Lens Color Selection:

The right lens color can improve contrast, ease eyestrain, and generally improve your vision. As you select a lens color you should also decide on whether you want a polarized lens or not. Polarization is absolutely the best way to cut glare in all situations. The newest polarization technologies from manufacturers like Maui Jim and Kaenon will give you the best possible vision in any lighting conditions. There are only a couple issues that keep polarized lenses from being the best choice in every circumstance: Some LED readouts may be harder to read with polarized lenses; and polarized lenses cost more.

Occasionally we hear from motorcyclists or snow skiers that have been told not to get polarized lenses because water or ice hazards will be harder to see. We have done extensive testing that shows these beliefs to be unfounded. To read more about the results of these tests read our “Polarized myths exposed” articles.

Lens color information is presented below based on activity type:

Snow Sports:

Once again, the choice to go polarized or not is more significant than choosing a lens color. On bright sunny days, polarized lenses are your best defense against glare and "bounce back" off the snow. The Lens Material link on this site discusses polarized lenses and snow sports. Many opticians believe that polarized lenses work great on sunny, powder days, but make it harder to recognize ice patches on other days. We have thoroughly tested this theory, and we believe this is a load of poop. Glare doesn't help you see anything. It prevents you from seeing hazards in or near the source of the glare. In spite of this opinion, polarized snow-eyewear is almost impossible to find. Both of the Native Ski Goggles are polarized, and some of the goggles in the Smith Ski Goggles Spherical Series have a polarized option. (Phenom, Prodigy, and Prophecy)  Unfortunately, none of the Smith Ski Goggles in the Turbo Series have the polarized lens option.  Panoptx 7-Eye has lots of great polarized ski glasses in the SPF-100 Series.

Contrast is even more important when everything is the same color (white).  The following colors produce the best contrast in snowy conditions:

  • Copper, and shades of copper, provide excellent contrast and depth perception in bright snow or flat-light conditions.

  • Rose tints also provide excellent contrast, especially in flat-light or low-light conditions.

Note: The Smith Ski Goggles Rose Copper-36 is one of the most perfect lens tints for improving vision in snowy conditions. This Rose Copper tint exists in several degrees of darkness in the Smith line of goggles. Ignitor Mirror is the most popular.

  • Yellow lenses provide better vision in low-light conditions, but have minimal value in bright sunlight.

  • Amber or Brown work well in a variety of lighting conditions.

  • Gold is kind of a yellow shade of copper, so it will provide contrast on brighter days and improve vision on low-light days as well.

  • Grey is NOT recommended for skiing or snowy conditions. Grey will maintain true color, but does not increase contrast. If everything is a shade of white, maintaining true color is not very helpful.

Panoptx has created some great lightweight sunglasses with goggle-type padding to give the look of designer sunglasses with the functionality of a conventional goggle. Copper or Polarized Copper lenses are available in all of these models.

Water Sports:

Polarized lenses have the greatest impact on glare, regardless of color.

  • Grey is best in deep-blue waters, and for maintaining true color. Grey is also a good choice to reduce eyestrain during long-term wear in any environment.

  • Copper, Amber, or Brown lenses work well in shallow water. Copper provides the best contrast with the least color distortion.

  • Yellow or Rose are best suited to low-light, or early morning conditions. Don't wear yellow in bright light. Kaenon has a Yellow SR-91 polarized lens that is great for low-light times on the water. They also have a Copper-50 lens that provides even better contrast for these low-light situations.

Running and Bicycling:

Selecting a good contrast color for the lens is as important as getting a lightweight, comfortable frame. Versatility is also helpful because these activities often put people in variable light conditions, including sunup or sundown.
Both Smith and Native have great options for athletes looking for versatility. The Native semi-rimless glasses like the Hardtop XP come with a polarized lens, as well as a lightly tinted “Reflex” lens for low-light conditions. Some of the Smith glasses like the Factor and the Parallel Max come with up to 4 sets of lenses for every possible lighting condition.

  • Copper and Brown tints: These tints provide the best contrast in most lighting conditions. The ability to recognize changes in road surfaces or texture as well as improved depth perception are benefits of these red-based lens colors.

  • Grey is best if you are light sensitive. Grey maintains true color and is very fashion neutral, but it does not provide the contrast that is needed for these activities.

  • Yellow is often worn at night or in low light. Yellow will tame the glare of oncoming headlights, and everything will appear much brighter. Many runners and cyclists are more comfortable and more confident when wearing yellow lenses at night. But yellow is a light gathering color, not a contrast color. Everything will look brighter, but yellow doesn’t provide much more contrast than a clear lens.

  • Light Rose or Light Rust tints provide the best contrast in low light conditions. The world will not seem as bright as it does through a yellow lens, but if the tint is light enough you should have better vision.


Motorcycle Sunglasses:

We go into a little more detail about selecting motorcycle glasses in Motorcycle Sunglasses Buyer’s Guide. In summary, proper vision is a function of managing the air that could swirl around your eyes and selecting a tint that allows you to relax and see clearly. Tints that work best for motorcyclists are the same tints that work best for bicyclists and runners.

  • Copper and Brown tints: These tints provide the best contrast in most lighting conditions. The ability to recognize changes in road surfaces or texture as well as improved depth perception are benefits of these red-based lens colors. Light sensitive riders that select transitions lenses should avoid Transitions Brown. These will not feel as dark as transitions Grey.

  • Grey is best only if you are light sensitive. Grey maintains true color and is very fashion neutral, but it does not provide the contrast that is often needed in critical situations.

  • Yellow is often worn at night or in low light. Yellow will tame the glare of oncoming headlights, and everything will appear much brighter. Many bikers are more comfortable and more confident when wearing yellow lenses at night. But yellow is a light gathering color, not a contrast color. Everything will look brighter, but yellow doesn’t provide much more contrast than a clear lens.

  • Light Rose or Light Rust tints provide the best contrast in low light conditions. The world will not seem as bright as it does through a yellow lens, but if the tint is light enough you should have better vision.

Golf:

Choose a golf lens that wraps around your head, or protects your eyes from all angles. Those tiny flat frames that are so popular for street eyewear do not belong on a golf course. If light is reflecting off the back of the glasses and into your eye, your sunglasses are not protecting your eyesight.

  • Grey provides sharp, clear vision on very bright days. Grey is also the best lens for maintaining true color. People with light blue or light green eyes are typically more light sensitive than people who have dark colored eyes. Light sensitive people often prefer a grey polarized lens in bright light. Even if a grey lens is letting in the same percentage of light as a copper lens, the grey lens will feel darker. Your brain will translate contrast as brightness.

  • Copper tints provide the ultimate contrast in just about any sport. A white golf ball will be much easier to see against a blue sky, green fairway, or even in the sand. Most glasses worn on a golf course allow about 12% of light through the lens, regardless of the lens color. Kaenon Polarized features some copper lenses that allow 28% or 50% of light through the lens. These lighter golf tints are worn by some professional golfers that had previously removed their sunglasses to see critical areas of the course.

  • Shades of Green provide great contrast of the ball against a blue sky or green fairway. The Maui Jim HT lens (High Transmission) allows in a little more light and increases contrast

  • Rose tints provide great contrast on low light or cloudy days.

  • Photochromic lenses adjust for varying light conditions. Photo Brown will provide more contrast than Photo Grey, but you will probably not have this option unless you are purchasing Rx lenses.

  • Amber or Brown Polarized lenses will help you find your ball on the bottom of a pond.

Bolle has a goldish-brown tint called EagleVision that is designed specifically for golfers. Gold shades also improve depth perception.

Driving:

According to industry estimates, 18 - 20 thousand car accidents a day are attributed to glare. Polarized lenses have the greatest impact on glare, regardless of color.

  • Amber or Brown provide natural contrast and help block glare and blue light.

  • Copper is a perfect blend of soothing color and ultimate contrast. The most famous driver's lens on the market is the patented Serengeti "Drivers Lens". This shade of copper has been a long-time favorite of drivers and pilots for years.

  • Grey, once again, is an excellent neutral color that blocks all the bad stuff (like blue light) and lets in true colors. Grey is also the most comfortable lens for extended exposure to the sun.

  • Green highlights many of the colors that occur in nature, like Green and Brown

Hiking, Hunting, Wilderness:

  • Red tints provide the best contrast when looking at any green background.

  • Amber or Brown provide excellent depth perception against a green grass or blue sky background.

  • Yellow lenses block harmful blue light, and enhance an orange target for shooters.