Rudy Project’s Sunglass Lens Color Guide
Grey lenses were the first lenses created to block out the sun. After that, brown lenses were developed for those who needed contrast. Later, green lenses entered the scene, blending the visual benefits of the first two. But since those earliest options, sunglass lenses have evolved to offer a variety of lens colors for every activity. Fortunately, lens technology has progressed as well.
Today, sunglass manufacturers have rolled out a rainbow of lens tints and lens tech, allowing users to optimize their vision for whatever sport they choose. How varied are the selections? Considering Rudy Project offers more than 20 lens tints for their Rydon sunglasses alone, the options are impressive.
Water sports, winter sports, court games, or endurance sports — there’s a lens tint designed to enhance your vision and performance. Use the sunglass lens color guide below to help narrow your options and find the best sunglass color for your sport or lifestyle.
Red/Rose/Brown
These colors enhance depth perception by adding contrast and saturation, which allows lighter-colored objects to "pop" and stand out. Brown offers the most contrast and a yellowish feel. Red provides contrast without making objects too bright, making it the best option for low-light conditions. Lighter, red lens colors excel in foggy and overcast conditions, providing excellent contrast despite the flat light.
Grey/Dark Grey
Grey, the original lens color, delivers a neutral feel. Colors will be natural but slightly darker. Like all sunglass colors, grey lenses cut glare and reduce eye strain. They also block out the most light compared to the other colors, making them the go-to choice for extreme sunlight and sun glare scenarios. Although grey lenses do not add contrast, they are still the ideal generalists of sunglass lenses and the best choice for the brightest days.
Green
Green lenses deliver the truest color perception. Green provides a happy medium between the extremes of grey and brown, making it a versatile lens that can be used in different lighting conditions and activities. They also provide respectable contrast on low-light, cloudy, or overcast days. This quality makes them a solid choice for snowsports participants who often set out on cloudy days.
Purple/Blue
On extremely sunny days, purple and blue lens colors excel at mitigating harsh glare from water or snow. The color also helps sharpen the contours of objects and scenery, making your surroundings look sharper and more focused. Bonus: blue tints enhance and boost color, so the world tends to look more vibrant through blue lenses. Purple is one of the newest and most versatile lens colors. True to color like green, purple lenses add saturation and contrast that can rival the depth perception of a red lens. Purple lenses further separate themselves from other colors with their performance on green backgrounds (courts or grass). Light-colored objects pop against the green, making the purple lenses the best choice for sports like pickleball, tennis, baseball, etc.
Lens options have evolved to offer colors for almost every activity, landscape, and light level. The best color for you depends on your chosen activity — and your personal preferences. (You may not like seeing the world through brown lenses but love seeing it through purple lenses). Whichever Rudy Project lens tint you choose, you can count on your sunglasses to reduce eye strain and protect your eyes from UV rays, wind, dust, and debris. You can also trust them to elevate your performance.
