Members’ Field Test: Nathan Sunglasses

Dec 22, 2023

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RW+ members from across the continent logged hundreds of miles to test Nathan's Polarized Running Sunglasses. Here is what they had to say.

You never know what you’ll face on your run—gnat clouds, sand-filled gusts, blinding sunlight—which is why putting on sunglasses is as crucial as tightening the strap on your GPS watch preworkout.

To get the maximum benefit, you need a pair of sunglasses that fits your face properly, shields your eyes from all angles, and just looks good. While there are many pricey models that do all that—some cost $275—we stan more affordable sunglasses, like Goodr ($25) and Knockaround ($28). Added to that list: Nathan's slightly pricier shades for $50.

Last year, the brand that's best known for its hydration packs and handheld water bottles started selling running apparel. Now you can wear Nathan's gear from head to foot. After more than a month of testing its sunglasses, we were most impressed with how comfortably they sat on our faces without slipping and how well the polarized lenses provided adequate UV protection and reduced glare.

Nine RW+ members and I tested these glasses for a combined 778 miles. Like many of our testers, I appreciated that Nathan's lenses didn't fog up and that the tint wasn't too dark. I like to enjoy the sunlight without having my midday scenery appear as dark as night.

Several testers reported that they appreciated how little the glasses slid, even on hot days. One noted that she typically has issues with eyewear sliding midrun because of her low nose bridge. I’ve had the same problem and often have to push on the nose bridge to keep the frame in place. Nathan's sunglasses stayed put—for the most part.

Once the temperature rose and it became Sweat City, there was a slight slip as well as some friction on the tops of my ears. But that's a small compromise we found with these glasses, and one that's easily remedied by attaching silicone ear clips for summer runs.

‣ Face Shape: Slightly narrow‣ Weekly Mileage: 50+‣ Recent Race: 2021 Garry Bjorkland Half Marathon, 1:38:49‣ Favorite Shoe: Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next%‣ How I Tested: "I ran in temps from –29°F to +27°F. All runs were on snow-covered roads at training pace of 8:30- to 9-minute miles. "

"Nathan's sunglasses provided great contrast on sunny, snowy, and overcast days. On windy days they provided great wind-blocking and prevented eye-watering. I ran with a friend who was wearing another brand and had to take his pair off due to fogging. Nathan's were fog-free; it was 23 degrees and snowing. He is going to buy a pair!"

‣ Face Shape: Average ‣ Weekly Mileage: 36 to 40 ‣ Recent Race: 2021 Chicago Half Marathon, 1:46:51 ‣ Favorite Shoe: Brooks Adrenaline GTS ‣ How I Tested: "I wore it in very cold conditions (negative temps) and in the 40s, when it was a bit sweatier."

"These sunglasses fit my face and head really well. I loved how grippy the nosepiece was, especially for my Asian face, where the nose bridge on sunglasses usually doesn't fit and they tend to slide down my nose. But these didn't move at all, despite sweat or frost all over my face. They felt a little heavy on my ears, but that was after a couple of hours of wear. They also stood up to my toddler, who played with them constantly, so they seem quite durable. They were sporty but also stylish."

‣ Face Shape: Slightly narrow ‣ Weekly Mileage: 21 to 25 ‣ Recent Race: 2021 Blue Cross Broad Street 10-miler, 1:17:36 ‣ Favorite Shoe: Asics Gel-Nimbus ‣ How I Tested: "Tested on 45- to 53-degree days. Primarily road and paved trail distance runs."

"These did well on the sunniest of days, providing great protection from glare. I’m a heavy sweater, and glasses typically slide after a few miles in, but these mostly held steady, sliding down only a bit at the end. They were more comfortable than other ones I’ve worn in the past, despite being a bit large for my narrow face. There was absolutely no bouncing, which was a welcome surprise considering the rugged terrain I encountered on the trail."

‣ Face Shape: Slightly wide‣ Weekly Mileage: 21 to 25‣ Recent Race: 2019 Duke City Half Marathon, 2:16:44‣ Favorite Shoe: Hoka Arahi‣ How I Tested: "Average distance was five miles, temperature 8 to 45 degrees. All workouts were just standard runs, no racing. All runs took place on the Bosque Trail near my home off the Rio Grande."

"These glasses are lightweight, which I really enjoyed. I used them during the Goggins 4x4x48 Challenge as well as on a few long runs in February here in Albuquerque. No issues with fit, and they didn't slip when sweaty—and I sweat a ton."

‣ Face Shape: Slightly narrow ‣ Weekly Mileage: 50+ ‣ Recent Race: 2021 Boston Marathon, 3:00:03 ‣ Favorite Shoe: Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next% ‣ How I Tested: "I tried them for long runs (up to 18 miles), shorter four-mile runs, workouts on the track, and workouts on the road. I tested these sunglasses during winter so it was always cold, sometimes windy."

"In terms of looks, these glasses are huge! So not the most stylish glasses in the world. However,I was very impressed with the protection against glare, which is usually a problem for me. They didn't move, didn't fog at all, and used the perfect tint where I could see perfectly regardless of brightness. They worked for everything from speedwork to 18-mile long runs. So I was very impressed with the performance aspects."

‣ Face Shape: Slightly narrow ‣ Weekly Mileage: 36 to 40 ‣ Recent Race: 2021 West New York Backyard Squatch Ultra, 29+ miles ‣ Favorite Shoe: Hoka Carbon X ‣ How I Tested: "Tested under various types of workouts—long run, tempo, and speedwork. The temperature was 20 to 50 degrees."

"Overall, these are very comfortable and light. They disappear once I start running. This is comparable to many other polarized lightweight sunglasses I’ve worn, but for $50, it is probably the best deal. If you did a ‘blind test,’ I highly doubt anyone would be able to tell the difference."

‣ Face Shape: Slightly narrow‣ Weekly Mileage: 21 to 25‣ Recent Race: 2021 New York City Marathon, 6:42:39‣ Favorite Shoe: Nike Air Zoom Pegasus‣ How I Tested: "I live in Central Florida where humidity is on average 75 percent and rarely drops below 50 percent! The temperatures during the testing period depended on the time of day [where it could be] 65 to 90 Fahrenheit, often with short spells of rain. I run anywhere from 2-10 miles most days, both paved and unpaved."

"I love how these glasses don't fog up no matter the humidity or [how much I] sweat! The picture is so clear and sharp it feels like I’m in an action movie; it's almost surreal. There was no time when I felt distracted by glare or bright sun rays. While the color of the glasses wouldn‘t have been my first choice, they still looked nice and matched my outfits."

‣ Face Shape: Slightly wide ‣ Weekly Mileage: 21 to 25 ‣ Recent Race: 2019 Space Coast Half Marathon, 2:10:39 ‣ Favorite Shoe: Brooks Ghost ‣ How I Tested: "I tested these glasses in temperatures ranging from 50 to 90 degrees in rain, fog, and sunshine. All of the miles were on the road in varying distances from one mile to half marathon."

"These glasses are fantastic. They fit snugly and I experienced no bouncing while running and no sliding while sweating. They didn't fog while running in the rain, which I have experienced with other glasses. The only downside I found was that they gave me a headache and pinched my nose after several hours of wear. I was very happy with their performance."

‣ Face Shape: Slightly wide ‣ Weekly Mileage: 21 to 25 ‣ Recent Race: 2020 El Paso Half Marathon, 2:38:24 ‣ Favorite Shoe: Brooks Glycerin ‣ How I Tested: "I do a lot of outdoor running on the road. Where I live is a desert climate so we have high winds, and varying temperatures. I wore them in windy, 40-degree weather and 70-degree dry weather."

"Great and comfortable, I loved the size. I really enjoy these glasses for running. They fit over my prescription glasses, which are quite big, and were still comfortable. Usually I can't find sunglasses that fit in front of my seeing glasses without bouncing or falling. The coating on Nathan's helps them stick to my ears and the other glasses."

For more Field Test insight and to learn how you can be a tester, head to runnersworld.com/field-test

Amanda is a test editor at Runner's World who has run the Boston Marathon every year since 2013; she's a former professional baker with a master's in gastronomy and she carb-loads on snickerdoodles.

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