The phrase 鈥渇ashionable running sunglasses鈥 is oxymoronic: Running shades are typically characterized by dorky-looking aerodynamic frames and oversized lenses. Some companies make more lifestyle-oriented athletic sunnies, with basic ovular lenses, like the . But the concept of fashion-forward, stylized frames that are durable and stay put on your face while running? Ridiculous.
Not any more. On Thursday, Boston-based running brand 鈥攌nown for high-end construction and聽simple, classic designs in athletic apparel鈥攍aunched its first pair of shades, a聽limited-edition collaboration with U.S.-based high-end eyewear maker . Their co-creation, the Charles ($255), is designed to marry top-end Italian construction and trendy design with the secure, fogless聽fit and durability聽runners need. At first glance, the combination of craftsmanship and quality materials聽suggests they may live up to that goal, as well as the high price tag.
The Charles look like the kind of glasses you鈥檇 see lining the shelves of a fancy eyewear shop, featuring聽a subtle cat-eye shape聽with a decorative cutout at the nose. They sit farther away from your face than typical running sunglasses, too鈥攏o wraparound or bug-eye lenses.
But a closer look reveals a host of features ideal for sport. The frames are made out of聽flexible Swiss thermoplastic that聽bends rather than breaking under pressure. They鈥檙e聽so聽light聽I barely noticed them聽on my face, but聽grippy, adjustable rubber nose pads and small rubber strips on the ear pieces helped them stay聽put during a morning run.
These shades certainly aren鈥檛 as聽protective as a tight-fitting, aero frame that hugs your face, and they wouldn鈥檛 be my first choice for long, mountainous trail runs that involve lots of jostling and peripheral glare. But the sleek styling and breezy, away-from-face fit make them great companions for聽fast runs or casual hikes.聽
Tracksmith聽may not be offering new, groundbreaking optical technology or aerodynamic design.聽But it has created something聽revolutionary in a different way by聽offering runners a pair of good-looking sunglasses that can pull double duty.