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Whether you’re competing or on an outdoor adventure, clear vision makes the difference between winning or losing, and enjoyment or discomfort.
The best sunglasses for sport vary depending on the activity and the protection your eyes need, so knowing what to look for is essential. As experts in eyewear and replacement lenses, we’re here to help. This guide explains why sports sunglasses are important, what to look for, the best types, and how to replace your lenses should they get damaged.
Why Sports Sunglasses Matter
Sports sunglasses are important because the best adventure and athletic sunglasses help:
- Provide full UV protection: UV rays from the sun cause long-term eye damage.
- Reduce glare: The sun's rays bounce off roads, grass, snow, water, and other surfaces.
- Cleaar vision: Bright light makes it harder to see clearly - not good when you’re playing sport!
- Wind & water protection: Sports sunglasses keep wind and water out of your eyes, improving comfort.
Lots of sports and outdoor activities benefit from wearing sports sunglasses. Everything from cycling to surfing, or running to rowing, is easier and more comfortable with shades that help you see clearly and reduce eye fatigue.
Even the best sports sunglasses can get a little beat up. If you’ve got a pair of frames you love, it’s super simple to replace the lenses. The Sunglass Fix offers a wide range of premium, precision replacement lenses for all the best and most famous sports sunglasses. Instead of buying a new pair, why not refresh your favorites?
What to Look for in Sport Sunglasses
Before we get into the specifics, there are some features that all the best sports sunglasses for men and women share:
- Frame Fit & Grip: Sport and adventure sunglasses need to fit snugly across the bridge of your nose, temples, and around your ears. While you don’t want them too tight, they must stay in place as you move.
- Lightweight & Durable: Lightweight sunglasses made from durable polycarbonates offer the best combination of performance and sturdiness.
- UV Protection: The lenses must offer 100% (UV400) protection.
- Ventilation & Fog-Resistance: To prevent fogging, the best sports sunglasses usually have ventilation holes as well as special lens coatings.
- Sports Lenses: Different lenses have pros and cons:
- Photochromic lenses change darkness depending on the ambient light to provide the best vision and protection at all times.
- Interchangeable lenses allow you to switch between different options to suit the conditions.
- Lens tints and colors will change how you can see through them, and different colors produce different effects.
- Polarization helps reduce glare and can be useful in certain situations.
- Hydrophobic lenses repel water and prevent marks.
Polarized vs. Non-Polarized Sport Sunglasses
The choice between polarized and non-polarized lenses will depend on what you do most. Polarized lenses are best for situations with lots of glare, such as on snow or water, while non-polarized lenses are better for running, hiking, or cycling when you might be going in and out of light quickly.
The Best Sport Sunglasses for Different Activities
All sports and outdoor activities have unique demands when it comes to eye protection, and what works for one may not for another. Let’s take a look.
Road & Trail Running
For running, trail running, or hiking, lightweight frames and plenty of ventilation are the key - you don’t want the lenses to fog. Likewise, the best running sunglasses have frames that grip your head well and don’t bounce off as you move.
Enjoy hiking? Our Guide to Choosing the Best Hiking Sunglasses is well worth a read!
Cycling & Mountain Biking
If you prefer two wheels, the best cycling sunglasses should have a wrap-around shape for maximum wind protection and visibility. Polarized lenses are a great choice for road cyclists, but for trail and mountain bikers, non-polarized lenses are the best. Opt for orange or yellow lens tints in cloudy and low-light conditions.
Water Sports (Fishing, Paddleboarding, Kayaking)
Polarized lenses with hydrophobic coatings are a must for water sports due to glare and water splashes. For action sports like kayaking and surfing, the frames should be a snug fit and should float. For fishing sunglasses or beach sunglasses, your choice of frame style is entirely up to you.
Snow Sports
Like watersports, anything on snow and ice will need polarized lenses to reduce glare. We also recommend that your snow sports sunglasses or goggles have anti-fog coatings and can fit under your helmet.
Red, Rose, and Orange lens tints are popular on snow because their high contrast gives you maximum visibility.
Golf, Tennis & Outdoor Games
For sports like golf, tennis, climbing, and more, high contrast lenses with a pink, red, or orange tint are a great choice. These colors allow you to see the ball (or the wall) and reduce eye fatigue over long periods.
If you’re looking for golf sunglasses that can also be used as everyday wear, green, grey, brown, or black lenses are a good option.
Top Sport Sunglasses Brands
From the chaos of a Tour de France stage to the relentless pace of an Olympic marathon, the instantly recognisable Three Stripes of Adidas or the Oakley oval are ever-present. But what are some of the best sports sunglasses brands?
- Oakley: Known for performance eyewear in cycling, running, and snow sports, Oakley boasts unrivalled lens technology and truly iconic designs like the Frogskins or Holbrook.
- Adidas: Famous for developing lightweight, high-performance eyewear for runners, cyclists, and team sports, Adidas sunglasses offer the best grip and comfort for active use.
- Maui Jim: With polarized lenses and iconic frames, Maui Jim is hard to beat for use on or around water.
- Arnette: The sport/lifestyle crossover we didn’t know we needed, Arnette offers durable designs aimed at the youth market, with strong roots in the surfing, skating, and snowsports communities.
- Bolle: the first choice for many pro athletes, Bolle sunglasses are especially popular in cycling and winter sports due to their high technical performance and optical precision.
Have your sports sunglasses seen better days? We understand what athletes need from their shades and offer a wide range of replacement lenses for all the best brands.
Don’t Toss Scratched Sunglasses, Replace the Lenses!
If you’re serious about your sport, investing in the right pair of shades is vital. Most of the best sports sunglasses are designed to last and can handle the rough and tumble that gets thrown at them.
However, even the best need a refresh after a while, and scratched lenses don’t mean it’s the end. We have thousands of premium Replacement Sunglass Lenses for all the top brands that are eco-friendly, cost-effective, and come with free worldwide shipping.
Can’t see your model? We can custom-make lenses for almost any brand, so contact us to find out more. In the meantime, why not check our sunglasses guides to find sports-specific tips and advice?
