Athletes are used to taking steps to avoid injury, such as keeping hydrated, doing warm-ups and cool-downs, and granting themselves appropriate rest periods. Eye protection, however, needs to be more thoroughly addressed. A review published by PubMed Central affirms that sun protection—like efficient UV-filtering sunglasses—is essential, yet wearing them isn’t seen as urgent as other preventive measures.
The consequences of this neglect can be dire, especially if you’re an athlete. Exposure to UV rays can result in harmful eye conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration while straining your eyes in bright sunlight can result in you developing a performance-damaging squint. If you play your sport in the sunshine, you’d best have the proper protective eyewear. Indeed, even Dino Babers has been seen in sunglasses, once on the sidelines. That was last year, in Tallahassee, in a loss to Florida State, and whilst there’s little call for football players to wear shades during a game, it doesn’t mean they’re not vital to some sports.
To start, read the following overview of the best sunglasses for different sports to try out this summer.
Best for cycling: Sutro Lite
The Sutro line – including the original Sutro, Sutro S, Sutro TI, and Sutro Lite – is one of the most popular on Oakley because they’re tailor-made for cyclists. They possess uncompromising impact protection for their color-enhancing Prizm lenses, which boasts 20% light transmission. The Sutro Lite, in particular, has a frame made of lightweight O Matter and Unobtainium nose pads, which keep the glasses securely in place even as you sweat. With these sunglasses, you can zoom through miles on your bike with excellent visibility of your surroundings and no worry whatsoever that your shades will fall off.
Best for running: Nike Victory Elite
It’s no surprise that Nike has some of the best sunnies for running available—after all, it’s a key player in the sports eyewear market and the sports industry in general. Among its offerings, the Victory Elite is Nike’s best set of running shades. It features an adjustable bridge, which you can customize specifically to your nose and temple arms, with rubber sleeves for a more secure fit. The injected frame material consists of 45% castor bean oil, making it lighter than plastic sunglasses and more environmentally friendly. With it, you can be satisfied you’ve picked both a practical and sustainable piece of eyewear for your runs.
Best for tennis: Bolle Competivision Bolt
Tennis players already practice using a visor to keep their eyes free from both sweat and sun. Many tennis athletes, including world champions Sam Stosur and Janko Tipsarevic, choose to supplement this by wearing sunglasses as well. If you want to imitate them, the best shades on the market for this purpose are Bolle’s Competivision Bolt. Its frame uses thermogrip technology to plant the glasses firmly in place and can easily remove and attach lenses. These sunnies come with two: standard lenses to protect against the sun and teal green glasses designed specifically so you can spot the tennis ball faster. Choosing these shades will forever put visibility in your favor during tennis games.
Best for water sports: Rheos x Southern Tide Floating Sunglasses
If you’re into water sports, you already know how important it is to have sunglasses. It can get painfully bright among the reflective waters, and a good pair of polarized lenses will help you see right through the surface and into the underwater world. However, you might not have considered how helpful floating sunglasses can be. Rheos x Southern Tide Floating Sunglasses are a pair of sunnies that won’t sink if you accidentally drop them. You’ll be able to pick them up from the water completely intact, thanks to their hydrophobic coating. This particular series is also the product of a collaboration between Southern Tide, a lifestyle and apparel brand, and Rheos Nautical Eyewear, which specializes in eye gear for water sports. As a result, you can choose between a variety of styles and colors, with the assurance that any you pick will have stellar functionality for swimming, boating, fishing, or whatever other water sport you want to partake in.
As an athlete who plays their sport in the sun, you must protect your eyes. Ensure you get the appropriate eyewear for your sport to let your performance shine.
