Developed with Courtney Dauwalter
There are plenty of sunglasses which are endorsed by elite athletes. Far fewer have genuinely been developed with the demands of that athlete’s racing in mind.
The new SunGod Classics⁴ PRO, developed with ultra running icon Courtney Dauwalter, falls into the latter category.
And with Dauwalter back on the start line at UTMB today, it seems an appropriate time to take a closer look at the sunglasses designed to keep up with her.
Features
- 26g
- 8KO nylon lenses
- 100% UVA/UVB protection
- Category 3
- Lifetime guarantee
- £110
Familiar looks, more performance
At first glance, the Classics⁴ PRO doesn’t look dramatically different from the familiar Classics⁴. That’s deliberate.
Dauwalter has raced in the Classics⁴ for years, choosing their more traditional shape over the increasingly aggressive wraparound designs favoured by many performance sunglasses. According to SunGod, she liked the way they looked and felt, but after spending 18 hours or more racing, the small things started to matter: a little movement, pressure behind the ears and the need for a lens that could cope with constantly changing light.
The first thing you notice when putting the sunglasses on is that they are not dark lenses. Initially I was disappointed, but then when running with them I loved their ability to allow me to run between the sun and the shadows without me needing to move them up and down my nose to see. You are able to continue running seamlessly between shade and light.
The PRO version retains the original silhouette but introduces a redesigned arm and temple profile, Grip-Lock nose and arm pads, and performance fins intended to provide a more secure fit without turning them into a full-on racing wraparound. These glasses do not move on your head.
Lightweight Frames
At 26 grams, the SunGod Classics⁴ PRO are lightweight without feeling flimsy. The frame is made from recycled TR90, with screwless Pop-Lock hinges, while the 8KO nylon lenses are designed to provide impact resistance and optical clarity. The clarity of the lenses have been noticeable; SunGod claims up to 70% clearer than standard polycarbonate lenses, alongside 100% UVA and UVB protection.
On the left lens is a tiny pickaxe carved into the gold.
What does the pickaxe mean?
The answer surprised me and is more interesting than simply being a reference to mountain running.
The design represents Courtney’s “pain cave”; that mental space she talks about reaching during the hardest moments of a race.
The cracks represent the point at which things start to hurt and the facade begins to fracture. But, rather than representing failure, Courtney sees that moment differently. The cracks reveal what lies on the other side: the point where her best qualities and potential begin to emerge.
The gold cracked detailing and matching lenses are a visual representation of Courtney’s philosophy, while the pickaxe is a nod to digging into that difficult place rather than running away from it.
It’s a surprisingly appropriate concept for a pair of sunglasses designed for someone who routinely spends an entire day deliberately finding out just how far she can push herself.
Longevity
The real test of any pair of running sunglasses is how they feel after eight, twelve or eighteen hours.
SunGod’s development process was therefore particularly relevant. Courtney tested physical prototypes on the run, with repeated changes made to the arms, grip and fit. The finished product was subsequently taken to Hardrock 100, where she raced in the Classics⁴ PRO and went on to win, setting a new course record.
That development history is interesting because the PRO isn’t just a cosmetic upgrade. The changes are focused on areas that become noticeable as the hours accumulate: stability, pressure, grip and weight.
The rubberised nose pads are designed to provide additional grip as you sweat, while the reshaped temples and fins are intended to keep the glasses securely in place without creating the pressure points that can become irritating during a long day.
For general trail running, mountain days and bright summer conditions, the lens provides the protection you’d expect from a premium pair of sunglasses.
Conclusion
SunGod took a design that one of the world’s best ultrarunners already loved and developed the features that mattered to Courtney when she wore them for 100 miles.
The result is a pair that looks considerably more understated than many dedicated performance sunglasses, but has plenty of technology hidden in the details.
I love these glasses. They’re comfortable, light, they don’t move and the story behind the development is nice too. They get a solid 5 stars from me, with only a tiny mark down for the price.
And then there’s that Courtney wow factor.
The limited-edition gold version manages to turn something quite abstract, the psychology of entering the pain cave, into a physical design detail. The cracks aren’t about breaking. They’re about what happens when you’re pushed hard enough to reveal what you’re capable of.
Which feels particularly appropriate this weekend.
Courtney Dauwalter will be spending another 171 kilometres going around Mont Blanc, through France, Italy and Switzerland, and deep into whatever her particular version of the pain cave looks like this time. We wish her, and everyone running UTMB, the best of luck.
Buy the SunGod Classics⁴ PRO Courtney Dauwalter Limited Edition
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About the author:
Kate Allen is the owner and Editor of RunUltra and a Mountain Leader. An experienced ultra runner, in her spare time she can be found either running or hiking with her dog Mac around the hills of Cumbria, Yorkshire and the Lake District.
