How to Choose Running Sunglasses That Won’t Slip or Bounce Mid-Run

You settle into marathon pace, and within a couple of kilometres your sunglasses start their slow slide down your nose. Every few hundred metres you push them back up with a sweaty hand. By the end you are carrying them.

Most of the time this is about fit, not bad luck. Here is what to look for in a pair that stays put on a humid Singapore morning, and a simple test you can do before you buy or before your next long run.

Photo: SportPlus.sg / Isis Ang

What Keeps Sunglasses in Place at a Glance

What Makes a Pair Stay Put

Keep It Light

The less a frame weighs, the less it has to fight every footstrike. Several Aura models list their weight: the Lumo-line Red Hot Chilli Shaders and Too Cool to Chase are 22g, and several X-line models are 24g.

Get the Nose Pads Right

Adjustable nose pads let you fine-tune where the frame sits on your nose. Aura says the adjustable pads on Red Hot Chilli Shaders help keep the frame settled as your pace changes.

Comfortable, Not Tight

A frame that grips hard can feel secure in the shop and give you a headache an hour into a long run. Look for arms that follow the shape of your head and sit snug without pressing hard behind your ears.

Clear of Your Cheeks and Brow

If the bottom of the frame sits on your cheeks, every breath and smile pushes the glasses up and down. Leave a small gap above the brow too, so sweat and heat have somewhere to go.

Slipping sunglasses are a fit problem, not bad luck.

The Two-Minute Fit Test

Do this at home before a run, or in the shop before you buy:

• The Shake: Shake your head side to side and nod a few times. The glasses should not move.
• The Look-Down: Look straight down at your feet. If the glasses slide forward, the fit is too loose.
• The Smile: Smile widely and breathe hard through your mouth. If your cheeks lift the frame, it will bounce when you run.
• The Jog: Jog on the spot for 30 seconds. Any movement now will be worse when you are sweating.

Do Not Forget the Lens

A pair that never moves is still the wrong pair if the lens does not suit your light. Sunglasses are graded in categories 0 to 4 by how much light they let through. Category 3 suits strong daylight, and Category 4 is too dark for driving. Look for UV400 on the label too. Our lens tint guide explains how to choose.

Need somewhere to try a new pair? Our guide to running routes in Singapore covers the waterfront and coastal runs.

Lock In Your Fit with Aura Shades on ATHLO+

Every Aura Shades model on ATHLO+ lists its frame material, lens category and UV400 protection, and the lighter Lumo models list their weight. Try Too Cool to Chase or Red Hot Chilli Shaders if fit is your biggest problem, or browse the full Aura Shades collection.

Ready to understand why sports sunglasses matter? Read Why Athletes Need Sports Sunglasses next.