You never know what you’ll face on your run – clouds of gnats, squalls of sand, blinding sunlight – which is why putting on sunglasses is as crucial as tightening the strap of your GPS watch. before training.
To get the maximum benefit, you need a pair of sunglasses that fits your face properly, protects your eyes from all angles, and looks good. While there are plenty of expensive models that do all of this – some are $275 – we do have more affordable sunglasses, like Goodr ($25) and Knockaround ($28). Added to this list: Nathan’s slightly more expensive shades for $50.
- Tested: Nathan Polarized Running Sunglasses
- Width: Narrow/medium
- Mass: 27g
- Price: $50
- Compatible Rx Lenses
Last year, the brand best known for its hydration packs and portable water bottles started selling running apparel. You can now wear Nathan’s gear from head to toe. After more than a month of testing his sunglasses, we were very impressed with how comfortable they sat on our face without slipping and the quality of the polarized lenses providing adequate UV protection and glare reduction. .
Nine RW+ members and I tested these goggles for a total of 778 miles. Like many of our testers, I liked that Nathan’s lenses didn’t fog up and the tint wasn’t too dark. I like to take advantage of the sunlight without my midday landscape appearing as dark as night.
Several testers said they liked how little the lenses slipped, even in hot weather. One noted that she usually had trouble with the goggles slipping off mid-ride due to her low nose bridge. I had the same problem and often have to press down on the bridge of my nose to hold the frame in place. Nathan’s sunglasses stayed on, for the most part.
Once the temperature rose and it became Sweat City, there was a slight slippage as well as rubbing on the tops of my ears. But it’s a small compromise we found with these goggles, and one that’s easily remedied by attaching silicone ear clips for summer runs.
Age: 60 Falls, Minnesota
David S.
‣ Face shape: Slightly narrow
‣ Weekly mileage: 50+
‣ Recent run: Garry Bjorkland Half Marathon 2021, 1:38:49
‣ Favorite shoe: Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next%
‣ How I tested: “I ran in temperatures ranging from -29°F to +27°F. All races were on snowy roads at a training pace of 8:30 to 9 minutes.”
“Nathan’s sunglasses provided great contrast on sunny, snowy and overcast days. On windy days, they blocked the wind well and prevented watering the eyes. I ran with a friend who was wearing another brand and had to take his pair off due to fogging. Nathan’s were fogless; it was 23 degrees and snowing. He’s going to buy a pair!
Age: 37 – Chicago, IL
Kai Z.
‣ Face shape: Medium
‣ Weekly mileage: 36 to 40
‣ Recent race: 2021 Chicago Half Marathon, 1:46:51
‣ Favorite shoe: Brooks Adrenaline GTS
‣ How I tested: “I wore it in very cold conditions (sub-zero temperatures) and in the 40s when it was a little more sweaty.”
“These sunglasses fit my face and head really well. I loved the grip of the nosepiece, especially for my Asian face, where the nose bridge on sunglasses usually doesn’t fit and tend to slide down my nose. But these didn’t budge at all, despite sweat or frost all over my face. They felt a little heavy on my ears, but that was after a few hours of They also held up to my toddler, who constantly played with them, so they seem quite durable.They were sporty but also stylish.
Age: 33 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Brittany G.
‣ Face shape: Slightly narrow
‣ Weekly mileage: 21 to 25
‣ Recent race: 2021 Blue Cross Broad Street 10 miles, 1:17:36
‣ Favorite shoe: Asics Gel Nimbus
‣ How I tested: “Tested on 45-53 degree days. Mainly road courses and paved trails.
“These worked well on the sunniest days, providing excellent glare protection. I’m a heavy sweater and the goggles usually slip after a few miles, but they generally held steady, only slipping a bit at the end. They were more comfortable than others I’ve worn in the past, although they were a bit large for my narrow face. There was absolutely no bounce, which was a nice surprise considering from the rough terrain I encountered on the trail.
Age: 42 – Albuquerque, New Mexico
Alfred L.
‣ Face shape: slightly wide
‣ Weekly mileage: 21 to 25
‣ Recent run: 2019 Duke City Half Marathon, 2:16:44
‣ Favorite shoe: Hoka Arahi
‣ How I tested: “The average distance was five miles, the temperature 8 to 45 degrees. All workouts were just standard runs, no racing. All races were held on the Bosque Trail near my home off the Rio Grande.
“These goggles are lightweight, which I really liked. I used them on the Goggins 4x4x48 challenge as well as a few long runs in February here in Albuquerque. No fit issues, and they didn’t slip when sweating – and I sweat a ton.
Age: 36 – Annapolis, MD
John M.
‣ Face shape: Slightly narrow
‣ Weekly mileage: 50+
‣ Recent race: Boston Marathon 2021, 3:00:03
‣ Favorite shoe: Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next%
‣ How I tested: “I’ve tried them for long runs (up to 18 miles), shorter four-mile runs, track workouts, and road workouts. I tested these sunglasses during the winter so it was always cold, sometimes windy.
“In terms of looks, these glasses are huge! They are therefore not the most stylish glasses in the world. However, I was very impressed with the glare protection, which is usually an issue for me. They didn’t move or fog up at all and used the perfect tint where I could see perfectly in any light. They worked for everything from speed work to long 18-mile runs. So I was very impressed with the performance aspects.
Age: 38 – Weehawken, NJ
Jon O.
‣ Face shape: Slightly narrow
‣ Weekly mileage: 36 to 40
‣ Recent race: 2021 West New York Backyard Squatch Ultra, 29+ miles
‣ Favorite shoe: Hoka Carbon X
‣ How I tested: “Tested under different types of training – long run, tempo and speed work. The temperature was 20-50 degrees.
“Overall they are very comfortable and lightweight. They disappear once I start running. It’s comparable to many other lightweight polarized sunglasses I’ve worn, but for $50 it’s probably the best deal. If you did a “blind test” I highly doubt anyone would be able to tell the difference. »
Age: 44 – Oviedo, Florida
Silvana J.
‣ Face shape: Slightly narrow
‣ Weekly mileage: 21 to 25
‣ Recent run: NYC Marathon 2021, 6:42:39
‣ Favorite shoe: Nike Air Zoom Pegasus
‣ How I tested: “I live in Central Florida where the humidity averages 75% and rarely drops below 50%! Temperatures during the testing period depended on the time of day [where it could be] 65 to 90 Fahrenheit, often with short periods of rain. I run between 2 and 10 miles most days, both paved and unpaved.
“I love how these lenses don’t fog up no matter how humid or [how much I] sweat! The image is so clear and sharp that I feel like I’m in an action movie; it’s almost surreal. There was no time when I felt distracted by the glare or the sun’s rays. Even though the color of the glasses wouldn’t have been my first choice, they were still pretty and matched my outfits.
Age: 35 – Titusville, Florida
Jeremy H.
‣ Face shape: slightly wide
‣ Weekly mileage: 21 to 25
‣ Recent race: 2019 Space Coast Half Marathon, 2:10:39
‣ Favorite shoe: Brooks Ghost
‣ How I tested: “I tested these goggles in temperatures ranging from 50 to 90 degrees in rain, fog and sun. All miles were on the road for varying distances from one mile to half marathon.
“These glasses are fantastic. They fit snugly and I felt no bouncing when running and no slippage when sweating. They didn’t fog up when running in the rain, which I’ve experienced with other goggles. The only downside I found was that they gave me a headache and pinched my nose after several hours of wearing them. I was very happy with their performance. »
Age: 37 – El Paso, TX
Israel W
‣ Face shape: slightly wide
‣ Weekly mileage: 21 to 25
‣ Recent race: 2020 El Paso Half Marathon, 2:38:24
‣ Favorite shoe: Brooks Glycerin
‣ How I tested: “I do a lot of outdoor running on the road. Where I live is a desert climate, so we have high winds and variable temperatures. I have worn them in windy 40 degree weather and in dry 70 degree weather.
« Super and comfortable, I loved the size. I really appreciate these goggles for running. They fit over my prescription glasses, which are quite large, and are still comfortable. Usually I can’t find sunglasses that fit in front of my glasses without bouncing or falling off. Nathan’s coating helps them stick to my ears and other glasses.
For more information on field testing and how to become a tester, visit runnersworld.com/field-test
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