From the front of the Tour de France peloton to the front row of Fashion Week, sporty, streamlined sunglasses are on the move in more ways than one.

Functional eyewear has always been the sportsman’s choice but now garish wraparound shades are beginning to secure a foothold in the style world too. Like fitness watches, they’re functional, nerdy kit and right now there are few things the fashion crowd likes more than technical performance wear.

So, whether you’re searching for something to keep the bugs out of your eyes as you try to beat your PB on Strava, or simply a means of shielding your peepers from street-style photographers’ flashes, let’s take a look at how and where you should be spending your money.

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Buying Considerations

Before we delve into the actual shades themselves, there are a few things to want to bear in mind. Paying close attention to frame shape, lens type and other factors will help you walk away with the best sports sunglasses for your style and needs.

Material

Paying close attention to what a pair of shades are made from will help you to decide if they’re going to be right for the job.

For example, if you’re planning to use them for intense exercise then you should opt for something lightweight, like shatterproof plastic.

However, if you’re hopping onto the futuristic specs bandwagon purely for aesthetic reasons, feel free to play around with styles that incorporate heavier materials.

Lenses

Generally speaking, the frame tends to be the most important factor when selecting a pair of sunglasses, but brightly coloured polarised glass is what sets sporty spectacles apart from their casual counterparts.

It’s not all about looking jazzy. Different coloured lenses can improve visibility under different conditions so make sure to do your research into what type is going to work best for you.