The best sports sunglasses: 5 brands we love

Posted by En Ming Ong on

Are you in the market for sports sunglasses?

Unlike fashion or lifestyle sunglasses, sports sunglasses need to be lightweight and snug so they stay on your face during quick, intense movements.

Whether you're a runner, cyclist or baseball player, a high-quality pair of sports sunglasses can protect your eyes and keep you looking fresh while you work up a sweat.

In this post, we've shortlisted our five favourite performance sunglasses brands for you!

1. Oakley

Founded in 1975 by James Jannard and named after his dog, an English Setter named "Oakley Anne," Oakley is the largest sports eyewear brand in the world.

Today, Oakley produces sunglasses, glasses, goggles and shields and lists (American) football, cycling, baseball and golf among the core sports under the brand's purview.

Today's bestselling Oakley models are Kato, Sutro and Holbrook.

In case you're interested in a little corporate history: in 2007, the eyewear conglomerate Luxottica launched an aggressive takeover of Oakley and bought it for $2.1 Billion.

2. Roka

Founded in 2013 by Rob Canales and Kurt Spenser, two Stanford University swimmers, Roka is a performance eyewear brand based in Austin, Texas.

A signature detail found in most Roka sunglasses is their no-slip Geko pads, a patented fit and retention system that purports to keep your sunglasses on your face no matter how sweaty you get.

Initially associated with triathletes, Roka now offers sunglasses for outdoor adventure, cycling, running, triathlons and golf.

3. Tifosi

Founded in 2003 by Elizabeth and Joe Earley, a wife-and-husband team, Tifosi specialises in high-quality performance sunglasses at affordable prices.

Focused on cycling, running and golf, Tifosi sunglasses start at prices as low as $25!

In the Reddit post "Best sunglasses for outdoor sports," u/Hodgej1 writes, "Tifosi makes quality, inexpensive sport sunglasses. I’ve had a pair for about 9 years and love em. If the lenses get scratched I can swap them out for new ones. The frames have held up to a lot of abuse."

4. Smith Optics

Founded in 1965 by Dr. Bob Smith, an orthodontist (a dentist trained to treat jaw issues) and self-confessed "ski bum," Smith Optics began their journey producing goggles for snow sports before expanding into sunglasses for fishing, cycling and running.

With a manufacturing facility in Clearfield, Utah, Smith Optics makes their goggles and some of their sunglasses in the USA.

Their sunglasses start at $159: see the Parallel MAX 2.

5. Goodr

On March 15, 2015, Stephen Lease, Ben Abell and Keri Blunt launched Goodr sunglasses with a kickstarter campaign promising "$25 active sunglasses for everyone."

With their playful brand ethos, Goodr makes sunglasses that meet "the four Fs: Fun, Fashionable, Functional and 'Ffordable."

From their original focus on running, Goodr has expanded to cycling, golf and beast, a catch-all term referring to weightlifers, CrossFitters and obstacle-course-racing athletes.

Conclusion

If you're looking for a pair of performance sunglasses, you have many options, including generic ones on Amazon. However, if you're looking to buy a pair of sunglasses with an added cool factor, check out Oakley, Roka, Tifosi, Smith and Goodr.

Whereas Tifosi and Goodr offer wallet-friendly options, you can expect to pay hundreds of dollars for a pair of Oakley, Roka or Smith sunglasses.

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