If you’re a regular runner who needs glasses, then you can get by with running in your regular specs for the most part.
However, as someone who has been running for over 10 years and wearing glasses for more than 25, I’ve definitely found that using prescription running sunglasses and glasses has improved my experience of the sport.
The fit is a lot better, for one – I got sick of my glasses bouncing and sliding all the way down my nose – and running sunnies and specs will be lighter, more durable and usually easier to keep clean as well. I also find them more convenient for daily training than using contacts, though I do use those for some runs.
To help you find the best prescription running sunglasses and glasses for you I’ve reviewed all the sets I’ve tested myself below, with prices ranging from cheap to very expensive.
If all the specs are too expensive, then a good fallback option is to grab a load of silicone glasses grips off Amazon for a few quid and use them to keep your normal glasses in place on the run, which is still a strategy I use myself quite often.
Who are The Run Testers?
We are a group of experienced health and fitness journalists who have been testing and reviewing running products for magazines, websites and other publications for many years. For this guide, it’s Nick taking the lead as a man who mostly wears glasses on the run, because contacts are a faff.
Zenni Optical Zunnies Wrap-Around Sports Sunglasses
I’m a big fan of the Zenni Optical Zunnies range, which I’ve raided for four different sets of prescription sunglasses and glasses at this point. The glasses offer great value (even if you ship to the UK, like I do), and a range of styles and fits to suit all-comers.
I have two sets of these wrap-around sunnies, which one of the sportier models in the range, and I’ve run hundreds if not thousands of miles wearing them, including when I ran my marathon PB in Seville.
They’re great value no matter what lenses and tints you opt for (even if you ship to the UK), often costing less than $100 all-in. I’ve tested the polarised and new Zunscreen lenses with this frame, and both have impressed me, as has the fit of the frame, which stays firmly in place no matter how long and sweaty your runs are.
Ombraz Teton
Ombraz sunglasses resolve any and all fit issues by using a cord rather than arms, which I’ve found creates a superbly secure fit for running and other activities. I don’t have to tighten the cord too aggressively to get a reliable fit either, so there’s no pressure on the back or sides of my head during long runs.
I’ve tested a prescription model of the Teton glasses, with photochromic lenses to make them more useful throughout the long, grey British winter, and they’ve been excellent for runs. The armless design also means the glasses pack flat for trips and that you can slip them into the side or strap pocket of a running backpack easily.
Adding a prescription to Ombraz lenses does raise the price significantly and they’re certainly not the value pick on this page, but I’m fully convinced by the merits of armless glasses myself for running, and the style of the sunnies means they have use outside of training as well.
LensDirect Diablo Topspin
The Diablo range from LensDirect contains its performance sunglasses, including the Topspin frames that I’ve been testing out in recent weeks with a lot of running, including a half marathon race.
The frames are decent value; not as cheap as the Zunnies range but around $200 even if you opt for the more expensive VoltPRO HD lenses, and I’ve found the fit to be quite secure on runs. I still have to nudge them back up my nose occasionally on long, sweaty runs, but for the most part they stay in place for glasses that don’t have a very sporty design, and I’ve found them comfortable to wear all day long too.
Rudy Project Rydon Slim
The Rydon and Rydon Slim frames from Italian brand Rudy Project are both incredibly light and have flexible arms that you can bend into place to ensure a secure fit. These are glasses that will disappear on your face when you’re running because of their lightweight design, and I’ve racked up hundreds of happy miles in the specs myself.
My prescription required me to use the Optical Dock system Rudy Project offers, which is why the lenses are a little smaller and have a full frame. If you’re able to use the classic Rydon lens with your prescription you get a better-looking set of glasses, and larger lens.
I have photochromic Transitions Gen S in my version of the Rydon Slim, which have been invaluable in the winter months when I’m often running in dark or cloudy conditions, but still also want protection from the rare sunny day we get here in the UK winter.
REKS Sling Blade
Another good value set of prescription sunglasses I’ve been testing this year, the REKS Sling Blade have a sporty and highly durable design. You can get photochromic lenses for the glasses, which is what I opted for, and I’ve used them almost daily this year for runs inside and outside, on sunny and grey days, including a half marathon race.
The fit is not as secure with the Sling Blade specs as the Zenni Zunnies or Oakley Plazma, but they stay in place pretty well for the most part, only starting to bounce loose for me when I’m running downhill or running fast while exceptionally sweaty.
I’m not as big a fan of the style of the glasses as the Zunnies too myself, though part of that is because of the thicker lenses and frame, which do make the REKS specs very hard to break – unbreakable, according to Zenni in fact.
If you also use contacts you can get the regular, non-prescription version of the glasses for just over £20, so that might be a good way to test them and see if you want to invest in a prescription pair for around £120, or £180 for transition lenses.
Oakley Ojector
The Oakley Ojector glasses are what I wear every day and they’re not specifically design for sports, but the lightweight plastic frame is sturdy and easy to keep clean, and the fit is pretty good too.
Some might find they can use the glasses for running as is, but I have added a couple of silicone grips to the arms myself to create a more reliable fit. That means I can get up from my desk or whatever I’m doing and go straight for a run without having to swap to sportier specs.
They’re pricy though, and like I say the Ojector glasses are not the best option here for running itself, but better than the others for using as your regular specs as well as running, with a more street-ready style than the sportier models.
Roka Oslo 2.0
These are very lightweight eyeglasses with a sports-ready design. I have the Oslo Ti version with titanium arms, but the standard model will also be an excellent option for those who want specs you can wear straight out on the run.
The fit is very good, with no bouncing at all during my runs, which have included a half marathon race and many hundreds of training miles. I did get a little slippage down the front of my nose, so often wore the Oslo 2.0 glasses with grippers on the run for a little more security of fit.
One problem I had at times was actually that the thin titanium arms on the specs caused some discomfort by rubbing on the top of my ear, which is a problem I don’t think you’d have with the standard Oslo 2.0 glasses with plastic arms.
A stronger deterrent might be the high price of the glasses. While excellent, they’ll cost you a pretty penny.
SunGod Classics
SunGod has a lot of excellent running sunglasses in its range, and while the sportier shield models like the Ultras are not suitable for prescription lenses, you can get them on the more casual frames like the Classics.
The Classics still have a great design for running though, being designed for active use, and the plastic frames are light and durable. The simple design is also appealing as I use them all the time as my main sunglasses, as well as for running.
I did have some slippage on the nose with these so added silicone grippers for a more secure fit, but many will find that unnecessary. I’ve run two ultramarathons using the SunGod Classics, so can certainly testify to their comfort and fit over long events, and if you don’t want your sports sunnies to be too sporty, these would work well.
Zenni Optical Zunnies Rectangle Sports Glasses
The second pair of Zenni Zunnies that I’ve tested and enjoyed, I picked the rectangle sports glasses up as an option to wear all-day long. The design isn’t too sporty in terms of looks, but the glasses have adjustable arms you can bend behind the ears to create a bounce and slip-free fit on the run, before bending back to be looser and more comfortable outside your training.
There is also a nose-pad on the glasses, but I actually removed this to make them look better for general use, since I found the fit was still very secure on the run thanks to the adjustable arms.
I opted for photochromic lenses on these Zunnies to again make them easier to use all the time, and while they don’t transition as quickly as some of the more expensive options on this list, they still work well in moving from sunny to cloudy conditions.
These are good value compared to many other options on the list, and it’s easy to customise the lenses to suit your needs and preferences. Zenni are based in the US, but I was able to get these shipped quickly and easily to the UK too.
Oakley Plasma
These are the first prescription running sunglasses I tried, and I have photochromic lenses on them. The transition lenses are very useful in the UK where the weather changes regularly and rapidly so I’m often running under cloud cover, and also when on the trails under tree cover.
The design is a little more out there than I tend to go for myself, but the style of the frames grew on me, and the Plazma glasses stay firmly in place during runs and there’s a slight curve to the frame that shields the eyes from the sides.
I had one of my best days in running wearing these glasses at the London Landmarks Half Marathon, and I’ve worn them for hundreds of miles of training runs as well without any concerns about durability cropping up.
They’re a little harder to come by these days as I’m not sure Oakley is still selling the prescription version of the Plazma, but if you can find them at a third-party site and like the style they’re a great option for running.
Check out our other guides for more running gear advice: