The best running sunglasses in 2024, tried and tested

A good pair of running sunglasses has three main jobs: to protect you from harmful UV rays, to enhance your vision and to not distract you in any way from your run. You don’t need to shell out a ton of money for a pair that hits that trifecta.

To prove it, we tested a slew of the latest styles to see which pairs best handled the miles and the elements. No matter your budget or fashion (because let’s face it, a side perk is that you look a lot cooler in slick running shoes and shades), we’re sure we’ve found a great pair for you.

Best running sunglasses overall: Oakley Corridor

$194 at Oakley and REI or $194 from $184 at Amazon

We’ve been running in Oakley sunglasses since, well, the day we started running, but apparently our go-to styles are not actually meant for running. Earlier this year, the brand announced their first “running-specific” shades, and we loved the semi-rimless Corridor. A fresh take on the classic aviator style, the Corridor felt like a melding of lifestyle and performance eyewear, something that will appeal to people who don’t want to go full face shield and also want to wear their sunglasses for more than running.

Oakley calls their lens treatment “Prizm Lens Technology,” and in practice we found this enhances color and contrast as advertised — meaning you can see more detail as you run. We tested the Prizm Ruby lens, which has a bronze base that the company says is meant for better performance in bright light, but, FWIW, we ran a half marathon in the Rocky Mountains and had no issues in the shade either. The lens — which has a hydrophobic and oleophobic coating to repel moisture and sweat even in the heat wave conditions we were running in — is made from Plutonite, Oakley’s high-grade polycarbonate material that’s seriously impact-resistant (we didn’t try to smash these ourselves, but we’ve seen the brand demo this in the past).

Comfort is also what makes these the best overall running sunglasses. The frame is made from O Matter (Oakley’s got a lot of proprietary materials), a lightweight nylon composite that’s sweat-resistant, durable and flexible, with Unobtainium (the brand’s name for its rubber compound) nosepads and earsocks that offer a no-slip grip that also combats bobbing and bouncing.

Downsides? There aren’t many. We found that the Corridor is a tiny bit heavier than some of the other sunglasses we tested and we did notice a little more pressure behind the ears than our other favorites from Oakley when paired with a hat and headphones, but neither factor was enough to distract us from our run.

Best value running sunglasses: Tifosi Rail XC

$80 at Tifosi, Amazon and REI

With three lenses to suit different conditions for a low, low price, it’s hard to beat Tifosi’s three-for-one deal. The Tifosi Rail XC are a classic rimless shield design, but slightly narrower and lighter than typical cycling sunglasses, which (beyond the price) is what makes them such a great option for runners.

We tested the Rail XC in the Blackout Interchange variant, which comes with one smoky lens designed for bright light, a reddish lens for overcast weather and clear lenses for rainy or dark conditions. To switch between lenses, you just pop off the nose pad and arms, then click them back into place on the new lens. (They are all made from shatterproof polycarbonate and all offer 100% UV protection.) Just make sure to wipe off the fingerprints when you’re done.

We’ve worn the Rail XC lenses in almost every scenario imaginable, from early mornings at the track to snowy long runs to hot and humid race days and even in the rain. These are a more budget-friendly option, so they lack any proprietary color- or contrast-enhancing tech, but the tints of the lenses provide plenty of clarity. And that’s enough for us.

It’s really the comfort as much as the versatility that keeps us reaching for the Rail XC. Made from Grilamid TR-90, a material that’s resistant to UV degradation (perfect for running outdoors), they’re lightweight at just 31 grams. On top of that, the nose pad and ear pads are fully adjustable and made from a hydrophilic rubber that actually gets grippier the more you sweat. We did notice a tiny bit of bouncing (mostly when we smiled — because we love running — though doing so means our glasses sit a little closer to the face), but they pair especially well with a hat and don’t feel clunky with headphones, either.

Best budget running sunglasses: Knockaround Campeones

$55 at Knockaround

High-tech sunglasses can be expensive. But you can still get a good pair of shades that you won’t be devastated by losing — for example, Knockaround’s Campeones.

We were impressed with Knockaround’s Knockterra Performance Lens Tech, which, in a addition to providing 100% UV protection, includes water- and oil-resistant coatings that did a great job preventing sweat droplets and fingerprints from impeding our vision mid-run. One thing these lenses don’t have is polarization, but that’s on purpose — it allows for enhanced depth perception, which we did appreciate, especially when testing these on trails.

Cheap doesn’t have to mean poor quality, and the Campeones are a great example of that. Both the lens and frame are made from polycarbonate, which is lighter and thinner than traditional plastic and significantly more impact-resistant. (They are, however, heavier and a little tighter than our other top picks.) We tend to baby our more expensive sunglasses, no matter how durable they are, and it’s nice to have a pair that can stand up to all kinds of abuse, like being dropped mid-trail run (we did that) and stuffed into a running pack (we also did that).

We preferred the Campeones to other budget options from Goodr and Blenders because they bounced less — likely due to the adjustable nose pads. (That said, there was still a little more movement than with more expensive models; wearing these with a hat during a speed workout took care of that, although we wouldn’t recommend adding headphones on top of that.) We also liked the vents at the bottom corners of the lens that prevented heat from building up against our cheeks, even with stifling humidity during an iffy trail run with a storm brewing overhead.

Best all-purpose running sunglasses: Roka Oslo 2.0

From $195 at Roka

We get it, not everyone wants to look like an extra from Tron. Plus, having to buy multiple pairs for different activities — or, you know, just going about your daily life — can be a burden on your wallet. Enter: the Roka Oslo 2.0. With a classic round frame that’s especially suited for smaller faces, these wouldn’t look out of place at brunch. But they also clock in at just 19 grams, making them perfect for people who don’t want to feel excess weight on their face during activity.

Part of that streamlined design is thanks to the frame, which is made from TR-90 nylon — a material that’s much lighter than industry standards like acetate and polycarbonate, but just as durable. The latest model has upgraded hinges that absorb shock every time your feet hit the ground to prevent bouncing, and new pads at the nose and temples that are made from a hydrophilic, chemical-resistant elastomer that keeps them from budging or adding excess pressure (and doesn’t pull at your hair when you take them off, thank you, Roka).

The lenses — which offer 100% UV protection and are treated with anti-scratch, anti-fog and hydrophobic coatings — are super crisp. We purposefully let sweat drip on them during one mid-day run when the temperature hit 96° Fahrenheit, and it beaded right up, although we did have to shake it off. The lenses did smudge easily, but prints came off with a wipe of our shirt.

We tested the Matte Black Tortoise Frame with the Glacier Mirror Lens, designed for bright light; that was, in fact, where they worked best, although we didn’t have issues moving in and out of the tree shadows on a trail run. FYI: These aren’t polarized (other tints are), but we didn’t notice any issues with glare while running around a city lake.

What to consider when shopping for running sunglasses

Just as running shoes protect your feet from the repetitive impact of striking the ground over and over, running sunglasses have the equally important job of protecting your eyes from repeated exposure to the elements. While it may not have the same short-term effect as overtraining, cumulative sun exposure can cause serious long-term damage to your eyes.

Protection

You’ve been schooled over and over again about the importance of protecting your skin from the sun. Well, same goes for your eyes. it is possible for them to get something like a sunburn (it’s called photokeratitis), and too much ultraviolet light can damage your corneas as well as the inner parts of your eye. To that end, you should never buy sunglasses that don’t block 100% of UV light. Sunglasses with UV400 protection block both UVA rays, which are associated with skin aging, and UVB rays, which are associated with skin burning.

UV protection is different from polarization. Polarized lenses are coated with a layer that blocks the reflection of light off of surfaces (like water or snow), so you’re not dealing with glare coming at you from every angle. It’s more of a comfort thing than a protective choice, and some brands don’t offer polarized lenses because they can affect your depth perception (since they change the angle of incoming light, they can also interfere with your ability to read some displays, like your running watch or car dashboard).

Another thing to consider is size. Sure, larger lenses are trendy, but they can also provide more protection, shielding the surrounding skin on your face as well as the eyes. Plus, that extra coverage serves to protect your eyes from dust, dirt, allergens or any other debris in the air.

Clarity

Sunglasses come in all sorts of tints. But the shade isn’t about protection (even the lightest tints provide UV protection); instead, the color of the lens — which affects how much light gets through and how — helps your vision in different conditions, enhancing or reducing contrast or brightness as needed. Gray, for example, is a neutral color that reduces brightness and glare in a number of conditions. Green tints offer high contrast, especially in bright light, while amber and brown tints can be helpful against green and blue backgrounds and yellow and orange tints increase contrast in low-light conditions.

Many brands use proprietary technologies to enhance color and contrast so you can see more details wherever you’re running. Oakley’s Prizm Lens Technology is one of the best, but we also like Smith’s ChromaPop lens technology as well as 100% HiPer lens technology. The right tint for you will depend on where you run most often.

Comfort

People who say they don’t like sunglasses generally feel that way because, based on prior experience, they don’t want anything on their face. That’s fair! But so many of today’s sunglasses are so light, you can barely tell you’re wearing them. Half the shades we tested weigh less than a AA battery (that’s 20 grams, in case you were wondering).

In general, your sunglasses should fit snugly around your ears and across your nose. Many come with bendable arms and adjustable or interchangeable nose pads so you can fine-tune the fit. They shouldn’t pinch your nose or squeeze behind your ears, but they also shouldn’t slide down your nose or bounce around as you move.

How we tested

We’re constantly testing running sunglasses, so for this particular round-up we looked at 10 of the most recent releases from both well-known and up-and-coming brands. For this batch, we tested them in action, wearing each pair on Denver’s city roads and the local trails, as well as during the middle of the day and in lower-light conditions to see how the lenses handled different kinds of light. And to test the comfort, we wore each pair either solo or with headphones and a hat.

Lenses

Frames

Other running sunglasses we tested

Smith Vert PivLock

From $215 at Smith Optics

Smith’s ChromaPop lens technology is on par with Oakley Prizm, and it’s on full display in the new Smith Vert PivLock sunglasses. Another rimless style offering an uninterrupted view, these are ultralight and streamlined, with a slightly larger frame than the similar Tifosi Rail XC (these come up over the eyebrows). We found these to be one of the most secure pairs of sunglasses we tested, with the non-slip nose and temple pads keeping them snug on our face without adding too much pressure around the ears.

The PivLock design actually makes swapping between lenses even easier, but these are pricey and only come with two lens options (the second one is clear). We tried the Matte Amethyst + ChromaPop Opal Mirror, which looked more transparent indoors, but the second we stepped outside, it morphed into a reflective mirror perfect for bright light (our favorite kind of tint).

SunGod Ultras

From $180 at SunGod

Runners who prioritize sustainability will love the Sungod Ultras. With the brand’s customization tool, you can choose from recycled frames and lenses. No matter what type of design you create, the packaging is made from 100% recycled and recyclable materials, and it’s a certified carbon neutral product.

From a performance perspective, these are just as forward-thinking. The frameless shades use an 8KO lens constructed from nylon (they weigh just 26 grams) to provide UV400 protection for your eyes, while the lens itself is guarded with a triple-layer scratch-resistant coating as well as hydroleophobic protection. The arms are made from lightweight, flexible TR90, and hydrophilic rubber at the temples and on the nose pads (there are four to help you find the optimal fit) keeps these firmly in place no matter how fast you’re moving.

Koo Supernova

From $200 at Koo

Coming in at just 21 grams, the Koo Supernovas were among the lightest styles we tested, because they’re mostly just lens. For such an insubstantial amount of weight, these also felt more durable, with a shatterproof lens and high temple flexibility (read: bendy arms).

These were designed for high-performance activities — including running, obviously — where you need panoramic visibility, and the quality of the lens really highlights that. The frameless single lens is made by Zeiss, which is known for minimal distortion and sharp optics (it’s also UV400 and anti-reflective). We can confirm that visibility was excellent during all of our runs, although the field of view is slightly interrupted where the nosepad attaches. Not a dealbreaker, just something to keep in mind.

Adidas Eyewear SP0060 Sport Sunglasses

From $161 at Frames Direct

Generally, we prefer performance sunglasses from brands that only make eyewear, but these Adidas Eyewear sunglasses surprised us. The lightweight polycarbonate lenses (which have 100% UV protection) use Kolor Up technology to, you guessed it, enhance color and increase visual precision, and the Smoke lens worked just as well in early morning runs as it did in the brightest light.

Although these weigh just 23 grams, the plastic frame does run a little tight, so we preferred these for shorter runs (sans hat, which added extra pressure). They’re also not adjustable, but the angled temple tips are soft and likely contributed to the lack of bounce even when we picked up the pace. The Smoke tint was so popular, it’s currently sold out on the Adidas site, but you can find it—along with green, yellow, and Bordeaux tints — on plenty of other sites. Plus, you can find solid dupes in the Roka Phantom Titanium as well as the more affordable Goodr Mach G.

100% Legere Coil

From $109 at 100%

We’ve been reaching for these regularly since we first got a sample earlier this year — mostly because they’re so light, you’ll barely notice you’re wearing them. At 17 grams, these were the lightest of all the shades we tested. We also liked how they melded sport and style in a single-shield silhouette, making these a great option for transitioning directly from fitness to daily life. In either scenario, the lens is crack- and chemical-resistant as well as hydrophobic and oleophobic, and you can swap it out for different tints.

Oakley Actuator

From $167 at Oakley

Released simultaneously with the Corridor, Oakley’s Actuators are a Wayfarer-esque alternative that skew a little more lifestyle than performance (aesthetically, at least). They look like a modernized version of the brand’s long-standing Frogskin model, with larger lenses to offer more protection and all the features you’d expect from Oakley: a durable, lightweight frame; UV400 protection; and Prizm Lens Technology to enhance color and contrast. Despite the Unobtainium nosepad with a no-slip grip, we felt that these bounced a little more than other styles we tested and performed best when paired with a hat.