The Best Running Sunglasses of 2024 

One of our favorite things about our top pick, the Julbo Frequency ($230), is that while they borrow style cues from the monstrous lenses and shapes seen on the slopes and at the local bike park, their designers actually got the size exactly right. 

The Frequency may be big when compared to other running sunglasses, including many on this list, but our testers loved it because it didn’t go to extremes. The lens is wide and covers the full field of vision without covering half of the face, and the castor-bean-based Rilsan frames are toned down enough to avoid causing a scene. Basically, these just look really good, especially if you’re a fan of shield-style lenses. 

Speaking of lenses, the REACTIV 1-3 High Contrast lenses that we tested were easily among the best of the bunch. The lenses are photochromic, meaning that as you venture into brighter areas, they get darker. Head back into the shade, and they become lighter. Just don’t compare these to the transition lenses your old, borderline senile first-grade teacher wore.

The REACTIV lenses are cast from Trivex, a material also used in helicopter windshields. Julbo boasts some of the widest photochromic ranges in the industry, and also some of the fastest: it only takes 20 seconds for the lenses to go from their lightest to their darkest. 

The Julbo Frequency’s lenses are the standout feature here, but our testers highly rate the fit and feel of the frames and the clever air vent above the bridge of the nose to keep things from fogging up. Our only concern was that the frames could be susceptible to damage, though that doesn’t mean you have to baby them — just be careful.

No matter how hard you look, it can be nearly impossible to find an affordable pair of sunglasses that won’t fall apart when you inevitably drop them, sit on them, or step on them. Honestly, most cheap sunglasses are just that: cheap. When we’re talking about Goodr sunglasses, though, specifically the Goodr OG ($25), we simply will not use the word “cheap” to describe them. Affordable, yes. Budget-friendly, yes. Cheap, absolutely not. 

We’ve been buying cheap sunglasses for as long as we can remember because, let’s face it, most of us runners can’t keep a pair of sunglasses to save our lives. They break, we lose them, and they end up at the bottom of a lake. With Goodr’s OG sunnies, you might actually be more inclined to treat them as if they cost 10 times the price, simply because they’re that good. 

Our testers love the classic wayfarer shape, which, as the adage goes, is just as good on a 10-mile run as it is at the sandy, island-inspired bar in your landlocked town (that is how it goes, right?) The soft touch feels great when you handle the shades, but it also gives the user a sense of security that hard plastic does not; if you drop these, they aren’t going to chip, scratch, or snap at the first sign of contact. 

The lenses are polarized, and while budget polarized lenses aren’t always as effective as pricier options, our team felt that the Goodr OG did just fine alongside some of the more expensive glasses we put through the wringer.

Normally, the problem with cheap sunglasses is that they’re essentially a ticking time bomb — it’s only a matter of time before they’re busted. Goodr goes above and beyond its price point, making sunglasses that are well worth your coffee money. 

Before you balk at the price, hear us out. The District Vision Kohei Aero Blade Ti ($635) feels like something out of a sci-fi fever dream, pairing out-of-this-world materials with advanced lens technology to create some of the most unique, technologically advanced sunglasses we’ve ever tested. 

The rimless blade-style frame is made entirely from aerospace-grade titanium, which, as you can imagine, is ultra-light and damn near impossible to break. The svelte temples are all subtle curves and angles, tapering off from front to back, where they’re outfitted with DV’s signature hypoallergenic rubber temple tips that keep the frames in place without rubbing the top of the ear raw.

The customizable bridge pad is made from the same hypoallergenic rubber as the temple tips and will keep the glasses firmly in place even in the sweatiest environs, from rocky running trails in DV’s native Los Angeles to midtown Manhattan asphalt in July. (Much of District Vision’s R&D takes place on New York City’s streets.)

The brand makes waves with its wild frame materials and fashionable silhouettes, but our tester believes that the Kohei’s lenses are what really set them apart from the competition. When he put the sunglasses on for the first time, our tester was blown away by the clarity and sense of relaxation in his face, which, for a runner who squints even when it’s cloudy, was a welcome feeling.

DV made their lenses to do this on purpose. Running puts a lot of strain on the eyes, and DV believes that their D+ therapeutic-grade lenses help runners alleviate that stress and focus on the path in front of them. 

As we mentioned at the top of this review, the District Vision Kohei Aero Blade Ti comes at a very steep price. Not only will they leave an asteroid-sized hole in your wallet, but you will have to wait to receive them — right now, they’re only available for pre-order. While the tech packed into these shades justifies the cost in our gear-obsessed eyes, we wouldn’t blame you if the $600+ price tag is too much to stomach.

Fun fact: running sunglasses don’t have to be an eyesore (get it?). The Roka Oslo 2.0 ($220) may be named for the Norwegian capital, but it might be more well-suited for the French Riviera. Perfectly understated and oozing casual style, the Oslos have a je ne sais quoi quality about them. They’re packed with performance tech that does well on the road, but they also give off a sort of devil-may-care, Paul Newman vibe that easily fits in at the ritziest of locales. 

Let’s start with performance. Roka crafted the frames from injection-molded TR 90 nylon that is light as a feather, flexible, and incredibly resilient when put under pressure. According to our tester, even though the frames are super light, the Oslo 2.0s just feel like they could take a beating with ease.

Roka’s no-slip GEKO pads on the temples and bridge alleviate pressure and provide a bit of grip, though our tester noted that the frames will get a little slippery when breaking a sweat. 

The polarized lenses we tested were great for road runs and everyday wear. They’re outfitted with a handful of useful features, like scratch- and fog-resistant coatings, along with being hydrophobic, oleophobic, and anti-glare. 

One downside to rocking a stylish pair of shades that skew toward the smaller side of the size spectrum is that they don’t provide as much coverage as the bigger face-shielding running sunglasses. Our tester said that he was more than happy to take the Roka Oslo 2.0 out for a few sunny Sunday miles, but probably wouldn’t want to wear them on super bright days or in areas with high exposure.

The Plazma Prism Road sunglasses ($202) from Oakley make us feel like Olympians lining up for the 400-meter dash. They may not be quite as out there as Trinidadian sprinter Ato Boldon’s shades in Sydney, but the Plazma definitely march to the beat of their own drum. 

The shades had a magnetic force that our team simply couldn’t ignore, most likely because they reminded us of Oakley’s futuristic designs of the 90s and early aughts. They certainly do have a bit of an other-worldly look to them, but that’s far from their only draw. Turns out Oakley knows how to make a damn fine pair of sunglasses — who knew? 

The Plazma Prism Road sunglasses are easily one of the most comfortable pairs we tested. A smooth rubber no-slip grip allows the angular temples to effortlessly slide into place atop your ears, even with a running cap on.

The bridge pads rest lightly on the nose, just close enough for the lenses to occupy your entire field of vision, which can’t be said for most full-frame sunglasses. Not only do they have a stellar fit, but they’re also incredibly stable. It’s no wonder athletes reach for Oakley’s more often than not. 

Finally, we have to talk about the Prizm Road lens. Our tester found them to be some of the clearest non-polarized lenses they’ve ever used. They’re best suited for medium-light situations, but our tester also thought they performed very well on the brightest days, on and off the road. 

Somehow, we made it this far without talking about a set of frames made specifically with interchangeable lenses in mind. Perhaps most brands don’t want to risk it. Maybe they shudder at the thought of including a second pair of lenses for free? We digress. Luckily, Smith knows exactly what it’s doing, and doing it well. The Smith Leadout PivLock ($225) is a great pair of sunglasses for the runner who likes to run at noon one day and at dusk the next. 

The ChromaPop lenses are some of the most widely respected in the industry, and our testers all reported back with positive feedback, just like we expected. The PivLock lens system is intuitive and easy to use, though if one isn’t careful they’ll end up with, at best, a bloody cuticle and, at worst, they’ll be calling up Smith for a replacement. 

Our testers also loved the Smith Leadout PivLock’s fit, which straddles the line between oversized fishing glasses you might see from a brand like Costa Del Mar and fashion-forward running shades you’ll find on the shelves of an Oakley Factory Store. They’re not the most stylish shades out there, but the quality and technical prowess can’t be ignored.

Article One teamed up with the multi-hyphenate crew at Mission Workshop in San Francisco to whip up some of the most stylish, comfortable active sunglasses out there, simply dubbed Article One x Mission Workshop ($255). 

The navigator style has a long history that also happens to look really good on a long list of people (aka everyone). The top of the frame leans ever so slightly out over the bottom, giving them a vintage look you might find in an 80s Ray Ban catalog. They’re super comfortable to wear, so in spite of being one of the least sporty performance shades on our list, we’d still feel comfortable putting these on for any effort, except, maybe, for track workouts. 

The CR39 polarized lenses reduce glare like it’s their job (because it is), and the hexetate frame feels plenty sturdy, though we wouldn’t recommend doing any drop tests on the Article One x Mission Workshop.

A standout feature that our tester was excited about is the frame’s spring hinges, which allow the temples to flex out a few millimeters. Normally, the hinge is a weak point, but Article One solved that by giving a bit of extra leeway at the hinge rather than relying on the temple arm to bend out, adding even more strain on the hinge point.

Here we are, way down in the hole, finally featuring a pair of sunglasses that aren’t actually designed for runners at all. 100% is a brand centered around life on two wheels, so it’s no surprise that its foray into biped exercise has been understated.

A few years ago, one of our testers managed to get his hands on a pair of the 100% Norvik ($149), and he immediately saw their potential as running sunglasses, even though the entire promotional cycle was centered around the magnetism of World Champion Peter Sagan. 

At nearly $150, the Norvik may not qualify as a bargain, but after some considerable testing, we think they bring exceptional value that far outweighs its ho-hum price. The frames are crafted from well-loved and oft-trusted TR90 nylon, whose qualities include durability, flexibility, and a seriously light weight. Not only is the frame tough-as-nails, but it also looks pretty darn cool, too.

The design provides a take on mountaineering sunglasses of yesteryear, right down to the protective plastic flaps near the hinge (which are removable, if you don’t like them). The lenses are big but not overwhelming, and the lavender mirror lens we tested did great in bright light. Need to run after the sun goes down? The Norvik comes with a second set of clear lenses that you can interchange in a flash. 

If you can get past the moto-bro of it all, we guarantee you’ll love the 100% Norvik for its stellar lenses, comfortable fit, and gung-ho commitment to make their own Chad version of the glacier glasses used by early alpine explorers. These boys have got gumption! 

(For a more faithful reproduction of glacier glasses, check out the Julbo Cham Glacier Glasses).