Adidas Sport SP0095 sunglasses review: high on performance, low on style

Adidas SP0095 sunglasses: first impressions 

The Adidas Sport SP0095 sunglasses won't turn any heads if you're a cyclist, because everyone will be too busy looking at your bib shorts to notice, but if you're a trail runner, you're probably going to feel a little out of place wearing these. That said, we've found some things to like about these sunglasses for trail running.

The wraparound design that's loved by cyclists and apres ski bros does provide your face and eyes with more protection than other designs, even if it looks like a pair of safety glasses from the lab. However, this particular design seems to sit really high up, covering more of your forehead than is typical, and meaning your downward view is totally clear. That would actually be cool if they were polarized glasses, because it would mean you would be able to see your phone or GPS watch without removing your glasses, but they're not, so we're not sure it's intentional.

We got them out on the trail for some fast-paced adventures this spring and we have to admit that they are really comfortable and light, and most importantly they don't slip or bounce no matter how much you do. Despite that non-slip design, they didn't give us a headache or pinch anywhere.

They have ventilation slots at the temples to reduce fogging, and the arms are made with flexible materials that should be more durable. They also come with a hefty protective case which should prolong their lifespan.

Inside the case is a cloth for cleaning them, which works a charm, and an extra pair of clear frames, so in theory, you should be able to swap out the lenses for overcast days where you just want eye protection (and for cycling). Sadly, we couldn't figure out how to remove the lenses, and there are no instructions for doing so.

These are among the pricier sunglasses we've tested, but if you're dead set on a pair of wraparounds, we think you can probably find a pair that looks better, if you care about such things.

Adidas Sport SP0095 sunglasses: in the field 

It's taken me quite a few months to get round to testing these sunglasses, mostly because the UK experienced a winter of so-called "atomic gloom" and I just didn't need sunglasses, and partly because they're not really my style. Finally, however, spring arrived and I could put it off no longer, so I've worn these out on a couple of trail runs to see how they hold up.

Here’s how they performed:

Comfort and staying power

These shades are really comfortable on, and in the past I've found that comfort in sunglasses can mean you sacrifice staying power, but here that is not the case. They are extremely light and I can wear them for several hours without noticing them, and I don't experience any pinching on my nose, headaches or pain around my ears.

That said, they only come in one size and according to various retailers, that size is extra large so it seems to me that they won't work for everyone's face. They might always be comfortable but I can see them slipping down on smaller faces.

On my head and face, which as far as I know isn't unusually big or small, they just don't move, no matter how fast I'm running, if I break a sweat or when I'm wearing sunscreen.

Performance and durability

When it comes to sunglasses for running, I really just want a pair that protects my eyes and doesn't budge. This pair seems to fulfill both of those requirements, and I like the smoke tinted lenses which aren't too light or dark for Scottish conditions. They're not polarized, and that's fine for me since I wear goggles for skiing and I'm not going out on the water in them, and it means I can check my phone and my Coros Pace 3 watch without shoving them up on my head, which is great.

The wraparound design provides good coverage, but because there's only a frame across the top, my peripheral vision isn't obstructed, which is good. Strangely, they sit really high up on my face and quite far away from my face at the bottom. This means that they sit about half an inch above the top of my eyebrows but don't cover my cheeks at all. The result is that when I look down, my eyes aren't protected at all. This hasn't mattered on my adventures, but if I were out in a high glare situation like snow, I think quite a lot of UV rays would be seeping in under these glasses. It also means that you can't pull a running cap down low, but maybe Adidas is banking on you being a bro who wears your cap backwards?

They come with an extra pair of clear lenses, which would be great if you wanted to wear these for cycling, but for the life of me, I can't figure out how to swap the lenses out, and there are no instructions anywhere online. I did eventually just pull the lenses down and they unclipped from the frame, but I couldn't figure out how to extract them from the nose pads so I gave up. This feature does mean that if you require prescription lenses, you could use them with these glasses, but you might have to ask your optician to swap them for you.

The frames and arms are flexible, not brittle, which in my experience can mean they're most durable, but they feel like a fragile pair of glasses and not a pair I'd shove in my pocket. Fortunately, they come with a hard case which is really protective, but also really bulky so I wouldn't bring these on a longer trail run as they'd take up too much room in my vest.

Style and value

I don't like sporty, mirrored wraparound shades on my face or anyone else's (unless you're riding in the Tour de France) so I'm already predisposed to not love how these look, but in my opinion, the odd fit of these looks especially weird.

On the surface of things, you get a fair bit for your money when you factor in the case and extra lenses, but they are expensive, and the design is unusual enough that unless it really happens to work for your face, I think your money would be better off spent elsewhere.

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