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Running Accessories • March 16, 2023

SunGod Ultras Sunglasses Review: If Santa Cruz Could See Me Now

sungod ultras cover

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What You Need To Know

Size

133 mm (width) by 59 mm (height) by 121 mm (arm length)

Weight

26 g

Customization options

10 lenses, 9 frames, 8 earsocks

Changeable lenses

Yes

Price

$185

THOMAS: It wasn’t all that long ago that shield sunglasses were a distant memory of the 80s and 90s, like the Walkman or the electric typewriter. Heck, I can still smell the coconut suntan oil that drenched the Santa Cruz surf shop where I first saw a pair of Oakley Blades. Those screens with multicolored reflective coatings seemed to magically float on your face, transforming ordinary dweebs like me into rad brahs with whom Jeff Spicoli would be stoked to share a righteous pie. The rub was that they’d set you back a hundred clams — at least.

A Benjamin was a shit ton of money back in the day, but I had to have my Blades. Looking back, I get why they kept ’em in a locked case. I would have gone for a five-finger discount if they’d been any more accessible. Instead, I had to squirrel away money like I was investing in a 401K.

As I saved, I imagined how cool I would look when I finally had them. Before long, that day came, and my biggest decision was which color to buy. I went to the surf shop and weighed my options, eventually landing on orange frames with a gold-to-red gradient shield. You might think — or at least I did — “Damn, the kid made it. Next stop, Coolsville, USA.”

In reality, eyewear alone isn’t enough to transform a pale, scrawny, half-Jewish kid with braces. Honestly, the Blades just amplified my dorkiness, so I left the shields to pro wrestlers and burnt-out surfers.

It would be almost 25 years before I would work up the nerve to wear another pair. Truth be told, I still can’t don them without a bit of self-consciousness, but as a runner, I can walk around in 3-inch shorts or tights, so who gives a shit what people think of my shades? Besides, the 80s are back in style.

Shop SunGod Ultras sungod ultras arm

Looks aside, shield sunglasses offer a couple of practical benefits. First, blade-style lenses are lightweight and provide wrap-around coverage. Second, sunglasses are essential for protecting your vision, duh.

As for the SunGod Ultras, need I say more than that you can customize each pair? You can make the Ultras fit your unique personality with ten frame color choices, ten different lenses, nine logo color options, and eight earsocks colors. Earsocks, for the uninitiated, are the rubber tips that cover the frame near your ear. I went through the process and created two pairs of Ultra sunglasses, which were delivered within a week.

The SunGod Ultras are right in line with what you’d expect from the $185 price tag. The lens clarity is crystal clear, and there wasn’t any fogging. Once the glasses were in place, I didn’t have any bouncing. The Ultra can handle the double duty of running and cycling and are a perfect choice for triathletes.

If I could write a letter to my past self, I’d tell him to save his clams on that pair of Oakley Blades. He didn’t know just how cool shields would become in the future. As Marty McFly told a confused gym in Back To The Future, “I guess you guys aren’t ready for that, yet. But your kids are gonna love it.” I’d also show him this picture…

sungod vibes

Anyway, customize and grab your pair of SunGod Ultras for $185 at the button below.

Shop The Sunglasses

 

sungod ultras
Shop SunGod Ultras
Shop SunGod Ultras
1
Comment

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  1. Nathaniel L says:

    I was surprised that Believe in the run would do a review on it since it’s based in the UK! However, I love it! I’m glad you guys did a review.

    I love my Ultra! I found out about them through one of my friend who is a We are Sun God athlete.

    I love my lens where it’s clear when there is no sun but turn dark once there is sun.
    I can wear them when it’s cloudy and also sunny.

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Authors

Thomas Neuberger
Founder
  • Strava
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As the founder of Believe in the Run, Thomas’s goal is to help runners pick the shoes and gear that will make their running experience the best that it can be. 

More from Thomas
Shoe Size

10.5

Fav. Distance

26.2

PRs
  • 10:28

    50 Mile
  • 5:43

    50K
  • 3:20

    26.2
  • 1:36

    Half Marathon
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