Article by Jen Schmidt and Reed Breuer
Tifosi Shumo ($39.95) and Vogel XC ($39.95)
Vogel XC ($39.95)
At only $39.95, Vogel XC offers a lightweight, rimless design that provides a secure, barely-there fit, making it perfect for long-distance runs and intense training sessions. Its shatterproof polycarbonate lenses provide crystal-clear optics and 100% UV protection, so your readers can run with confidence no matter the conditions.
Key features :
Ventilation: Helps prevent fogging during high-intensity efforts.
- Durable construction: Designed to withstand sweat, drops, and the demands of outdoor adventures.
- Weight: 24g
Jen: The Vogel XC provides lightweight 100% UV protection at a very reasonable price point and looks pretty darn good while doing it. I love this style of sunglasses and was immediately drawn to the unique lavender-tinted lenses. Nonetheless, I found them comfortable, durable, and well-designed for running, Nordic skiing, and cycling.
Reed: Echoing Jen’s thoughts, the Vogel XC is a pretty snazzy set of shades for only $40. They feel very light while offering enough eye protection for me without being as big as other shielded shades.
Fit
Jen: The lenses fit my face well, and I especially appreciated the extended coverage on the sides. The wraparound lenses provided extra protection while I was skate skiing in windy conditions.
The arms are comfortable and sit well behind my ears without pressure. A slightly tighter fit would help the sunglasses stay in place better on smaller faces, but this was not an issue as long as I tucked them into a headband or hat.
Reed: I appreciated that the Vogel XC offers substantial eye protection with a bit of wrap around the sides. Tifosi wanted a shielded lens that wasn’t too massive for small to medium faces and although these may still be too big for a smaller woman’s face, I think they’ll fit most medium faces for any gender. I had no discomfort at any touchpoint after a 32-mile training run which is all you can hope for!
Performance
Jen: The Vogel XC lenses feature slits at the bottom that are intended to provide ventilation and prevent them from fogging during activity, the first time I’ve seen such a feature. It delivered. I often struggle with glasses fogging up while running or skiing in cold, dry conditions, but these stayed clear the whole time.
Note the ventilation slits toward the bottom right of the lens.
The frameless design is perfect for cycling, as it doesn’t block your vision up the road, but also reduces weight for running or any other activity. Really, my only complaint with the Vogel XC is the adjustability - I’d love for the nose pads to be a little more flexible to enable a closer fit. As is, the Vogel XC is sized for a fairly large nose bridge and tends to slide down while running unless the arms are tucked into a hat or headband. The Vogel XC is nonetheless a thoughtfully designed and well-constructed frameless option at a highly reasonable $39.95 price point.
Reed: If I’d been asked to set the price-point for the Vogel XC, there’s no way I would have guessed under $50. They didn’t fog up and they didn’t collect sweat from my eyebrows. I think they’d benefit from some adjustability via an alternate rubber fitting, and if that raised the price I think it would be worthwhile. I’m not sure if the ventilation slits are responsible for any of the magic, but they seem to be working!
The closest comparisons I have for this price range are two Goodr models, the Wrap G and the Bolt G, both for $35. The Wrap G is a larger shielded lens (31g) and the Bolt G (24g) is roughly the same size as the Vogel XC. Neither of the Goodr models are frameless, which I think is definitely notable because I had issues with some fogging and sweat drips (from my eyebrows I assume) with both Goodrs. I also noticed that the Vogel XC fared better in the shade with no notable difference in the sun.
Shumo ($39.95)
Hydrophilic rubber nose pads for a secure, no-slip fit
Shatterproof, scratch resistant polycarbonate lenses
Available in 4 colorways
Fit: M-XL
Weight: 29g
Features
Jen: The Shumo style is similar to other super-popular running sunglasses, with large lenses that extend straight out to the sides rather than wrapping around.
In the Honey colorway I received, the GT lenses provide 100% UVA/UVB protection but without the mirrored coating of the other colorways. The durable polycarbonate lenses were as resistant to scratching as promised, a crucial feature for running sunglasses that may get dropped or thrown in a gear bag. The large lenses provide good frontal coverage without wrapping around the sides, so some light does come in at the sides and top.
The Honey colorway features GT lenses, whereas the other colorways sport mirrored lenses. All versions are shatterproof polycarbonate with 100% UVA/UVB protection. The lenses extend straight out to the side, providing good frontal coverage but less protection at the sides and top.
Fit
Jen: I tried the smallest size available, M, but an even smaller size would have been great. The Shumo’s fixed nosepiece has two small hydrophilic rubber pads to help keep it in place. While these pads kept the glasses in place for casual wear, they weren’t quite strong enough to keep the glasses in place on my nose while running. The arms sat comfortably behind my ears and provided a close but not tight fit.
Performance
Jen: The Shumo is cute and very functional for everyday wear and walking around, but the M size slips a little too much on my nose to work for running. This model would be a great choice for fans of Goodr and other similar brands, as the Shumo seems very durable and the lenses are good quality for a $39.95 pair of sunglasses.
Four colorways are available, three with mirrored lenses and one with GT lenses, in sizes M-XL. I’d love to see a smaller size in the future, but in the meantime the Shumo is an affordable and well-made option for runners with large enough faces to prevent it from sliding down.
Shop for the Vogel XC, Shumo and all their many other styles at Tifosi Optics
Tester Profille
Jennifer Schmidt found trail running in her mid-20's and began dabbling on the roads a few years later. Trail 50k's and road marathons are nearest and dearest to her heart, but she loves chasing competitive and personal goals on any surface and over any distance. These days, you can find her primarily on the sweet California singletrack around Auburn and Truckee, usually averaging 70-95 mpw. Depending on the season, she also competes in the USATF road and XC circuits for Sacramento Running Association's racing team. She has a marathon PR of 2:41 and was recently selected as an alternate for the USA team for 50k world championships.
Reed Breuer, 32 years old from Auburn, CA. Reed began running at age 18 and did the classic track/cross country route through college. After college he ran a couple road marathons and started racing on trails in 2017. He moved from Sacramento to Auburn in 2023 to live closer to the historic Western States 100 course and he primarily trains and races on trails from 50k to 100mi. He has run a 15:28 5k and 2:28 marathon and is locally competitive in races of any surface or distance. He manages a local running shoe store and is starting a coaching business on the side (capital-endurance.com). He is a closeted heel-striker and over-pronator with a very low-volume foot.
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