Glasses

Why Is It Important to Wear Glasses While Cycling?
Cycling glasses are such an important safety element that they are almost as important as the helmet. Choosing the perfect model for each cyclist goes beyond just matching them with your outfit or making sure they look good on you.

They are used all year round, not just when it’s sunny. Imagine a mosquito hitting your eyes while cycling or when you're descending a hill—can be quite annoying, right?

At Eltin, you’ll find different types of cycling glasses so you can choose the ones that best suit you at any given moment.

How to Choose Your Cycling Glasses
There are different factors to consider when choosing the perfect cycling glasses:

▶︎ Size and Curvature:
The size and curvature of the glasses should fit the shape of your face and the length of your lashes, not only protecting your eyes but also the surrounding area.

An adjustable nose bridge helps position the glasses correctly, aligning them with your vision without causing discomfort on the top.

▶︎ Field of Vision:
The glasses should provide you with an optimal field of vision, meaning the lens curvature shouldn't distort the image, and the frame should not interfere.

▶︎ Weight and Support:
The lighter they are, the more comfortable you’ll feel and the more focused you’ll be on the road. The proper fit ensures the glasses don’t press on your temples while staying in place.

▶︎ Lens Quality:
The most important part of the glasses is the lens. You’ll find a wide range of lens types based on their usage:

• Polarised Lenses: Eliminate reflections from shiny surfaces like water, snow, ice, asphalt, etc.

• Monochromatic Lenses: These conventional lenses offer sun protection based on opacity without altering their properties or the amount of light they absorb.

• Photochromic Lenses: These lenses darken or lighten depending on the amount of light they receive, with most activating their filter based on ultraviolet radiation intensity rather than visible light. The advantage is that you can use the same glasses in different situations without needing to change the lens.

▶︎ Cycling Lens Categories:
Another important factor is the lens category for sun filtering. The European Union has a quality standard for sunglasses: UNE-EN ISO 12312-1:2013/A1:2015, and compliance is guaranteed by the CE mark, which must be clearly visible on the product.

• Category 0: Absorb between 0% and 19% of sunlight. Ideal for dark or heavily cloudy days.

• Category 1: Absorb between 20% and 56% of sunlight. Suitable for moderately cloudy days or environments heavily shaded and protected from the sun.

• Category 2: Absorb between 57% and 81% of sunlight. This is the most commonly used category for sports, especially MTB, except in high-light conditions.

• Category 3: Absorb between 82% and 91% of sunlight and are recommended for maximum light situations encountered in cycling, such as road cycling on the brightest summer days, mountain and coastal routes, or even in the desert with high-quality lenses.

The Temples of the Glasses: Inside or Outside the Helmet Straps?
The best practice is for the glasses to sit over the helmet straps, i.e., on the outside. In case of a fall, if the glasses are positioned above the strap, they will have the freedom to detach without posing a risk of injury.