When it comes to outfitting ourselves for a run, most of us start with the most basic running gear—the right shoes, the right pair of running pants, a running vest or two that fits the weather, socks, and probably a hat.
But what about sunglasses? We usually don’t think of getting sunglasses until the sun starts getting in our eyes or the cold wind is too dry and makes our eyes itchy. If you are in the market for purchasing a pair of sunglasses to fit your style and needs, keep on reading.
Why wear sunglasses when running?
Whether you’re a trail runner, runner, or triathlete, whatever your environment or level, sunglasses – or “speed goggles” to the purists – are a real must-have and, what’s more, indispensable! Sports eyewear is an asset for your safety first and foremost, but also for your comfort!
Their primary role is to protect you from UVA and UVB rays, which are harmful to your eyes, increasing visual fatigue and gradually impairing your vision! Depending on the brightness of your environment and the proximity of snow or water, the UV filtration category needs to be considered later.
Running sunglasses also protect you from projectiles or other objects that may come into contact with your eyes and cause discomfort or injury. Insects, branches, splashes, wind, and rain are some minor inconveniences that can weigh in the balance when motivating your running performance!
Finally, your running sunglasses have a second role: to offer you maximum comfort! Firstly, to combat glare, but also variations in luminosity. By increasing contrast, for example, or reducing glare by adapting to light variations, sports sunglasses help to homogenize your vision, enabling you to keep up your cruising speed, especially on uneven terrain!
Choosing your speed goggles: 4 criteria to consider
1. The UV filtration category
The filtration category of the lenses is one of the first criteria to consider when choosing your running glasses. Depending on the environment and weather conditions, your lenses will filter a greater or lesser amount of UV rays.
Sun lenses are classified into five categories, from 0 to 4, 0 being a filtration of 0% of UV rays and 4 filtering more than 90% of UV rays. In short, if you run in low light, under extremely overcast skies, or even at nightfall, a category 0 or 1 lens will be especially useful to protect you from the elements. If you run in low light in broad daylight, in the forest, for example, a category two lens may be suitable, and finally, if you smash your times in the sun, in the mountains, or by the sea, category 3 is essential! Also, if you are in the high mountains or constantly at the water’s edge, when the light and glare are at their peak, a category four lens may be useful.
Tint of the lens can be important for your visual comfort. This will not have any impact on UV filtration but can offer you a little comfort depending on your needs! Thus, a gray or green lens restores colors better, a brown lens increases contrasts, and an orange or yellow lens improves brightness, contrasts and relief, ideal for mountain trail running for example.
2. Lens treatments
The lenses of your running sunglasses can be enhanced with different treatments to further increase your comfort, particularly when you run on rough and technical terrain, when the weather or environment is changing, or when you are making an intense effort!
- Polarizing treatment: the polarization of the lenses of sports sunglasses significantly reduces reflections and reverberation and thus increases your vision of relief and contrasts. Particularly suitable and recommended for versatile use, especially in trail running!
- Mirror treatment: it reduces glare by rejecting some of the sun’s rays.
- Anti-fog treatment: essential when the effort is intense, the anti-fog treatment is highly recommended for trail and running. It offers you significant visual comfort, especially when the terrain is technical. It would be a shame to trip over a stone because of the fog on your running sunglasses!
- Photochromic treatment: the must-have for trail runners and runners, especially on long outings during which the brightness and environments vary. The photochromic treatment allows the lens to change tint depending on the brightness. Safety and comfort guaranteed since you don’t worry about changing your sunglasses, you have them all with you.
3. Ventilation
In addition to anti-fog treatments, make sure that your running sunglasses are optimized in terms of ventilation. Indeed, this is what will reduce the appearance of fog on your lenses, while guaranteeing you pleasant air circulation. So, opt for running sunglasses equipped with ventilation systems, either directly by perforations on the lenses, or thanks to a minimalist frame, integrating vents! Check out these running sunglasses from goodr.com if you’re looking for brands that carry form, function and style in sunglasses.
4. The type of mount
Finally, the type of frame is one of the criteria to consider when choosing your running sunglasses. Running puts the stability of your sports sunglasses to the test. Strides, terrain, and sweat tend to make your sunglasses slip, and you know that there is nothing more annoying during exercise. To avoid this, choose a suitable frame with:
- A gripping nose, adjustable on certain models,
- Gripping and profiled branches to adapt to the contours of the head,
- A minimalist frame, sometimes without upper and/or lower edges, which helps both to reduce the appearance of fogging and to reduce the weight of your speed glasses,
- A comprehensive and spherical mount to provide aerodynamics and a wide field of vision, particularly in the search for speed!
To summarize, when it comes to running, opt for category 2 or 3 lenses, polarized or at least mirrored, and anti-fog features. For trail running or long outings, photochromic, polarized and anti-fog lenses will be perfectly suited! Now that you have a clearer idea of the different criteria to consider when choosing your running sunglasses, it’s easier to know where to invest when it comes to running sunglasses!
