7 Essential Features of a Good Pair of Sports Sunglasses
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If you enjoy exercising outdoors, you are not alone. Athletes enjoy the sunshine and fresh air while engaging in their favorite physical activities. But you will no doubt agree, the harsh sunlight can cause tremendous strain on your eyes. Wearing a good pair of sports sunglasses can help with protection from the sun, and can safeguard your eyes from wind, sand, dust, and other debris. A good pair of sports sunglasses is also designed for intense activity and comfort so that you may not even notice its existence when wearing it while exercising.
So, what are the essential features you should look out for in a pair of sunglasses for sports? We’ve got you covered. Here are 7 important features:
Asian-Fit
If your pair of sunglasses is constantly touching your cheeks then it’s time to look for one with an Asian-fit. Designed for the Asian facial profiles, Asian-fit sunglasses are crucial because an improper fit can be extremely uncomfortable.
Asian-fit sunglasses are specially-designed with nose bridges that allow them to rest higher up the nose and lift the frames off the cheeks.
The curvature of the frames is reduced to prevent them from touching your temples, thus ensuring they stay straight and upright. That said, non-Asians who struggle with slipping sunglasses should also give Asian-fit sunglasses a try.
Sunday Shades offer true Asian-fit sunglasses. Check them out here.
No Bounce
Another essential aspect of a good pair of sunglasses for athletes, such as runners and beach volleyball players, is that they do not bounce.
What’s worse than not wearing a pair of sunglasses in the sun, is one that constantly bounces and slips while exercising or when you’re engaging in a game. A bouncing pair of shades is distracting and can negatively impact your performance.
A good pair of sunglasses made from the right materials and designs that will ensure the shades stay in place on your face, even when you’re sweaty. With a good pair of shades, your eyes and hands stay focus on your activities and not on your sunglasses.
Lightweight
If you’re looking for a good pair of sunglasses for sporting activities, it is crucial that it is lightweight. This is because you want to leave it on for the entire period when you are exercising outdoors. If your pair of sunglasses feels too heavy, then you might end up removing it. But where do you place it once you remove your sunglasses? You may not have a bag with you then.
More important, wearing a light pair of shades also results in tremendous comfort. If you don a comfortable pair of sunglasses, you may not even be conscious that you’re wearing it.
We must mention that Sunday Shades makes extremely lightweight sunglasses. Each pair of Sunday Shades is just 22g: that’s the equivalent of only 5 pieces of A4 size paper! Check out these lightweight Sunday Shades sunnies here.
Durability
A good pair of sporting sunglasses must be well-made and durable. While no lenses are truly shatterproof, they need to be able to withstand some impact. Glass lenses are quite likely to shatter on impact, such as when you drop them on the ground. Polycarbonate lenses, on the other hand are definitely more sturdy. The frames too, need to be resistant to impact and to be able to withstand the rigours of frequent use.
UV Protection
When exercising outdoors, one has to be mindful of being exposed to excessive amount of harmful ultraviolet rays. Even on cloudy days, UV rays abound.
The higher the sun rises in the sky, the greater the amount of UV radiation. So, if you're jogging in the middle of the day, remember to don a pair of UV-protected shades. UV radiation is greatest for individuals who live near or on the equator.
The World Health Organization (WHO) created the Global Solar UV Index (UVI) as a measure of the quantity of UV radiation on the earth's surface. Its objective is to alert individuals to the possibility of negative health impacts so that they may protect themselves. The Index has values ranging from 0 to 11+. The higher the number, the greater the risk of skin and eye damage. According to the National Environment Agency, Singapore’s average UVIs in the months of February, March, April and September are between 8 & 10 (very high). For the rest of the year, it is between 6 & 7 (high). That is why it is crucial to put on a pair of sunglasses whenever you are outdoor for an extended period of time.
Sunglasses should have UV 400 protection, which implies that the lenses will filter all light rays with wavelengths up to 400 nanometers. Sunglasses with a UV 400 rating will filter almost all harmful ultraviolet radiation.
Sunglasses with tinted lenses but no UV protection are dangerous. In fact, you'd be better off not wearing these unprotected sunglasses. Why? Because darker lenses might cause your pupils to dilate, allowing even more dangerous UV rays to enter your eyes. Prolonged exposure to UV rays can result in retinal damage, macular degeneration and cataracts.
Therefore, do ensure that your sunglasses provide UV protection, especially at UV 400.
Polarized Lenses
Polarized lenses work by preventing light glare from hitting you directly in the eye. Glare happens when light bounces off horizontal surfaces, such as water or road surfaces and enters the eyes.
With polarized lenses, only vertical light can enter through the filter, thereby reducing glare. This is especially beneficial when you are exercising under the hot sun. Reflected light bouncing off glass windows, the bonnets of cars and other smooth surfaces can result in glare and this can cause great discomfort to our eyes. Also, if you’re spending time on a snowy mountain, the white smooth snow can result in a lot of glare. The reduced glare from polarized sunglasses, on the other hand, will minimize eye strain, and this makes for a much greater outdoor experience. Polarized sunglasses also help improve colour contrast and perception, resulting in greater comfort and clearer vision. The increased clarity makes for crisper view of your surroundings.
Therefore, it is essential to look for a pair of sports sunglasses with polarized lenses.
The Right Tint
Since there are many lens colours available, what should you choose? In times past, the lens colour will likely affect the tint of the shades you choose. So if you choose a pair of sunglasses with red lenses, the tint will be red. Or, if you choose a pair with blue-coloured lenses, the tint will be blue and so on.
These days, lens colours need not affect the tint. So you can choose a pair of sunglasses with lens colour of your liking but spotting a different tint. In a sense, you can have your cake and eat it too.
Most Sunday Shades lenses come with a neutral grey tint. When in doubt, please write in to inquire. Below, we list the characteristics of these tints.
- Neutral Grey: Most sunglasses available these days have neutral grey tints and for good reason. These lenses are great all-rounders and can be used under most conditions. Whether it is a cloudy or sunny day, they provide true colour perception as they don’t distort the colours. They are equally great for outdoor exercises as they are for driving.
- Brown: Lenses with a slight brown tint are great for brighter days. Due to the nature of these lenses, they are awesome for increasing contrast. They will help brighten our vision on a cloudy day and are great against the green grass and a blue sky. They also provide good depth perception. Lenses with a brown tint also filter out blue light.
- Grey-Blue: A grey-blue tint pair of sunglasses is great for water sports or for running on a sunny day. These are great all-rounders but are also useful against glare during foggy or hazy conditions. They offer great colour perception and helps define contours – good for snowy conditions!
We hope the above guide will help you decide on your favourite pairs of sunglasses. Do check out the extensive variety of sunglasses offered by Sunday Shades. Whether they are mirror and non-mirrored lenses, all Sunday Shades sunglasses are polarized and offer UV 400 protection. They are also super lightweight, so you can have them on all day. These sunglasses offer true Asian-fit and are great for sports, as they are designed by athletes for athletes. When engaging in vigorous activities, such as running, Sunday Shades are great companions too. This is because they do not bounce nor slip, even when you are all sweaty from your workouts. They also come in a great variety of colours and you will surely find something you like that will complement your look for the day. Did we also mention that Sunday Shades are super-affordable too? Check them out now!