Summer is in full swing, so you’re probably exercising more outdoors. We recommend investing in quality sports sunglasses if you want a stylish and practical way to protect your eyes from the sun.
The best options feature performance elements—like grippy temples, lightweight frames, and polarized lenses—that stay put through all sorts of exercises and shield your eyes from harmful UV rays.
What to Consider When Choosing Sport Sunglasses?
Activity Type
Depending on what you plan to use the sunglasses for, this could determine exactly what features are most important to you. If you spend your days on the water, polarized, waterproof lenses might be at the top, while runners might care more about weight and non-slip features. We chose the most compatible glasses with the specific exercises, sports, and activities we were tackling.
Performance Features
From non-slip grips to flat nose pads that won’t get caught in your hair or dig into your face mid-marathon, performance features are what you want when it comes to sports sunglasses.
You’ll also want to look for anti-fog, water-resistant, durable lens technology, flexible temples, and an overall lightweight frame. Know which features matter most to you before you start looking—and you might find some great ones you didn’t even know you needed.
Frame Size
When ordering a pair of sunglasses online, you’ll be so hyped when they arrive that you don’t want to have to return them if you can, try to find a retailer near you where you can try on the frames or even a comparable frame type and size to ensure you like the look and feel.
Price Point
While performance features are great, the more, the better; remember, the higher the price point, the more technology is put into a pair of sunglasses. It’s best to know what your budget is so that you can narrow your options down from the get-go. The worst feeling is falling in love with a pair of sunnies only to find out they’re out of your price range.
How We Chose the Best Sports Sunglasses?
Women’s Health commerce editors, including associate health and wellness editor Tianna Soto and editorial assistant Olivia Luppino, have been vetting the best sports sunglasses to shop online for the last year.
The team took recommendations from editors in the broader team for the best fit, style, and comfort options. Then, we tried every pair of sports sunglasses on this list, testing them across many activities like running, biking, walking, and everything else.
During testing, we took notes on performance and compared our thoughts to narrow down a list of the five best sports sunglasses. These styles, in particular, made the cut across size, colorways, and price.
The Top 5 Sport Sunglasses of 2024
1. Oakley Prizm
Price: $185.00
Oakley’s Prizm sunglasses received top marks from our editors because of their crystal-clear lenses that offer superior visibility. The multi-colored frame has the brand’s proprietary lens that highlights specific colors along your route so you can more easily identify changes in the road ahead of you quickly.
The single shield design eliminates distractions and provides optimal coverage straight ahead and peripherally. “As a runner, it’s important to me to have gear and accessories that feel good and don’t distract me while working out,” says associate health and wellness editor Tianna Soto.
“The glasses themselves have a stylish and cool ski goggle-like look, and I loved how I could see through them so clearly—even when runs got steamy.” After putting some miles on these sunnies, we found that they did a great job of blocking out the light, which helped us stay even more focused during our long runs.
However, Soto noted that the glasses felt a bit big for her face, so we recommend these for people with a broader face shape.
2. Mach GS Polarized Sunglasses
Price: $44.99
The Mach GS Polarized Sunglasses feature silicon nose inserts and grip coating on the frames to keep them from bouncing around during activities. The polarized lenses reduce outside glare, making them ideal for running, biking, or jumping. “I was impressed with these sunglasses when I wore them running as everything was as advertised,” says WH editorial assistant Olivia Luppino.
“They’re lightweight, non-slip, and don’t allow for much glare to get in.” These shades are so light that we didn’t even notice we were wearing them after a few hours in the sun. They fit best on individuals with an average to wide head size, though the aviator style looks good.
For the quality they provide at such an affordable price point, you can’t beat what this pair offers for weekend warriors.
3. Good New Wave Renegade
Price: $25.00
Goodr’s New Wave Renegade sunglasses are incredibly stylish and functional. “I’ve never run in sunglasses before out of fear that they’d fall off, but I liked these from Goodr,” says WH assistant love and life editor Addison Aloian, who notes that they’re incredibly stylish and functional.
She told us that she ran a couple of miles wearing them and was pleasantly surprised that they didn’t fall off at all and barely slipped down her nose throughout the entire run. Even after her run, she wore them throughout the day while she was out and about. “I’ll keep wearing them,” she says.
Despite its lightweight frame, we found that Goody’s New Wave Renegade had a relatively sturdy build that holds up after months of usage. Her one complaint? They were a little big for her face, so they probably wouldn’t fit all face sizes. Plus, the shades won’t block out the sun if it’s right above your head, like if you’re running at noon—the sun will still peek into the top of your glasses.
4. Nike Victory Elite E DV213 Glasses
Price: $122.94
Nike’s Victory Elite shades are purpose-built for hitting the track. We like the durable but sleek lens that hugs our face snugly but tightly, so you know it won’t fall off when you sprint. Plus, we found that the aerodynamic design moved with us like a second skin.
WH editorial assistant Sabrina Talbert took this out for a summer jog and found that it offered plenty of coverage. “It blocks the sun out just enough so that I can see everything around me very clearly without feeling overwhelmed by the sun hitting my face,” she says.
Plus, the lens is polarized to help reduce eye strain and glare during outdoor runs. One con: Talbert did find that the Victory Elite’s lens fits a bit awkwardly at first since it also wraps around her temples, but she eventually got used to it.
5. Dragon Alliance Momentum H20 Polarized Sunglasses
Price: $58.00
Sport sunnies need a polarized lens, which adds another layer of protection against eye strain and glare. Dragon Alliance takes that feature to the next level with Hydrophobic and Oleophobic coatings, which help repel water and smudges.
Associate News Editor Charlotte Walsh wore these to play tennis during a hot summer day and found that they did a bang-up job at reducing glare. “I could serve the ball upwards without squinting,” she says.
“When I wear my usual sunglasses, they slip off my nose due to the sweat, but these stayed on the entire point!” Thanks to its TPX material, a heat-resistant plastic that’s sturdy but lightweight, the glasses hug your face securely without adding a lot of bulk.
While the Momentum H20 comes in three colorways, Walsh did find that the chunky purple lenses were a bit too flashy for her tastes, but as a product, they did everything they’re supposed to do.
Summary
Finding the perfect pair of sports sunglasses can significantly enhance your outdoor activities. Whether running, biking, or engaging in other sports, these tested and approved options offer the best comfort, performance, and style.
To choose the right pair, consider the activity type, performance features, frame size, and price point. You can protect your eyes and focus on your performance with the right sunglasses.
