Running sunglasses are great, allowing you to keep the harmful rays of the sun at bay, all while keeping wind, dust, and all sorts of outdoor debris from your eyes. Beyond offering sun protection, the best running sunglasses are designed to get out of your way, as they stay on your face through every stride, weigh so light you hardly feel them, and support your running motions each step of the way to help you perform your best.
There was a time when sports sunglasses weren’t the most flattering, with their oversized lenses, elaborate frames, and flashy looks feeling a bit too much to wear with anything than standard training apparel. Fortunately, that time is long gone, with plenty of modern running sunglasses finding a beautiful balance of technical performance and everyday style. Here are some of our favorites.
Goodr OG
Many people just want cheap sunglasses that look good and fit well enough that they can wear them running without worries about the darn things falling out. Instead of trawling the bargain bin at the local Walmart or shopping for sports sunglasses on eBay, just hit up Goodr’s website and get one of their OGs. Designed specifically for running, these wayfarer-style sunglasses have frames with a special grip coating that keeps it from slipping even when covered in sweat, with a snug fit that’s designed to hold its place, so it doesn’t bounce around with every step you take. They pair that with polarized UV400-rated lenses that should block all those harmful sun rays out. No frills – just a good-looking pair of sunglasses that will stay on your face while you get that heart rate up.
Sunski Foxtrot
A performance spin on classic aviators, these sunglasses have a curved frame that wraps around from one side of your face to the other, while tapered arms create the right amount of tension for a perfectly snug fit around the ear. The aviator styling makes it one of the most good-looking performance eyewear you’re going to find, although the oversized retro aesthetics may not be to everyone’s liking (or face shape, for that matter). If it suits you, though, this is one pair of sunglasses you can wear to style even most of your casual fits. Features include full eye coverage, polarized lenses, grippy rubber nose pads, and a light weight of 16.1 grams for unburdened comfort during runs.
Luna Nordic Light
Another pair designed for both sport and lifestyle uses, the eyewear pairs classic lines with a sporty fit that will stay on your face even through the most rigorous runs. The Nordic Light lens enhances contrast and color for everything in sight while preventing fogging, allowing you to clearly see everything in your way even in low light conditions, while the unbreakable polycarbonate lens construction boasts 10 times greater impact resistance than other plastic and glass lenses. Suffice to say, it won’t be easy to damage these things, even during the roughest training sessions. Features include a soft rubber nose pad and temple tips, a Grilamid TR90 frame, and a weight of 26 grams.
Ryders Seventh Photochromic
A flat top frame gives these wraparound glasses a more casual appearance than usual, all while wearing snugly on your face, so you can run, jump, and do somersaults without the darn thing falling out. It comes with photochromic lenses that get lighter or darker, depending on how much sun exposure it receives, ensuring you always see clearly, no matter the time of day, with Trivex construction that makes it extremely durable. Features include a less-sporty styling that makes it viable for wearing during casual days out, flexible temples that ensure a secure grip, and an easy-to-adjust design that should allow it to wear comfortably on a variety of face shapes and sizes.
Smith Resolve
Not a fan of big sports sunglasses? This sporty wraparound style offers a medium fit with medium coverage, delivering adequate protection with a lightweight, minimalist feel. It uses the outfit’s interchangeable ChromaPop lens, allowing you to choose the perfect one to enhance colors depending on the time of day, while auto-locking hinges hold the frame at a comfortable angle, making them to easy to put on and take off with one hand. Megol temples and adjustable nose pads provide a non-slip hold so they stay in your face at all times, while strategic venting allows for unrestricted airflow to reduce any fogging.
Nike Windshield Elite
There’s no mistaking this for anything other than sports sunglasses, from the wraparound frame and one-piece shield lens to the competitive looks and ultra-lightweight appearance. Despite that, it brings a somewhat retro groove that give it a somewhat more casual vibe than traditional running eyewear – enough that you can get away wearing it for some of your other more casual activities. It offers excellent coverage with that one-piece lens, while providing enough ventilation above the nose bridge and at the top of the frame to really keep fogging at bay. Features include aerodynamic flow lines for the temples, cushioned rubber temple tips, and high-tension hinges that can withstand a good load of your adventure on both road and trail.
Julbo Aero Reactiv
These single lens wraparound sunglasses bring a sporty character that should pass the muster of the most serious athletes, all while being approachable enough for casual folks going on their morning runs. That’s because, unlike many similar sunglasses, it doesn’t take on an oversized goggle-like styling, opting to go for a more tempered size that makes it a lot easier to wear for both athletic and leisurely pursuits. Suffice to say, it’s of the nicest-looking shield-style wraparound sunglasses we’ve seen. Features includes nose pads that are adjustable in every direction for a snug fit, grippy material on the temples, a shock absorber insert at the end of the temples, and full venting that allows for freely circulating air to prevent fogging.
We prefer the REACTIV lens variant of these glasses, which can change their tint based on prevailing light conditions. These lenses are also solvent-resistant, practically unbreakable, and ultra-light, making for the perfect to top off a really good pair of running sunglasses.
District Vision Kuharu Eclipse
The sportiest sunglasses have always tended to look like they belong as part of a superhero’s face cover. In a lot of ways, that characteristic makes those sunglasses a bit overbearing. That’s not the case here, as DV pairs the streamlined design with a minimalist lightweight frame that just feels right. Sure, it’s still a little too flashy for casually wearing on a day out, but if you have a good enough fashion sense, it’s the kind of sunglasses you can pair with street fits without having to work too hard. Plus, it’s actually a terrific eyewear for running, with a titanium core hypoallergenic nosepad, a shatterproof one-piece shield lens, and a fit that stays snugly in place with every stride.