Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.
At first glance, Chamelo’s Music Shield sunglasses looks like a regular pair of wraparound sport sunglasses. You would never guess there are speakers tucked into the arms. I tested these sunglasses over the past year on runs, bike rides, and workouts, and they’ve become one of the most unexpectedly fun products I’ve used recently.
The idea sounds a little absurd at first—do you really need headphones and sunglasses fused into one?—but once I started wearing them, I loved the freedom of only having to grab one thing. Plus, they’re much harder to lose than an AirPod.
Related: I Tested Over 25 Rain Jackets—These Are the Top Picks That’ll Keep You Dry, Inside and Out
What It Is
The Chamelo Music Shield is a pair of sport sunglasses with built-in Bluetooth headphones. The speakers are housed in the side arms, so you get both UV eye protection and audio in one compact frame. They look almost identical to larger wraparound performance shades designed for endurance sports, like the Oakley Sutro or Smith Split Shift.
The lenses use electro-tint technology that lets you manually switch from lighter to darker shades with a quick swipe along the frame. Unlike photochromic lenses, which shift automatically but take a few minutes to transition, these react instantly. I loved this feature during runs and hikes with changing light conditions—the amount of shade changes block by block in Brooklyn so it’s nice to be able to adjust accordingly. The catch is they need battery power to work. If you forget to charge them, you’ll be stuck with useless, clear frames that won’t offer much protection from the sun.
As for fit, Chamelo lists them as medium-large. I have a relatively small head and haven’t had issues with them slipping or bouncing, but the arms aren’t spring-loaded, so if you’re on the bigger-headed side you might feel the hinges stretched a bit.
Chamelo Music Shield Sunglasses Overall Impression
On paper, the idea of combining Bluetooth headphones with sports sunglasses sounds kind of gimmicky—like it wouldn’t go well for either of them. But I have been thoroughly impressed by both elements of Chamelo’s Music Shield Sunglasses. The sound is crisp and clear, and the sunglasses themselves feel like proper performance shades.
The frames are extremely lightweight, and after long runs or full days outside, I barely noticed I had them on. The impact-resistant lenses have survived trail runs, travel days, and even the Speedgoat 10K without a scratch. (Which is impressive, because I’m notoriously hard on gear and have been using these for over a year.)
But the big question from me was how well they would do in all light conditions. Normally I rip off my sunglasses the second it feels too dark, but the adjustable tint here makes them wearable in a broader range of situations. I never felt like I was straining my eyes, nor felt frustrated that I still had to wear sunglasses to listen to my music. They also stayed firmly in place during sweaty workouts and bumpy trail miles, something I doubt you’d get with bulkier audio glasses like the Meta Ray-Ban. (I had a friend who ran in those once and could only bear it for a mile.)
Key Features and Tech
When you think about this product, you have to consider it in two parts: A pair of sunglasses, and a pair of headphones.
As Sunglasses
The Music Shield is designed with a wraparound frame that provides wide coverage, which is especially noticeable if you have a smaller face. They block 100 percent of UV rays, and the big selling point is the electro-tint lenses. On the side arm, a strip decorated with moon-phase icons acts as the control; you swipe your finger over this to shift the lenses from light to dark. This is quite different from photochromic lenses, which adjust automatically based on light conditions. Those can take a few minutes to fully transition, while you can shift the tint on these in seconds.
The transmission range for these lenses is 63 percent to 17 percent. For context, the darkest everyday sunglasses hit around 8 percent, so these never get truly dark. That means they’re best suited for medium-to-bright conditions rather than glaring desert sun or high alpine snowfields. If your eyes are particularly sensitive or you live somewhere the sun always shines, these may not provide enough coverage.
One quirk: the tint adjustment starts to glitch when the battery runs low, which threw me off the first time it happened. It will either auto-adjust or refuse to hold in place. But if you’re only using them as sunglasses, the battery stretches for around 100 hours, which is plenty for a multi-day trip.
As Headphones
The audio feels like a solid mid-range pair of open-ear headphones. The sound will never match over-ear cans or high-end earbuds, but it’s more than enough for running or cycling.
The open-ear design is not noise-cancelling; it leaves you aware of your surroundings, which is important for safety (and etiquette) on roads or trails. The sound itself feels expansive enough that it almost tricks you into thinking people nearby can hear it too. I’ve asked running partners multiple times if my music was bleeding out, but it turns out it’s no more noticeable than bone-conduction headphones. Unless someone is standing right next to you in total silence, the audio stays personal.
The frames also have a built-in microphone that works for phone calls, which is handy but not fancy, since there are no voice assistant integrations. The headphones are IPX4 rated, meaning they can handle sweat and light rain but not much else. Battery life clocks in at about 6.5 hours of music, which is enough for a long run or most day adventures. And the charge held steady when they weren’t in use—I could come back to them after two weeks and they’d be ready to go.
Pros
- Surprisingly strong sound quality for open-ear headphones
- Adjustable tint from 63% to 17% transmission
- Discreet sound similar to bone conduction headphones
- Quick charging
Cons
- Few controls on the frame and no voice assistant
- If you lose the charger, it’s hard to find a replacement
- Needs to be charged to adjust the tint of the sunglasses
Final Verdict
The Music Shield is as fun as it is functional and has become a go-to for me, especially for running. Serious audiophiles may want more depth from the sound, which can’t compete with high-end over-ears or buds, but for open-ear sport audio it’s better than expected. The clarity holds up during trail runs and even on bike rides where wind noise usually takes over. The frames are comfortable for all-day use and never caused any sore spots on my temples.
That said, the design isn’t perfect. As someone who always forgets to charge her electronics, I didn’t like the total unusability of the lenses without a battery. I wish the default tint was a little bit darker. But at $259, they sit in the same ballpark as premium sunglasses or mid-range headphones. The difference is you’re getting both in one, which makes the price a lot easier to swallow.
Why You Should Trust Me
I’ve been testing outdoor, fitness, and health gear for over five years, and have written for over a dozen publications including GQ, Men’s Health, Conde Nast Traveler, and more. I’m what you may call an activity dabbler—one month I’ll be trail running, the next bikepacking—but I’ve been doing it all so long it’s fun to switch it up and test products across sports. My goal is always to push gear in the environments it’s actually designed for, and I’ve been using the Music Shield during marathon training, on multi-day bike rides, and for casual hikes. I still haven’t put them through a HIIT workout outside or a football practice, like in the brand’s ads, but based on my testing so far, I’m confident they’d hold up to any sport.
