Tifosi Sanctum sunglasses. All photos: iRunFar/Kristin Zosel
Are you on the hunt for a new pair of one-and-done sunglasses that are on the super-affordable end of the bell curve, yet still provide 100% UVA/UVB protection? Are you curious about the shield sunglasses experience, but not sure you want to go full send on the look?
The unisex Tifosi Sanctum ($35) sunglasses provide a cost-sensitive, understated gateway to the large lens world, specifically for the medium-large face, and are suitable for just about any endurance or court sport you might choose on a given day.
The more reserved appearance of the Sanctum also makes them very easy to wear out and about if you feel a little self-conscious in the quasi-ski-goggle styles that are increasingly popular. If you have a small to medium-sized face, you may prefer the similar Tifosi Sizzle style. Both come standard with the microfiber cleaning bag, but the zippered, hard-shell case ($15) is sold separately.
Since 2003, Tifosi Optics has made it its focus to create stylish, quality sport sunglasses, that emphasize value and performance, and cross over easily into lifestyle wear as well. The Sanctum easily meets these goals. All Tifosi sunglasses come with a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects, and you can be sure of very quick responses from their friendly customer service team.
A quick glance at the brand’s website indicates they also value educating potential users of their product about everything from which lenses to choose and why, to various sustainability and social responsibility initiatives and principles. I find all of this very impressive for a company whose focus is on lifestyle and performance sunglasses in the $25-80 range.
I tested the Sanctum during a hot summer, while running on rolling prairie trails and rocky Colorado Front Range foothills, maxing out my green-level mountain biking skills on wide singletrack, and paddleboarding flat water on cloudy and sunny days. My mom-taxi game was also strong during the testing, and they proved very easy to just leave on.
Testing got significantly up-leveled when my teen snatched them and proceeded to put them through serious paces on horse drill team practices and trail rides on horseback. Somehow the lenses have remained unscathed, despite his penchant for not remembering the hard case and just stuffing them all dusty and sweaty into his bag. Three cheers to Tifosi Optics for creating $35 glasses that can survive and thrive in such an environment.
The Tifosi Sanctum is listed in our Best Running Sunglasses guide, if you’d like to see how they stack up against favorites tested by the iRunFar team. If they pique your interest, you’ll have at least 13 different frame color and lens options to choose from. While many of their frames are suitable for prescription lenses and have replaceable lenses and frame parts, the Sanctum is simpler and doesn’t allow for these options. But for $35 per pair, it’s hard to beat.
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Tifosi Sanctum Frame and Fit
A right-side view of the Tifosi Sanctum.
Weighing just 0.9 ounces (26 grams), the Tifosi Sanctum strikes the perfect balance between sitting lightly across the nose and ears, while being strong enough to easily to put on and take off one-handed. Both my teen and I can wear these for hours without any headache or pressure points developing, which isn’t always common, particularly in lower-cost glasses.
The integrated hinge and nose pads mean no catching on hair while wearing, or if you happen to pop them on top of your pony-tailed head while you run into the store. This feature is an absolute must for me, as I have zero tolerance for glasses that get tangled in my hair, and Tifosi absolutely nails it.
The subtle wrap of the frame also provides good protection from wind and dust, but leaves ample space for air movement, eliminating the lens fog that sometimes occurs with a sleeker wrap.
The medium-large fit of the Sanctum does work for my rather large face, but isn’t quite as roomy as the similar-sized frames from brands such as Smith and Oakley. I can see there being a market for a large-extra large option as well.
I tried a couple of other Tifosi glasses on in-store to check the difference between this fit and other options labeled small-medium and medium-large, and found the Sanctum to be the most accommodating and comfortable out of all of them. There’s no uncomfortable pressure through the temples or behind the ears, and I can smile my cherubic cheeks all the way up without impacting the ride of the frames.
Helpfully, Tifosi puts the actual frame and fit dimensions for their glasses under the Details tab on the product webpage, so you can compare and contrast the measurements with ones you already own. I appreciate how the Sanctum fits beneath visors, trucker hats, sun hats, and bike helmets. My teen gives two thumbs up for integration with straw or felt cowboy hats as well.
The Sanctum features a renewable bio-resin in Tifosi’s new Thrive Frame line — a plant-based material that reduces the need for petroleum-based plastics, and feels really smooth against the skin. Hydrophilic rubber nose pads are integrated into the continuous nose pieces for increased grip as you sweat. And, when coupled with the lightly-textured coating on the frame, the glasses do not slip even with running technical downhills, biking washboard gravel roads, or trotting on horseback.
The only time I had to squinch my cheeks a few times to reset them was on a ridiculously hot and humid day on the paddleboard, when the sweat was pouring and I should have been in the shade — nothing a quick jump in the lake didn’t fix, however.
Tifosi Sanctum Lens
A side view of the Tifosi Sanctum paired with a visor.
The shatterproof, scratch-resistant polycarbonate lenses on the Tifosi Sanctum provide 100% UVA/UVB protection and come in 10 mirrored options of various colors, one tint-only option, and one clear lens. They also have a glare guard to reduce eyestrain, particularly in bright or highly reflective conditions, which is helpful for those of us who don’t tolerate polarized lenses.
They worked well paddling in flat water, which is my ultimate test. Unfortunately, for those who prefer a polarized lens, you’ll need to explore other Tifosi styles.
One other lens technology detail to point out per Tifosi is that the lenses are optically de-centered to eliminate distortion and magnification. Though I don’t exactly understand how this works, I can tip my head and move my eyes to look through every angle of this lens without any aberrations, which is a perk that sets them apart from some of the competition. This is a bonus for peripheral vision acuity, especially at higher speeds on trails.
Overall, the lenses are better than similarly priced sunglasses from other brands I’ve tried, but as someone with high-maintenance, maturing eyes, I do miss the more refined technology in the pricier brands’ lenses that allow greater definition as I quickly visually scan the terrain while running or biking. I need those trail-texture details to pop out, particularly on more technical terrain or in dappled light.
The Sanctum lenses give a flatter visual experience — still well-shielded from the brightness of the sun, but lacking crispness and vibrance comparatively. In no way is this a true complaint, however, because the price points are so different. The Tifosi technology, in my opinion, is the best in its class.
Tifosi Sanctum Overall Impressions
I’m thoroughly impressed by the quality, overall performance, and comfort of the Tifosi Sanctum. I honestly had low expectations of a $35 pair of sunnies, and Tifosi exceeded those expectations in every way. The durability of the frame and the scratch resistance of the lenses are impressive, and if you’re someone who is tougher on glasses (ahem, dear teen child) or doesn’t want the stress of keeping tabs on a pricey pair, these are an excellent choice.
While there are better-performing lenses from an optical perspective, you won’t find them in this price range. Tifosi’s product is a top all-around performer among its competitors.
