Women's Top 10

Women’s Sports Sunglasses - What you need to Consider and The Top 10 Recommended Ranges for 2021

10 Best Women’s Sports Sunglasses for 2021

What you need to Consider

 As more and more women take centre stage in world sports we have seen a rise in women participating in sports. Here at Eyekit we have had more and more emails from women who just aren't sure where to start when it comes to picking out a frame for there sports. Although most sports frames are 'unisex' there are generally made with men in mind. However, brands are finally starting to listen and make a more inclusive frames. The sunglasses with have chosen here have been specifically picked for there design features that work better on smaller faces. The types of frames and features that we will be highlighting here are for all sports unless specified differently. If you want a particular sports frame then please go to the sports top 10 page that you require. 

Below we have provided advice on selecting the best sunglasses for women and our recommended top 10 sunglasses ranges for 2021 based on their excellent performance and reliability. Typically lightweight and strong, with excellent optical qualities and performance coated lenses, the brands are trusted and worn by the Pros. Only the highest standards are good enough, and you should expect the best.

Key Frame Considerations for Women Sunglasses:

This is a list of our top features which you can pick and choose the right ones for you and your sports.    

• Wrap around frame - Great for all sports especially if you want a very sporty look. 6 or 8 base curved frames (curved and highly curved lenses respectively) provides protection against the elements and a wide field of vision.
• Semi-rimmed frames - These are great for running and cycling as there is no obstruction when looking down at your GPS or the terrain in-front of you.
• Fully-rimmed frames - These are great for mountaineering, snowsports, fishing and sailing etc anything were you might want extra protection from wind, dust, debris, light etc. 
• Adjustable Nose Pads - They help to keep the frames secure on your face and prevent them from sliding down your nose.
• Anti-slip nose pads - Help stop your sunglasses sliding down your nose when you are moving your head.
• Removable headband - For added support for fit and comfort. If your favourite choice of frame doesn’t include a headband you can CLICK HERE to buy a headband here. 
• Frame Ventilation - Helps reduce fog or condensation. This is good for all sports excluding snowsports. 
• Removable Gaskets - this is a soft foam rim around the inside of your sunglasses and at eyekit we consider it one of sport’s eyewear best kept secrets. Prodominantly used by anglers and mountaineers for its ability to stop light and debris getting to your eyes we recommend this for anybody doing sports for longer than 3 hours. This is soft moulds to the shape of your face and makes your glasses much more comfortable as well as helping with glare etc. We do not recommend it for those not wearing there sunglasses for less than 3 hours as it can feel too warm. 

 

Key Lens  Considerations for Women Sunglasses:  

• Polycarbonate/ NXT - We recommend these for all sports frames. Both glass and plastic lenses can shatter upon impact, which could cause lens particles to penetrate you eyes. Both polycarbonate and NXT lenses extremely impact resistance, light weight, durable and will not shatter upon impact. Both lens indexes are 100% UV protection.
• 100% UV protection - For protection from UV radiation. All Eyekit lenses and prescriptions are 100% UV protected
• Include either interchangeable lenses or are photochromic - To provide accommodation for the different light conditions experienced when for example running or cycling. 
• Photochromic - This is our most recommended type of lens, although these lenses are generally more expensive then an normal tinted lens we feel in the long run they offer more advantages and are more cost effective as they can be worn in loads of different light condtions. These lenses will change colour with the light, becoming darker in bright sunlight, and lighter in an overcast sky. They avoid you having to change lenses or sunglasses in different light conditions as they will adjust to providing you with the optimum vision for the light available.
• Mirrored lens - A mirror lenses is not just for the aesthetic/ look but in sports are generally used for high level light, direct sunshine and bright condition, it reduces glare and reflection of the sun especially from snow/ water helping to eliminate eye strain. Recommend for especially for snowsports/ mountaineering/ watersports etc but also for those who suffer from glare. 
• Polarised - Polarised lenses cut glare from the highly reflective surfaces such as wet road or  and help to reduce eye fatigue. If you suffer from glare it’s a good idea to use this in conjunction with mirrored lenses and an AR coating. Recommend for cyclist/ runners/ watersports but should not be used by motorcyclist (as you will not be able to see your LEDs on your dash or greasy on the roads) or snowsports (as you cannot see ice as clearly).
• PhotoPolar Lenses - (PhotoPolar lenses are both photochromic and polarizing).  If you live in a climate such as Great Britain where it can be cloudy one minute and sunny the next, then photochromic lenses that are polarised are worth considering. PhotoPolar lenses are activated by the amount of Ultra Violet (UV) light absorbed by the lens and get darker or lighter dependent on the weather ensuring that your vision through the lens is clear and bright at all times. The best PhotoPolar lenses for golf will cover a range from Category 0 to Category 3 ensuring good light vision from cloudy to bright sunny days.
• Anti-Fog Coating – Eliminates condensation inside the lens. If this is not available for your choice of frame you can buy an anti-fog gel/ spray which will also help you. CLICK HERE to buy Anti-fog gel/ sprays.

 

Best Lens Colours to Consider for Running Sunglasses:     

• Grey/smoke - Block out light without losing the natural colour perception and are great for sunny weather use.
• Brown - High contrast browns and coppers will enhance the perception and provide a sharp contrast on road and track surfaces in bright light.
• Orange/Amber - For partly sunny conditions they help increase contrast to enable you to read the terrain better.
• Yellow - Its more effective in low light conditions or overcast days. It is superior in contrast enhancement. 
• Clear - This lens is suitable for low light and dark conditions. Ideal for shielding the eyes from wind and debris without compromising vision.

 

Prescription Considerations for Running Sunglasses:

• Polycarbonate / NXT - We always recommend you choose an impact resistant lens material for sports this will ensure your lenses are stronger then your usually glasses and can withstand the impact from a rocks and stick. Polycarbonate and NXT are both great options to choose. NXT is clearer, strong and has better clarity than polycarbonate but is not available for all sunglasses and high prescriptions.
• Photochromic - These lenses will change colour with the light, becoming darker in bright sunlight, and lighter in an overcast sky. They avoid you having to change lenses or sunglasses in different light conditions as they will adjust to providing you with the optimum vision for the light available. We usually recommend a photochromic lens as it can be used in more light conditions and overall even though it has a higher cost for you to initially invest in you are more likely to get more use out of it and it makes it a much better value.
• Polarised - Polarised lenses cut glare from the highly reflective surfaces such as wet road or  and help to reduce eye fatigue. If you suffer from glare it’s a good idea to use this in conjunction with mirrored lenses and an AR coating.  
• Mirrored lens - Ideal for high level light, direct sunshine and bright condition, reduces glare and reflection of the sun especially from snow helping to eliminate eye strain making your trip more comfortable. Note if you are getting a prescription lens with a mirrored coating the back reflectance can be more noticeable with a mirror coating so an Anti-Reflective (AR) coating on the lens is a great idea. (the difference between full mirror and flash mirror is a flash mirror is usually added to a photochromic lens)
• Crystal Vision Coating (our most recommend coating*) - This includes our FREE anti-scratch coating and includes hydrophobic (like the wax coating on your car this will ensure rain rolls off your lenses), anti-reflective (AR) (this is coated front and back and will help decrease glare and reflection off the lens and easy clean/ oleophobic (this helps eliminate dust and smudges on your lenses making them easy to clean and less likely to get dirty in the first place) 
• Wrap sunglasses - Can select prescriptions that will fit directly into 6 base curved wrap frames or below only. For 8 base wrap frames, select one that will fit a clip-in prescription or a direct clip lens.

 

Tip: Anti-fog coating- This is not something we usually recommend. We only added the coating to our prescription range due to requests. Our main reason is that we do not think it off the bests value for money as our Crystal Vision as you can add an ant-fog gel but you cannot have any other coatings when you have a anti-fog coating. There are plenty of great anti-fog gels and sprays coatings CLICK HERE to choose.

(All products and brands are genuine and authentic. All prescription lenses are made in UK to EU rules and regulations and safety standards. We also check all frames and prescriptions before leaving our practice to ensure they meet your requirements.)