One overarching goal鈥攊mprove the athlete鈥攄rives every product innovation at Under Armour, from the 4D foam sock liners in its footwear to UA Record, the game-changing fitness platform it rolled out earlier this spring. Now Under Armour is taking that same philosophy to eyewear. Whether you鈥檙e a serious runner wanting more comfortable frames for the long haul听or an obstacle racer听who needs lenses that repel oils and mud, the following ten tips will听enhance your vision and boost performance.
1.听High-Quality Lenses Are Worth the Money
If you鈥檙e serious about your sport, you need polycarbonate听lenses, like those found in the UA听Storm collection of sunglasses. They鈥檙e lighter than glass lenses听while still providing excellent optical clarity. As with most lenses from reputable sunglass makers, all Under Armour听lenses block 100 percent听of UVA, UVB, and UVC rays.
2. All Polycarbonate听Lenses Are Not Created Equal
Every pair of听sunglasses in the UA听Storm collection incorporates top-shelf Carl Zeiss lenses. Founded in Germany in 1846, Zeiss still makes some of the highest-performance lenses on the planet. Many models, like the ($90, below), feature UA鈥檚 top-of-the-line ArmourSight lenses, which enhance peripheral vision (up to 20 percent听better edge听to听edge) for a distortion-free view. They鈥檙e also up to 10 times stronger than standard polycarbonate lenses.
3. Special Coatings Can Be a Life Saver
If a lens has a really good hydro- and oliophobic coating, like听听($160, below), everything鈥攚ater, oil, mud, even blood鈥攋ust slides right off. These lenses are also saltwater resistant听and won鈥檛 bubble or delaminate, making them ideal for any sports on or near the ocean. Like all sunglasses with UA Storm听technology, they have additional coatings that guard against scratches and smudges, helping improve lens durability and preserving clear vision.
4. Size Matters
Frame dimensions are, of course, critical for style. But form follows function, and so-called blades (frames that hold lenses only from the top), like the 听($145), allow for an unobstructed field听of vision and better side coverage鈥攑erfect for cycling and running. Thicker temple pieces, like those found on the ($160, below), block more incoming light, making them ideal for the brightest conditions, like boating, fishing, or other watersports.
5. So Does Shape
Frames should fit snugly on your nose and ears without pinching or rubbing. Your eyelashes shouldn鈥檛 contact any part of the frame or lenses,听and the sunglasses鈥 weight should be evenly distributed between your ears and nose. If you plan to wear them with a hat or bike helmet, make sure the听pair you buy won鈥檛 interfere with fit. While it鈥檚 certainly possible to buy sunglasses that perfectly fit your face, frames with some degree of adjustability are often the best bet for optimal fit in all conditions (see the next tip).
6. Good Grip Is Essential
Most high-end sports frames are made from听light and durable plastic that will maintain its shape under all temperatures and conditions. The best, like the ($145, below), have adjustable and grippy nose pads and flexible temples to keep them secure, a critical feature when you鈥檙e doing a听dynamic sport听like running or mountain biking. That鈥檚 not all: Like many sunglasses in UA鈥檚听Storm line, the UA Rangers have ultralight ArmourFusion frames, a combination of titanium and Grilamid that provides superior strength and flexibility. The frames actively auto-adjust to an athlete鈥檚 head, alleviating unwanted pressure on the occipital lobe and allowing you听to focus on performance, not what鈥檚 on your face.
7. Choose the Right Tint
Color preference is subjective, but certain light conditions and sports call for specific听lenses. Lighter tints (yellow, gold, amber, rose, and vermillion) enhance contrast听in flat听lighting conditions and are typically good for snow sports.听Darker tints (brown, gray, and green) ensure minimal color distortion, reduce eyestrain, and increase depth perception鈥攗sually the best choice for watersports like fishing. Can鈥檛 decide, or play a lot of different sports? Gray or brown听lenses are the best all-purpose tints.
8. Consider the Impact
All UA听Storm lenses meet and exceed Ansi Z87.1 ratings. Translation? They鈥檙e extremely impact resistant yet lightweight and strong, making them ideal for ball sports or high-speed activities听like road or mountain biking.
9. Know When to Go Polarized
While some polarized lenses can react with windshield tints (creating blind spots) and diminish the visibility of LCD readouts (like on your watch), they鈥檙e absolutely essential when boating听and fishing听for their ability to cut glare on the water or other reflective surfaces. Many of UA鈥檚 sunglasses, like the UA Captain, come in both Storm polarized and nonpolarized options.
10. Treat 鈥檈m Right
Investing in high-quality sunglasses is just the first step鈥攜ou also have to take care of them. Never use a cotton T-shirt,听merino wool base layer, or any paper product听to clean the听lenses鈥攁ll can scratch lenses. There鈥檚 a reason your new shades came with a microfiber cloth. Use it!