A pair of good sport sunglasses can make all the difference to performance. Not only do they help you feel like a superhero, but eye protection against harmful UV rays and harsh glare will also help you squint less, which is proven to conserve precious energy.
Shopping for sunglasses can be tough, as it's easy to be caught up in how they look. That's fair enough, of course. We all look odd enough when racing around the countryside dressed head-to-toe in skin-tight Lycra, so if we can avoid feeling stupid because of the large shiny item resting on our nose, that's an extra win.
The truth is, though, there are more important aspects that need prioritising. For a start, it's protection from the sun, which we'll go into in more detail overleaf. But essentially your sunglasses need a high UVA rating to protect your corneas from sun damage, even if you just race in the UK. The strength of tint on the lenses will then help reduce how bright things seem, reducing the need to screw your eyes up as you ride or run.
The other thing you need protection from is wind and airborne debris. That could be everything from midges to dust and dirt. Fit is just as important, especially for triathletes, given the multisport nature of our racing. Then you have additional things to consider, such as whether the glasses will fog up, how good the field of view is and if they're likely to survive if you drop them in transition.
Lots to consider... So to help you make your next purchase a successful one, we've put together a buying guide for sports sunglasses, followed by reviews of nine different pairs from leading brands. Turn the page to find out how they fared.
KEY BUYING INFORMATION
Blinded by the many, many options out there? Here's our complete guide to sport sunglasses...
THE IMPORTANCE OF FIT
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How to Carb Load - Packing your working cells with carbohydrates in the build-up to your big race is a proven strategy to race stronger and faster...
Whichever distance triathlon you're racing, the intensity and duration of your activity will see your body tap into its stores of carbohydrates (in the form of glycogen) to power your effort. While it's possible to top up your tank on the go, it's better to start your event with your stores full to the brim.
The Olympic Champion - On 31 July, Great Britain's Alex Yee put together arguably the greatest one-day performance we have ever seen at an Olympic Games to win gold. And we were there at the finish line to speak to tri's new poster boy...
The opening line of the race report read how 20 years on from New Zealand’s first and only Olympic triathlon gold medal, Hayden Wilde had put in a careerbest performance to regain the title for his nation. Then Alex Yee comes around the corner.Yee’s charge, seemingly from nowhere on the final lap of the 10km run in Paris, didn’t just help him become the most decorated Olympic male triathlete of all time, and didn’t just cap a rivalry that has been building for six years, it left seasoned watchers of swim, bike, run in awe. It will go down as one of the greatest triathlon races; Yee, still just 26, as one of the greatest triathletes. His medals from Paris added to the two from Tokyo, leaving his haul at two gold, a silver and a bronze, and counting.
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British Triathlon CEO Ruth Daniels talks Paris, her plans to grow tri and her own personal goals... knees allowing
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£1,199.99 Zwift's new Ride is an indoor bike that might help you break your PB... but won't break the bank
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With the spotlight on triathlon like never before at these Games, debutant athletes talked about being overwhelmed by the unique environment
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After watching and enjoying the Olympic triathlon events, Brunt amused himself by playing the 'guess how far into each event I would die' game...
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With little heat prep, the wrong gear choice and a course-recce mistake, would experienced extreme triathlete Sean McFarlane soar like an eagle or drop like a stone in Italy?
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The ability to dig deep in the latter stages of a race helped Alex Yee achieve Olympic gold. Here Ben, a member of Team GB's coaching staff in Paris, explains how you too can find that extra gear...
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POLAR GRIT X2 PRO
\"You can't be anything other than impressed with the GPS, whose design is one of the significant changes to the V3\"
