Tifosi Swick Running Sunglasses review: Great value and versatile

The Tifosi Swift are running sunglasses made to deliver on versatility and value. Designed to fit the bill for both sports and fashion use, the Swick has a mirrored, polarised lens set into a full-frame profile.

Founded in 2003, Tifosi Optics says their remit has always been to create “sport sunglasses that stood for quality, performance, style and value.” Praised by critics for their high-end and durable eyewear at small prices, I was interested to see whether the Tifosi Swick would fit the bill.

At £60, the Swick is one of Tifosi’s more affordable sunglass options and less than half the price of many of its peers. These polarised sunglasses are not specifically designed for running, but instead for active lifestyles.

Despite this, I was curious to find out if the Tifosi would still manage to perform in terms of coverage and protection, clarity when running over uneven terrain, and comfort for long-distance runs.

Design and features

Straight out of the box, the Swift comes with a soft, microfibre bag that doubles up as a cleaning cloth. There’s no hard case included, but that’s no surprise for the £60 price. Obviously not a minimalist pair of sunnies, the Swick’s built with a thick, no-nonsense full-rim frame.

Due to this, they’re about 20% heavier than other high-performance eyewear I’ve tested, but likely a whole lot more durable too.

The Wayfarer design immediately makes the Swick more versatile than its sport-only counterparts. Despite not being made in a visor or wraparound style, the lenses are still relatively large and provide a decent field of vision.

The polycarbonate lenses aim to be both shatter- and scratch-proof. They’re injected with a layer of polarised material to protect from glare, which should significantly boost run comfort in bright and reflective lights.

With three colours available, I tested is the ‘blackout’ colourway, which has a blue mirror-like coating and black frame.

Made for the active wearer, though the Swick isn’t run-specific, they are built to stay in place during movement and while sweating. The lightweight Grilamid frame has grippy rubber injected in the nose pads and along the arms to keep them in place.

The brand has started using renewable bio-resin in all of its new frames, including the Swick. The ‘Thrive’ frame is made from oil produced from castor beans, instead of petroleum-based plastic. They say: “The new demand for the beans creates jobs and lessens the economic reliance on fossil fuels.”

Performance and comfort

Thanks to the large lenses, the Tifosi’s coverage feels akin to its wider lens competitors, offering good protection from bugs as well as UV rays. The full-frame style delineates a clear border that’s always within vision, though you do get used to it when on the go.

That being said, the Tifosi ‘T’ logo that’s overlaid onto the top left of the lens is a bit of an annoyance (in use, I’d sometimes confuse it with a squashed fly).

When running, the glasses don’t budge out of place from sweat or dynamic movements, despite having no adjustability at the nose piece.

This must be down to the efficacy of the non-slip, hydrophilic nose pads and support in the Grilamid TR-90 frame. The built-in grip at the arms offers good structure, while the flex in the frame means they don’t dig into the sensitive area behind the ears.

That being said, it’s clear that the glasses are made for larger faces than my own. There’s no size chart, but Tifosi recommends the Swick for those after medium to large-sized sunnies. No surprise, then, that the nose arch fits a touch wider than I’d have liked and the overall size looks a bit big on my small-ish face.

When it comes to vision, the Swick offers great comfort thanks to the polarised lens. This works by filtering out harsh, horizontal light from reflective surfaces, like stretches of water. Less glare equals greater run comfort and overall clarity.

The category three lens is the most common level of UV protection in sunglasses, which should normally equate to dark lenses for bright light conditions. I found the Swick’s coverage to be sufficient for most light conditions, barring very bright and direct sunlight, where they fell a little short and left me squinting to see the trail ahead.

Moderate to low light conditions are the sweet spot; I found the best routes to take the Swick out on to be those with intermittent sunshine, like dappled forest paths or in cloudy, changeable conditions.

Finally, a nod to the Swick’s versatile nature. The classic style is a far cry from the monolens sports visors we see in racing, but this is one of the key advantages of these sunnies. The Swick’s stylistic versatility lends itself not only to sport but also to everyday use. Whether you’re a minimalist or just like to save your pennies, the Swick is a great option for those who want one pair of sunglasses that can cover all bases.

Price and competition

The Swick’s £60 price tag is doubly surprising considering its versatile style. Simply put, these sunglasses are just brilliant value for money. They’re stylish, offer good coverage, and have zero bounce while running. Comfort is pretty high, and there’s a choice of blue, green, or smoke lenses.

They're similar to the slightly pricier Vallon Ventures (£89), though the ventures do have a bit more lens coverage and a larger range of colour choices.

However, if the full-frame just isn’t your bag and you’re willing to splash the cash, then consider the superior lens performance and wraparound, frameless design of the Koo Nova (£147.49). Otherwise, there’s always Tifosi’s Vogel SL sunglasses for more coverage and a wider range of vision ( no polarised lens, though), at a similar price-point of £54.99.

At the other end of the scale sits the Goodr Flex G (£40). At over 30% cheaper, there are few compromises between the Flex G and Swick. There’s still great clarity, especially for variable light conditions, and the Flex G offers more adjustability thanks to a flexible and well-structured nose bridge.

Final verdict

Overall, I enjoyed wearing the Tifosi Swick for running, hiking, and spending time in the sunny Provence countryside. Aside from the affordable price, the winning features of the Swick are its durable design and polarised lens for run comfort. It’s super versatile too – you’ll only need one pair of sunglasses for both sport and everyday wear, which boosts its value for money even more.

Made for medium to large faces, I wouldn’t recommend these for small frames or runners who prefer a more barely-there style. That being said, there’s no bounce while in motion, and they stay in place during long, sweaty runs.

How we tested the Tifosi Swick

I tested the Tifosi Swick (Blackout colour) over several weeks on runs in sunny and hot 28-38°C French summertime. They were put through their paces over road and off-road runs through forests, open road, and undulating, rocky trails.

The sunglasses had to cope with both bright and dappled light, and I put the polarised lenses to work running alongside the deep emerald waters of the Gorges du Verdon and the meandering canal de Provence.

The Swick was tested on comfort and fit, quality, and durability. When testing, I also considered the level of adjustability possible for a range of face shapes and sizes, while taking into account the intended size range.

When it came to the lens, I looked at the definition, protection, and clarity. And finally, I tested the sunglasses' style, versatility, coverage, and overall value for money.

About the author

Kate Milsom is Digital Content Writer for Live For The Outdoors, within which she specialises in trail running content. In her career as a specialist sports journalist, Kate has worked with industry-leading titles including 220Triathlon, Cycling Plus, Road.cc and Cyclist. Prior to this, Kate studied English Literature and French at univeristy, then got the outdoors bug and never looked back.