Running without wearing the right running sunglasses is like going into battle without a shield.
It’s the best way to protect your eyes from sun damage, and the fact that they look super cool never hurt anyone, either!
When it comes to running sunglasses, any experienced athlete will recommend Oakley frames.
Oakley is simply the top brand for sports sunglasses thanks to its innovative technologies that make each Oakley pair ready for action.
If you’re looking for the perfect running sunglasses, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’re going to give a rundown of what you need to look for in running sunglasses and the top 6 Oakley running sunglasses for men and women in South Africa.
Ready? Get, set, go!
What to Look for in Running Sunglasse
UV Protection
The primary purpose of running sunglasses is protecting our eyes from the harmful rays of the sun. A good pair of running sunglasses filters out harmful UV rays while also reducing glare. This is why polarized sunglasses are the best types of sunglasses for running. Polarized sunglasses are specially designed to filter out horizontal light waves and only let vertical light through, effectively reducing glare.Comfort
Because running is a movement-intensive activity, you need a pair that fits comfortably and won’t move around no matter how fast you go.
This comes down to the nose piece/bridge, fit, and lens shape.
- Nose piece
The nose piece/bridge has a big role in how securely the sunglasses will sit on your face.If you have a wide nose or the nose piece is too small, the glasses will sit too high up on your nose and bounce or move around as you move. Thankfully, most decent pairs including Oakley sunglasses come with interchangeable nose pieces.
- Fit
You want a pair of glasses that won’t move around, but you also don’t want to be halfway through the marathon and find that you have a headache because the temples fit too tightly around your head. - Lens shape
Some lenses are too big that they hit your cheekbones, causing it to bounce around.If the lenses are too small, however, the glasses will not provide enough coverage against glare. So it’s crucial to choose lenses that are just the right size
6 Best Oakley Running Sunglasses for Men and Women
OAKLEY FLAK 2.0 XL
“High-performing sunglasses most ideal for running”Bridge size: 16mm
Lens size: 59.0mm W x 38.8mm H
Temple length: 125mm
Frame width: 133mm
Best suits: Men and women with medium fit
The Oakley Flak 2.0 XL tops any list of Oakley running sunglasses, or running sunglasses in general, because of its unique features that make it the most ideal pair for running.
It’s an offshoot of Flak 2.0 when users complained of Flak 2.0’s rounded bottom that hits their cheekbones.
Flak 2.0 XL lenses have a curved bottom that provides enough coverage without touching your cheekbones.
Flak 2.0 XL has unobtanium earsocks and nose pads that get stickier that more you sweat, so you won’t have to worry about it falling off halfway through your run.
Its semi-rimless design gives you a better downward view so you can better gear up for upcoming terrain.
It also has Oakley’s signature PRIZM lens technology that boosts the contrast of colors so you can better distinguish elements in your environment.
The Oakley Flak 2.0 XL is also equipped with the three-point fit system that distributes pressure points on your nose bridge and behind your ears to make it more comfortable to wear even for hours.
What the Flak 2.0 XL lacks is a lens ventilation system, but this isn’t really an issue for many users because the pair already has good airflow and ventilation that keep it fog-free.
OAKLEY RADAR EV PATH
““Extremely comfortable sports sunglasses””lens size: 59.0mm W x 50.5mm H
Temple length: 128mm
Frame width: 140mm
Best suits: Men and women with large fit
The Oakley Radar EV Path is extremely popular not only among runners but also among cyclists and surfers.
Its extended upper field of view enhances coverage from glare, and it also has a curved bottom that eliminates the problem of performance sunglasses touching your cheeks.
Its best-selling point is the perfect fit it provides. It has zero pressure pains on the nose bridge or behind the ears.
It’s so comfortable that users often forget that they’re wearing it, which is we think the ultimate measure for comfort!
It also looks really cool, with several lens colors to choose from. Like most Oakley sunglasses, the frames are made of lightweight O-matter material with sticky unobtanium nose pads and earsocks.
Overall, the Oakley Radar EV Path is an extremely comfortable pair of running sunglasses that provides excellent coverage.
OAKLEY RADAR EV PATH
““Extremely comfortable sports sunglasses””lens size: 59.0mm W x 50.5mm H
Temple length: 128mm
Frame width: 140mm
Best suits: Men and women with large fit
The Oakley Radar EV Path is extremely popular not only among runners but also among cyclists and surfers.
Its extended upper field of view enhances coverage from glare, and it also has a curved bottom that eliminates the problem of performance sunglasses touching your cheeks.
Its best-selling point is the perfect fit it provides. It has zero pressure pains on the nose bridge or behind the ears.
It’s so comfortable that users often forget that they’re wearing it, which is we think the ultimate measure for comfort!
It also looks really cool, with several lens colors to choose from. Like most Oakley sunglasses, the frames are made of lightweight O-matter material with sticky unobtanium nose pads and earsocks.
Overall, the Oakley Radar EV Path is an extremely comfortable pair of running sunglasses that provides excellent coverage.
OAKLEY JAWBREAKER
“Bold performance sunglasses for marathon and triathlon athletes”Lens height: 53.6mm
Ridge size: 18mm
Temple length: 121mm
Frame width: 137mm
Best suits: Men and women with medium to large fit
If you’re looking for full shield frame sunglasses, the Oakley Jawbreaker is the perfect pair. It’s a heavy-duty pair of running sunglasses meant to provide maximum coverage on all sides.
Although for some it may look over-the-top, it’s very popular among triathletes who love to go a little retro.
It’s a little heavier than other running sunglasses, but it’s still comfortable and fits comfortably around the head. It also has unobtanium nose pads and ear socks so it will stay secure as you run.
The Jawbreaker also has interchangeable temple arms so you can custom fit it according to your needs. It also has the Switchlock interchangeable lens technology that makes changing lenses faster and secure.
OAKLEY FLIGHT JACKET
“Half-rimmed sunglasses with excellent ventilation”Lens height: 57.1mm
Temple length: 136mm
Frame width: 138mm
Best suits: Men and women with large extra large fit
The Oakley Flight Jacket is another stylish pair of sports sunglasses that features a bold design and large lenses.
It looks a lot like Jawbreaker except for the half-frame design, which is considered an improvement because it removes obstruction to your upper view while also improving airflow.
Speaking of airflow, the Flight Jacket is equipped with the Oakley Advancer – a fancy name pertaining to the fog management system devised by Oakley.
It’s a small switch on the nose bridge that you can pull down to move the glasses away from your face to prevent fogging.
Push it down and the glasses return to their original position. Because it can be used with one hand, it won’t interfere with your momentum.
Many users say, however, that they rarely use the Advancer because Flight Jacket already has good ventilation and airflow going on. It also has interchangeable PRIZM lenses that boost contrast and optical clarity.
Overall, the Flight Jacket is a good choice if you love a bold, half-frame design and the anti-fog mechanism built into the sunglasses.
OAKLEY EVZERO PATH
“Oakley’s lightest performance sunglasses”Frame shape: Rectangle
Lens height: 57.1mm
Temple length: 136mm
Frame width: 140mm
Best suits: Men and women with medium to large fit
The Oakley EVZero Path is the lightest performance sunglasses by Oakley, weighing only 22g. The frameless design gives you more vision as you look up, down, and to the sides.
The lenses are also designed to provide a lot of coverage to protect your eyes from the wind and sun from all sides. The stems of EVZero Path are also super thin you’ll barely feel them on your ears.
Because it’s so light, you may be wondering about its quality – but it aces this department as well. It stays in place as you run because of the unobtanium ear socks and nose pads.
The lenses also have a toric shield around the contours of the cheekbone and eyes which increases eye protection. The EVZero Path also uses Oakley’s PRIZM lenses, giving you an extremely clear vision.
A downside with this pair is the lens is not interchangeable, but it comes in several lovely colors so you’re bound to find one that suits your style.
All in all, the Oakley EVZero Path is ideal if you want the lightest sunglasses you can get without compromising on the coverage, quality, and performance.
OAKLEY TARGETLINE SUNGLASSES
“Lifestyle look, guaranteed sports performance”The Oakley Targetline doesn’t look like your usual sunglasses, but it still has all the features needed to make it a great running sunglasses.
It has an unobtanium nose bridge and ear socks, a three-point fit system to keep it secure throughout your run, and PRIZM lenses for maximum optical clarity.
The Targetline also has an angled brow and temples that are thinner at the ends to fit well under a hat. It also has integrated side shields meant to block backside glare.
The flatter lens base also provides a more laidback look and allows for a wider range of prescriptions.
If you’re looking for a pair of running sunglasses with a more lifestyle look, the Oakley Targetline is a perfect choice.
And those were the top 6 Oakley sunglasses in South Africa for running for men and women. If you’d like to browse more Oakley sports sunglasses, click here to see our collection!