Sports sunglasses have become an essential item for many sports enthusiasts. This eyewear provides ample eye protection during the brightest and sunniest days, keeping UV rays at bay. While during days with an overcast, the sunglasses provide enough contrast through their lenses, improving your vision.

However, not all sunglasses are made equal. Some of these eyewear are designed for use in specific sports. There are also sunglasses that are excellent all-arounders, made for all situations. 

In this article, you’ll get to learn how to select the ideal eyewear for the sport you’ll participate in.

What to Look for in Sports Sunglasses?

Before we proceed to the main topic, you’ll need to know a general checklist for choosing the ideal sports sunglasses. Here’s what you need to look for in choosing the right eyewear to use in sports:

1. Choosing a Frame

The first step in selecting the ideal sports prescription sunglasses is selecting a frame. Finding the right frame is easy if you’re using eyewear for only one sport. Whereas, finding the ideal frame for an all-around sunglass will take time as you’ll need to do a lot of research for it. Here are some ideas to consider when selecting a frame for your sports sunglasses.

  • Frame Material – You will need to consider the material your sunglasses will be made of. Plastics offer a cheap option but aren’t meant for long-term use. Nylon-hybrid and Polycarbonate frames tend to be the go-to option for sports sunglasses. Metal frames can be used, but they can injure the wearer if the frame gets damaged.
  • Wraparound Design – For frames, you can consider using a wraparound style for your chosen eyewear. Not only will it stay intact when you wear it, but the design is also meant to reduce light entry into the frames.
  • Specialized Frames for High Altitudes – If you are participating in sports that take place high up in the mountains, you could consider getting specialized frames. These specialized frames have side shields and nose protection which allows you to look around safely.

2. Finding the Right Fit

The ideal sports sunglasses require them to be tight but comfortable and also not too loose. The sunglasses require a head-hugging design where it can stay intact even when you face bumps or uneven surfaces.

3. Selecting the Right Lenses

Finding the right lenses ensures maximum protection for your eyes. You won’t need to worry about eye ailments since getting the ideal lenses means you are blocking incoming UV rays. 

Here’s a checklist for finding the ideal sunglasses lenses:

  • Selecting the material – Picking the lens material is the first step. You are presented with four options which are glass, plastic, polycarbonate, and Trivex NXT. Glass lenses are ideal for visibility but are scratch-prone. Plastic lenses are a budget option and are often preferred as backup glasses. 

Polycarbonate lenses aren’t exactly popular but they are resistant to light and impact. Lastly, Trivex NXT lenses are the ideal option as they provide the advantage of glass without breaking, but they are expensive.

  • Selecting the right color for the lenses – Picking the right color for your sports sunglasses is crucial. Each lens color tends to incline towards a specific set of conditions such as weather and the nature of the sport which we’ll cover later on.
  • Purchase polarized lenses – If the previous four materials aren’t enough for you, you can try buying sports sunglasses with polarized lenses. It may be expensive but it will help you a lot while you participate in any sports-related activities as these lenses reduce glare and block UV rays better than standard lenses.

What Sports Sunglasses To Use for Specific Sports?

Now that we’ve covered the general checklist for selecting the ideal sports sunglasses, let’s go next to the specifics. As stated earlier, some sunglasses for sports use are specialized for a specific sport activity. Not only the fit but also the lens color is put into consideration. Let’s explore each sport individually, delving into the specifics of selecting the appropriate glasses.

1. Hiking and Mountaineering

Polarized lenses tend to be the preferred lens type for sports sunglasses made for hiking and mountaineering. High altitudes tend to have a ton of UV rays and polarized lenses ensure maximum protection against them. The build and frame of these glasses must be lightweight to provide optimal comfort for the wearer. 

The four preferred lens colors are red, green, gray, and brown due to them being ideal for navigating through wooded trails.

2. Biking

For biking activities, polarized and curved lenses are the top choices. Again, polarized lenses provide UV protection. As for curved lenses, they prevent foreign elements such as dust from hitting your eyes. You can go for a head-hugging design to ensure that the sports sunglasses stay in place. Otherwise, a tight and comfy frame should suffice.

As for lens colors, gray, yellow, amber, and rose-colored tints are popular among bikers. All four lens colors provide the biker with the right visual clarity when they’re out cycling on the road.

3. Water Sports

If you’re looking for the ideal sports sunglasses for use in water sports such as surfing, kayaking, and many more, you’d look for a head-hugging or tight but comfy design. Water sports involve a lot of waves and currents and if your sunglasses are a loose fit, it might fly off and fall into the water.

For water sports, polarized lenses are ideal as they shield your eyes from sun glare and reflect light from water droplets. The preferred lens colors tend to be either blue or green.

4. Snowboarding and Skiing

Sports activities high up in snowy landscapes require polarized lenses to prevent snow blindness and again, protection against UV rays. A head-hugging design is again desirable in this situation to ensure that the eyewear will not fly off while you ski or snowboard. Shielded sunglasses frames are also an option.

Lens colors that are suited to snow activities are gold, amber and yellow. They provide ample visibility when navigating through skiing or snowboarding slopes.

5. Golfing

The last of the sports that we’ll cover is golf. Golfers prefer sports sunglasses that are a comfortable fit around the head in general, meaning most frames should work. Now, for lenses – golfers would want to wear sunglasses with brown lenses. It provides good contrast when viewing the fairway and improves visibility when you follow the ball as it flies through the air.

However, if brown lenses aren’t available, darker shades of purple or blue can serve as suitable substitutes. Make sure that the lenses aren’t too dark though.

The Right Eyewear Guarantees an Optimal Sports Experience!

At first, finding the right sports sunglasses might seem like a daunting task. Starting out, you’ll need to know first about the size and fit of glasses. The type and size of eyewear you use can vary based on the sports you’ll participate in. Then once you get the right size, you’ll need to get the right lens type and color to maximize eye protection. You’ll need to put these factors together before settling on a final purchase.

Once you’ve secured the perfect sunglasses, you’re all set to enjoy the sports in which you plan to participate.