The 9 Best Motorcycle Riding Glasses

Riders who want one pair that seals out wind and counts as safety eyewear should start with the Wiley X WX Gravity. A foam gasket snaps in behind the lens to block wind, dust and bugs, then comes out on hot days. A strap that clips to the arms holds them on at speed. Wiley X rates the lens for high-speed impacts and backs the frame with a lifetime warranty. The foam can soak up rain and fog the lens.

The WYND Blocker Halvert is the low-cost way to get a sealed, foam-lined fit. A soft liner around each lens keeps wind and grit out of your eyes, and an elastic strap turns the glasses into goggles for dusty back roads. They stay put at highway speed, and the clear lens works for riding after dark. The maker calls the lens impact resistant but shows no safety-standard mark, and the foam liner can work loose over time.

The Global Vision Hercules-5 is a cheap, sensible pair for riding after dark. Its clear lens is the kind some states require after dark, and Global Vision says it meets the U.S. safety-glass standard for impact. Rubber on the arms and nose keeps the frame steady under a helmet, and it's light enough to forget about. There's no foam, so wind can sneak in around the edges at highway speed, and the nose pads can break.

One box covers the whole riding day with the Global Vision Kickback set, which holds three pairs with clear, smoke and yellow lenses. Wear smoke in bright sun, yellow at dusk or on gray days, and clear after dark. Vented foam wraps each lens to keep wind and bugs out, and rubber pads soften the arms. Global Vision doesn't list a safety-standard rating for this set, so it's a comfort pick rather than safety gear.

If you wear prescription glasses, the Global Vision Outfitter slides right over them, so you don't need contacts or custom lenses to ride. Foam padding seals against wind and dust, while vents and an anti-fog coating help keep the view clear. The lens meets the U.S. safety-glass standard for impact, and Global Vision posts a guide for measuring your frames before you buy. It looks bulky, and very wide or tall frames won't fit underneath.

With the Wiley X Saber Advanced, the whole lens is one shield that you can swap in seconds without tools. This kit pairs a rust lens for flat, gray light with clear and smoke spares. It's assembled in the U.S., rated to military and work-safety impact standards, and backed by a lifetime warranty. A thin foam strip runs along the brow, but the open sides let wind reach your eyes, so it suits bikes with a windshield.

Riders behind a full-face visor or a tall windshield often just want good sunglasses, and the Oakley Flak 2.0 XL fills that role well. Its dark lens is tuned to sharpen contrast in bright sun, and grippy rubber on the nose and arms holds tighter as you sweat. The XL lens is taller than the regular Flak's, so it covers more of your view. There's no foam and no work-safety rating, and the lens can scratch.

A metal frame sets the OutLaw Eyewear Fugitive apart: it's aluminum, made in the U.S., and you can bend the arms and nose to fit your face. The polarized smoke lens cuts glare off wet roads and chrome, and OutLaw rates it to the U.S. safety-glass standard for impact. The slim arms slide under most helmets without pressing. The lens can pick up scratches, and with no foam the wind still finds its way in.

Riders who need readers to see a map or a phone will like the Bikershades Puma Bifocal. A small magnifying patch sits at the bottom of each smoke lens, so the road stays sharp up top and close-up text is clear below. Strengths start at plus 1.5 and go up from there. The lens meets the U.S. safety-glass standard for impact, and rubber arms grip well. The reading patch shows from the front, and the frame can break.