The request to review the SunGod Ultras could not have come at a better time as I had just snapped the arm off my last set of running sunglasses back when it wasn’t raining!
For those that don’t know, SunGod are a British eyewear brand, creating performance sunglasses and goggles. They support athletes in a range of sports from Ultra running, sailing, cycling, skiing, snowboarding, kite surfing, triathlon to name a few.
They pride themselves on their green credentials and are a carbon neutral company. Achieving this by using lower impact packaging, recycled materials and supporting causes that raise awareness for climate change.
A real positive for the brand is that they offer a lifetime guarantee on the frames so if you break it they will replace it, therefore extending the glasses life and avoiding landfill.
The first thing you notice about the glasses is the packaging, they are really well boxed and the attention to detail is great giving them protection during transport.
The box contains:
- Glasses in a cloth bag
- A card with Tom Evans signature and his mantra ‘Endure and Compete’
- A care guide
- 3 x find your fit nose pads for custom fit
I was really impressed with the build quality and the attention to detail with the nose pads, cloth bag and box. It’s clear to see they have worked hard on their glasses to provide a quality product. However, I was still sceptical that did I really need such a big pair of glasses and being a tight northerner were any sunglasses worth the £150 price tag. I was about to find out…
To test them I took them out on a really warm Sunday morning long run and after changing the nose pads I got a comfy fit and off I set.
The first thing I noticed was they did not bounce at all and due to their wraparound, I didn’t have that annoying thing where they stand off your face too much that you can see the floor under the glasses if you look down.
The run was a mix of trails and road, and moving from light to shade, so I purposefully kept them on even in the shade to see how they performed in changing light levels. I didn’t really notice much difference when moving into the shade and forgot I had them on until I decided to wash my face with water, only to find it was lemon squash, a quick rinse with water and wipe with the cloth bag and they were back as good as new.
Safe to say after the first hot and sweaty outing I was impressed and so on my next run I went out on a muggy evening by the river with drizzle in the air to see how they performed in these conditions and if they steamed up.
Due to the design, they don’t touch my face and so they never steamed up. Even when it started raining they didn’t really smear or obscure my vision.
I run hot as a runner and so glasses always steam up, get covered in sweat and generally annoy me to the point I take them off, but the SunGod Ultras didn’t steam up and after a quick wipe with the cloth they are crystal clear again.
I have subsequently worn them for a number of runs, their performance and build quality is excellent. It will be interesting to see how the lenses hold up to scratching but so far after a month they are still as good as new.
Plus points:
- Carbon neutral company
- Build quality
- Lifetime guarantee on frames
- Their fit and adjustability for even the largest heads
- Their performance in changing weather and light conditions
- They look cool and Tom Evans wears them so you automatically become stronger and fitter!
Negative points
- Expensive initial cost
Overall I was really sceptical about the size of the glasses and the cost at the start, however this didn’t last too long as their performance is great and they are so comfy.
The cost may still be an issue and I totally understand this but when I work out how many pairs of glasses I have snapped the frames on, then the frame guarantee may just pay for itself over a number of years.
So if you are in need for some new running glasses (and good on the bike as well) that are designed by the best ultra runner in the world, built by a British company with strong green credentials, are really comfy, well-built and perform well then I suggest you take a look at SunGod Ultras.
Thanks for reading and happy running.
Review by Jez Willis
SunGod
Signature Series Tom Evans
£150 (limited to 200 pairs!)
