June 12, 2024 — The Vision Council (TVC) has published its latest report, "Focused inSights 2024: Sports Sunglasses," based on findings from its recent survey on adults' sports sunglass usage and preferences, providing insights into the demographics, purchasing habits, and preferred product features of wearers of sunglasses designed specifically for outdoor sports and physical activities.
For the latest sports sunwear trends, see the Eyecare Business April fashion feature.
The findings come ahead of National Sunglasses Day on Thursday, June 27, an annual event by TVC to raise awareness about the importance of wearing sunglasses to protect eyes from the sun. This year's campaign focuses on sports sunglasses, encouraging outdoor enthusiasts to wear them during their activities. Participants can share a sunglass selfie on social media using the hashtag #NationalSunglassesDay. For those in the eyecare and eyewear communities, TVC offers a toolkit with promotional graphics and content here.
Findings reveal that only 11% of adults currently own sports sunglasses, but usage among these owners is high, especially during activities like hiking, running, biking, and fishing. Those who own sports sunglasses are highly satisfied and likely to buy a new pair within the next year.
“Sports sunglasses are not as widely used as traditional sunglasses, but the high satisfaction rate among users suggests more people could benefit from owning a pair,” says Alysse Henkel, vice president of data and inSights at TVC. “They are not just for professional athletes or long-distance cyclists. Anyone active outdoors can benefit from features like anti-glare coatings, non-slip nose pads, and interchangeable lenses.”
The following are key findings from the report:
- Men are three times more likely than women to own sports sunglasses.
- Gen Z and Millennial men are the most likely to own sports sunglasses.
- More than half (68%) of sports sunglasses owners have two or more pairs.
- About half of the owners have prescription lenses in their sports sunglasses.
- Within the next year, 29% of all respondents plan to purchase sports sunglasses.
- Top features valued in sports sunglasses include UV protection (40%), style (35%), fit (29%), polarized lenses (28%), and scratch resistance (26%).
The full report is available here as a complimentary download for members and for nonmembers to purchase.