What Are Revo Coated Sunglasses? A Runner's Guide

What Is a Revo Coating?

A revo coating is a multi-layer mirror coating applied to the outer surface of a sunglass lens. It creates the colored, reflective finish you see on performance sunglasses and works by reflecting light before it reaches your eyes. The result is reduced glare, improved visual clarity, and a noticeable drop in eye strain when you're running in bright conditions.

The term "revo" comes from the sunglasses brand Revo, which pioneered this type of multi-layer coating technology. Today, revo coating is used as a general term across the eyewear industry to describe any high-quality mirror coating with multiple layers that enhance lens performance beyond a simple tint.

For runners, the practical benefit is straightforward. When sunlight bounces off roads, water, car windshields, or concrete, a revo coated lens reflects a significant portion of that light away before it enters the lens. You get clearer vision with less squinting, which matters when you're trying to read the terrain ahead or hold pace over a long run.

Revo Coated Lenses vs Regular Sunglasses Lenses

Standard sunglasses rely on tinted lenses alone to reduce brightness. The tint absorbs some light as it passes through the lens, which dims your overall view. It works, but it's a blunt approach. Everything gets darker, and glare from reflective surfaces still reaches your eyes.

Revo coated lenses add an extra layer of protection on top of the lens. The multi-layer coating reflects specific wavelengths of light at the surface, reducing glare before it enters the lens. This means you get glare reduction without making everything uniformly darker.

Here is what that looks like in practice for runners:

• Glare management: Road glare, water reflections, and light bouncing off cars are all reduced at the lens surface, not just dimmed by the tint behind it.
• Visual clarity: Because the coating selectively reflects certain wavelengths, colors and contrast stay sharper than with a basic dark tint.
• Eye strain: Less glare reaching your eyes means less fatigue on long runs. This is especially noticeable after the first hour.

Revo coatings can also be combined with polarisation for even stronger glare reduction. Polarised lenses filter out horizontal light waves (the type that causes intense glare off flat surfaces), while the revo coating handles the rest. Together, they tackle glare from multiple angles.

Re.'s Revo Coated Lenses: Protector vs Purity

Re. uses revo coating across two lens types, each built for a different running scenario. Both include full UV400 protection and are designed for bright, consistent conditions.

Protector Lenses

Protector lenses are polycarbonate, impact-resistant, and revo coated. They use the revo coating to reduce glare and enhance visual clarity in strong sunlight. Durable and impact-resistant, Protector lenses are built for runners training or racing in consistently bright environments.

Polycarbonate matters for runners because it handles the unexpected. A kicked-up stone on a trail, a branch at face height, or simply dropping your sunglasses on concrete. Re. chooses premium PC (polycarbonate) lenses rather than cheaper AC (acetate) alternatives. They cost significantly more to manufacture, but they deliver superior optical clarity, impact resistance, and durability.

Protector lenses are available across all four Re. frame styles, with VLT (visible light transmission) ranging from 14% to 29% depending on the coating color.

Purity Lenses

Purity lenses take the Protector lens and combine polarisation with the revo coating and full UV400 protection. They reduce reflective glare and visual fatigue in strong sunlight, prioritising clarity and protection over light adaptation.

This makes Purity lenses ideal for road running, racing, and daytime training where conditions are predictable. You know the sun will be out and the glare will be constant, so the polarised plus revo coated combination gives you maximum glare control.

Purity lenses are currently available on the Re.balance Purity Blue (VLT 11%) and Re.silience Purity Orange (VLT 15%).

When to Pick Each

Choose Protector if you want impact resistance, a wider range of coating colors to choose from, and a lens that handles bright conditions with durability built in. Good for mixed training, racing, and situations where your sunglasses might take a knock.

Choose Purity if you want the strongest possible glare reduction for consistent bright conditions. The polarised plus revo coating combination excels on road runs, open courses, and sunny race days where reflective glare is constant. For a deeper comparison of polarised and other lens technologies, see our guide to running sunglasses lens tints and colors.

Revo Coating Colours and What They Do

The coating colour on revo coated sunglasses is not just cosmetic. Different colours reflect different wavelengths of light, which affects how much light passes through and what your vision looks like behind the lens. Here is what each coating colour in the Re. range does for runners.

Ice Blue

VLT 17% (Protector) | VLT 11% (Purity). A versatile coating that performs well in full sun. The blue mirror finish reflects a broad range of light, keeping things comfortable on bright road runs and open courses. Available on the Re.balance Protector Blue, Re.glide Protector Blue, and Re.balance Purity Blue.

Gold

VLT 20%. A slightly higher light transmission that works well when conditions are bright but not blinding. The gold coating adds warmth to your view while still cutting glare effectively. Available on the Re.balance Protector Gold and Re.glide Protector Gold.

Orange

VLT 17% (Protector) | VLT 15% (Purity). Orange coatings enhance contrast, which helps when you need to pick out surface detail on roads or paths. Available on the Re.flex Protector Orange and Re.silience Purity Orange.

Green

VLT 19%. Green coatings provide natural color balance while reducing glare. A solid middle-ground option for runners who want comfort without shifting the color palette too much. Available on the Re.flex Protector Green.

Red

VLT 14%. The lowest light transmission in the Protector range, making red the strongest option for extremely bright conditions. Worth noting: red revo coatings are more prone to color damage than other coating colors and require extra care (more on that below). Available on the Re.glide Protector Red.

Purple

VLT 29%. The highest light transmission in the Protector range. Purple lets more light through than any other revo coating color, making it a good option for bright conditions where you still want a lighter feel. Available on the Re.balance Protector Purple.

Black Chrome

A stealthy, low-profile coating with strong light reduction. Black chrome pairs well with the Re.silience frame's wider coverage for runners who want maximum protection without a flashy mirror finish. Available on the Re.silience Protector Black Chrome.

To explore the full range of revo coated options, visit the Revo Coat collection.

How to Care for Revo Coated Lenses

Revo coatings sit on the outer surface of the lens, which means they are exposed to everything your run throws at them. All revo coated lenses need regular maintenance to keep the coating in good condition. Neglect will shorten the life of the coating noticeably.

Cleaning

• Use the microfibre cleaning cloth included with your sunglasses. Paper towels, shirt fabric, and tissues can scratch the coating.
• Rinse lenses with clean water before wiping. This removes grit and salt (from sweat) that could scratch the surface when you wipe.
• Avoid household cleaning products, window cleaner, or anything with ammonia. These can strip the coating layers over time.

Storage

• Always store your sunglasses in the hard-shell protective case when you are not wearing them. Loose storage in a gym bag or pocket is the fastest way to damage a revo coating.
• Keep them away from extreme heat. Leaving revo coated sunglasses on a car dashboard in summer can warp the coating.

Handling

• Avoid placing your sunglasses lens-down on any surface. Even a smooth table can cause micro-scratches over time.
• Red revo coatings are especially prone to color damage and need extra care. Be particularly careful when cleaning and storing red coated lenses.
• All coatings will eventually show wear with heavy use. Consistent cleaning and proper storage are the best ways to extend their lifespan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are revo coated sunglasses polarised?

Not always. Revo coating and polarisation are two different technologies. A revo coating is a mirror layer on the outer lens surface that reflects light. Polarisation is a filter inside the lens that blocks horizontal glare. Some lenses combine both (like Re.'s Purity lenses), while others use revo coating without polarisation (like Re.'s Protector lenses). See our comparison of Re. frame styles to find the right combination for your running.

What does VLT mean on revo coated lenses?

VLT stands for visible light transmission, the percentage of light that passes through the lens to your eyes. A lower VLT number means less light gets through and the lens is darker. Re.'s revo coated lenses range from 11% VLT (Purity Blue, very low light transmission) to 29% VLT (Protector Purple, the lightest option). For dedicated bright-sun running, most runners will want a VLT between 11% and 20%.

Can I use revo coated sunglasses for trail running?

Revo coated sunglasses work well on trails in bright, consistent conditions. The Protector lens is a strong choice for trails because of its polycarbonate construction and impact resistance. However, if you run trails where light changes frequently (moving in and out of tree cover, for example), a photochromic lens that adapts to changing light may be a better fit. Our guide to photochromic running sunglasses covers this in detail.

Do revo coatings scratch easily?

All revo coatings need proper care to stay in good condition. The coating sits on the outer surface of the lens, so it's exposed to contact, sweat, and debris. With regular cleaning using a microfibre cloth, rinsing before wiping, and storing in the included hard-shell case, the coating will hold up well. Red revo coatings are more delicate than other colors and need extra attention.

What is the difference between revo coated and photochromic lenses?

Revo coated lenses have a fixed tint level designed for consistent bright conditions. Photochromic lenses adapt to changing light, getting darker in bright sun and lighter in shade or cloud cover. If your runs take you through varying conditions, photochromic may be the better choice. If you run in reliable sunshine, revo coated lenses deliver excellent glare reduction and clarity. Read our full breakdown in the polarised vs photochromic running sunglasses guide.

Ready to find your revo coated pair? Browse the full Revo Coat collection or shop all running sunglasses.