The difference between a lightweight and 'heavy' pair of sunglasses is only a few grams, so unless you're going after the national hill climb championships, you probably won't need to worry about weight. The polarization did its job, cutting out 63% of the glare, and grey tinted lenses cut out 98.8% of our UV torch’s light – the 1.2% it did let through could well just be visible purple light. With 140g force to pull these glasses off, they aren’t the most secure, but also not the worst. Category 2 lenses let in between 18 and 43 per cent of light, and are usually coloured in slightly darker hues, meaning they are best for days where weather is intermittently sunny. Most sailors will opt for polarized sunglasses. If you haven’t tried them before and don’t know what the fuss is about, ask to try someone else’s next time you’re out on the water. Tip your head on one side to see what things look like with dark glasses, then look normally to see how much additional glare the polarization cuts out and you’ll be amazed.

These are a reasonable pair of shades at a reasonable price, and will serve well on and off the water, but they don’t reach the standards of the best glasses in this test. Polarization, by measuring the LUX reduction between vertically and horizontally rotated lenses, whilst aimed at a flat metal surface reflecting direct sunlight, replicating water glare

Melon Optics Alleycat Photochromic glasses

The lenses are Cat 3, and although the VLT is unspecified, they strike a good balance between remaining functional for everyday activities like driving, and providing enough protection for outdoor pursuits (unless you’re really high up in the mountains, when some Cat 4 glasses would be better). For this example, it is easier to visualise just the vertical and horizontal waves. The lenses of polarized glasses are coated with a polymer, the molecules

No photochromic lens can respond instantly to changing conditions, but these seem as fast as others I've used. I never became aware of any lag, and they seem to handle rapidly changing conditions – such as riding through patches of trees – pretty well. The glasses have solid frames and a curved, face-hugging wraparound lens that mostly fills the field of vision. Peripheral vision at the sides is completely covered. The lenses have vents top and bottom and I found these to be very effective. Even on cold days, these glasses never misted up when I was moving. I occasionally got a little mist when I stopped at junctions after hard efforts on really cold days, but that cleared the instant I started to move again. Comfortable to wear, the flexible and robust nylon Grilamid TR90 frame has a seemingly basic design, but the arms and nose pads keep these lightweight sunnies firmly in place no matter what you’re doing, which earns them a place in our guide to the best sunglasses available at the moment for hiking and climbing.

Review: Tifosi Swick Sunglasses — Polarized Satin Black/Neon

The force in grams required to pull the sunglasses from the wearer’s head, using luggage scale attached to the central nose bridge The BBB Avenger is futuristically styled, but it is not merely for show. You’ll notice the slight ventilation clearance between lens and frame, a deliberate design to avoid the annoyance of fogging. This is an elementary comfort feature for riders who are committed to venturing outdoors for their training in even the worst conditions. Suitability: Trail activities ranging from hiking to biking at sea level and in lower hills, plus general beach and bar wear The weight and dimensions of each pair, including how flat or wrapped around they are, measuring the linear distance from the nose bridge to a line between the rear edge of the lenses

Alternatively, you might simply put more value in getting the correct colour - or a neutral colour - to match your kit. Are all cheap cycling sunglasses equally safe? The nose and temple grips keep them securely in place, no matter how lumpy the landscape I’ve been running and riding over became, and for the most part they’ve been pretty comfortable to wear for reasonably long periods of time – the hydrophilic nose grips seem to pinch slightly after while, but this can be relieved by lifting the glasses momentarily. Lens colors: New Blue / Smoke Yellow / Smoke Red / Smoke Yellow / Smoke Bright Blue / Smoke / Brown / Clear / Smoke Don’t be put off by the name. Dirty Dog have been around for years, and make glasses that many sailors have used for a long time, such is their build quality. With a whole wealth of styles available, we were testing a ‘unisex’ style, although the fit and shape were rather wide.

Rudy Project Kelion glasses

These two gentlemen could not be any more accommodating if they tried, quality service that is a rare find in today’s crazy world, I can not recommend this company enough! Everyone’s face is different, and finding ones that fit comfortably and securely in a style that you like will take a certain amount of trying on. Most brands carry multiple styles, however, that use the same ideas and technologies to suit a range of wearers. It helps to understand what your new glasses will and won’t do. Light travels in waves. These waves oscillate along different planes – imagine waves coming at you each aligned vertically, horizontally, and all the angles between, through a full 360º. Personally, I don't always want technical riding sunglasses in the same way that I don't always want to wear Lycra or use clipless pedals. Sometimes I like to ride my bike without – controversial, this one – actually looking like I'm riding my bike when I'm not on it, and these glasses fit in with that narrative very nicely.

The downside is that light from your instruments can be refracted through their screens, polarizing it parallel to the surface of the glass, so you might need to tilt your head to see the screens clearly. How we tested the best polarized sunglasses Bollé are synonymous with top-notch optics in skiing, sailing, and for safety goggles. They have a huge amount of expertise in making high-quality lenses, and the Holman are no different. Another brand that has hundreds of styles to choose from, the Holman is one of the few styles they offer designed for sailing that float. Given the quality – and that they're currently available considerably below RRP – it's not hard to recommend the Tifosis for all-day riding. Verdict

How do polarized sunglasses work?

One thing to note is that, like most photochromic glasses, these lenses are responding to levels of ultraviolet light. This can have a couple of unintended consequences if you're not expecting them. First, they don't work when you're behind glass – so these won't offer much protection when you're in a car. Second, there are occasional overcast days when it is relatively dark but still high in UV, and on these days the lenses can darken more than you'd perhaps like them to. I only experienced this once or twice when testing, and it really wasn't a big issue. Only once did I stash the glasses because they got a bit darker than I'd have liked.