Performs well on a run, but still looks great around town

While sunglasses technically fall into the “accessory” category of running gear, they’re pretty much a non-negotiable for me—even on overcast days, I want to protect my eyes (and the skin around them) from squinting and harsh UV light. Moreover, on trail runs, the right pair of lenses can help with depth perception and balance in both high- and low-contrast conditions.

When you’re doing your own shopping for running glasses, look for picks with 100% UV protection, a rubberized nose bridge and temple arm tips for grip, and be sure to know whether you want polarization. Polarized lenses are great for glare protection and clarity in bright light, but non-polarized lenses can be better for trail running depth perception.

The sunglasses I tested and recommend fall into two pretty distinct categories: technical wraparound running models, and more lifestyle-oriented pairs that still stay put when running but don’t look goofy to wear around town after. Taking those two categories and factors like comfort, prescription options, fog-resistance, and more into account, I researched and tested multiple picks to find a variety of solid running sunglasses across a range of price points.

Extremely technical style isn’t versatile for non-running wear

• Best Overall: Koo Nova
• Best Value: Goodr OG
• Best Affordable Rx: Tifosi Swank
• Best Combo of Style and Performance: Smith Seeker
• Best for Narrow Faces: Adidas Dunamis Evo S

Jump to:

• Extremely technical style isn’t versatile for non-running wear
• The Shoes and Gear Kipyegon Will Wear at Breaking4
• The Best Basic Running Watches for Minimalists
• The 7 Best Running Shorts
• Our Full Running Sunglasses Reviews
• FAQs

The Shoes and Gear Kipyegon Will Wear at Breaking4

Full UV and Glare Blockage

Lens Polarization

Tint

Prescription

Frame Type

The Best Basic Running Watches for Minimalists

Runner’s World has been vetting and reviewing running gear and tech for nearly 50 years. Our gear and apparel recommendations range across categories like running shoes, headlamps, layering systems, and more, all of which are based on data, testing notes, insight, and input from our test team, editors, and expert contributing writers. For this roundup, I used recommendations and notes from the Runner’s World test team, including test editors Amanda Furrer and Morgan Petruny, along with Editor-in-Chief Jeff Dengate.

I also reviewed available options in the marketplace, along with my own collection of go-to running sunglasses. I compared notes with the internal test team and made sure to thoroughly evaluate the market, tester feedback, comparison notes, and my experience with performance and fit. The final choices are a combination of models based on my own testing, input on newly tested pairs, and my categorical knowledge.

I started road running in college in New Hampshire, then switched to trail running when I moved out west after graduating. I am a four-season runner and I run in all weather and across all terrain, with a mix of road, trail, and gravel. I review and test gear for Runner’s World, Popular Mechanics, Travel and Leisure, Health - Injuries Switchback Travel. Excellent side and vertical coverage.

The 7 Best Running Shorts

Best for Narrow Faces Runner’s World test editors’ input from previous testing and reviews. This list is a combination of my go-to faves worn during four-season runs, and new-to-me pairs that I tested to make sure they still belonged on the list. For my testing, I made sure the fit was comfortable and my eyes didn’t feel any strain after extended wear. I also had a male runner help me with testing this season, wearing several of my wider-lens options to make sure we had well-rounded feedback.

I put my sunglasses through the paces in areas like bright, snowy sidewalks and shadowy forests to get a solid understanding of how well they worked in such conditions. I spent a lot of time on trails above tree line as well, where the UV index is searing to test each pick’s UV protection. Generally, though, I made sure that every pair of sunglasses in this roundup all had full UV protection. I also tested a variety of tints, including darker lenses for harsh sunlight, as well as low-light options for overcast days where I still wanted UV protection.

Protection aside, I made sure to find options that covered a variety of styles so you can choose between a more technical wrap-around pair, or ones that will stay on your head while running (but don’t look dorky in town after your workout). Finally, I wanted to offer options for prescription lenses, which more than half of the options below have.

Our Full Running Sunglasses Reviews

Along with the Tifosi Seek, the Nova is the lightest model on my list and also the most flexible. This helps them conform to my head and keeps the frames in place even on bouncy descents. The shorter arms and narrower fit help keep the grams low, but the frames and lenses have enough flexion that they haven’t loosened up over my past few seasons of testing. These are a true running style, with wraparound coverage anti-reflective lenses that make it easy to react quickly on the trail.

I especially appreciate this style and coverage on windy days above treeline where a town-ready pair might not protect from gusts and debris due to the more open sides. I do worry about the durability with the largely frameless design, but Koo advertises these are shatterproof (I haven’t put this to the test) and I make sure to keep them in a hard case when I’m not wearing them. I have a smaller head, so the Novas fit me well, but people with larger faces might find the temple arms a bit short.

I have been a huge fan of Goodr since they launched their classically styled, affordable sunglasses back in 2015. The frame has a matte coating that stays in place during light rain or sweaty runs, and the lenses are more generously sized than the similarly styled Tifosi Swank. Not to mention, the range of colors is wildly fun.

This style looks flattering and fits a range of differently sized heads, but for the biggest noggins, Good’r also offers the BFG, which has a wider frame, larger lenses, and extended arms for a more secure fit. My main gripe with the Goodr OG is how easily the lenses scratch. I wore a pair of these on a 500-mile backpacking trip and was very careful to use the included soft case and to not let them get banged around, but they were still almost unusable by the end of the 23 days.

Tifosi has been making a strong name for itself in the outdoor lifestyle / performance market, and I love the blend of style and performance in their popular Swank line that includes affordable priced prescription options. The Swank is one of the brand’s best-selling models, with a classic wayfarer look and a wide range of lens and frame color options.

Tifosi offers this model in polarized and non-polarized, but I usually opt for the polarized version since it still comes in at a fraction of the cost of more expensive brands, all without sacrificing style or durability. Additionally, these sunglasses have hydrophilic rubber nose pieces for no-slip wear during sweaty runs, and it comes into play on hot days in bright sun.

The lenses are a durable polycarbonate with a high level of shatter-resistance and scratch-proofing, and I found them to be more durable than the Good’r OG. The only thing I noticed, though, was that they look best on smaller faces and are more narrow than the Good’r.

I’ve worn Smith sunglasses for Nordic skiing, running, and mountain biking, and they performed well in each scenario. Needless to say, I was very happy to see they offered this stylish, protective pair of athletic sunglasses with their ChromaPop lens tech in both polarized and non-polarized options.

The ChromaPop—which uses photochromic glass to sense how much light is hitting the lens surface—adapts to changing conditions so well that they’ve become a top choice for variable days. Moreover, these looked great and stayed on my face while running and biking, and they have a unique shape that combines a rounded lens with subtle downturn. I have a pretty narrow face so these feel a bit wide, but not enough to stand out.

The sunglasses have a frame extension in the periphery for extra UV protection. While they don’t have the wraparound lenses of the more technical running sunglasses, they have more protection than true Wayfarer styles like the Good’r and Knockaround. The only downside for real gram counters is that they weigh a little more than most other options, but not enough to be a dealbreaker, in my opinion.

Adidas just released the “S” version of their popular Dunamis Evo, created to better fit smaller and more narrow faces. This is especially helpful for such a technical pair of sunglasses where a feature-conforming fit is even more important for speedwork or on bouncy trails. For this latest update, Adidas added a stability bar across the frame to help keep these in place, and a fully adjustable nose piece to dial in the fit.

These have better airflow than other wraparound sunglasses due to dedicated venting at the top of the lenses, and the slots at the temples also help discourage fogging by increasing airflow. The anti-glare treatment helps these perform well in variable light and prevent warping, so they’re great for speed work and running downhill on trails with funky footing. Just note that its style is far more suited for running, so it isn’t the best pair of sunglasses for casual settings.

I really like how much variety you get with these sunglasses. Not only are they available in a variety of colors, you can also design your own combination to make a truly custom pair of shades. While less technical than the Roka and Adidas (but more durable than the Good’r), these strike a nice balance between fun and performance thanks to the polarization and slide-resistant rubber on the nose piece. And at under $40 for the pair, they’re kind of a steal.

We found that these fit better on smaller faces than similar Wayfarer styles, and I appreciate the impact-resistant lenses for biking around. The lenses hold up fairly well to scrapes and dings, though I still try to keep them in their cloth case whenever I’m not wearing them.

Since these are polarized, I wouldn’t necessarily wear them for trail running since the polarization can affect depth perception. Despite this, I love them for road running and they look great in town as well. If you want to skip the build-your-own, you can shop the brand’s wide array of ready-to-ship styles here.

Though they run more expensive than others on this list, Roka has a reliably high-performing lineup of sunglasses that have made our top picks year after year. They offer styles in options like aviators and full wraparounds, and have a premium design and feel for serious runners. The SR-1X is also highly customizable, and fits both my smaller head and my male tester’s larger noggin.

These are definitely the grippiest sunglasses I tested. This pick uses the brand’s “Geko” elastomer compound that feels softer than some other nose and temple rubber. This rubber also gets even more sticky when faced with dripping sweat or high levels of humidity.

Roka is generous with this rubber, using it to line the ear pieces, temple arms, and nose pad. The yellow lens I tested is excellent for contrast and reminds me of my low-light lenses for skiing.

These are incredibly lightweight but sturdy, and the frames don't feel flimsy like some other ultralight pairs. Plus, the polycarbonate lenses are shatterproof and provide excellent clarity and full UV protection. I have a small face, so these fit well, but they look goofy on my male tester, and don't have the coverage of the larger lenses like the Koo Nova.

I’ve also tested the polarized option which helps ease eye strain on bright days, and I swap out which pair I’m using based on conditions and location (if I’m running near water or on snow, the polarized tend to work better). Lastly, I appreciate the functionality of the heftier frames. While they aren’t my first choice for town wear, they get the job done while running or playing pickleball.

The durable Zeal Cumulus was my pair of choice for a four-week trip to Europe that involved a lot of hiking and running—I tossed these in with my luggage, and they didn’t bend or scratch. The bioresin frame is made partially from agricultural waste grasses, which is both sustainable and quite sturdy, making these my top pick for durability.

The frame feels similar to nylon in its ability to retain shape, and despite the higher retail cost, I don’t feel like I have to be as precious with these as some of my flimsier-feeling shield shades. They stay in place well thanks to Zeal’s FlexRubber on the nose bridge, and the temple arms have a more pronounced downturn that helps keep them secure on bouncy hikes, runs, and bus rides.

These have a combo Wayfarer-cat-eye look that isn’t for everyone though. While I had a pair ordered for my male tester (and they fit his face) he did give them back and say “these are definitely better for women.”

FAQs

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