Best running sunglasses 2025: Keep your eyes safe and vision clear

SunGod’s new Forty2s are a marathon-inspired wraparound design that deliver top-tier performance for serious runners. The one-piece 8KO nylon lens offers 100% UV protection with a 14% visible light transmission, making it ideal for bright summer conditions while still handling dappled shade and overcast skies reasonably well.

Coverage is excellent, with the lens wrapping far enough around to block low-angle light and wind from the sides, and small vents at the top corners help prevent fogging.

The 27g frame is made from 100% recycled material, which feels impressively sturdy and comes with SunGod’s screwless Pop-Lock hinges for durability. Three interchangeable nose pieces are included, allowing you to fine-tune fit, though two sat a little close to our tester’s eyes before settling on the smallest option.

Once dialled in, the Forty2s stayed locked in place with zero bounce, even during fast-paced intervals, with grippy arm pads adding extra security. Comfort is strong for medium heads, though larger heads may find the arms a touch tight.

In testing, clarity was excellent in sunny and mixed conditions, and the Forty2s even held their own on breezy bike rides. They can feel a little dark under dense tree cover or heavy cloud, but the lens quality and wind protection are hard to fault.

Build quality is robust, especially compared to frameless designs, though a hard case isn’t included in the standard package.

With premium optics, secure fit, and eco-conscious construction, the Forty2s are a strong contender among performance sunglasses. They sit below many rivals in price, making them a savvy choice for runners who demand pro-level gear without overspending.

Read our full SunGod Forty2s review.

The Tifosi Swick stands out as a budget-friendly, do-it-all pair of sunglasses that bridges the gap between active performance and everyday style.

Built with a thick, full-rim Grilamid TR-90 frame and large, shatter- and scratch-proof polycarbonate lenses, they’re a far cry from minimalist race-day visors, but that’s part of their appeal. The casual look works just as well in town as it does on a trail run, and the polarised, category 3 lenses handle glare well in most conditions.

At 27g, the Swick is a touch heavier than many sport-specific models, but the payoff is in durability. The hydrophilic rubber nose pads and arm grips keep them in place without bounce, even when working up a sweat, though there’s no adjustability in the nose bridge. The fit is best suited to medium and large faces — smaller heads may find the frame looks oversized and the nose arch a little wide.

In testing, the Swick offered solid coverage and clarity, comfortably filtering out harsh horizontal light from reflective surfaces. They excelled in moderate to low light or dappled woodland conditions, though in very bright, direct sun they left us squinting. The visible frame and overlaid Tifosi logo can be a minor distraction until you get used to them.

For £60, they’re excellent value, especially if you want one pair for running, hiking, and daily wear. If you need a barely-there wraparound, there are lighter, racier options, but for versatility, toughness, and all-day usability, the Swick is a strong contender.

Read our full Tifosi Swick review.

With their frameless wraparound visor and Zeiss lens, the Koo Nova running sunglasses deliver high-end clarity, coverage, and comfort. Weighing just 21g, they have a barely-there feel and a sleek, aerodynamic design that stays secure without bouncing, even on long, sweaty runs.

The minimalist build keeps weight low, with slim grippy arms and a soft silicone nose pad, while the highly flexible frame adapts well to different face shapes.

On test in the bright Provençal sun, the category 3 fuchsia mirror lens blocked most glare without compromising visibility in shade, making them well-suited to mixed light conditions. The anti-reflective Zeiss optics impressed with sharp contrast and crisp definition, while the ventilated nose bridge helped prevent fogging. Coverage is excellent, shielding from sun and wind without feeling bulky.

There are some caveats. The Nova ships with two nose pad sizes (standard and Asian fit), but a smaller option would help finer features. The current nose pads can also be fiddly to change. And while the soft microfibre bag is handy, a hard case would be a welcome addition at this premium price point.

Overall, the Nova nails the essentials: exceptional optical clarity, featherlight comfort, and a secure, bounce-free fit. If you can justify the spend, they’re a stylish, high-performance choice for summer trail running and beyond.

Read our full Koo Nova review.

The Vallon Ventures are one of the rare pairs of running sunglasses that perform brilliantly on the trail while still looking good enough to wear in everyday life. Their design nods to the classic Wayfarer, with muted colourways and a shape that’s versatile enough for a post-run barbecue without drawing ridicule.

Comfort and fit are standout features. Rather than relying on adjustable wire arms or a separate nose bridge, the Ventures have soft rubber pads built directly into the inside of the frame. This allows the lenses to sit close to the eyes for a wide field of view while staying locked in place, even during vigorous movement. There’s no adjustability, but the gradual widening of the central gap offers a surprisingly universal fit.

The proprietary V52 nylon lenses deliver excellent clarity, full UV400 protection, and high-quality polarisation that cuts glare and boosts contrast without distorting colour. The 12% VLT sage tint excels in bright conditions, though it can feel a touch dark in deep shade. Importantly, the polarisation is consistent across the whole lens, with no edge distortion.

Weighing just 26g, they’re light enough for all-day wear, and the Bio-TR90 nylon frame is both flexible and impressively durable – ours survived a year of rough treatment without a scratch. Vallon also includes both a rigid storage box and a microfibre drawstring bag, making them more practical to carry than most.

They’re not quite as featherlight or wraparound as some sport-specific models, but for a stylish, hard-wearing, and comfortable all-rounder, the Vallon Ventures are exceptional.

Read our full Vallon Ventures review.

The SunGod Ultras have to be one of our favourite sunglasses to run in. It's all down to the complete coverage provided. The wrap-around, cut-out lens covers all the gaps you may notice in a normal pair on sunglasses, not letting any harmful UV rays through. With the Ultras you can fully focus on the trail ahead.

The minimalist design with no frame around the lenses cause them to hover on the face, the slight elevation from the nose bridge allowing for great ventilation and zero fogging. They're not the lightest pair of sunnies on test, but they're not far off and for the complete coverage offered, the Ultras remain massively featherlight.

The 2mm nylon lens is one deftly curved mono-lens with SunGod's 8KO technology for boosted clarity. The lens itself also has a triple-layer protection from scratches and 100% UV protection. If you normally struggle to find your right size, this shouldn't be an issue with the Ultras as they come with four different sizes of nose pad.

The best part of the Ultras is that SunGod is a certified B Corp and these sunnies are 100% carbon neutral, with a lifetime guarantee which should extend their lifespan.

The Goodr Flex G brings the brand’s trademark affordability and fun styling to a sleeker, half-rim design aimed at runners who want performance without the price tag.

At just £40, they come with polarised, UV400-protected gradient lenses – darker at the top to block overhead glare, lighter at the bottom for better ground visibility. This makes them especially good in shady or dappled light, where you can keep them on without compromising foot placement clarity on technical terrain.

At 22g, the Flex G is light and genuinely bounce-free, with grippy arm tips and a fully adjustable, rigid nose bridge that allows a precise fit without swapping out nose pieces. The ventilation is also excellent, with no fogging during testing, even on warm runs.

Coverage isn’t as complete as larger wraparound models, so a little wind can sneak in from the sides, but the trade-off is a versatile, stylish silhouette you can wear both on the run and around town.
In testing, our main niggle was mild irritation from the arm ends after an hour or so, particularly in everyday wear.

That aside, comfort was solid, and the gradient lens performed well in medium-bright conditions. In very low sun, sideways glare can creep in, but that’s common for this style. Durability feels good for the price, and while you don’t get a hard case, the included microfibre bag does the job for run-day storage.

For runners who value versatility, anti-glare clarity and rock-solid stability on a budget, the Flex G proves you don’t need to spend triple figures for dependable performance.

Read our full Goodr Flex G review.

Goodr is a sunglasses company committed to producing affordable and functional sunnies, as exemplified in their OG range. We’ve tested the OG ‘Whiskey Shots with Satan’ for the better part of six months and really enjoyed their classic style and feel. 

Goodr do heaps of style combinations, but we liked the svelte black frame with molten amber lens of the Whiskey version and that they deliver on exactly what you need in running sunglasses, with none of the extra frills. Don't worry, if you do have a larger face then there are wider-fit options too.

Despite there being no obvious adjustability, these sunnies fit well thanks to the grippy coating and lightweight (21g) frame which stays in place beautifully when running. The Whiskey lenses are polarised, mirrored, have glare reduction, and UV400 protection. They also have a scratch-resistant coating which should increase longevity.

What's more, the company's 100% carbon neutral and a 1% for the planet member – now that's something we can get behind.

If you’re going for the ultra sporty look, the Dynafit Ultra Evo fits the bill to a T. The Evo has a large profile and wrapped lens set into half-rim frames. We tested the stylish ‘frost dawn cat’ colour combination of blue casing and ombre orange lens. 

In terms of lens clarity, the Evo has this in spades. Dynafit uses Italian Divel Optics to create a high contrast lens with protection against UVA, UVB and UVC rays. The wrap-around visor style is great if you want a lot of glare protection and you don't want to be distracted by a busy frame. 

The whole approach with the Evo is to create a set of rigid but lightweight performance sunglasses with minimal points of contact, taking advantage of air resistance to side-step glasses fog and create your own circulatory cooling system as you plough forwards. Yes they do have an oversized look, so if you’re a minimalist at heart then take a look at our Goodr glasses review. 

Meanwhile, the light weight Grilamid arms take some getting used to – our tester spent their first run worrying that the glasses were going to fling off at any moment. But, once you're familiar with the fit, the barely-there sensation becomes highly enjoyable.

The semi-encased frame protects the top ridge of the glasses, with four ventilation slits set into the top and bottom, additional slits along the arms, and even on the nose bridge, creating loads of opportunity for airflow. 

For the £135 price-tag, you also get a sturdy hard case plus microfibre cloth bag. Plus, they come with a five-year guarantee.

The Oakley Encoders are performance-focussed sunglasses made for functionality across various sports. The wrap lens design provides a nice and wide field of vision, protecting the eyes from the sun’s glare alongside any pesky midges and mites. 

The Encoder is available with lenses of various colours, we tested the Prizm Trail Torch lens in rose which transmits 35% of light, making them best suited to medium light conditions. This felt pretty spot on, with those brighter, sunnier runs leaving a bit more glare protection to be desired. You can choose a lens with less transmission though, depending on the conditions you’re running in.

The point of the Prizm lens is that it enhances colour and contrast, which aims to provide more detailed vision. If you tend to struggle with blurry eyes when you run, the Prizm could help regain some clarity. We enjoyed the rose-tinted view when running, and the delicate tint was ideal for more overcast days when you still want to protect your eyes. 

Since the top of the glasses sits relatively low across the forehead (Oakley calls this the O-Matter fit), they fit well when wearing a running cap (or bike helmet for the duathletes among us). The top of the lens also has well-placed ventilation cut-outs which do a good job of preventing the glasses misting up in use. The arms and nose also have a non-slip ‘Unobtainium’ grip to them, which is highly important when you’re bounding along the trails. These glasses do not budge.  

The extra injection of impact protection should translate to further longevity as, let’s face it, the Encoder is not cheap. Sunnies aside, you’re paying for the quality and credibility wrapped up in the Oakley name.

The SunGod Tempests are built to last. Designed with SunGod's 8KO lenses which aim to provide excellent clarity, the Tempests come in a wide range of lens tints. We went for the gold lens with matte navy frame.

Though the Tempests are from SunGod's Lifestyle series, they stay in place while running thanks to the 'Grip-Lock' arms and nose pads. They're on the larger side, so would be best suited to larger or wider races, and they don't have that wrap-around style so won't provide as much coverage as an option like the SunGod Ultras would.

The cherry on the top? SunGod are now a certified B Corp, making the Tempests fully carbon neutral. SunGod also follow out any repairs for free to extend their lifetime and the impact on the planet.