The sun provides us with energy that is vital for our system, but at the same time, it can be harmful. As Paracelsus said: the dose makes the poison. In those moments when the sun is closest and its radiation is most aggressive, it is advisable to use sunglasses for the health of our eyes. These sunglasses are especially important in medium and long-duration sporting events.
In this article, we are going to look at the different characteristics of sports sunglasses, as well as some recommendations and tips for choosing the ones that best suit us. Besides our health, our performance is also at stake.
The Shape: Fit, Grip, and Protection
The frame or shape of the glasses aims to make this accessory adapt perfectly to us so that it feels like we're wearing nothing at all. There are three parts to focus on when choosing our sports sunglasses: fit, grip, and protection.
Fit or How the Glasses Sit on Our Face

The type of temple arm on our sports sunglasses will determine how well or poorly they fit our head and sit on our ears. A runner differs from a cyclist in that the former doesn't wear a helmet, but the latter does.
When wearing a helmet, temple arms that are straight can fit better, while temple arms that end in a curve might be better for runners as they offer a better grip. These curved temple arms are ultimately the most commercially available.
There is also the option of adjustable temple arms that we can modify depending on whether we use an accessory like a helmet or hat, or not. For triathlons, which involve sections with and without a helmet, they can be a good option.
Grip with Rubber

Those with a nose bridge covered in rubber, both on the nose part and the temple arms, help provide a better grip, especially on uneven terrain like a downhill mountain bike ride or a trail run.
This rubber, which repels water, will help with grip and also with breathability, allowing airflow that also prevents fogging.
Protection Against Dirt and Elements That Can Fly Up from the Ground

The shape and dimensions of the lenses should allow our eyes to be protected from all solar radiation, while also preventing a direct impact from dust, elements like a small stone kicked up from the ground, or any insect or other object that could hit our eye.
This is why we find glasses with larger or smaller lenses, inserted into frames of varying sizes. In this regard, we should choose glasses that are large enough to completely cover our eyes, keeping in mind that the frame allows us an unobstructed view.
Sports Sunglasses with Maximum Safety Without Compromising Vision

Hard lenses will protect us against a possible impact, but we should avoid glass for obvious reasons: it weighs more and poses a risk if used for sporting purposes.
In this vision section, there are several features to consider: mirror finishes, polarization, anti-reflective, and anti-fog are the most common.
Good Contrast to See Details Better

If you use social media or enjoy photography, you'll know about contrast and how an image changes when you modify it. The same happens with glasses. To test this, simply go to a landscape like a beach or a mountain with a large lake and try different sunglasses. You'll notice how the colors change.
For better contrast, colored lenses are generally preferable to gray or black lenses. Good contrast gives us information about the terrain, such as a pothole in the road or a stone on the mountain.
Each brand may use its own technology for this, so it's necessary to check the specifications of each one and read that information there. The SportRx, Oakley PRIZM, and SMITH ChromaPop lenses are reliable and used by several sports sunglasses brands.
Polarized or Mirror?

Polarized glasses guarantee protection against the sun, but they can make it harder to see some details. Mirror glasses also provide sun protection without hindering the view of small details.
Which one to choose? It will depend on the sport practiced and the time it's practiced. For precision sports like archery, it's essential that vision isn't distorted even a millimeter. In other sports like hiking, greater protection is more advisable since you spend many hours walking, even if that might very slightly affect the visualization of small details.
Transition Lenses: All-in-One

Technological advances are truly amazing, and sports sunglasses weren't going to be left behind. What happens in sports like a triathlon where we go through different stages of radiation during the event?
For those cases, and many others like anyone who trains one day in the morning and another in the afternoon, there are transition lenses that change as ultraviolet radiation increases or decreases.
This offers us an adaptation to the environment with the same pair of glasses, without needing to change them or use the same ones for all situations. Another option is to get glasses with easily interchangeable lenses.
Some Recommendations for Sports Sunglasses
Rockbros in Different Colors

These glasses come with five polarized lenses that you can easily swap out. They offer UV 400 protection and also protect us from the wind due to their size. They have a nose pad and rubber on the ear pieces for a better fit. Their price is 18.97 euros.

ROCKBROS Polarized Sunglasses with 5 Interchangeable Lenses for Cycling Bicycle Running Sports UV 400 Anti-Wind for Men and Women
Inconuu 100% Speedtrap

In the article, we discussed the importance of contrast and seeing details. This sports sunglasses model features Sharper Contrast technology that enhances details and definition to see everything perfectly, while we are protected from the sun, rain, and other natural elements. It has a price of 296.72 euros.

Inconnu 100% Speedtrap – Unisex Sunglasses, Black/Yellow Color
X-Tiger with Five Interchangeable Lenses

The X-tiger sports sunglasses have the CE certification that guarantees their protection against the sun. They come with five interchangeable lenses to offer different styles. They block sun glare and filter ultraviolet radiation, in addition to protecting our eyes from various natural elements. Their price is 23.99 euros.

X-TIGER Cycling Glasses CE Certified Polarized with 5 Interchangeable UV 400 Lenses, Light and Comfortable to Wear, Variety of Styles, Suitable for Motorcycles, Outdoor Sports
Oakley Radar EV Advancer Matte Carbon

All of Oakley's advancements in a pair of glasses with lenses that take the technology available in sports sunglasses to the next level. Oakley Advancer technology prevents any type of fogging, thanks to an airflow system. Prizm lens technology gives us perfect contrast and detail. All this with great coverage and grip so you don't even notice you're wearing them. They have a price of 138.86 euros.

Oakley 0OO9442 Sunglasses, Matte Carbon, 40 for Men