Choosing the right sunglasses for sports
Protect your eyes during summer sports
Whether you're into running, cycling, hiking, tennis, or beach volleyball, protecting your eyes from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays is essential. UV radiation levels are typically higher during summer, especially between 10am and 4pm when the sun is higher in the sky. This can cause surfaces like water, sand and pavement to reflect the sun’s rays, which can intensify exposure. You can read more about the importance of UV protection here. Wearing sunglasses for summer sports not only helps to protect your eyes from UV rays, but they can also improve visual comfort and performance in bright conditions, as well as shield your eyes from dust and dirt. Keep reading for top tips on how to choose the best sunglasses for summer sports.
Prioritise 100% UV protection
Great for: All sports
Regardless of the sport you are doing, it is important that your sunglasses offer 100% protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Long-term exposure to UV rays can contribute to eye conditions, including cataracts and macular degeneration. At Boots Opticians, every pair in our collection has complete UVA & UVB protection.
Try polarised lenses to reduce glare
Great for: Road cycling, sailing, beach volleyball, paddleboarding, kayaking, running, fishing, and golf.
Glare from sunlit water, sand, and pavement can reduce visibility and cause eye strain. Polarised lenses minimise this glare, improving contrast and clarity. They're ideal for sports like running near water, road cycling, or beach games. Read more about how to protect your eyes from sand and saltwater here.
Durable sunglasses for outdoor conditions
Great for: Trail running, tennis, hiking, mountain biking, and obstacle races.
When choosing your sunglasses for outdoor activities, you want to try to find ones that are built to withstand harsh use, especially to help ensure a fall during trail running or a hit from a tennis ball. Impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses are a great choice for active environments, providing both safety and lightweight wear.
Prescription sunglasses
Great for: All sports
If you wear corrective lenses, look for sports sunglasses that can accommodate your prescription or offer insertable lens options. This can help ensure you perform at your best outdoors, with optimum visual clarity. Find out more about our prescription sun lenses and prescription polarised lenses here or browse our full range of sunglasses.
Try wraparound frames for a secure fit and wide coverage
Great for: Cycling, mountain biking, running, tennis, cricket, and beach sports.
Wraparound sunglasses provide better coverage compared to traditional sunglasses. They also offer a snug fit, which is great for fast-paced sports where you are constantly on the move. The curved shape helps shield your eyes from sunlight coming in from the sides and offers better protection from dust and wind. You may want to explore these styles from Oakley, which are popular performance models.
Choose comfortable materials to improve comfort and performance
Great for: Long-distance running, triathlons, cycling, hiking, tennis, and football training
When it comes to activities like long runs and rides, you may want to opt for thin and lightweight lenses that are both durable and scratch-resistant. Look out for adjustable nose pads, rubberised grips and flexible frames as these features can help prevent slipping even when sweating in the heat. Lightweight materials can help to reduce pressure points on your face, which can help you to keep focussed on your activity for longer periods of time. Try high-performance brands like Nike, Puma, and Oakley which offer designs made specifically for sports use. Plus, lightweight lenses can help improve comfort and performance. These thin and light lenses are both durable and scratch-resistant, too. For more top tips on how to keep your eyewear free from scratches & smudges this summer, read here.
Try anti-fog sprays for clear vision
Great for: HIIT training, outdoor gym workouts, cycling, and endurance running.
Sweat and humidity can cause your lenses to fog up, especially during high-intensity workouts in the summer. Try to carry anti-fog wipes like these ZEISS AntiFOG Kit & Wipes to keep your vision clear throughout your activity.
Use sweat-resistant frames when taking part in intense activity
Great for: Intense cardio, tennis, running, CrossFit, and spin sessions outdoors.
Sweat-resistant or hydrophobic frame materials can help to maintain grip and comfort, as your frames are less likely to slip off your face. Hydrophobic lens coatings can help to repel water, oil and smudges, which you may encounter during outdoor sporting activities. Find out more about our hydrophobic Protect Plus coating (Enhanced Single Vision package), as well as our branded lenses from Essilor and ZEISS.
Try photochromic lenses
Great for: Trail running, mountain biking, golf, hiking, and outdoor obstacle courses.
If your sport takes you through varying light environments, such as trail running or cycling where you might experience shaded paths and open roads, photochromic lenses like these Light Reactive Lenses, are a smart choice. These lenses adapt to changes in light, darkening in sunlight and when in darker lighting environments, returning to clear, which provides seamless protection without the need to switch glasses. This makes them both a convenient and stylish option as you can choose your lens colours, too. If you prefer a bold style with great sun protection, check out mirrored lens options from our Transitions® XTRActive® Style Mirrors range, which are available in four vibrant colours.
Consider different lens colour tints for summer conditions
The right lens colour can help to enhance visibility and comfort based on your sporting environment:
- Grey: May help to reduce brightness without distorting colour—which is ideal for sports in the bright sun
- Brown/Amber: May help to increases contrast, which is great for trail running or mountain biking
- Yellow/Gold: This can enhances depth perception, which is useful for sports in shaded in shaded areas
- Green: This colour may balance contrast and clarity, which is ideal for tennis, golf, or water sports
If you are looking to visit ski destinations during your summer holidays, you can find top tips and advice on sunglasses for winter sports here.
For further advice on finding the right sports sunglasses for summer activities, come and visit us in store by booking with us online today.
*25% off sunglasses: Discount will be applied when you purchase a complete prescription or non-prescription pair of sunglasses. Excludes Boots brand sunglasses, Maui Jim, Radley Sun and AllSaints Sun. Offer limited to maximum three pairs per customer. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or discount on glasses or sunglasses, including over 60s discount, student discount and our additional pairs half price offer. You will need a valid prescription for prescription sunglasses. Valid 23rd April 2025 to 15th July 2025.
