These models are more than just cycling-approved--they excel on the run course, as well. By this point in the race, an athlete's body is starting to experience the effects of their efforts. IRONMAN athletes especially know the feeling--upward of 17 hours on the course leads to dry eyes, cracked lips and salt-crusted, sunburnt skin. A good pair of sunglasses can help alleviate eye fatigue and slightly ease late-race discomfort.
Running requires a different set of features over cycling sunglasses; and for triathletes, these features are important. The frames can't slide down the nose, fog up or put too much pressure behind the ear. Runners generally look down at the ground, so the frames must not obstruct the field of view below the eye.
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Many triathletes also treasure sunglasses' lens options. Every race location has different landscapes and weather patterns, so using appropriate lenses for different conditions equates to better vision and a better race experience.
Oakley addressed this issue by developing Prizm lenses, a lens technology designed specifically for different environments. The Prizm Road lenses improve vision in bright light and shadows to help emphasize the contours of the road, and the Prizm Trail lenses enhance reds and browns--perfect for off-road triathlons.
It may seem excessive to analyze something as basic as sunglasses, but as most triathletes know, the little things can matter most when you near mile 140.
