When it comes to choosing a good pair of sunglasses, it’s not just about how they look. If you’re spending time on the water, running, cycling, walking the coast or simply enjoying a sunny day outdoors, your sunglasses need to offer proper protection, stay comfortable and cope with an active lifestyle.
That’s one of the reasons we’re pleased to be stocking Union of Surf sunglasses.
Born from a love of the coast, Union of Surf combines practical outdoor performance with a strong focus on more responsible materials. Their range includes everyday polarised sunglasses as well as dedicated sports eyewear, including the RESCUE wrap-around sports sunglasses.
Built for an Active Lifestyle
Sports sunglasses need to do more than look good. They need to stay where they’re supposed to be when you’re moving.
Union of Surf’s sports collection is designed around wrap-around eyewear, giving greater coverage than conventional sunglasses. The curved design helps reduce peripheral glare while providing protection from wind and dust - particularly useful when you’re running, cycling or spending time around the coast.
The RESCUE range is a great example. With its distinctive wrap-around shape, it is designed specifically for active use, while still having the unmistakable surf-inspired look that runs through the Union of Surf collection.
Polarised Lenses for Less Glare
One of the biggest advantages of a good pair of sports sunglasses is glare reduction.
Bright sunlight reflecting from the surface of the sea, wet roads, snow and other surfaces can make it difficult to see clearly. Polarised lenses work by filtering much of this reflected horizontal light, helping to reduce harsh glare and improve visual comfort.
Union of Surf's Wav P Lens technology is designed with exactly this in mind. The brand says its polarised lenses reduce reflections from water, roads and snow while helping to improve colour and contrast and reduce eye strain.
For anyone who spends a lot of time around the sea, that's particularly useful. Whether you're watching the waves, walking along the beach or heading out for a coastal cycle, cutting reflected glare can make bright conditions much more comfortable.
UV400 Protection
Glare reduction isn't the same thing as UV protection so it's important that sunglasses provide both.
Union of Surf states that its sunglasses feature UV400 protection, filtering 100% of harmful UVA and UVB rays.
That makes them a practical choice for long days outdoors, when your eyes are exposed to strong sunlight for extended periods.
Sustainability Isn't Just About the Sunglasses
Another reason Union of Surf stands out to us is the thought that goes into the materials and packaging.
The brand uses a range of alternatives to conventional virgin plastic across its eyewear collection. These include bio-acetate, FSC-certified wood offcuts and recycled plastics.
Bio-Acetate Frames
Bio-acetate is made using a cellulose base derived from plant material, with plant-based plasticisers used instead of traditional fossil-fuel-based plasticisers.
Union of Surf uses bio-acetate in a number of its sunglasses, offering a plant-based alternative while retaining the durability, finish and feel expected from quality eyewear.
It's worth making an important distinction here: bio-based doesn't mean that a pair of sunglasses will simply disappear in your garden compost. Union of Surf itself notes that bio-acetate generally requires appropriate industrial conditions to biodegrade.
We think that sort of transparency is important when talking about sustainable products.
Giving Materials a Second Life
Union of Surf also looks beyond the frames themselves.
Its eyewear cases include cases made from old wetsuits and recycled neoprene. Rather than allowing usable neoprene to become waste, the material is cleaned and sewn into unique sunglasses cases.
There's a nice bit of circular thinking behind this: material that has already had one life in the water gets another life protecting your sunglasses.
Packaging With Less Plastic
The brand also takes steps to reduce unnecessary packaging waste.
Union of Surf says its sunglasses are supplied in recyclable cardboard tubes, while its postal packaging and protective materials are designed as alternatives to conventional plastic packaging. Its protective "bubble wrap" alternative is compostable and reusable.
Individually, these choices might seem small, but they're part of a broader approach to reducing the amount of new material used throughout the product's journey.
Why We Think They're a Great Choice
For us, Union of Surf gets the balance right.
You're not choosing between performance and environmental considerations. You get sunglasses designed for outdoor use, with polarised lenses, UV400 protection and sports-specific shapes, while the brand is also actively looking at how its frames, cases and packaging can be made using more responsible materials.
And importantly, they still look like sunglasses you'd actually want to wear.
The designs have that relaxed, coastal character you'd expect from a surf-inspired brand, but the sports range brings a more technical edge for people who want something that can keep up with running, cycling and other outdoor activities.
Come and Try Union of Surf
If you're looking for a new pair of sunglasses for the beach, the road, the trails or everyday summer adventures, Union of Surf is well worth a look.
We're stocking selected Union of Surf sports sunglasses, including the RESCUE wrap-around range, so you can see the styles and try them for yourself.
Good sunglasses should protect your eyes, improve comfort in bright conditions and be something you actually enjoy wearing.
Union of Surf aims to do all three with a little more thought given to the planet along the way.