Sport Sunglasses

What to Look for in Sport Sunglasses

While general purpose sunglasses are certainly important, most are not designed for sports, especially active or extreme sports. Today's performance sunglasses have a number of helpful features to help ensure your safety and clear vision without compromising style. When choosing your glasses, you may want to consider the following:

UV Protection

Look for 100% UV ray protection. This may also be termed as absorption up to 400 nm. Since labeling UV protection on sunglasses isn't regulated by the government, you may want to steer clear of those that don't clearly state the level of sun protection they provide.

Durability

Look for sport sunglasses that are made of impact- or shatter-resistant materials. For lenses, polycarbonate or carbonic materials are commonly used for their durability. Polyamide or grilamid frames are durable frame choices.

Fit and Flexibility

Sports performance glasses should be snug, but also comfortable. Look for non-slip or non-stick nose pads and temple grips to keep your glasses in place. Lightweight, flexible frames are a top choice for comfort. Many brands are adjustable as well.

Frame Style

One of the most popular frame styles for sports is a wrap or wraparound frame. These provide a close fit and have the added advantage of blocking sun on the periphery of your vision. For prescription wraparound sport sunglasses, you may need to find a specialty retailer, such as Heavyglare that guarantees prescription wrap sunglasses with low levels of distortion.

For active and extreme sports, consider purchasing optional cord attachments for you sunglasses, or consider sports goggles. Sports goggles work especially well for sports like snowboarding, skiing, snowmobiling, and water sports.

Fog protection

Look for anti-fog coatings or adequate ventilation to keep your glasses or goggles from fogging up and blocking your vision.

Glare reduction

Anti-reflective coatings are applied on the interior of the sunglass lens to reduce glare. Polarized lenses redirect light waves, resulting in a reduction of glare. These are a good choice for most sports, although they may not be advisable for skiing due to the possibility that dangerous ice patches may not be as visible in polarized lenses.

Lens Colors and Systems

A popular trend in sport sunglasses is the innovation of changeable lens systems. These allow lenses to be changed depending on the environment and activity. Photochromatic lenses, which change according to the lighting conditions, are another option.

There are a wide variety of lens colors available -- your choice may differ according to the sport or sports you participate in. Orange, amber, and rose tints, for example, work well for snow sports because they offer a high level of contrast.

Multi-Purpose or Specialty Sports Glasses

Since many sports enthusiasts are active in more than one sport, there are a variety of multi-purpose sports sunglasses available on the market. You may want to choose glasses specific for your sport instead. For example, you may choose a pair of amber vented sport goggles for skiing and a pair of black wraps with anti-reflective coatings for cycling or roller blading.

Prices, Brands, and Where to Buy

The price of sport sunglasses varies, but if you are purchasing a high quality name-brand pair, you can expect to pay an average upwards of $100. You can purchase them at many sporting goods stores, some department stores, and online retailers. Be sure to verify that any online dealer you purchase from is reputable.

Some of the most trusted name brands in sport sunglasses include:

• Nike
• Adidas
• Spy
• Arnette
• Anarchy
• Oakley
• Serengeti
• Native
• Smith
• Bolle
• Maui Jim
• WileyX
• Rudy Project
• Julbo
• Dragon Rake

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