Six of the best sports shades

1The Wing by Adidas Athletic (pounds 60.00) Designed specifically for a wide range of activities including para-gliding and snowboarding. They give a wide field of vision and their strong polycarbonate lenses protect against the wind and dust as well as the sun. The nose bridge and temple tips are made of soft plastic to give maximum comfort and security even during high motion sports. Available in four colours. For details of stockists call 0181-889 9371.

2Ray-Ban Xrays by Bausch & Lomb (pounds 89.00 & pounds 125.00) These certainly get the Olympic seal of approval, or at least they should after design technicians sought the expertise of 160 professional athletes. The broad, natural eye movement athletes find necessary for fast reacting sports like volley ball require any sunglass lens to have areas of optimal visual definition, or "sweet spots". The Xray lenses provide two distinct "sweet spots" making the clarity unmatchable. The combination of close to the face comfort, the strong lightweight rubber that remains flexible in all conditions and their state of the art style make them definite gold medalists. For details of local stockists call Sunglass Hut on 0171-493 3044.

3Zeros by Oakley (pounds 78.00) Oakley describe their sunglass lenses as Polaric Ellipsoid made from plutonite. This may sound like something from Dr Who, but simply means that the lenses mimic the curvature of the eye to benefit vision. The design team even carry out impact tests on their frames with a 12-gauge shotgun. Gold medalist cyclist Chris Boardman is further testing Oakley's ultra light Zeros this year. A special earsock and nose piece adheres to the face with moisture, so no matter how much of a sweat you work up they won't slip down your nose. For local stockists call: 01462 475475.

4 Naja by Bolle (pounds 44.95-pounds 69.95) These have a detachable shield which blocks out side light, which makes them particularly suitable for watersports and mountain biking. They are part of the "snakes" range which come complete with appropriately named "venom" lenses, which have a mirrored finish for the brightest of conditions and a non-mirrored one for general wear. Their sleek styling makes them a favourite for casual eyewear as well as reliable sports accessories. For details of stockists call 0181-770 1766.

5SPi (pounds 45) The more contemporary shape of this frame lends itself to both sports and fashion. It's powerful hinges ensure a perfect fit for all head shapes. The lenses have a multi-layer mirror coating which produces a spectrum of colour from yellow to magenta as they are turned to the light. The impact resistant frames have a soft rubberised nose bridge which can be detached to allow you to clean it thoroughly. Available in a selection of futuristic shapes and colours. For details of stockists call 0171-359 0012.

6Active Eyewear (pounds 12.99) Designed with active outdoor pursuits in mind such as, skiing, cycling and sailing, these multicoloured mirrored wraparounds are great value for money. Their polycarbonate lenses are scratch resistant and 30 times stronger than glass, making them almost impossible to break, especially important in racket sports. Unlike most of the others we tested they have traditional shaped arms that hook over the ear can be adjusted to fit even the smallest head. With 34 styles in the range, the choice is blinding. For stockists call: 01782 577055.

Sunglasses carrying the CE mark meet British Standard requirements (BS2724) for levels of protection and safety.