AW collaboration

When it comes to essential running gear, items that provide sun protection are at the top of the list. Our post emphasizes that though it can be inconvenient to wear sunscreen with all the sweating you do, it’s still crucial for preventing skin cancer.

The same goes for sunglasses. You may worry that they’ll just slip or fly off as you run, but they’re just as important for preventing sun-related eye diseases ranging from cataracts to cancer. That’s why, just like how you can simply opt for non-greasy sunscreen that won’t slide off, it’s best to wear dedicated sports sunglasses. The one thing you may not think will enhance your running health and performance, however, is a pair of UV-blocking smart glasses. After all, all you need to do is run—so why wear tech on your face?

If you think about it, though, you may already be bringing unnecessary and even obstructive tech with you, like your smartphone and earphone buds. That’s why the Ray-Ban Meta — a product that Market Research Future notes is leading a smart glasses market worth over $17.8 billion — believes that when it comes to the benefits they offer runners, there’s more than what meets the eye.

Wait—what’s the Ray-Ban Meta?

Popular eyewear brand Ray-Ban, which is known for classic sunglasses designs like the Aviator and Wayfarer, always aims to innovate. You’ll see that in its sustainable bio-based collection, as well as the various sunglasses it offers with lenses that curve inward. It was thus arguably only a matter of time before the brand collaborated with Facebook’s parent company to design and release the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. This wearable boasts all the stylish features you expect from stylish Ray-Ban models like the Skyler and Headliner, but with added tech-savvy integrations courtesy of Meta.

That gives you the ability to take photos and videos before uploading them to social media, send and receive texts, listen to audio, and even use a handy AI assistant to answer your queries, all hands-free. Despite that, it doesn’t compromise on sun protection—you can get a pair with UV-blocking lenses, polarized coatings that block the sun’s glare, and even your prescription, if you have one. That makes the Ray-Ban Meta great for everyday use.

So, when it comes to answering the question of whether runners should use smart glasses, why do these features imply the answer is yes?

How exactly does the Ray-Ban Meta benefit runners?

Improved situational awareness

If you’ve ever had to stop and dig out your phone to send or receive a call or text on a run, you know what a hassle it can be—especially if your route passes through high-traffic areas. Things become even more dangerous if you’re wearing earbuds to play some tunes and possibly want to change to another track. All that can take away from your situational awareness, putting you at a higher risk of accidents. The Ray-Ban Meta can help here in two ways. For one, you can do all the above functions via voice command, so you don’t need to stop just to tell whoever you’re living with to thaw some chicken before you get home. These smart glasses also come with open-ear speakers that don’t bleed sound. That means you can listen to your favorite music without anything completely obstructing your ears, and you can change songs with a simple voice command, too. These features can keep you safe on every run while keeping you connected. At the same time, you won’t have to give up on the comfort and even the enhanced endurance Runner’s Life notes listening to music can provide.

Hands-free navigational assistance

Running a new route in your hometown or while on vacation in an unfamiliar city? It might take you a while to find your way around—and if you’re into some serious training, taking out your phone to repeatedly look back at the directions Google Maps is giving you can disrupt your run. That’s where you can say “Hey, Meta” and use the Ray-Ban Meta’s AI assistant to get some easy, non-invasive navigational assistance. Similar to the ChatGPT-powered AI functions on the Solos Airgo3 smart glasses—which also offer runner-friendly features—this uses Meta’s proprietary multimodal AI model to not just provide GPS instructions, but also identify and tell you about what you’re looking at. Notably, that includes recognizing landmarks, which can help you quickly get your bearings and get your run back on the right track.

Informative route inspiration

If you need more info on the route you’re running — or simply want to try a new course — you can, once again, turn to the Ray-Ban Meta’s AI for some help. Its two parent companies encourage you to ask detailed and descriptive questions to challenge the AI model, and that can work to your advantage. Use the voice command at any point on your run, and you can get information on everything from the weather and inclines along your route to what time the sun will rise or set on any given day. You can also ask it to come up with new and more challenging routes for you, including those based on your preferences. Want to try a route that runs by a particular spot or spans a set number of miles? Just ask away, and the Ray-Ban Meta AI will give you an answer.

Curious about whether or not you should use smart glasses on your next runs? The features on the Ray-Ban Meta show that these wearables have plenty of benefits to offer athletes—so looking into them is definitely something worth considering.