Sunglasses - Polarized yay or nay for cycling?
 

Hi
So I'm in the market for a new pair of sunglasses. In the past I have ridden with everything form $8.00 glasses from 7-11 to most recently my $150.00 polarized Bolles which I stepped on. I was at one of the LBS today looking at glasses. I mentioned that I like them polarized and the sales person said that polarized are actually dangerious for cycling due to the fact they block glare which could potentially make a cyclist miss water, ice, etc... on the road.
I have never heard of this before but I was wondering what everyone's thoughts were? I will always used polarized while driving but now I wonder if I need another pair for cycling.
Discuss.
Rob

I have never had a problem seeing water and ice, polarized or not. Now I just use some cheapy dark safety glasses my winery provides for my outside work, FREE.

For your own peace of mind get the cheapest pairs of polarized and non-polarized glasses you can find and try them both at a local body of water. If you do not need corrective lenses get some polycarbonate safety dark eyewear and a safety supply store.

I never heard this one before, but I'll wait on opinions. I use polarized, think your LBS is wrong, and feel like I should have gotten untinted polarized lenses for the best visibility, but that's just an opinion.

I wear a pair of polarized frameless fishing sunglasses I picked up at Walmart for $18. I love them!

I've been riding with polarized sunglasses without any problems for the past couple months.
One little inconvenience is that the cycle computer display does not appear that clear at certain angles.

I have a pair of Bolle polarized and really don't care for them when cycling but not for the reasons the LBS stated. On some cars and trucks, they make the windshields appear 3D and I find that distracting. Also, my cell phone is mounted on my handlebars and the new cell has a clock display on the lid when closed, that the polarized glasses make impossible to see. Glare from windshields just doesn't seem to be the problem I thought it was to begin with.

I use Oakley Half Jacket Polarized and have never experienced the problem that you mentioned.
I personally wouldn't buy a pair of sunglasses unless they were polarized.

I'd think that being blinded by glare is more likely than not noticing a slippery patch of road because you can't see glare.

I've been using Home Depot AOSafety Ice Blue glasses that cost under $10. Recently, I updated my prescriptions and ordered a pair of prescription polarized sunglasses for $95 deductible after insurance. Except for the corrected vision, there is no difference in glare reduction. If you don't wear Rx glasses, just get thje HD's. When you lose 'em, it's no big deal. When I lose or break the Rx ones, I slit my wrists. :(

Big advantage of polarised is that you can see petrol and diesel much easier on the road surface.
That's a huge advantage.

The little inconvience of not always being at the right angle to see some displays is overcome by the greater ability to see into that body of water you are riding over. Without polarized, you have no clue how deep the puddle/hole is.

agree...polarized is better, and walmart offers some great deals on polarized glasses in the fishing / shooting department......

mark

Then drivers, pilots, ice fishermen, skiers, mountainclimbers, pedestrians, etc. could not see ice or puddles. So they all need to stop using polarized lenses.

Yeah, that's believable!

Is it possible the bike shop did not have any polarized sunglasses to sell you?

Hmmmmmm?

My RP brown polarized lenses are the best optics I've stuck in front of my eyeballs, period. The ice/water thing is pure B.S. Find a new person/shop to buy from.

I have a couple pairs of polarized but prefer my Oakley M Frames that are NOT polarized. Things don't look natural with the polarized. And pavement has a way of looking downright strange.

I ride with nothing but polarized, in fact my current glasses are the Bolle's. I've never had any trouble seeing water, ice or whatever. In fact they keep my eyes more relaxed and feel less tired because they cut the glare.

As an eye doc, I have to say the sales person is not very well educated in the advantages/disadvantages of polarized lenses. I personally love them with their true ability of reducing glare but you may or may not. One thing for sure, many very cheap sunglasses have terrible optics which are far more likely to cause phenomena like, "And pavement has a way of looking downright strange"

Maybe so, but Oakley should have pretty good optics.

Polarized lenses are recommended for water-sports because, you can't see the water, and what's in the water, when the light from the sun reflects off the surface of the water, producing glare.

That said, sounds like s/he was trying to sell you some $$$ glasses using extremely faulty logic. Oi!

Wow... didn't think I'd get so many replies. Anyway, i have rideen with both in the past and had no problems with polarized. I was just curious to see what others thought about it.
Thanks
Rob

The translation to this could be one of two things:
Either, "We don't have any polarized glassed in stock right now."
Or, "We don't carry polarized glasses."

Either way it sounds to me like the salesperson was trying to feed you a line of baloney.


And if you feel the urge to stomp on anymore Bolles, feel free to send them my way before you do.;)

Polarized for me.

BFC OT fo life!!

Polarized flip-ups on my regular glasses, $12 from Walgreens. Never had a problem.

I look for UV block of 100%. I don't know if any of mine ever were/are polarized or not.

Yes to Polarized
 

I've been using polarized sunglasses ever since I started cycling and I have no problem using them in fact, they're really good cause they help me see clearly even when I'm facing the sun. I bought this cheap yet cool anti-glare polarized sunglasses here. :https ://amzn.to/2Nb1hmb