HOW DO YOU CHOOSE SUNGLASSES FOR SPORTS?

For all outdoor activities, sunglasses are a must. Frames, lenses, glass treatments: we tell you everything you need to know to choose your sunglasses for sports.

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Protection for every light

Before choosing sunglasses for sports, you need to find the right level of protection for the light you'll be out in. The right lenses will give you UVA and UVB protection and all the comfort you need to safely practice your sport of choice. You'll find 5 levels of protection for sport sunglasses:

The colour of your lenses will not affect their ability to protect you from UVA and UVB rays. However, the darker they are, the more visible light they will absorb. However, each tint brings its own set of benefits:

• Grey lens: this tint offers very good colour reproduction. Hypermetropes (better distance vision than close-up) will particularly appreciate it. It is recommended for water sports, golf and hiking.
• Brown lens: it increases contrast perception; perfect for myopes. This colour is recommended for mountain sports, walking and running.
• Green lens : again, the colours are well rendered so these are the ideal sunglasses for golfers and tennis players.
• Yellow/orange lenses : It improves brightness, contrast and reliefs. It is recommended for mountain sports and mountain biking.

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What material to choose

They are still called "glasses", yet the lenses can be made of other materials:

• The mineral lens: heavy and fragile, it resists scratching, but is not favoured by the public because of its weight. It naturally stops UVB, but can also receive an anti-UVA treatment.
• The organic lens: light and strong, it is made of synthetic resin. It does not resist scratching well; however, a hardening treatment can be applied to it. Above a refractive index of 1.6, it blocks 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Below that, an anti-UVA treatment is required to have sunglasses that completely block UVA and UVBs.
• The polycarbonate lens: Hyper light and very resistant, it is the one we most often encounter when we have to choose our glasses for sports. Be careful though, it remains very sensitive to scratches.

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The different lens treatments

To improve your comfort, sunglasses and especially those intended for use during sports receive specific treatments:

• The polarised lenses: when choosing sunglasses for sports played on water, a white surface or snow, the reflection of the sun's rays is even more dazzling. A polarised lens has a filter that blocks the reverberation of these rays. It also improves colour perception and contrast. Finally, it can also be a great help when driving on wet roads or avoiding the glare from other vehicles' windscreens.
• The mirror lenses: equipped with a film that rejects some of the sun's rays, it reduces glare without achieving the same performance as polarised glass. This treatment can be found on streetwear sunglasses, but also on sunglasses intended for high mountain sports.
• The photochromic lenses: it adapts to the brightness outside: the brighter the sun, the darker it gets. It is particularly comfortable since the luminosity will be able to change, you will not feel any discomfort. It is therefore advisable to choose sunglasses for sports with a photochromic treatment for long-distance outings or if you are used to practising your activity in any weather. Moreover, don't be surprised if your sunglasses with photochromic lenses indicate a filtration index ranging from 2 to 3 or 3 to 4, this is due to their adaptability.

• Anti-reflective lens: this treatment filters out the sun's rays that come in on the side of the glasses and are reflected in them. If you are very sensitive to light, this can be particularly interesting.

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What glasses for what sport?

Each discipline has its own requirements and this also comes into play when choosing your sunglasses for sport. Depending on your activity, the level of light filtration (category 1, 2 etc.), the treatment (polarised, photochromic lens, etc.), but also the type of frame will provide you with optimal comfort and adapted protection.

Sunglasses for the mountains

Skiing, trekking, mountaineering and hiking will take you into sometimes extreme conditions. The reflection of the sun's rays off the snow is the biggest danger to your eyes, but your sunglasses will also serve to protect you from cold and wind. You'll want to choose sports sunglasses that are wraparound and will shield you from the sun's rays coming from the side. Straight temples will allow you to easily slip them under a helmet, cap or beanie. Also consider adjustable temples that allow for an almost custom fit.

As far as the lens is concerned, the higher you go, the more sunlight you'll be exposed to, which is why your sunglasses for the mountains should display a category 3 for medium mountains and 4 when peaks are involved. If the weight of the lenses is not an issue for you, mineral lenses will do just fine. A brown or orange photochromic lens will allow you to practice regardless of the light, limit reverberation and give you a better perception of the snowy ground. The photochromic treatment applied to a yellow lens improves luminosity and the notion of depth: an advantage for mountaineering. The polarised lens is also a must-have for mountain sports, but to be preferred for recreational use.

Sunglasses for endurance sports

For cycling, mountain biking, trail running or running, you want a frame that prevents fogging. This means the lens should not be completely encircled and pressed against your cheekbones so that air can circulate perfectly. Lightness is not an option for long distances, so you should choose your sunglasses for sports with this criterion in mind. Your frame should be thin and the temples non-slip. For a perfect fit, regardless of speed and obstacles, there are sunglasses with an adjustable nosepiece.

For perfect protection and vision on all types of terrain you'll be riding on, photochromic lenses are just the thing. Then all you have to do is adjust the category: 2 to 4 for outings in fairly high light or 1 to 3 to be equally comfortable when the sky is cloudy.

Sunglasses for water sports

To reduce the risk of fogging and water intrusion when kitesurfing, sailing or stand up paddling, your frame should be wraparound and flexible with suspended or perforated lens positioning. Don't forget the floating option that will allow you to retrieve your When choosing sunglasses for sports, you should look at the weather conditions in which you will be practicing, but also at the requirements of your sport to combine protection, comfort and fit.