SunGod Forty2s review: These new running sunglasses are made for eating up the miles

The all-new SunGod Forty2s might have launched on 13 May, but eagle-eyed spectators may well have seen them in the coverage of the London Marathon.

That’s because they were worn by fastest Brit Mahamed Mahamed, plus elite runners Anya Culling and Phil Sesemann, to name a few.

If they’re good enough for the pros, they should be good enough for us, right? Well, I’ve been testing them for the past couple of weeks to find out if they truly belong among the best running sunglasses.

Sungod itself is still a relatively young brand, having only launched in 2013, but in the 12 years since it’s gone from strength to strength. The brand’s range covers everything from running and cycling sunglasses, right the way through to casual styles.

You’ll also spot them on the faces of some of the world’s best athletes, including the McLaren F1 team, some of England’s cricketers and world-class cycling teams such as the INEOS Grenadiers.

Design

As for the Forty2s themselves, well, SunGod says they’re “inspired by the marathon distance yet designed for every runner”. They’re named after the length of a marathon in kilometres and are slated to “buck the modern industry trend of bigger and bolder lens shapes”, too.

Admittedly, that last claim feels a bit of a stretch to me. I’ve reviewed dozens of performance sunglasses from the worlds of triathlon, cycling and running, which have come in all shapes and sizes.

Yes, there are a lot of oversized options, but they’re not actually that much taller than the height of the Forty2s. The latter are roughly 5mm shorter than some of those (such as the Oakley Sutro), which isn’t exactly a huge difference.

That being said, the SunGods don’t necessarily feel or look particularly large when worn. They’re certainly not small or slimline by any standard, but do they feel oversized.

The one-piece lens is held in place by the upper frame, which is made from 100% recycled material. This, SunGod says, reduces the carbon impact by seven times compared to virgin plastic. The packaging is also recycled and recyclable, so bonus points there.

In the top of corners of the lens, you’ll also find small-ish vents to help avoid any fogging while working hard. Do they work? Well, I’ve not had any issues to date,

On my scales they weigh in at 27g. That’s the same as the more casual, full-framed SunGod Tempests and more or less equal to the SunGod Ultras, too.

Fit and comfort

One thing that I’ve always appreciated about SunGod products is that they normally come with alternative nose pieces, and that’s the case here.

During my first few test runs I found the rubber nose bridges sat very close to the corner of my eyes. In fact, I think it sat on the corner of my eye, as it felt like it was touching my tear duct.

A switch to the medium-sized nose piece helped a bit, but I needed to use the smallest nose piece to really solve this issue.

With this in situ, and the glasses pushed as far back as they went, my eyes were clear but my eyelashes would occasionally graze the back of the lens. A minor readjustment solved this, though, leaving me with a trouble-free experience from then on.

Given that we all have different shaped faces, you may not experience any of that yourself, but it’s something to keep in mind. It also shows just how useful interchangeable (or adjustable) nose pieces are.

Aside from that, the fit felt pretty perfect. I experienced zero movement on my test runs (even during pacier sets), there was no need for readjustment mid-run and nor were there any pressure points after prolonged use.

Each arm turns down toward the back, while grippy TPU pads help boost that grip we’ve already spoken about.

And for what it’s worth, SunGod class these as unisex sunglasses best suited to medium-sized heads. As someone who wears medium-sized bike helmets, I’d have to agree.

I’d also say that, while you might get away with it if your head is smaller than average, I’d suggest larger heads will end up with unwanted pressure from the arms, which grip onto the side of your head as if they’re spring loaded.

Lens performance

On test here we have the ‘Limited Edition Neon Blue’ frame design, which comes with SunGod’s 8KO smoke lens. This nylon lens delivers 100% UV protection and a visible light transmission of 14%, making it are the darker end of the scale.

The brand rates it at 10/10 for sunny days, 9/10 for intermittently sunny days, 6/10 for cloudy days and 4/10 for rainy days.

After testing them through all types of weather, I’d largely agree with that. As with most sunglasses, you’ll find yourself squinting slightly if running toward a low-slung sun, but aside from that they were ideal on cloudless, sunny days.

The Forty2s also coped diligently with overcast days or when running under trees with dappled light, but they can feel too dark if running under dense, leafy canopies. Things can also feel a bit too dim when those dark, foreboding clouds roll in overhead.

Clarity is very good, though and the size and shape of the lens ensured my eyeballs were free from gusts on breezy days. They even coped better than some cycling sunglasses I’ve previously tested when I wore them on a couple of rides.

The lens wraps around to the side of the eyes to good effect, protecting you from the sunshine even when it’s dropping toward the horizon and hitting you from the left or right.

I should probably also mention that the lens itself is made from precision-engineered 2mm nylon, which SunGod says delivers “unmatched” shatterproof protection. Now, I’ve not been throwing these sunnies on the floor, but the lenses certainly don’t feel flimsy.

Build quality

As the Forty2s come with an upper frame, they’re already going to be more durable than totally frameless designs. That frame feels robust, too,

The arms feature SunGod’s ‘Pop-Lock Screwless snap hinges’, which the brand says are “engineered for exceptional durability and a secure fit”. We’ve already covered that latter point, while nothing so far has suggested to me that the hinges represent a weak point.

They snap in and out of two positions – open and closed – with very minimal movement present when in either state.

Additional features

Aside from the interchangeable nose pieces, which we’ve already covered, there’s not much else in the way of additional features.

You don’t get a case (it costs extra), which always feels like a bit of a miss when you’re spending in excess of £100 on your sunglasses.

Instead, you get a (recycled) cloth storage bag and the cardboard box that they’re shipped in, which I guess you could use when transporting the glasses if you wanted to.

At this point, I’ll also note that you can also swap out the lens for an alternative if you so wish, which start from £30 for a clear lens, £50 for a tinted lens or £90 for a photochromic option.

So, not all that cheap then, but handy if you’ve badly scratched yours and want to replace it and hang onto the frames. Alternatively, a clear option might be handy for dreary days when you want to keep wind/bugs/drizzle out of your eyes.

Verdict

If you want a wraparound style of running sunglasses, the Forty2s have to be up there as a top-tier consideration. They demonstrate exceptional security and so far feel incredibly durable.

The coverage from the lens is ideal and the clarity is also very good, with a reliable field of vision.

While £110 (or £120 for this limited edition option) isn’t exactly cheap, it does keep it priced below many other SunGod models, and it’s also less than some offerings from other premium brands.

Looking for some additional shade? Check out our list of the best running caps.

About the author

Rob Slade is LFTO's deputy editor. Before joining us in 2024, Rob was content editor at 220 Triathlon and, before that, editor of Adventure Travel magazine (now known as Wired for Adventure).

He's been running, hiking and camping ever since he was at school, and has been testing performance sunglasses (among other kit) for years.