Best triathlon sunglasses reviewed in 2025

A pair of the best triathlon sunglasses can make all the difference to your performance when competing in bright conditions. Not only do they do the job of running sunglasses, they’re also optimised for cycling and are designed to offer great versatility for all your triathlon training and racing.

Triathlon sunglasses give that über professional look, along with eye protection against harsh glare that will also help you squint less and conserve precious energy.

And that’s not all – they’ll also protect you from wind, bugs and dirt flying through the air, and can even improve the clarity of your vision.

Scroll down to see our pick of the best triathlon sunglasses on the market right now, tried and tested by our expert gear reviewers.

• Best cheap cycling sunglasses

Best triathlon sunglasses of 2025

1. Smith Motive Sunglasses

Price	$219 / £150
Lens	ChromaPop, interchangeable
Style	Aviator, wraparound
Treatment	Stain and moisture resistant
Case	Hard and soft case included

The Motive sunglasses combine style and function, with the dual-lens design offering a clear, wide field of view. ChromaPop Opal Mirror lenses enhance colour and clarity, handling bright light well, though shaded areas remain a challenge.

Wind protection and top-frame clearance in aero cycling positions are excellent. The glasses fit pretty comfortably, though the nose piece may press the lenses too close for some.

Priced at $219/£150, they include a hard case and spare lenses for year-round use. RS

Read our full Smith Motiv review here

2. Tifosi Vogel SL

Price	$39.95 / £54.99
Lens	Shatterproof, optically decentered polycarbonate
Style	Shield, wraparound
Case	No case included

Tifosi’s entry into this test goes head-to-head with Madison for the best value gong, with its price of $40/£55 looking very attractive.

The Vogel SL gets off to a good start, too, its frameless design delivering a largely unimpeded view, but the lens does cut off quite early at the bottom, which is sometimes in view.

It’s also worth noting that at times, particularly when looking over the shoulder, the points where the arms connect to the lens do cut into the view.

The smoke lens is great in bright conditions, bit a little on the dark side on gloomy or shaded outings. There’s a reasonable boost of contrast to help you spot details on the ground, too.

Given the smaller lens profile, some wind can bypass the glasses, particularly on fast sections of road, but the fit is secure and comfort is high. There’s no case, though. RS

3. Koo Supernova

Price	$200 / £170
Lens	Shatterproof, Nylon toric lens by Zeiss®
Style	Shield, wraparound, frameless
Treatment	Anti-reflective, mirror coating, hydrophobic technology
Case	Soft and hard case included

Weighing in at only 21g, the fact that these sunnies are extremely light and flexible are the first thing you notice when you slide them on.

They did feel a little large/wide for this female tester, and I preferred the more secure feel of the Sungods. The arms could have done with being a little grippier, too, though again, you get a choice of nose bridges.

Six different lens/frame combos are available and the green lenses supplied here are suited to sunny days and light cloud, which I felt performed well during a sunny test weekend.

On the flip side, they are expensive for eyewear that can’t be used on gloomier days. Range of vision was superb, though. HW

4. Oakley Sutro

Price	$192 / £159
Lens	Prizm ™ lenses
Style	Large lens, high-bridge, full frame
Case	Soft and hard case included

Using Oakley’s Prizm Road lenses, the Sutros are designed to enhance colour, contrast and detail, which they did with aplomb, while the level of clarity and field of view is impressive.

Having said that, in darker conditions or dappled light, they can feel a little dark, though other lenses are available when purchasing.

The complete-frame design ensures durability but impacts ventilation a little during hard sessions. Comfort is good, with the nose bridge and arms providing a secure fit, but rubber grips on the arm tips would’ve been a welcomed addition.

The lofty 56.7mm-high lenses provide ample coverage but may feel a little too large for some. RS

5. Madison Code Breaker II

Price	£59.99 (UK only)
Lens	Polycarbonate lens, 3 interchangeable lenses
Style	Shield, wraparound
Case	Hard case included

The Code Breaker sunglasses are among the cheapest sunglasses on test and they punch above their fiscal weight, yet there are some flaws…

Lens performance was decent, but not perfect. The cat three tinted lens is designed for bright conditions, but it struggled when riding toward a low-slung sun, while clarity and contrast is not as pronounced as other options.

The field of vision is perfectly acceptable, though, even when riding in an aero position, while the glasses felt secure and comfortable in most conditions.

That being said, there was a bit of movement in run sessions. Large vents help fend off fogging but can allow wind to get through to your eyes on occasion.

Impressively, the glasses also come with a clear lens and category one amber lens for darker conditions, plus a hard case. RS

6. BBB Cycling Chester

Price	£99.99 (UK only)
Lens	Polycarbonate, photochromatic, Toric lens
Style	Shield, wraparound,full frame
Treatment	MLC coating
Case	Soft case

While almost half the price of some options, £100 is still a lot of money to spend, so does the Chester live up to its price tag?

Well, I found them a little uninspiring to look at. BBB has gone for a hybrid frameless/full frame design, with the frame sitting behind the lens.

In effect, I didn’t notice much difference to a standard full-frame design, with the bumpers often visible in my peripheral vision.

The large lens delivers good protection from the wind and its photochromic nature (VLT is 82-17%) means it adapts to light conditions, but I did find myself squinting a bit on the brightest of days when riding toward the sun. It doesn’t noticeably boost road details, either.

The fit wasn’t perfect for me at the nose, even after adjusting the nose piece, and the glasses tended to slide downward on test runs and rides.

The lack of hard case also sees points docked. RS

Buy now from SunGod

7. Sungod Velans TF

Price	$160 / £130
Lens	8KO spherical lens
Style	Shield, wraparound, half frame
Treatment	Triple-layer scratch protection
Case	Hard case

Choice and adaptability are key in this sleek design. That TF in the name stands for ‘top frame’ and cleverly, the Velans are also available in FF (full frame, $180/£150), which gives you a removable bottom ‘jaw’.

These get my vote, though, as visibility was excellent with a good, clear range of vision and no misting.

They fit this female tester well (three nose bridges supplied) and didn’t feel too over-designed like some in the current sports-sunnies market.

The gold lenses supplied gave sharpness and clarity on a freak sunny March weekend, as well as in dappled light, though 12 lens tints and multiple frame colours are available. HW

8. Bollé Shifter

Price	$200 / £180
Lens	Photochromic, Volt+ lens
Style	Shield, wraparound, full frame
Treatment	Anti-fog, scratch resistant
Case	Hard case

That’s a hefty price, but is the Bolle Shifter worth it? Like the Oakley BiSphaera, the Shifter comes with a grey tinted lens and is designed to protect against bright light, with a VLT of 15%.

It does that job well, and is also perfectly acceptable in dappled light overcast days. That Volt+ lens does a fine job of boosting contrasts and enhancing colours, while clarity was also decent.

The glasses sit quite close to the face, so there’s no issue with wind or airborne debris getting into your eyes, while the fit is secure and comfortable.

Field of vision is also very good thanks to the large size, with no issues when in an aero position on the bike.

That said, the bottom half of the frame can occasionally be a distraction, particularly given the bright yellow colourway shown here.

A hard case comes included.

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9. Van Rysel RoadR Perf 900

Price	£59.99 (UK only)
Lens	Polyamide lens
Style	Shield, wraparound, full frame
Treatment	Scratch-proof treatment
Case	No case

Here’s another budget-friendly option from Decathlon’s Van Rysel. The Roadr Perf 900 comes with classic cycling glasses styling, with that large lens ensuring a fantastic field of view.

Our test pair came in the translucent colourway, which I did find slightly distracting when it caught the sun at the bottom of the frame. The fit is mostly secure, with only a minor bit of movement when testing during run sessions.

While not exactly uncomfortable, these sunglasses don’t deliver the same level of comfort as many others on test, with the nose piece and arms feeling too firm for my liking.

The lens did a reasonable job in a range of light conditions, but was mid-pack for its performance in bright light, while there wasn’t much in the way of a boost to clarity or contrasts.

Protection from wind and airborne nasties is largely okay, but the lenses do sit a reasonable distance away from the face, so it isn’t infallible. There’s no case, either.

10. Rudy Project Kelion

Price	$219.90 / £208.99
Lens	ImpactX 2Laster Black, photochromic
Style	Shield, wraparound, full frame
Case	Hard case

That is some price, so the Kelions better be worth it. Luckily, they have a lot going for them. The field of view delivered by 62mm-high lens is exceptional, as is the protection this gives you from wind, bugs and the like.

The lens featured in my test pair is the brand’s ImpactX 2Laster Black. It’s a photochromic option with 62-13% of VLT, meaning it’s versatile enough to work on gloomy days as well as sunny ones.

Its performance when riding toward the sun was decent, but was just pipped by Oakley BiSphaera. The Kelion doesn’t boost contrasts quite as well as one of two other pairs on test, either.

Comfort was high, but the arms may feel a little tight for some, depending on your head shape. The nose piece is adjustable and all things considered, the glasses felt very secure throughout testing.

The inclusion of a hard case is appreciated, as is the use of sustainable material Rilsan in the glasses’ build.

11. Alba Optics Stratos

Price	$179.68 / £145.89
Lens	VZUM™ lens
Style	Shield, wraparound, no frame
Treatment	Ventilated for anti-fog
Case	Soft case

Handmade in Italy and a featherlight weight of 30g are two instant appeals of the Stratos, the latter due to the pair lacking a main frame.

That gave me concerns over durability, especially in the chaos of transition come race day, but they come close to the Roka in their near-invisible run prowess.

In terms of adjustability, there’s no replacement nose piece (you can opt for an ‘Asian Fit’ nose pad when purchasing), but the arms have four different length options, a neat feature for added grip on the run.

There’s an interchangeable lens but no spares are provided. MB

12. Roka GP-1X

Price	$240 / £230
Lens	C3i™ lenses and coatings
Style	Shield, wraparound, bottom frame
Treatment	ANSI Z87+ High Impact Certified, anti-scratch, anti-fog, hydrophobic and oleophobic lens coatings
Case	Hard and soft case

Roka has strong pedigree in performance eyewear and its products have been worn by Ironman World Champ Lucy Charles-Barclay for a number of years.

The brand’s offering here comes with one large single category three lens, which delivers 12% of VLT. They look sleek and that lens offers very good performance on the brightest of days, but feels a little dark when the clouds come in or you’re riding through woodland.

There’s no spare lens to counteract that, either, which would have been nice for this price. The field of view is brilliant, though, and the large size means there’s no wind, bugs or dust getting through.

They’re extremely comfortable, but I did experience a slight hint of movement during testing. Four nose pieces are included to help counteract this, though the arms aren’t as tight as many competitors. You do get a case, though. RS

13. Sungod Vulcans FF

Price	$190/£160
Lens	8KO Nylon lens
Style	Shield, wraparound, full frame
Treatment	Hydroleophobic lens protection
Case	Hard and soft case

The Vulcans come in two modes: the TF (top frame, $170/£140) and the FF (full frame, $190/£160) here, which sees the frame extending under the lenses for added durability.

That move does see the weight increase by 5g to 37g, but it still wasn’t an issue on the run. Unlike Sungod’s debut Pacebreakers, the Vulcans provide a huge amount of facial coverage without a noticeable gap.

But it’s the lens that really excels here, offering versatility and fog-free riding in a variety of changeable conditions. You don’t receive a spare lens, but the custom options are extensive. MB

14. Scicon Sports Aerowing

Price	$170/£125
Lens	Polycarbonate, interchangeable mono lens
Style	Shield, wraparound, half frame
Treatment	Hydrophobic, mirror coating, oleophobic coating
Case	Hard and soft case

The large shield design of the 33g Aerowing is on-trend, giving both wide facial coverage and an obstructed view on the hoods (part of the top frame creeps into the vision on the tri-bars, though).

Adjustability is best in class, with the nose pieces offering horizontal and vertical movement; the arms can be bent and reinforced to secure the desired level of grip and flexibility; and a series of venting channels prevent fogging.

We didn’t feel fully confident swapping out the lenses for the included clear pair, though – not ideal when the outlay is $170/£125. MB

How we tested

All of the sunglasses featured here have been tested by 220‘s expert gear reviewers, which includes editor Helen Webster, former features editor (and now editor of CountryFile) Matt Baird and content editor Rob Slade.

Between the three of them they have over 35 years of experience testing kit.

When rating the best triathlon sunglasses, we considered fit, comfort, performance in bright light, versatility in different lighting conditions, field of vision, clarity, value, protection against wind and airborne debris, plus the lenses ability to avoid fogging up.

If we rate a product with a score of 90% or more, it means we are mightily impressed and it’s hard to find fault. Anything scoring between 80-89% is also incredibly impressive and among the best on the market.

A score of 70-79% means the product is worth considering, as it does some stuff well, but it will also have a couple of flaws. Anything below 70% is likely to have one or two major issues, or a series of smaller ones, so consider if they bother you before thinking about buying.

What to look for in the best triathlon sunglasses

UVA rating – When shopping for a new pair of sunnies, go for one with a high UVA rating to protect your corneas from sun damage, even if you just race in the UK.

Lens – Like some of the glasses here, many brands will supply multiple interchangeable lenses, so you can adapt the choices depending on variable lighting conditions. This versatility is useful when cloudy days call for a lighter lens or if a sun-drenched course requires a darker pair to provide adequate clarity.

Photochromatic lens – Recent years have seen the introduction of the photochromatic lens, which becomes darker when exposed to high UV rays. Changing out these lenses can be a precarious task, however, so a durable frame is essential.

Style – While this type of eyewear summons references to obscure ’80s pop bands, the visor-style, wraparound lens shape does offer the best performance advantage as it optimises the field of vision and coverage.

Frame – On this note, options without a top frame can be useful if you plan to be riding on your clip-on aerobars or a triathlon bike, as otherwise it can impede vision. A sturdy frame that sits close to the eyes is also desirable to help with windchill on the ride, while incorporated vents and an anti-fog coating are lifesavers when huffing and puffing through T2 onto the run.

Fit – Finally, to reduce the chance of your sunglasses bouncing on the fly ensure you have a snug fit on the nose bridge and silicon grippers along the arms, which will also help improve comfort.

What colour lenses are best for triathlon?

When choosing lenses for triathlon training and racing, consider the light conditions and environment you’re likely to be in. Photochromic lenses are ideal in that they adjust to changing light, perfect for early morning starts and varying weather.

For sunny races, polarised lenses reduce glare and improve clarity. While amber lenses enhance contrast, which is great for road visibility. Yellow lenses are good for low-light or cloudy days too.

Clear lenses work well in dark or rainy conditions, and mirrored coatings add extra sun protection. Ultimately, comfort, UV protection, and visibility are key when to comes to choosing triathlon sunglasses.

Pick lenses that offer a wide field of view, are lightweight, and stay fog-free throughout swimming, cycling, and running transitions.

Why do triathletes wear sunglasses?

Triathletes wear sunglasses for protection, performance, and comfort. Sunglasses shield eyes from harmful UV rays, wind, dust, debris, and insects during high-speed cycling and running.

They also reduce glare from water and roads, improving visibility and focus. By minimising squint and eye strain, sunglasses help maintain better concentration and energy.

Quality lenses enhance contrast and clarity, especially in changing light conditions. Many models offer a secure fit, ventilation, and anti-fog features to stay comfortable both while running and cycling.

Don’t need options just for multisport? Take a look at our list of the best running sunglasses for more options.