How to choose your watersports sunglasses?

Intense sunshine, water drops, wind... it is important to protect your eyes when doing water sports such as kitesurfing, sailing or kayaking.

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR WATERSPORTS SUNGLASSES?

Consider the 4 following criteria to choose your sunglasses for water sports: lens category, wraparound design, buoyancy, and secure fit.

Lens category

On the water, the sun is more intense. To find your way without being disturbed by the glare, choose the appropriate "lens category" based on the weather.

The lens category is the index of glare protection, ranging from 0 to 4. The more intense the sunshine, the higher the category.

For water sports, we recommend category 3 or 4 lenses.

Additionally, you can choose polarised lenses. Reflections on the water will give off a lot of glare. Polarised lenses provide a real benefit to protect you from glare when sailing. They will reduce water reflection.

Category 3

In sunny weather. Bright outside conditions.

Full UV protection.
Category 4

In very sunny weather. Sea and Mountain included.

Very bright outside conditions.

Full UV protection

Wraparound design

On the water, there are more sun rays. In addition to direct sun rays, the eyes receive rays reflecting on the water. To prevent most of these rays from reaching your eyes, there's nothing like wraparound sunglasses.

How to be sure the sunglasses offer proper coverage?

> Ensure that the sunglasses have a curved shape. It should follow the face shape. This way, rays cannot penetrate from the bottom or from the top.

> The arms width at the sides of the eyes should be larger than standard sunglasses. The frame prevents the rays from penetrating from the sides.

Floating sunglasses

Whether you are kitesurfing or kayaking, as with any water sports, it is frequent to fall in water. And when this happens, it is common to lose one's sunglasses.

There are floating sunglasses. Thanks to a specific material, these sunglasses come up more easily to the surface of water. Even when they can't, you will still find them more easily and more quickly.

Sunglasses fit

To avoid losing them, but also to make sure that your eyes are protected, your sunglasses must fit securely on your face.

Two areas of the face deserve special attention: the nose and the back of the head at ear level. These are where the sunglasses rest.

Ideally, the sunglasses should sit on the top of the nose. As for the arm tips, they should fit snug against the head. A quick test is to shake your head slightly and see if the sunglasses hold in place.

In case you sweat, "rubber" nose pads and arm tips will also help the sunglasses stay in place.

In addition, it is also common to use a strap. Certain neoprene eyewear straps even provide buoyancy!

Nose fit

Rubber nose pads will help the sunglasses stay in place on the nose. They may also be ridged for even better grip on the skin. The sunglasses will slip less, particularly when sweating.

Arms fit

Rubber arms, sometimes ridged, offer a better grip on the skin.

Eyewear retainer fit

Additionally, you can also use sunglasses retainers. Two systems: either attached to the arm tips, or positioned in place of the arms. These elastic straps will hold the sunglasses against the face.

Check our watersports sunglasses range

Samuele

Optics specialist

To practice water sports such as sailing, kayaking or kietsurfing, make sure that the lenses have a full UV filter to protect you from the sun's harmful rays . Product plus: go for polycarbonate lenses, a highly shock-resistant material.

Browse our optics advice section

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