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 look for 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 colours and are equipped with filters of different categories.
When we write about filters, we are referring to the three main types of UV filters:
| filter | blocked wavelength of ultraviolet radiation |
|---|---|
| UVA |
400 to 315 nanometres |
| UVB | 315 to 280 nanometres |
| UVC | 280 to 200 nanometres |
The most dangerous rays for the human eye are UVA and UVB, 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 colour of the lens tint. Below you will find examples of lens tint variations with different filtration categories:
| Filtration category | Type of sun protection | % of transmitted sunlight | Example of lens colour | Examples of use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category 0 | very limited | 80-100 % | clear | Goggles with a primarily protective function. They will be useful, for example, at the shooting range or in ASG games. |
| Category 1 | limited | 43-80 % | yellow, amber, orange |
Glasses for activities on cloudy days, they will work well on a bike ride into the woods, for example. |
| Category 2 | good | 18-43 % | blue | Glasses for changing conditions. |
| Category 3 | very good | 8-18 % | grey | All-purpose glasses for use in medium to strong sunlight. |
| Category 4 | very good | 3-8 % | black | Glasses recommended 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 sports sunglasses - so what kind?
When choosing sports 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 important to choose robust sunglasses, for example those equipped with polycarbonate lenses.
Other features that sports sunglasses can be equipped with are polarisation and photochromes. Polarisation 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 looking out for models of sports sunglasses in which the lenses can be exchanged. Buying such glasses 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 consideration is wearing comfort. With this aspect, it is worth paying attention to ensure that the sports sunglasses are neither zA loose nor compressive. Lightweight and flexible glasses that fit snugly on the face will be a good choice.
Which sunglasses to choose for cycling?
Now consider the type of sporting 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 practised, for example for mountain, road or singletrack.
Mountain bike goggles 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 type lens, which is characterised by a wide field of vision.
On challenging singletracks and downhills the riding 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 photochromic lens. 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, glaring glare from the sun's rays is 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 polarisation is very useful. Polarised 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 the surface of the water. The other colours, on the other hand, provide a good representation of the ambient colours and prevent eye fatigue during prolonged activity. Category 3 or 4 polarised 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 the glasses when falling into water, for example. Therefore, we recommend lightweight sunglasses that will float for some time.
Sunglasses for the mountains - what to look out for?
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 winds or dust.
Which sunglasses to choose for the mountains? This 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, and here it is worth considering high mountain goggles or special glacier glasses with side shields.
Sports sunglasses offer at MILITARY.PL
The choice of sports sunglasses on the market is really wide. When deciding on eyewear suited to a particular activity, it is worth considering a few important points. 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.PL experts will assist you with expert advice and make it easier for you to choose the best sunglasses from the wide range on offer in our shop.
