While picking out a stylish pair of sunglasses to wear for leisurely summer activities is easy, picking the right pair for sports can be surprisingly complicated. Athletic sunglasses need to be durable, lightweight and a perfect fit for whatever your sport of choice — and it doesn't hurt if they look good, too.
Sunglasses are meant to protect eyes from strong UV radiation, make vision generally more comfortable, and can even help minimize the risk of skin cancer forming around the eye area, according to Oprah.com. But all of that depends on whether you select the right pair.
Generally, sport means a lot of movement and that’s why buying a pair with strong nose and arm grips is a smart idea. For sports that have even more movement, such as surfing, buying sunglasses that have adjustable head straps is recommended. It’ll also work in your favour to buy frames with wider lenses for sports that require good peripheral vision of surroundings and opponents.
But no matter your budget, always make sure to buy sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection to shield your eyes from the sun’s glare, notes the CNIB, a Canadian charity for those who are visually impaired.
It’s also important to choose the colour of your lenses wisely. Different colours, such as yellow, orange, rose, brown and blue, are meant to protect in different light levels, as reported by About.com. Grey or black are probably the most popular colours because they reduce brightness but don’t distort colour.
Brown or amber lenses are also great for multi-purpose use, as they reduce the sun’s glare but can also help brighten a cloudy day. They block blue light, meaning they give sharper vision against green and blue backgrounds, such as grass and the sky. They’re generally good for fishing, baseball, golf, cycling and watersports.
Here are some great sports sunglasses for whatever sport or style you choose:
Great Athletic Sunglasses
These Oakley M2 sunglasses are lightweight, with nose and arm grips. They have wide lenses for great peripheral vision and are available in several lens colours. They’re perfect for running, cycling and sports activities in general.
This dramatic pair of Oakley sunglasses, called Pit Bull, have special grips around the nose and ears that increase grip with sweat. They’re perfect for intensive activities and strong sunlight.
The best part about these Nike Tailwind 12 sunglasses is that they’re ultra-lightweight. They also have a ventilated nose grip and flying lenses, meant to prevent fogging. These multi-purpose shades are great for anything from running and cycling to tennis.
Made for women, these Adidas ADILIBRIA SHIELD S frames provide wide coverage and great peripheral vision. The brown lenses will help most on cloudy days and provide 100 per cent UV protection.
These Adidas A409 Swift Solo S sunglasses has padding around the eyes to protect from sudden impacts, making them great for active sports that require touch, such as rugby.
This pair of single, interchangeable lens sunglasses, called Speed Kit Multi-Lens from Louis Garnier, provides protection against debris and has a vented frame design that prevents fogging. It also has an adjustable nose bridge that allows for comfort and prevents the frame from slipping. These multi-purpose frames are great for running and cycling.
These Adidas Tycane Pro L A189, multi-sport sunglasses are especially great for water sports such as surfing and swimming. They have a head strap that will prevent them from falling off in the water and are hydrophobic, meaning they will repel water to provide a clearer view.
They’re budget-friendly and have interchangeable lenses. These MEC Logic sunglasses provide 100 per cent UV protection, and have grip around the earpiece. They’re perfect for runners and cyclists.
The clear lenses on this pair of Bolle Vortex 11409 sunglasses are photochromic, meaning they change colour to adapt to changing light. They’re great if you tend to play sports in multiple settings with varying light.
This pair of Silverfish sunglasses is easy on the budget, but still provides great protection from the sun and is reliable for watersports. It comes with an adjustable strap, a rubber nose grip and 100 per cent UV protection.