Disclaimer: I was
recently sent a pair of XX2i USA1 Sunglasses to review as part of being a
BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a
BibRave Pro (ambassador) and check out BibRave.com to review find and write
race reviews!
 |
| @GeorgieGSD |
Your first thought clicking on this blog post is why would
Jen be writing about sunglasses as winter approaches? I don’t need sunglasses on cold, grey
days.
Right? Wrong!
It is just as important to wear a good pair of sunglasses in
the winter.
Not only are the reflections off of snow, ice and water
super strong in the winter, sunglasses also serve to protect your eyes against
wind, dust and dirt. And did you know
that squinting actually causes you to expend more energy? Who wants to waste energy by squinting? UV rays from the sun can cause cancers, cataracts (effecting
the eyes ability to focus), and macular degeneration (damage to the
retina). It is unknown how much UV rays
it takes to cause damage to your vision but the more exposed you are to it over
time, the greater your risk of developing these problems later in life.
I used to buy the cheapest sunglasses I could find for
running—who cares about UV rays, polarized vs. non-polarized, or even what they
really look like. As long as they fit my
face and didn’t bounce around while I was running, I bought the cheap ones
thinking I would break them soon anyways.
But to be honest with you, I don’t think I’ve ever broken a
pair of sunglasses?! Actually I
lied. I did break one pair—a $5 pair from Walmart fell out of my locker at
work and cracked. Oops.
So what should you look for when choosing a good pair of
sunglasses?
Comfort
If a pair of sunglasses is uncomfortable, they will sit in
the case on my shelf and I won’t wear them.
That pretty much sums up my whole style philosophy—shoes, socks,
clothes, hats, etc. Comfort over
anything else. But for real, if a pair
of sunglasses are too tight and giving me a headache or too loose and bouncing
around or even just sits funny behind my ears or on my nose, I won’t wear them!
Fit
So fit kind of goes along with comfort. How do they fit? Are they adjustable? Do they feel heavy on your face? Are they too small and pressing against your
face? Are they big enough to act as a
shield to light and debris? For outdoor
activities, I like a pair that wraps around my face and big enough to trace my eyebrow lines.
Ventilation
There is nothing worse then a foggy pair of sunglasses! After the Falmouth Road Race this year, I swore I would never wear sunglasses in a race again. BUT I was just reading about the XX2i USA1 Sunglasses and did you know they have a venting system (aka holes around the
lenses) to keep the lenses from fogging?
So cool! I can’t wait to see how
that works.
UV Protection
Do your sunglasses protect against ultraviolet light
rays? Look for sunglasses that say they
block 100% against UVA and UVB.
Polarized vs. Non-Polarized
Polarized lenses are great for reducing glare. They also make it difficult to look at your
iPhone screen! It’s personal
preference. Just make sure they block
against UV!
Style
Of course with all the #selfie Instagram pics, Twitter posts
& Snapchats, style is important!
Sunglasses come in a number of colors and styles from full frame to the
sportier half-rim type, so make sure you choose a pair that makes you look
good!
Cost
Sunglasses also come in a variety of price ranges. An expensive pair of sunglasses doesn’t
always mean they are better. Do your
research. Try on a few pairs. Your fellow runners & specialty running
stored can be great resources for brand recommendations.
What do YOU look for when picking out new sunglasses?
I am currently testing out a pair of XX2i USA1 Sunglasses. Stayed tuned for a full
review coming soon. But in the meantime,
check out the XX2i Optics website and use the discount code XX2iRocks for 50% off your
order! That’s HUGE! Don't miss out!
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