See the Track to Stay on Track: Best Sunglasses for Runners
Whether you’re a beginner runner or a seasoned pro, your running gear matters. The best sunglasses for runners can make all the difference to your comfort and safety – and therefore your enjoyment of the run.
Even the best running sunglasses won’t magically turn you into a star athlete but they will protect your eyes and help you see the terrain more clearly. And if you’re racing against time, those advantages may enhance your performance.
Let’s explore what you need to know about the best running sunglasses, so you can make sure you’re perfectly equipped for your next run.
What to look for in running glasses
If you’re a pro athlete, you’ll probably need performance sunglasses, which could potentially cost you a pretty penny. For the rest of us, you simply need quality running sunglasses with some specific characteristics.
UV protection
Ultraviolet light can cause damage to your corneas and lead to eye conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration. And harmful UV rays don’t just burn your skin either – sunburned eyes (a condition known as photokeratitis) can be very painful.
The best running sunglasses should offer good UV protection against the sun’s harmful rays. To make sure of this, look for proof that your running sunglasses protect against UVA and UVB rays.
Also, bear in mind that larger lenses give you more coverage (and might help prevent wrinkles too).
Glare protection
The last thing you need when you’re on the road or trail is to stumble and fall because you’re blinded by the glare.
Darker lenses help to reduce glare in bright conditions. Check the details of your running sunglasses to find out how much visible light transmission they allow. When you’re running in bright sunlight, the lower the number, the better.
However, if you often run in variable or low light conditions, you may want to consider photochromic lenses (also known as photochromatic lenses).
Photochromic sunglasses darken when exposed to bright light and lighten again as the environment grows dimmer.
Yet another option for variable conditions is interchangeable lenses.
If the frame allows for interchangeable lenses, your running glasses will normally come with lens options, including clear lenses and darker ones, so you can switch them out as necessary.
Running sunglasses also sometimes have polarized lenses. These are designed to reduce glare by filtering bright light reflecting off surfaces like pavements, water, and snow.
Note that polarized sunglasses for runners do change depth perception, which can be a problem if you’re running over very uneven terrain.
At certain angles, polarized running sunglasses also make it difficult to read your phone or your watch. In these cases, non-polarized lenses might serve you better.
A perfect fit
Running is a high-impact sport. You don’t want your running sunglasses to slide down your nose, bounce around, or fall off and get damaged.
They also shouldn’t be so tight that they put pressure on your nose bridge, temples, or ears, or you could end up with a headache.
Start by looking for the right size glasses for you. Each pair of sunglasses for runners will have specific measurements, often printed on the insides of the temple arms.
If you’re buying online, the website will generally tell you if a pair is designed for a small, medium, or large face.
Also look for adjustable nose pads, which can help you finetune the fit. Some pairs of running sunglasses even have interchangeable nose pads.
Light and durable frames
A lightweight frame means you can put your running sunglasses on and forget about them.
The weight comes from the design – for example, rimless sunglasses are lighter- as well as both the frame material and the lens material.
Light nylon or plastic frames are very popular, often paired with impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses.
Anti-scratch lens coatings on top of a polycarbonate lens give a little extra protection too, in case you drop your running sunglasses or they fall off.
Anti-fogging features
When it’s cold outside and you’re working up a sweat, the heat from your face interacting with cold running glasses can cause fogging. You may also get fogging if you’re running in a very humid area.
The shape of the frame can make a big difference here, as can specially designed anti-fogging vents. Finally, hydrophobic coatings ensure that any water that accumulates on the lenses of your running sunglasses simply runs off.
Our pick of sunglasses for runners
Now that you know what to look for in a good pair of running sunglasses, let’s take a look at some great choices for you.
This pair of Oakley running sunglasses has polished clear frames with Prizm™ Sapphire Blue Mirror lenses. Prizm lens technology is specially designed for glare reduction and to boost depth perception, so you can clearly see where you’re putting your feet.
These quality sunglasses come in large or extra-large sizes and are suitable for prescription lenses. The rounded rectangular design is masculine and looks great on round, oval, or heart-shaped faces.
You could even use your Oakley sunglasses for other sports too or as casual sunglasses as you go about the rest of your day.
The style comes in other frame and lens colors too, also with Prizm lenses. And in case you need vision correction, they are compatible with Rx lenses.
This unisex performance eyewear from Uller is designed for professional athletes. It has a single interchangeable lens with one option for sunny days and another for dimmer light conditions.
This variation has a white frame and green tints but there’s a range of color choices available.
The frame of these running sunglasses is made of Tr90, a Swiss thermoplastic that’s extremely light, flexible, and durable. The lenses are also lightweight and impact-resistant, and they offer good UV protection.
Non-slip nose pieces are useful for keeping your sunglasses in place on the move.
This pair of semi-rimless Prada running sunglasses has a very futuristic look. The dark grey lens color gives excellent protection from bright sunlight, and the wraparound design reduces light leakage from the sides.
The frame is lightweight nylon, which is strong and heat-resistant. The polyamide lenses are hypoallergenic, as well as scratch and chemical-resistant. The nose pad both protects the edges of the lens and keeps these running sunglasses on your face.
If your wallet doesn’t stretch to more expensive sunglasses, you can still get a decent pair of running sunglasses at a lower price. Designed for men, these Nike sunglasses are some of the best budget running sunglasses around.
These running sunglasses don’t come with polarized lenses. However, they do wrap around your face, giving you good protection from bright light, as well as dust, insects, and stray twigs if you’re trail running under trees.
The brown color lenses are a good option for a variety of light conditions and also enhance blue and green backgrounds.
Whatever price range you’re looking for, you’ll get a high-quality pair of sunglasses for running from SmartBuyGlasses. With our 100-day return guarantee and 24-month warranty, you never need to worry if you’ve made the right choice.
So what are you waiting for?
Get on the right track by finding the best pair of running sunglasses for you!
Related articles
Related articles