国产吃瓜黑料

GET MORE WITH OUTSIDE+

Enjoy 35% off GOES, your essential outdoor guide

UPGRADE TODAY

The RB3
The RB3

Which sunglass lens makes for the best sun-to-shade transition while mountain biking?

What type of sunglass lens makes the transition from sun to shade the easiest for riding singletrack through the forest? Lynn La Grande, OR

Published: 
The RB3

New perk: Easily find new routes and hidden gems, upcoming running events, and more near you. Your weekly Local Running Newsletter has everything you need to lace up! .

Honestly? None of them. And I know exactly what you want, as I do a fair piece of mountain biking around Port Townsend, WA, and we聮re often riding in and out of sunshine. That聮s even more of an issue in sunny La Grande. If you聮re making pretty quick transitions from sun to shadow and back, the photochromic glasses out there just can聮t manage the switch fast enough to do you any good.

The RB3 The RB3

And that can be dangerous. Several years back a guy in our group was wearing tinted lenses while biking with us on Gold Creek, a trail in the Olympic National Forest. One especially exhilarating stretch of trail side-hills a very steep wooded mountainside. You聮re also descending, so a moment聮s inattention or distraction can be dangerous. Anyway, he got a little bit blinded going from sun to shade, off the trail, yadda yadda yadda, broken collarbone and concussion. Ouch.

For that reason I usually stick with clear lenses for mixed conditions. Those, or yellow lenses, which add some contrast in the shade.

One possible option: 聮s RB3 glasses ($175). The flip up in a single motion, so you can easily get yourself more light. Lenses in different colors also can be used. Probably about as good as it gets for tough riding/lighting conditions.

Popular on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online