The 8 Best Sunglasses for Active Guys

Article One is a homegrown brand based out of Michigan. They make premium shades with a stylish kick, and gained a little notoriety when Ryan Gosling started rocking their collaboration with Mission Workshop. 

They recently released a new set of active sunglasses, and I’ve been wearing the Linden all spring. The sunglasses feature a plant-based plastic frame, premium polarized lenses, and adjustable nose pads. The medium coverage makes these great for a wide variety of activities, so they’ve become my daily drivers whether I’m biking to work or racing around outside with students. They are truly a jack-of-all-trades.

When it’s time to hit the road, I need a pair of sunglasses that are lightweight, can perform on the move, and yet also look good with a button down. There is no better blend of lightweight performance and style than the ROKA Oslo. The Austin performance eyewear brand hit the design out of the park with a modern round frame that features a keyhole bridge. Yet they also crush the performance features, including no-slip pads on the temple and nose pads, scratch, fog, and sweat resistant lenses, and a miniscule 20 gram weight. These are the only sunglasses you’ll need when packing for a trip.

On the trails it’s important to have sunglasses that offer wide coverage and can react to changing light conditions. Photochromic lenses are ideal because they allow different amounts of visible light transmission (VLT) to pass through the lens depending on how bright it is outside. Smith recently released the Seeker, designed by trail athlete Anton Krupicka, and the design is exceptional for everything from sunny ascents to shady, tree-lined twists and turns, especially if you opt for the photochromic lenses.

Full shield sunglasses have become increasingly popular in recent years because they offer goggle-like field of vision and protection in light packages. VALLON’s Watchtowers are some of my favorites for sunny days on the bike or on the slopes thanks to the supremely comfortable fit that helps me forget I’m even wearing shades. The ZEISS lens also provides impeccable vision of whatever I happened to be hurtling towards.

If they’re good enough for James Bond, they’re good enough for me. French eyewear brand Vuarnet has been making sunglasses worthy of the Alps since 1957 that tend to look impossibly cool while also having serious chops as performance shades. I’m a fan of the Belvedere 04 model, as it offers a timeless frame and mineral lenses that work in a wide variety of environments. Whenever I’m going to be ordering a martini shaken, not stirred, I reach for the Belvederes.

Whether you are backcountry skiing and fighting snow glare, hiking above treeline, or spending a long day at the beach, glare can start to wear on you. Glacier sunglasses take care of that problem by adding side shields and nose pieces to block out any ambient light. However many of them are overbuilt or seem specifically designed for the Arctic. 

The Sunski Strada is a favorite because the magnetic side shields can be easily removed, allowing these to transition from regular shades to glacier sunglasses in a jiffy. They also have lightweight frames, lenses that allow your surroundings to pop, and an appealing design that works above treeline or at the brewery afterwards.

Wedding season requires sunglasses that can be dressed up or dressed down. They need to look good with a suit, and with shorts and a polo at breakfast the next morning. Leave it to the style gurus at Taylor Stitch to create a frame worthy of all of the above: the Legend. These will elevate just about anything you put on. They are movie star shades for the common man.

I went on a run around my local pond last year at sunset and did not think I needed sunglasses. I learned the hard way that sunset is when all the flies like to swarm,  and I had to squint as I ran through clouds of bugs. Never again.

For low light eye protection is still a must on the move. That is where the Nagata Speed Blade from District Vision comes into play. The ultra-lightweight Japanese shades weigh in at 23 grams, and feature a yellow lens that brightens your surroundings. These now accompany me on any sunrise or sunset runs or bike commutes.