REVIEW: Knockaround Fast Lanes Sunglasses

I received a set of Knockaround Fast Lanes to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.comto review find and write race reviews! This review is my own and is my honest experience with the product.

I can never have enough sunglasses, but as I’m not particularly gentle with them (or good at locating them… pretty sure they’re always next to my keys or phone which I can also never find), I have a few requirements:

1. Inexpensive: I misplace sunglasses constantly, but also drop them, have them ripped off my head by my kids, etc. So I don’t want to spend a ton of money on them.
2. Durable: See above re: proper care and TLC that I do not give my sunglasses. I also want to be able to wear them in the pool in the summer, or generally enjoy the outdoors (after all, isn’t that why I’m wearing them?)
3. Looks: They have to work with my face! Funky shapes and lenses are a no-go for me. I can be pretty picky with this one.

Problems that I often encounter with sunglasses? They don’t stay put while engaging in outdoor activities, or they don’t fit my big head. Yes, I have a large noggin’ and I’m not ashamed to admit it. When I used to wear prescription glasses, I had my eye doctor direct me straight to the glasses that came in the ‘wide’ options. I never realized this was a thing until finding that there were some brands that just didn’t cater to us with horizontally challenged faces.

When BibRave gave me the opportunity to try out the Knockaround Fast Lanes, I had some questions. First, I’d never heard of the company! What was their deal? After some research, I was pleased to find that they are based around the concept of being ‘practical and stylish.’ Perfect. Sounds like a good start to me! Second, they specifically called for us with the wider face size. What?!

I selected a classic design of the glossy tortoiseshell and amber lens so they would have more compatibility with life outside of running, and I already have a good amount of funky sunglasses. At $20 a pop, I figure if I really love them, I can easily get additional pairs in every crazy pattern my heart desires.

Initial observations? The packaging was simple and no-frills. An acetate box with a nice, fabric, drawstring pouch to store my new shades. At the price point of the glasses, this was pretty much as expected. When I took them out of the pouch, I was a little concerned that they looked too masculine. I had my husband put them on and he liked the fit and shape. Hmm… I put them aside to wear the next day when I could actually put them in use and see if they’d grow on me.

I wore them the next day driving to work as I have a decent commute where I always hit the sun at the premium, blinding angle, where you have to sit extra tall in the driver seat for optimum visibility. I found that the tint on these was dark enough that I could actually see better than normal, and didn’t have to squint quite as much as usual. Definitely a win. I also found that the shape and design was growing on me. The glasses were comfortable with no pinching or tightness around my face. While they are more of a unisex design, I found I was more and more comfortable with the shape of the glasses. It was time for the next test: stability during activity.

I had a few runs planned during the week, and Spring had finally arrived in North Carolina. I went out for a couple of daytime runs with my Fast Lanes and pretty much forgot they were there; except for the muted sun on my face! They didn’t budge and kept the intensity of the sun to a minimum. I couldn’t have asked for better performance.

Some other technical details? According to their website, all of their sunglasses offer full UV400 protection. Their sunglass lenses all fall under category 3, which means ‘they work best in above average light conditions and offer high sun glare reduction.’ They also have frames for kids for $10.

Overall? I’m super impressed with the Knockaround Fast Lanes! At $20 a pair, I would happily order more (like chapstick, I can never find sunglasses when I need them!) to have at the ready whenever I need them. The shape grew on me and the comfort is unmatched compared to other sunglasses that I own. Also, while they seem super durable, at that price, it’s not painful on my budget if I do have to replace them. Even better, through April 18th 2019, you can get 20% off your order (one per user) with the code “BIBRAVEKNOCKS1”

What has your experience with running sunglasses been? Or is one pair of sunglasses the same as another to you?