Outside Magazine: the best sunglasses for sports and outdoor adventures
30-4-2025
Translation: Elicia Payne
The search for running, hiking and cycling sunglasses can quickly become an obsession. Each model offers something different. To shed some light on the subject, Outside Magazine tested some out. Here are the sunglasses which secured top place.
Looking for the right sunglasses for your outdoor activities? Then you’ll know very well it’s not that simple. They should reliably protect you from UV radiation, dust and wind, have a wide field of view and at the same time fit well, be light as a feather and not fog up.
Ideally, they also look so cool that you’ll want to wear them while strolling through the city or sitting in a café after a jog. So the big question is: which model is right for your sport and your needs?
To help make the decision, American Outdoor Magazine tested 80 pairs of sunglasses over the course of a year during various activities such as climbing, paddling, trail running, skiing and cycling. Here’s a selection of the top performers.
Best ultralight glasses
At just 27 grammes, the weight of the Scott Sports Stride alone puts them at the higher end of the scoreboard. But that’s not all, according to the testers at Outside magazine. The wide, slightly curved viewing window (toric is what experts call it) ensures good peripheral vision without contortions.
The frameless glasses with a wide and clear field of view are particularly suitable for people who travel light and at long distances. In other words: marathon runners, mountaineers, trail runners and ski tourers. They also fit well under bike and ski helmets. However, the testers explain that there’s one disadvantage with the lightweight construction. If you accidentally sit on them, the glasses break easily.
Maximum protection
The POC Devour Glacial is described by Outside Magazine as the ultimate two-in-one tool. Thanks to the wide lenses, which also protect the sides of the face, they’re said to be suitable as sunglasses on ascents and work like protective goggles on windy descents, for example on ski tours. Even a tester who doesn’t normally wear sunglasses for skiing was won over by the POC Devour Glacial.
The glasses have interchangeable lenses with Clarity technology. This was developed in collaboration with Carl Zeiss and enables good colour vision. Unlike other wraparound sunglasses, the POC Devour Glacial didn’t fog up during sweaty activities. However, the mechanical look isn’t particularly suitable for everyday use.
If you’re looking for glasses with similar features that you can also wear in your free time, Outside Magazine recommends the somewhat more discreet POC Devour.
The best for running
I can tell you a thing or two about the search for suitable sunglasses for jogging and trail running. Outside Magazine has chosen the Julbo Density as the best pair of glasses that excel in important criteria such as grip, clear vision and weight. According to the testers, they feel minimalist despite a wide field of view.
Thanks to the rubber on the nose and temples, they don’t slip – a particularly important feature when running. One tester also raved that these glasses fog up less than all the others he’d worn so far. They also fit well under a helmet and are suitable for cycling and skiing. However, the testers reported that the light design of the glasses makes them appear somewhat fragile.
If you’d rather save a few pennies, there’s a version with Spectron lenses designed for sunny conditions.
If you want glasses that automatically and quickly adapt to changes in light and shade, the Reactiv version with photochromatic lenses may be the right choice for you.
As the Julbo Density has a large field of view, it can look bulky on small faces. In this case, the testers recommend the Julbo Frequency.
Best small-fit glasses
Glasses with large windscreens are in fashion. If you prefer a slimmer design, Outside Magazine recommends the Oakley Sutro Lite Sweep, which are available in many colour combinations.
They’re very light and the large nose pad keeps the glasses in place. Plus, they don’t fog up thanks to the good ventilation. The Oakley Sutro Lite Sweep is suitable for athletes whose glasses need to be slim and lightweight, but still provide good sun and wind protection. The only problem reported was that they can pinch the temples of wider faces and are designed purely as sports glasses. The look’s too sporty to wear in the city or when going for a walk.
The most versatile
Flip-up sunglasses radiate 80s vibes. In fact, a model from 1983-84 served as the basis for the Smith Xc sunglasses with flip-up lenses. Outside Magazine wondered why this is useful, only to quickly find the answer: anyone running or driving in dim light could appreciate having temples firmly behind their ears and being just one step away from flicking down the lenses.
Of course, the look takes some getting used to, but in times of colourful glasses and all kinds of funky-looking features, it’s all about having fun. And, anyway, who cares about looks?
You can find the complete list by Outside Magazine with a total of 16 models here.
Header image: Shutterstock
Siri Schubert
Senior Editor
Siri.Schubert@digitecgalaxus.chResearch diver, outdoor guide and SUP instructor – I love being in, on and around water. Lakes, rivers and the ocean are my playgrounds. For a change of perspective, I look at the world from above while trail running or flying drones.
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