Best Budget Polarized Cycling Sunglasses: Protect Your Eyes

Blinded by the glare on your last ride, or do you just want to avoid splurging on overpriced shades? 

Good news: you don’t have to spend a fortune to keep your eyes shielded and sharp. But in a world flooded with options, which are the best budget polarized cycling sunglasses?

I’ve scoured the market, squinted against the sun, and talked with fellow cyclists to unearth the best bargains. There is no more guesswork or gambling with your eye protection.

Want the best without the hefty price tag? The ROCKBROS Polarized Sunglasses are the clear frontrunners. Why do they outshine their pricier counterparts? They offer style, and they do the job excellently for the budget.

Ready to find out how these shades stack up against the sun (and the competition)? Let’s dive in and see what makes them a bright choice for budget-conscious bikers! 🕶️🚴‍♂️🌞

Summary of the Best Budget Polarized Cycling Sunglasses

Reviews of 5 Cheap Polarized Cycling Sunglasses

These polarized sunglasses from Rockbros offer 100% UV400 protection and an attractive mirrored coating. 

I mention the coating (aside from the fact it’s rather nice) because it makes the lens anti-fog, hydrophobicity, soil, and oil-resistant, so you stand a decent chance of keeping the lens clear when wearing these.

Rockbros polarized sunglasses weigh 25 grams. These bad boys are impressively lightweight. Lightness is always good on a ride; we can all appreciate that. 

Rockbros has fitted an adjustable nose pad that is reasonably anti-slip to ensure the sunglasses stay on your head. 

In addition, the ear pads are rubberized. This helps keep the glasses stable and gives that extra bit of comfort you can’t help but appreciate. 

With plenty of color combinations, these cycling sunglasses are bound to complement your style!

This list wouldn’t be complete without a retro pair of cycling sunglasses from Tifosi. These sunglasses don’t look overly “sporty,” so the Tifosi Swank could be ideal if you’re looking for a pair of dual-purpose sunglasses.

What I like about these sunglasses is that you can wear them for other things, not just cycling. As much as I like cycling sunglasses (and I really do!), they don’t usually look all that great when you’re not actually cycling.

So Tifosi gets some style points there. 

The Tifosi Swank is lightweight, so it won’t weigh you down. It will rest gently on your nose and generally not get in the way. 

Speaking of the frames, Tifosi uses Grilamid TR-90 nylon to give them that lightweight quality. The lenses are made from polycarbonate, which is scratchproof and shatterproof, so you can be sure that the sunglasses will be durable. 

Overall, the Tifosi Swank SL offers a great mix of style and substance, reducing glare for a relatively low price. Lovely stuff!

Sticking with Tifosi, we have the Crit. These cycling sunglasses are also made from Grilamid TR-90 nylon, so they are another lightweight pair, weighing only 31 grams! 

Not only does this make them lightweight, but it also helps keep them firmly on your head, whichever direction you look. The rubber nose piece (which is adjustable, too!) keeps things snug.

To be doubly sure that the Tifosi Crit is a good fit, the ends of the arms are adjustable. Finished off with hydrophilic rubber, they are soft and increase the grip – even when you get sweaty! 

The show-stopping feature of the Crit is the lenses. 

As you’d expect, they provide 100% protection from harmful UV rays. But what makes them unique are the photochromic Fototec lenses. 

Swapping from light to dark and vice versa seems instantaneous. You shouldn’t even notice. Now that’s impressive. 
This comes into its own in winter light (you know, that low-blinding winter sun, yeah?).

These Tifosi Crit cycling sunglasses are remarkable in these conditions. I wouldn’t be understating when I say they’ve raised the bar in the photochromic world.

Torege aims to cover you for all conditions, giving you three interchangeable lenses in one package! 

First, you get a blue lens known as the PC Revo Lens. This lens reduces glare and improves contrast, making it ideal for sunny or overcast days.

Then, you get a polarized lens. This one is black in appearance and is superb at reducing glare – especially on sunny days. 

The final lens is yellow. It improves contrast, especially in low-light conditions.

So your bases are covered with Torege, but are they any good?

In short, yes.

The nose pads on these cycling sunglasses are rubber, which ensures comfort and also keeps the glasses in place.

Something quite special with these sunglasses (apart from everything I’ve already mentioned!) is that Torege offers a lifetime breakage warranty on the frame.

The customer service is excellent, so I wouldn’t hesitate to contact them if I had any issues with these. Knowing they offer a lifetime warranty does help to give confidence. It’s a big statement.

Overall, these polarized cycling sunglasses from Torege offer something extra compared to other models, and they’re worth it, particularly if you want flexibility, which these offer in droves.

If you’re craving that big, bold frame, look at the ATTCL sunglasses!

First things first, with big framed sunglasses, comfort is important. ATTCL isn’t messing around here. 

The earpads, arms, and nose pads are flexible so that you can make these work for you. 

These cycling sunglasses give you the full wrap-around experience that provides fantastic protection. 

There are a few color options, though the black lens is polarized. As you’d expect, they come with UV protection. 

Let’s consider the weight because you can’t hide the fact that these are big shades! Surprisingly, they only weigh 30 grams, so you aren’t likely to notice their weight against your nose/ears/face. 

It’s finished off nicely with a unique hard case. It may not be needed, but I store my cycling sunglasses in the case they come with, and I always appreciate those that come in a nice case.

Overall, these polarized cycling sunglasses from ATTCL offer style and substance…you can’t argue with that.

Why Wear Cycling Sunglasses?

As a cyclist, I’m obviously a bit biased, but cycling sunglasses look cool. Some may say goofy, but they’re wrong 😂

So style aside, like all cycling apparel, cycling sunglasses do serve a purpose. 

They give you some much-needed protection from bright sunlight and harmful UV rays, as well as from wind, rain, dust, grit, and bugs (speaking from experience, bugs are awful when they get in your eyes).

While a standard pair of sunglasses will often also do that, cycling sunglasses are made for the job. They offer better protection and use tougher lenses to withstand whatever cycling can throw at them.

Many manufacturers also offer interchangeable lenses, so you can quickly swap out the lens to suit the weather and light conditions. This saves you from having to own multiple pairs of sunglasses, which can quickly become very expensive.

If you choose photochromic lenses, your sunglasses will automatically darken when exposed to bright sunlight, allowing you to use the same pair in various conditions.

You might be thinking that you don’t need eyewear in the winter. Well, remember what I said about bugs? 

Bugs, grit, dirt, and other debris can still get in your way in the winter. I’d recommend yellow lenses for winter riding, as they can boost contrast, making even gloomy days seem brighter. 

It’s a win-win situation! 

Buyers Guide: What To Look For When Buying Cycling Sunglasses

Lens

I probably don’t need to state this, but the lens is the most critical part of sunglasses, so it’s a significant consideration when choosing a pair! 

Overall, mirrored sunglasses look cool, but they really shine on very sunny days.

So, if you live somewhere that doesn’t see its fair share of super sunny days, you are better off considering a multi-lens package.

Other cycling sunglasses manufacturers offer photochromic lenses. This means that the lenses react to changing light levels. When it’s sunny, they get darker and clearer when it’s not.

Frame

Big-framed sunglasses are in fashion at the moment, and unusually for fashion, they have advantages!

They offer tremendous protection and coverage, though I admit that the bold appearance isn’t for everyone. 

Large-frame glasses can impede your peripheral vision and become annoying. Frameless options are available, giving you an unrestricted view.

Regarding frames, it usually comes down to your style preference more than anything else.

How are cycling sunglasses made? 👀

Arms

Alright, so you need to think about the arms of your sunglasses.

The arms must be robust enough to keep the sunglasses in place, regardless of where you ride or how rough it gets. 

Manufacturers will often apply tacky rubber inserts to the arms. This helps to increase the friction but keeps things comfortable.

Nose Bridge

Because everyone’s face and nose are shaped differently, it’s best to find a pair of sunglasses that offer adjustable or interchangeable nose pieces. That way, you can be sure of a personalized fit.

Want to keep your sunglasses looking sharp?

Frequently Asked Questions

Round-Up

Sunglasses are pretty personal, whether fashion sunglasses or cycling sunglasses. However, it does pay to research to ensure you get the right lens type for your cycling needs. 

Being a sucker for the full wrap-around look, my favorite is the ROCKBROS sunglasses. They offer style, and they do the job excellently for the budget. 

What’s your style?