made from a sturdy plastic that holds up fairly well to a beating.
One of the drawbacks is the attachment system used to allow the goggles and mask to detach and reattach. The plastic components that connect the two parts are a little fragile and prone to breaking if care isn’t taken when attaching and detaching them.
Who It’s Best For
As we mentioned above, this mask and goggles setup is particularly great for riders who prefer wearing half helmets but could use some face and eye protection at times. This setup also makes for a great way to protect your face while participating in all kinds of sporting activities outside of riding a motorcycle. The low cost of this makes it an easy recommendation to anyone interested in protecting their face and eyes.
Pros
- Detachable system for easy customization
- UV protection from glare and eye damage
- Breathable mask with anti-fog coating to provide excellent visibility at all times
- Affordable and versatile
Cons
- Components are on the cheap side
- Attachment system is known to be a bit fragile
9. Surpassme 3-Pair Riding Glasses
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
Three sets of motorcycle glasses with different lenses for riding any time of day or night at an incredibly low cost makes these Surpassme Riding Glasses a painless purchase for people who want to give motorcycle glasses a try. The smoke lenses offer UV 400 protection while the other lenses are intended for low light riding.
Quality
All of the lenses are made from shatterproof polycarbonate and the foam padding around the eyes allows these motorcycle glasses to protect your eyes from wind and debris. The padding is made from a silicone material that provides ample cushioning but not a lot of breathability. The pads are designed to allow for some airflow out of the glasses to prevent fogging without causing your eyes to water from excessive airflow.
These are incredibly inexpensive so the materials are rather cheap. The lenses in particular are prone to getting scuffed fairly easily so be careful when handling these motorcycle glasses. Overall, the build quality is surprisingly sturdy for how low these are priced.
Who It’s Best For
These Surpassme Riding Glasses are incredibly affordable for people looking to protect their eyes while riding on the cheap. The three different lens types provided in this set allow you to try out different lens styles without having to fork over much cash and having additional pairs of riding glasses can come in handy when you have someone riding along with you.
All things considered, we think these are best for people who want to try out motorcycle glasses and see how they like different colored lenses. Eventually, avid riders will most likely want to replace these with a higher quality pair of motorcycle glasses, but these will help riders figure out what to look for when buying riding glasses in the future.
Pros
- Incredibly affordable
- Three different pairs of glasses for various lighting conditions
- Smoke lenses provide UV protection
- Padded eyepieces protect eyes from wind, dust, and debris
Cons
- Cheap materials that aren’t likely to hold up to much punishment
- Lenses are prone to getting scuffed
10. Most Stylish Motorcycle Goggles: Evomosa Vintage Motorcycle Goggles
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
These motorcycle goggles emphasize style over pure practicality, but that doesn’t mean these don’t serve the purpose of protecting your eyes while you ride. The lenses offer UV 400 protection to keep your eyes safe from harmful rays and potentially dangerous glare. The cushioning around the eyes also makes these comfortable while preventing wind leakage that can cause teary eyes, impacting visibility.
Quality
The low cost of these Evomosa Vintage Motorcycle Goggles means the quality of the materials isn’t amazing. However, the overall quality of the build is quite nice and the goggles hold up well.
The lenses are made from shatterproof polycarbonate to keep your eyes safe from harm and the plastic body of the goggles is sturdy yet lightweight. The padding is comfortable and prevents any pressure points; however, the material covering it can grow warm and may cause discomfort in warm weather conditions.
Who It’s Best For
These Evomosa Vintage Motorcycle Goggles are more of a style-first option than most other offerings on our list. That doesn’t mean these aren’t fully functional motorcycle goggles however. These come in three distinct style variations with five options for lens coloration. They go great in conjunction with half helmets thanks to the lined band that prevents the goggles from slipping off the smooth surface of a helmet.
We think these are particularly great for people looking to up their style game on their bikes or even for cosplayers and Halloween costumes. Their low cost makes them an easy recommendation when combined with the fact that they offer 100% UV protection.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- UV 400 protection from glare and harmful rays
- Stylish
- Lightweight
Cons
- Not ideal for warmer climates due to lack of breathability
- Lenses are prone to scuffing
Guide to Buying the Best Motorcycle Glasses
Motorcycles offer a lot of great benefits: they are cost-effective thanks to fuel efficiency and their relatively low cost compared to standard automobiles, their small size makes them easier and cheaper to park and store, and they are just a heck of a lot of fun to ride.
However, motorcycle riding also comes with its fair share of downsides: they are considerably more dangerous than cars, they’re harder to operate, and riders are a lot more exposed to the elements. The best way to compensate for these shortcomings is by taking all the proper safety precautions and one of the best ways to stay safe while riding is by wearing the right gear.
The Importance of Motorcycle Glasses
While most riders understand the importance of things like gloves, a jacket, and a helmet, one of the often overlooked safety measures is eyewear. Our eyes are one of the most vulnerable parts of our bodies—especially when riding at high speeds on an open-air vehicle like a motorcycle.
Not only are our eyes vulnerable, but it also turns out they are pretty important for doing things like riding a motorcycle. When riding something as dangerous as a motorcycle, every second counts – and you never know when you might need to quickly react to conditions on the road.
Getting some dust or a gust of wind in your eye is normally an annoyance at most, but it can be life-threatening when you’re on a motorcycle as it can impact your vision at a dangerous moment in time.
Aside from the immediate harm that can come to a rider as a result of poor or no eye protection, there is also the lasting harm caused by exposure to the sun’s UV radiation. People who spend a lot of time outside like motorcyclists are at a higher risk of experiencing the negative impacts that prolonged UV exposure to the eyes can bring about.
As you can see, everyone should protect their eyes but motorcycle riders have specific risk factors that make it even more important for them to take extra precautions for the safety of their bodies and their eyes.
Motorcycle Glasses VS Motorcycle Goggles
The primary difference between motorcycle glasses and motorcycle goggles is that goggles tend to offer more protection from impacts while glasses tend to provide better overall visibility.
The frames of motorcycle goggles can get in the way of peripheral vision and require you to turn your head more. This is also true of full style motorcycle helmets as the sides of your vision are blocked.
Motorcycle goggles generally do a better job of protecting your eyes and the area around them, but this can come with discomfort for many as the increase in surface area coverage leads to your face getting hotter. However, not all motorcycle goggles and glasses are created alike.
Many styles of motorcycle goggles and glasses are designed to straddle the line between the two, with many glasses sporting padded frames or larger areas of protection for the general eye area and not just the eyes themselves.
Goggles are excellent when used in conjunction with half helmets or visorless helmets as they provide additional protection for your face. On the other hand, glasses are often used in combination with a full helmet and visor setup to provide improved visibility and protection from harmful UV radiation.
Ultimately, choosing between goggles or glasses comes down to personal preference and taking into consideration what other types of gear you wear.
Eye Protection and Visibility
Having a physical barrier between your eyes and the rest of the world is incredibly important for motorcycle riders but good lenses can do more than just protect your eyes from wind, dust, and debris. A good pair of motorcycle glasses can protect your eyes while also improving your overall visibility thanks to modern optics technology.
We already talked about UV protection and how sunglasses are a great way of saving your eyes from the sun’s damaging radiation. But lenses can also help reduce and prevent damage from other types of harmful light rays like damaging blue light produced by modern lights.
Beyond this, properly treated motorcycle glasses lenses can also improve visibility by reducing glare. Polarized lenses can block scattered light rays that cause glare and negatively impact visibility. Blocking light in this way reduces eye strain and provides wearers with less obstructed vision.
Polarized lenses aren’t ideal for low light situations, as they can make an already dark scene even darker and difficult to perceive; however, they are ideal for daytime riding and a combination of polarization and UV protection is recommended for riders who plan on being out on their bikes in the sunlight.
Most of the products on our list offer different lens types so you can pick the ones that will be best for you or get a variety of them so you can adjust your optics depending on the lighting conditions for your upcoming ride.
Bottom Line
Wearing the proper safety gear can make all the difference when it comes to your safety while operating a motorcycle and a good pair of motorcycle glasses go a long way in keeping you and your eyes safe from harm.
As well as glasses, we’ve included goggles and facemasks so you can make an informed choice. Stylish and safe glasses can make your regular rides even more of a joy than they already are. We packed this list full of great motorcycle eyewear options and hoped you found something that’s right for you.
Source: Tools - autoquarterly.com
