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TN Sunglasses: High-quality performance eyewear for runners and other athletes

Posted March 20th, 2007 at 12:17 PM by Paul Petersen

Section: Gear & Apparel, Apparel, Miscellaneous, Product Reviews

Sunglasses and I typically do not play well together. I have purchased — and destroyed — countless pairs of lenses and frames over the years through a gamut of mishaps.

These destructive events were not of malevolent intent, but were rather quite accidental; whether by sitting on them, stepping on them, my dog’s chewing habit, or running them over with the lawnmower (yes, that really happened). Accidents … all of them! Oh, and the sunglasses that I manage to keep in one piece, I tend to lose.

Because of my tendency to destroy or lose my sunglasses, I am often forced to buy the cheapest pair possible in order to minimize my financial and emotional risk. These cheap-o’s, although easy on the pocketbook, are usually heavier, less comfortable, of lower lense quality, and less suitable for rigorous running. Thus, they tend to become relegated for driving-use only.

Enter TN Sunglasses; a Swiss brand created in 2002 that recently began entering the U.S. market. TN boasts that their sunglasses are virtually indestructible and that their frames can literally be tied in a knot without damage! They also back this up with a lifetime guarantee against manufacturer’s defects.

This propriety material-plus-design combination, called TSM System, also makes them extremely lightweight. In fact, with lenses the Force One model (seen above) weighs a mere 23 grams and the Shadow model (pictured below) a feathery 17 grams!

The polycarbonate lenses are something special too. Although you certainly can’t tie them in a knot, they are distortion-free, impact- and scratch-resistant, provide 100% UVA+B+C protection, and are available as polarized or non-polarized. TN is definitely considered “high-end” eyewear, with prices retailing anywhere from $129-$229. TN sunglasses are also being noticed and accoladed by competitive athletes of all types, such as triathletes Tom Evans and Juliano Teruel, for both competition and casual use.

Feeling emboldened by their reputed indestructibility, I decided to give the Shadow model a trial. They look very fashionable, but their top benefit is performance.

The frame itself has been grooved out to provide the least amount of material and therefore the lightest possible sports eyewear. Weighing only 17 grams, I barely noticed that I was wearing them. They also allow for a clear view through the top of the lenses (handy at times) and come with either polarized or non-polarized lenses.

My particular Shadows had the polarized lenses, and I enjoyed how they minimized glare without losing sharpness and clarity of vision. The glasses were also quite comfortable. I wore them for a variety of runs (7-milers, 18-milers, road runs, trail runs, easy days, and speed workouts) and they stayed firmly in place without sliding or bouncing regardless of my speed or perspiration level.

They also didn’t irritate or grow uncomfortable against my ears or nose, a problem I typically have with cheaper sunglasses. The frame material is truly remarkable and can be significantly flexed without breaking or losing shape. However, and to be completely honest, I just didn’t have the guts to actually tie them in a knot.

Overall, I was very pleased with the TN Shadow sunglasses. They are stylish, very lightweight and comfortable, and meet lense standards for high-performance eyewear. I usually forgot that I was even wearing them during runs; a key sign of a quality in the world of athletic sunglasses.

Believe it or not, I even managed to prevent them from from facing the same grim fate of the countless previous pairs of sunglasses that I have owned in the past. If TN could just come up with a solution to keep me from losing sunglasses, I would be set for life!