The Best Triathlon Sunglasses, Tested By Real-World Triathletes

Sunglasses are more than a fashion statement – for triathletes, they’re one of the most important (and likely most underrated) pieces in the gear arsenal. Just think about it: Sunglasses protect the eyes from an onslaught of bugs and debris, block cancer-causing UV light, and reduce aerodynamic drag. But the best triathlon sunglasses do all those things and also look cool.

But testing sunglasses can be challenging – after all, something that checks all your boxes in the store or on a webpage can be completely different in the real world. They might slide down your nose, cause migraines with too-tight frames, or fog up constantly during a humid ride or run. That’s why we recruited members of the Empire Tri Club – a 150-strong team based out of New York City – to test dozens of triathlon sunglasses over multiple bike and run workouts. Our testers not only put in the miles to assess sunglasses for triathlon performance, but also pulled out practical details – things like comfort, durability, sweat management, and field of vision in every head position.

Ready to find your perfect pair for your training and racing? Here’s what our testers had to say about the best sunglasses for triathlon.

Triathlete‘s Sunglasses Reviews: The Ratings, Explained

The Best Triathlon Sunglasses

Tifosi Vogel SL

26 g | 130 mm wide

$40 at Tifosi

Overwhelmingly, testers commented on the lightness of the Tifosi Vogel, and for good reason: At 26 grams, the sunglasses are tied with the Roka Estacado for the lightest weight of all tested. Though multiple testers said wearing the pair “felt like I wasn’t wearing glasses,” others said the lightness lent an air of fragility, saying they were constantly worried about the glasses breaking when thrown into a transition bag.

Testers also liked the “comfortable and stabilizing” hydrophilic nose pads, designed to increase grip as the face gets sweatier, excellent heat ventilation, and the customization options through flexible earpads to fit a wide range of face shapes and sizes. But when it comes to the lenses, customization options were limited: Multiple testers wished for the option to swap out lenses to fit light conditions, and some felt the “blackout” and “red mirror” tints were a little too dark, making it hard to see in overcast/shady conditions. They also wished for a polarized lens option to reduce light glare and eyestrain on longer rides.

However, at only $40, testers agreed the sunglasses were an excellent value – just make sure to buy Tifosi’s $10 hard case for storage, too.

Rudy Project Kelion

36 g | 144 mm wide

$240 at Rudy Project

Everything old is new again with this retro-inspired design from Rudy Project, but there’s nothing old-school about the tech. Testers loved the panoramic field of vision of the large lenses, which, given their size, were surprisingly compatible fits with helmets, running hats, and even bone-conducting headphones. The large size and wraparound nature of the lenses provided excellent sun blocking from every direction, and testers appreciated the ease of the quick-change feature to swap out extra lenses (not included, $85) based on the light conditions of the day (prescription lenses are also an option with the Kelion model).

But a large size means a lot of heat and humidity gets trapped under the lenses, and some felt Rudy’s proprietary “powerflow ventilation” design missed the mark, especially around the nose bridge, which was large and missing ventilation ports. And though some testers enjoyed what they called the “Euro techno look,” others felt the glasses were too large for their face.

Adidas Dunamis

28 g | 148 mm wide

$170 at Pretavoir

As a Paris Olympics team kit designer for countries like Team GB, among others, Adidas was tasked with creating multipurpose gear that could work across multiple sports. On the eyewear front, that led to the creation of the Dunamis, a unique design meant to perform equally well for runners and cyclists as it does for golfers and tennis players. The biggest feature Adidas boasts is the shape of the lenses – a rimless shield shape with aerodynamic spoilers. The sunglasses are designed to look like the ultimate sporty accessory, and one tester commented the “flashiness” of the design had a psychological boost, saying, “It made me run faster becauese I felt it was expected to go fast and more people were looking at me.”

Testers appreciated the aerodynamic foil in windy conditions, but found the straight-edge bottom to be uncomfortable and inefficient at blocking sunlight. Some also remarked the curvature of the lenses and ear stalks made the glasses difficult to fit under a cycling helmet. And though the lenses provided excellent color contrast in a variety of conditions, they also seemed smudge-prone, despite its advertised “oleophobic” coating.

Smith Motive

28 grams | 130 mm wide

$175 at Smith

Testers loved the patented Chromapop lenses used in the Smith Motive sunglasses, which provide excellent clarity, color, contrast, and detail in all light conditions. The lenses were great at blocking sun and dust, and held up well in durability tests, but the glasses themselves lacked in wearability – mutliple testers commented the glasses were uncomfortable. The nose bridge was painful and left marks on the face after wearing, and there was too much shaking on rides and bounce on runs. They were also prone to fogging. As one tester put it, “They look great but may deter your cycling rides or cause frustration, depending on heat and face frame.”

Roka Estacado

26 g | 139 mm wide

$210 at Roka

Testers gave the Roka Estacado rave reviews, saying the frames were “among the most comfortable” of all tested and “delightful to wear.” Though they were light at 26 grams, they also felt sturdy. Testers also also appreciated the versatility of the design, which worked just as well on a bike ride or run as it did running errands. The polarized lenses had excellent color and clarity and performed well in all light conditions, though testers were mixed on the size of the lenses – some felt the smaller size was just right for their face shape, while others felt they were too small and had a limited field of vision.

Testers were also mixed on non-slip “Geko pads” on the temples and the interchangeable nose pads – though some described the features as “unique” and “a great way to reduce bounce on the run,” others called them “gimmicky” and “unnecessary.”

Uvex Sportstyle 236

36 grams | 139 mm wide

$175 at Uvex

For an all-around win in the “best triathlon sunglasses contest,” testers selected the Uvex Sportstyle 236, with one reviewer calling it “the best I have seen.” Among the features noted by testers were durability, wide field of vision, and crisp optics. They also appreciated the endless customization options, from extendable earpieces with three preset lengths to an adjustable nosepad; it was also easy to switch lenses between the original tinted version to a clear version, which is included with purchase. Testers said both lens options repelled fog and mist in humid and rainy conditions, and they appreciated the clear lens had the same UV protection as its tinted counterpart.

One downfall of the sunglasses: weight. At 36 grams, testers said they wished the glasses were lighter.