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11 best running sunglasses for 2024
Tried and tested sunnies for every budget
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An every-season essential, from blazing hot summer days to low winter sun, a decent pair of sunglasses has more impact than you think on your running.
Not only do sunnies protect your eyes from UV rays, but having tension in your face from squinting in bright light can create tightness in your neck and shoulders muscles, throwing off form and making a run seem harder than it needs to be. It sounds dramatic, but the advice to smile more when you run is based on the fact that it eases tension in the face and jaw and you relax your shoulders.
Best running sunglasses to shop now
These are our top picks of running sunglasses at a glance. Scroll down for the full list.
What's the difference between sport sunglasses and regular sunglasses?
Unlike regular sunglasses, sports sunglasses shouldn't just look stylish on your face - they also need to be durable, have a snug fit and shield your eyes from dangerous ultraviolet rays.
When it comes to comfort, this is down to the nose piece/bridge and the arms. You want the glasses to sit on the bridge of the nose and ideally have a rubber nose piece to aid grip. If the nose piece is too small or you have a wide nose, then the glasses will sit too high up the nose and may bounce about or pinch (thankfully most decent glasses come with adjustable or interchangeable nose pieces).
The arms need to be secure on the side of the head but not vice-like. You don't want to be half way through your run and realise you have a headache because your glasses are too tight, so make sure you try on a few pairs first.
Another nice to have feature is a low-weight pair of sunglasses. None of the below are heavy by any stretch of the imagination, but 10 grams here and there can make quite a lot of difference when it comes to running in a pair of sunglasses for several hours.
Are polarised sunglasses better for running?
The main reason for buying running sunglasses is to keep the sun out of your eyes, and this comes down to the lens. They're there to block out ultra violet light (UVA and UVB) in all conditions and will come in a vast array of tints and coatings - some useful, some not.
The most useful is a polarised lens. This means the lens is design to eliminate horizontal light waves, only letting vertical light through. This dramatically reduces glare. They also don't have to be expensive so are well worth considering, whatever the budget.
Thankfully, all the specs reviewed below have been run in, sweated on and enjoyed by many different face and head shapes.
The best running sunglasses for 2024
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