Deck: At 24.5g with a photochromic 8KO Iris lens, the Ultras Air almost disappears on your face. We tested them on the bike and on the run, in bright sun and on a wet, overcast day.
Key features
- Weight: 24.5g, SunGod’s lightest frame so far
- Lens: 8KO® nylon, spherical, interchangeable. Photochromic Iris™ Gold, VLT 11–47%, filter Cat.3 to Cat.1. Not polarised. ABBE value 52, 100% UV
- Frame: zero-frame build in recycled TR90, Pop-Lock™ screwless hinges, Grip-Lock™ hydrophilic nose pads and earsocks
- Dimensions: 148mm frame width, 133mm lens width, 53mm lens height, 122mm arms
- In the box: microfibre pouch and a nose pad pack with three sizes
- Guarantee: lifetime
- RRP (as tested, Frosted Clear / Iris Gold): £200 / €245 / $255. From £160 / €195 / $205 with a standard lens
How we tested
We tested the Ultras Air in Frosted Clear with the Iris Gold lens on a 25km run, a 120km ride and a 10km run. To push the photochromic lens, we deliberately included a cloudy day as well as bright sun, and some of the testing was done in the rain.
Summary: the TL;DR
These are very light, very comfortable glasses. The photochromic lens handled the switch from full sun to heavy cloud without us needing to swap anything. They’re among the best we’ve tried at this price.
Best for…
Runners first, and triathletes who want one pair of glasses for both bike and run training, especially when the forecast can’t decide.
Light enough to forget
The weight is the headline. The Ultras Air are 1.5g lighter than the original Ultras (26g) and 3.5g lighter than SunGod’s FORTY2s (28g), which we reviewed earlier this year. On paper that’s small. On the face it adds up. Over a 120km ride and a 25km run, we stopped noticing them. Combined with the grippy nose pads and earsocks, they sat still on the run without any bounce, and they stayed put on the bike in the drops.
Fit is the other half of the comfort story. The frame is smaller and sits closer to the face than the original Ultras. SunGod also includes three nose pad sizes, so you can tune how high the glasses sit before your first session.
One lens, two very different days
This is where the Ultras Air earned their verdict. On the sunny day the Iris Gold lens darkened properly and cut the glare well. On the rainy, overcast day it lightened enough that we never felt we were riding blind under cloud. The results were excellent in both conditions.
The spec explains it. At its darkest the lens reaches Cat.3 (11% VLT), and at its lightest it opens to Cat.1 (47%). That range covers most daytime training in the UK and Europe. One caveat: Cat.1 is not a clear lens. For pre-dawn starts or night runs a dedicated clear lens is still the better option. And because the lens is not polarised, glare off wet tarmac or open water isn’t cut the way a polarised lens would cut it.
How it compares
At £200 as tested, the Ultras Air sit in the premium bracket, alongside the established performance sunglasses triathletes already know. Against that field they stood out for comfort and lens versatility. They feel very good for the price, and we’re not alone in that view: 220 Triathlon named the Ultras Air its best overall triathlon sunglasses of 2026 with a 93% score. The lifetime guarantee and the interchangeable, modular lens add to the value.
The trade-offs are easy to see. SunGod rates wind protection as only “medium”, so riders who spend long hours on the aerobars may want more wrap. A hard case costs extra, which 220 Triathlon also flagged. And the photochromic lens adds £40 over the £160 starting price.
Who it’s not for
- Riders who want polarised optics for glare off water or wet roads
- Riders who want maximum wind coverage for long, fast time-trial efforts
- Night or pre-dawn runners, who need a fully clear lens
Pros and cons
Pros: barely noticeable at 24.5g • stable, no-bounce fit for running and cycling • photochromic lens handled both sun and heavy cloud • lifetime guarantee • fully customisable
Cons: not polarised • only medium wind protection • hard case costs extra • the photochromic lens costs £40 more than the base model
VERDICT
The Ultras Air are the most comfortable pair of glasses SunGod has made, and the photochromic Iris lens means one pair covers most of a triathlete’s year. If polarisation or full aero wrap isn’t on your list, they’re very hard to beat at the price.
Price and where to buy: £200 / €245 / $255 as tested. Shop the SunGod Ultras Air (Iris Gold) at sungod.co. Also stocked by Sigma Sports from £160 (standard lens).
