How to Choose Kitesurf and Wingfoil Sunglasses

On the water the light comes from two directions: from the sky, and back off the surface. Add wind, spray and the occasional crash, and most sunglasses stop making sense after a few sessions. This guide covers what a pair for kitesurf and wingfoil has to do, in the order it matters once you're out there.

It has to float

Sooner or later a pair comes off. A board to the face, a hard landing, a wave on the inside. If the frame sinks, it's gone. Floating frames are built from materials lighter than water, such as recycled HDPE, or carry floaters in the arms. Most of ours also ship with an extra floater that slides onto the strap for more lift.

Floating is the first filter. If a pair doesn't float, it doesn't belong on a kite or a wing. See our floating sunglasses.

It has to stay on

Floating is the backup. Staying on is the plan. Look for a retention strap that adjusts behind the head, EVA foam behind the frame that grips and seals, and a wraparound shape that doesn't catch the wind. Models like Race and Killy Water have a removable strap and removable arms, so you can set them up the way you ride.

Polarized, and why it matters here

Light reflected off water is largely polarized horizontally. A polarized lens filters that plane out, which removes most of the glare sitting on the surface. What's left is the water itself: the darker patch of an incoming gust, the texture of the chop, the shape of the swell. On a kite or a wing, that is information you use every few seconds. More detail in Polarized lenses on the water.

A lens that sheds water

Spray lands on the lens constantly. On an untreated lens it dries into salt spots that blur everything. A hydrophobic coating makes water bead and roll off, so a shake of the head clears it. Every one of our watersport sunglass lenses carries one.

Lens darkness and color

Midday on open water is about as bright as it gets outside of snow. A category 3 lens, which lets through 8 to 18% of visible light, is the standard choice. If you ride early, late or under changing cloud, a photochromic lens that moves between category 1 and 3 covers the whole session: Jeri, Essaouira, Boracay and Leucate offer one.

Smoke lenses keep colors natural. Revo mirror lenses reflect more light away and suit the brightest days. A few models, including Tierra de Fuego and Lake Garda, take a ZEISS smoke lens. If the numbers are new to you, read Lens categories 0 to 4, explained.

Sunglasses or goggles

In warm water and moderate wind, sunglasses breathe better and weigh less. In cold wind, heavy spray or when you're foiling fast, goggles that seal completely keep your eyes dry. Ours, Teide Water and La Ventana, use a dual spherical anti-fog lens and float too.

Where to start

Race for kite and wing with interchangeable lenses. Jeri for an aerodynamic shape and a photochromic option. Lake Garda or Cumbuco if you prefer a full frame with nose pads and a ZEISS option. The full range is in Kitesurf & Wingfoil.