Which sport sunglasses to choose?
Nowadays, more and more people are leading active lifestyles and pursuing various outdoor sports. Whether you run regularly, cycle or ski seasonally or occasionally head to the mountains, it's worth taking care to protect your eyes.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at what to consider when choosing sports sunglasses depending on your sport.
What types of sunglasses are there?
Sunglasses are associated with simple frames and dark glasses, but the specifics of this type of eyewear are somewhat more complex. First of all, the heart of sunglasses is their lenses. They come in different colors and are equipped with filters of different categories.
When talking about filters, we refer to the three main types of UV filters:
| filter | blocked wavelength of ultraviolet radiation |
|---|---|
| UVA |
400 to 315 nanometers |
| UVB | 400 to 315 nanometers |
| UVC | 400 to 315 nanometers |
The most dangerous rays for the human eye are UVA and UVB radiation, which cause, among other things: pain and dryness of the eyes, tearing and sometimes even conjunctivitis or macular degeneration. It is important to choose sunglasses with labels such as UVA+UVB, UVA+UVB Protection or UV 400. The filtration category is often combined with the color of the lens tint. Below you will find examples of lens tint variations with different filtration categories:
| Filter category | Type of sun protection | % of transmitted sunlight | Example for the lens colour | Example application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories 0 | very limited | 80-100 % | colourless | Goggles that primarily fulfil protective functions. They will be useful on the shooting range or at ASG games, for example. |
| Category 1 | Limited | 43-80 % | yellow, amber-coloured, orange | Glasses for activities on cloudy days, e.g. a cycle tour in the forest. |
| Category 2 | All right | 18-43 % | Blue | Glasses for changing conditions. |
| Category 3 | very good | 8-18 % | grey | Universal glasses for use in medium and strong sunlight. |
| Category 4 | very good | 3-8 % | Black | Recommended goggles for use in intense sunlight, for example on a glacier expedition. |
The selected lens tint variants are just examples. Among the wide range of different types of sports sunglasses, you will also find pink or green lenses.
Good sport sunglasses – what kind?
When choosing sport sunglasses, it is worth paying attention to several issues. In addition to being equipped with the right filters, a key aspect is that the chosen model should be resistant to mechanical damage. During physical activity, it is not uncommon for us to be exposed, among other things, to falls, just like the equipment we carry with us. This is why it is essential to choose durable sunglasses, for example, equipped with polycarbonate lenses.
Other features that sport sunglasses can be equipped with are polarization and photochromism. Polarization reduces reflections and glare, which can dazzle, and also improves visual comfort and eliminates eye fatigue. Photochromic lenses, on the other hand, adjust the degree of darkening according to the intensity of the light.
It is also worth considering models of sport sunglasses in which the lenses can be replaced. Buying such sunglasses is a great choice if you play a variety of sports. You can easily adjust the lenses to suit the activity and the prevailing conditions.
Another important issue is wearing comfort. With this aspect, it is worth paying attention to the fact that the sport sunglasses should be neither too loose nor compressive. Lightweight and flexible sunglasses that fit snugly on the face will be a good choice.
Which sunglasses to choose for cycling?
Now, consider the type of sports activity. It is difficult to indicate a specific model or a universal type of sunglasses for cycling. In this case, it is necessary to select sunglasses for the type of cycling practiced, such as mountain, road or singletrack.
Mountain cycling glasses are most often models with elaborate frames that fit snugly on the face and thus effectively protect the eyes. On the other hand, road cycling glasses are models with narrow frames (in some models there are almost no frames at all). In cycling glasses, standard lenses are increasingly being replaced by a monolens, which is characterized by a wide field of vision.
On challenging singletracks and downhills the ride is dynamic, so sunglasses for cycling must offer maximum protection. For such riding, goggles are often the choice, as they fit better on the head and protect the eyes more effectively than glasses. The important thing here is that they fit well; they must not, of course, be too loose, but they must also not compress the head.
The most universal choice of cycling sunglasses will be a model with replaceable lenses or a photochromic one. Such glasses will prove themselves both as safety glasses and as sunglasses.
Which sunglasses to choose for water sports?
When participating in water sports, especially on sunny days, dazzling reflections from the sun's rays are inevitable. Whether you're surfing, kayaking or fishing, it's worth equipping yourself with sunglasses to protect your eyes.
In sunglasses designed for water sports, the aforementioned polarization is very useful. Polarized lenses effectively eliminate glare, which translates into less eye fatigue. We recommend choosing lenses in blue, green, brown or grey. Blue lenses contrast the sky and water surface. The other colors, on the other hand, provide a good representation of ambient colors and prevent eye fatigue during prolonged activity. Category 3 or 4 polarized lenses would be a good choice.
It is also worth paying attention to resistance to mechanical damage and choosing models made of polycarbonate or other plastics. Another issue is the risk of losing glasses, for example, when falling into water. Therefore, we recommend lightweight sunglasses that will float for some time.
Sunglasses for the mountains - what to consider?
Sunglasses for the mountains are an accessory that comes in handy at any time of the year, but it is particularly important to have them in winter. If you are hiking on snowy peaks with a cloudless sky, the light reflecting off the snow can even lead to snow blindness in extreme cases. Furthermore, in the mountains, sunglasses protect our eyes from rain and snowfall, gusty wind or dust.
Which sunglasses to choose for the mountains? It depends, as with cycling glasses, on the activity in question. For mountain hiking, category 3 glasses will be the most popular choice, but photochromic glasses are a good alternative. For winter activities or trips to glaciers, category 4 glasses will be the best choice. Here it is worth considering high mountain goggles or special glacier glasses with side shields.
Sport sunglasses offer at MILITARY.EU
The choice of sport sunglasses on the market is really wide. When deciding on eyewear suited to a particular activity, it is worth considering a few important issues. When buying a model of sunglasses, determine whether you are going to use them for one activity or whether you need a more versatile version. Remember to choose sunglasses from reliable manufacturers to make sure they have the right filters. Also, check which sunglasses accessories are included in the kits. This way you can be sure that the case or replacement lenses will definitely fit the glasses you choose.
If you have any doubts or need help in choosing, please contact us. MILITARY.EU experts will assist you with professional advice and make it easier for you to choose the best sunglasses from the wide range on offer in our store.
