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Sunglasses serve the dual purpose of protecting your eyes from sun damage and completing your look before you head out the door. Finding a pair with 100% UV protection is a non-negotiable (all the glasses we tested check that box), but since they sit front and center on your face, it's important to find a style that complements your features and personal style.
Our men's team agreed that the Costa del Mar Rinconcito is the best overall pair of sunglasses. The square frames suit most face shapes, and the slight wrap to the lenses offers better eye protection from the sides.
The Ray-Ban Erika are the best women's frames. We like the soft gradient on the lens, while the slightly oversized round shape offers extended protection and seems to be universally flattering. They're also a bit lighter and don't feel heavy on the bridge of your nose.
Since 2017, our gear experts have tested over 100 pairs of sunglasses, from cycling and running shades to stylish high-end glasses and budget-friendly sunnies. Sunglasses are the last thing we grab before leaving home, whether we're biking to the coffee shop for our morning brew or headed to the mountains for a weekend of climbing.
Editor's Note: Our sunglasses review was last updated on May 15, 2026, to include two new pairs we recommend from our most recent round of run-specific-pairs testing.
Who it is best for: The Costa del Mar Rinconcito is for men looking for an everyday pair of glasses that goes above and beyond. While not sport-specific, these high-performance sunglasses have dark, polarized lenses made of impact-resistant plastic that performs well during sports and water activities, so you don't need a second pair if your days often take you off-road.
Why we love it: Its crisp, flawless polarization minimizes glare, minimal back reflections in harsh lighting, and large, slightly wrapped lenses provide excellent coverage, maintaining its top spot for water-based performance over several years. The arms have a curved shape, and rubber nose pads help provide a secure fit; we were never worried about the glasses falling off even when things got a bit bumpy.
Should you buy it? We think the rectangular frames work well on most faces, but the distinctly sporty look might not be everyone's cup of tea. These are also very pricey. If you're the kind of person who loses your sunglasses at least once a year, you might not want to make the investment. But if you can manage to keep them around, the Rinconcito sunnies offer excellent eye protection, especially for water sports, and are low-key enough to wear on a daily basis.
The Rinconcito worn by many of the GearLab crew around Lake Tahoe. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Who it is best for: The Ray-Ban Erika are a stylish option that flatter various face shapes and styles. Thanks to their oversized, softly rounded wayfarer-style frames, they suit wearers with both small and large facial structures. The semi-flexible metal bows don't put too much pressure on your temples after hours of wear. They are a great choice for ladies looking for a pair of daily sunnies they don't have to think too hard about. They offer 100% UV protection and look great while doing it.
Why we love it: Despite their casual nature, the Erika glasses have crisp, clear optics. The gradient lenses are darker at the top to provide more sun protection, and lighter at the bottom so you can easily see where you're walking even in a patch of shade. Ray-Ban offers a polarized version of the Erika, and if the gradient isn't your thing, they also come in solid lens colors and a wide range of frame colors.
Should you buy it? These are lightweight and comfortable enough to wear all day, but fall firmly in the casual category. They're not the glasses we would choose for anything sportier than a bike ride across town. However, the lenses did a good job of resisting scratches during our testing, and the classic shape is likely to outlast trends. You'll be wearing these glasses for years to come.
The Erika on a variety of GearLab testers. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Who it is best for: The Camp Eyewear Trail sunnies feature a classic wayfarer shape that is popular for both men and women. These casual glasses have frames made from plant-based plastic and have real wooden inserts in the arms that give them a beachy vibe. They are a great budget option (under $100!) that you'll want to wear every day, while still feeling a step up in quality from “cheap”.
Why we love it: Simply put, these glasses are comfortable and stylish. And for days when we weren't ripping down mountain bike trails or summiting a 14er, that's all we wanted. They meet the requirement of being 100% UV protective, but take it a step further by adding polarization to the lenses, a feature you usually have to sacrifice when opting for budget sunnies, which makes them a good option to take out paddling around the lake.
Should you buy it? We didn't have any problems with the lenses of the Trail during testing, but they are made from a slightly less durable TAC plastic. This means they could be potentially more prone to scratching or breaking if dropped. Some of our testers also had problems with the glossy finish of the frames slipping down their nose if they got a bit sweaty. Hence our recommendation against wearing these for high-intensity activities. But in most cases, these glasses provide incredible value for everyday wear.
The Trail out on the trails of Tahoe with multiple testers. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Who it is best for: The Zenottic Philip have generously sized lenses with a slight wrap that does a great job of keeping your eyes shaded from the sun, even during mornings and evenings when the light is coming from a lower angle. They are super affordable and would be a great option for someone who is constantly losing their sunnies. At this price, most people can afford to keep around a backup pair.
are an excellent pick for an all-around pair of sunglasses at any price that do a great job keeping your eyes shaded from the sun any time of day. They have the quality and durability to be used for sports, but won't cause a financial crisis to your wallet if you lose them while out and about enjoying life. They're best for larger faces or anyone who likes a lot of coverage.
Why we love it: The bio-based nylon frames are a bit sturdier than basic polycarbonate plastic and are of a high enough quality to support a prescription. The lenses are polarized and even feature an anti-scratch coating, which was a rare find among the budget glasses we tested. While they're by no means “premium” glasses, we were pleasantly surprised with what they do well.
Should you buy it? If you're looking for a steal of a deal on a great pair of sunglasses, the Zenottics are it. It's worth noting that the oversized frames may feel overpowering on smaller faces, but if you don't mind the size, there are enough colorways available to match your personal style. Despite the price, these sunglasses feel like they should cost a lot more than they do, and are a great pick if value for money is your jam.
The price of the Zenottic Philip bellies their high quality frames and polarized lenses. Credit: Justin Simoni
Who it is best for: The Ray-Ban Original Wayfarer Classic is a tried-and-true set of sunnies that never go out of style. They skip the trends, and are a safe bet if you want something to go with everything from casual beachwear to dressier attire. Our main tester was impressed, saying, “Not only do they look good on everybody, they look ridiculously stylish on everybody”. These glasses are a classic for a reason.
Why we love it: Its iconic, 70-year-old style remains chic. But enough about style. The robust construction feels indestructible, with high-quality acetate frames and real glass lenses. These materials also have a weighty feel on the face. We like it, but some may find them too heavy after a few hours of wear.
Should you buy it? TLDR; yes, if you were to buy the Wayfarers, you probably wouldn't be dissapointed. The most common complaint our testers had was the distinct forward tilt of the lenses. For those with higher cheekbones, the bottom of the glasses would sometimes come into contact with their cheeks when they smiled. Others noticed that the tilt let in more light from above. These things are worth noting, but are in no way dealbreakers. We love the
For sunglass testing, we brought in a bunch of the GearLab team in order to get multiple opinions on comfort and fit. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Who it is best for: The 100% Hypercraft is our top recommendation for runners looking for high-performance shades that can keep up on long summer runs. This uber-lightweight pair is designed to stay on your face and provide full UV protection during intense sports. They outperformed nearly every other run-specific pair we tested — and for half the cost.
Why we love it: These glasses have everything a runner could want. Featuring an ultra-grippy nose piece, low weight, and great balance, they don't bounce and are impressively comfortable even on long runs. Their wide wrap shape and close fit provide excellent protection, while perfectly distributed vents stop them from fogging up when things get sweaty.
Should you buy it? The only downside we could find is that they have a slightly wider-than-average fit. That didn't cause any issues among our testers, but if you have an extra-narrow face, these might not feel as secure. If you're an avid runner on sunny, hot days, and you've been searching for sunnies that won't drive you bananas (or leave you broke), we can't recommend the Hypercraft enough.
This run-specific pair from 100% nailed it on all the features we need for glasses that can keep up - a secure and comfortable fit, great coverage and protection, and a price we're willing to invest in. Credit: Kyle Richardson
Two lenses included, with excellent clarity and color
Comfortable
Superb coverage
REASONS TO AVOID
No dust protection
Clear lens scratches easily
Who it is best for: The Smith Wildcat has a full-wrap fit that is perfect for cyclists who need protection from UV rays as well as dust and debris on the trail. Flexible frames and adjustable nose pads make these a good choice for any size face since you can tailor the fit to keep them from flying off your face on bumpier sections of trail.
Why we love it: The optics are the reason we kept reaching for these glasses. We tested the Wildcat with photochromatic lenses (meaning they transition from lighter to darker as conditions change), which made these a go-to for more activities than just biking. Our tester notes, “The photochromic works really well. Its range is workable for most outdoor conditions, from shaded trails to the top of a snowy peak.” The Wildcat also comes with a clear lens included, and the two are easy to swap out.
Should you buy it? The fit is not quite as up close and personal as other cycling glasses, which we liked, though the breathable fit can allow more dust in on close-following rides. But the less goggle-like fit makes these more versatile and we were more likely to grab use them as an “everything” pair of sunnies in addition to most cycling scenarios.
We tested the Wildcat with multiple sunglass experts to get various opinions on fit and style. Credit: Abriah Wofford
How We Tested
We have spent years testing and retesting sunglasses to evaluate which ones are best for specific uses. As detail enthusiasts, we've broken our sunglasses testing into five separate categories of glasses: men's and women's (which both include many unisex models), cheap, sports, and cycling. We have collectively spent thousands of hours wearing and testing these glasses in every possible activity and location we could. We wore them at the equator on the Galapagos Islands, in the sunny Caribbean, and through cloudless Sierra Nevada Mountain hikes. We wore them dog sledding at the North Pole in spring (sun and snow!), mountain biking patchy trails at twilight, running single track through the desert, road tripping across the country, and paddling across hot summer lakes. We've packed these sunnies in checked luggage, tossed them on car floors, pulled them out of the bottoms of backpacks, and rescued them from watery graves. We are sunglass experts.
From the Caribbean to Iceland and from the North Pole to Lake Tahoe, we've spent thousands of hours testing sunglasses in all kinds of environments, all types of situations, and on a wide diversity of faces. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Why Trust GearLab
As extensive as our lineup of sunglasses is, our testing bench is equally impressive. Several of our senior review editors are in charge of testing all the different types of glasses.
Maggie Nichols has been wearing glasses since she was four years old and has been a professional backcountry guide for over 15 years. She is obsessed with protecting her eyes as she works and adventures outdoors in some of the sunniest places on the planet, from the African savannah to mountaintops almost 2 miles high.
Joshua Hutchens leads GearLab's team of testers for all things bike-related. An avid biker — from BMX to mountain biking to road cycling — Joshua's career has had him leading bike trips, running bike shops, racing every type of bike, and founding bike parks.
Jeremy Benson is an obsessive year-round cyclist and author of two outdoor guidebooks. As a former sponsored ski athlete and current outdoor junkie, he has an unbridled passion for the best sunglasses for every adventure.
Justin Simoni loves to travel fast and light in Colorado's backcountry, often dreaming up difficult lines to traverse on foot via miles of crumbling ridgeline catwalks in the sky. The harsh amount of sunlight from such an exposed setting is one of the reasons he has become obsessed with everything sun-protectant, including sunglasses.
Each of our main testers pulled in the help and critical eyes of a host of friends, family, and coworkers to help test and evaluate these sunglasses.
We've tested sunglasses across the country and around the globe, doing everything outdoors to find out which ones are the best.
Why Should I Invest in (Potentially Expensive) Sunglasses?
Just like a great winter coat, the perfect button-down shirt, or an excellent pair of shoes, there are three types of sunglasses: the ones that look good, the ones that work well, and the ones that look good while also working well. While the right pair of sunglasses can bring your look up a notch, they're also a very important protective gear that you should never leave home without.
UV rays damage your eyes as well as your skin. UV exposure can cause cataracts, macular degeneration, and even eye-related cancers. An ever-increasing body of evidence implies we should all protect our eyes better. This is especially true for those who spend extended hours outdoors, as additional protection against high-energy visible light (HEV or blue light). Even if you're stepping out into the backyard with the dog, a blast of bright light can be painful and potentially eye-damaging. Reflected light off surfaces like water and snow, pavement, and other objects compound the amount of light your eyes are trying to cope with, making polarized lenses ideal for blocking out this unwanted additional glare. With all the reasons to wear sunglasses quite literally staring you in the face, let's go through how to decide which sunglasses are right for you.
Sunglasses do far more than just look good - they're an important part of protecting yourself from the damaging effects of UV rays. Credit: Maggie Nichols
How to Pick the Best Sunglasses for You
Before even considering the style or intended activities you have for rocking your new shades, it's helpful to review the many materials and features manufacturers put into their products. Understanding each attribute's benefits and best use will help determine if a pair of glasses is right for you.
Think about what kinds of activities you want to do while wearing your sunglasses, and let our reviews help you narrow down which pair is right for your lifestyle. Credit: Rob Gaedtke
Lens Selection
Below, we discuss what you need to know when weighing the different lens considerations in the sunglasses market, from materials to coatings to lens color.
Material
As the name implies, early glasses exclusively used glass lenses. Today, sunglasses (and regular eyeglasses) use four common materials for the lens:
Glass: Often offers the best clarity available. It is naturally scratch and chip-resistant but not impact-resistant. Glass lenses are heavier than their synthetic competitors and can shatter with enough force.
Polyurethane: This synthetic material offers exceptional impact resistance while maintaining excellent clarity. It is also flexible and lightweight, making it appealing for high-intensity activities. However, it typically has a higher price tag.
Polycarbonate: Another synthetic material with good impact resistance and decent optical clarity. Poly lenses are also lightweight and typically more affordable than polyurethane, though they are less scratch-resistant.
Acrylic: This mass-produced material is inexpensive and commonly found in budget glasses. It is less durable and has some of the lowest optical clarity, sometimes causing image distortion. However, it is lightweight and far less expensive than polycarbonate lenses.
Coating
Beyond just the material of the lenses, many manufacturers enhance their products with additional coatings. For non-glass lenses, select a scratch-resistant coating. Even if you are an avid case user, plastic lenses easily pick up scratches — from blowing dust or even being wiped on a t-shirt. A scratch-resistant coating is one of the most important features to ensure the continued usability of your sunglasses over time. Hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings are a nice touch, particularly if you plan to use your glasses for more intense activities involving sweat and water. These coatings help repel water (hydro) and oil (oleo) from your hair, eyebrows, and fingers.
Having the right lenses is very important to your eye comfort and health, whether you're spending hours kayaking across the lake or just hanging on the beach. Credit: Jason Peters
A mirrored coating on lenses can help reduce additional light from entering your eyes. It can substitute for lenses that lack polarization or even just as a style additive. Anti-reflective coating on the inside of the lenses is less common, but it makes a huge difference for any pair worn slightly away from your face. Without this coating, it's easy to see the reflection of your face or even your eyeball staring back at you. Anti-fog coatings are also uncommon but exceptionally useful for close-fitting glasses in which you plan high-output activities like running, hiking, or biking.
Color
While there are many colors you might get your lenses in, the two most common are grey and brown/amber. Grey lenses typically offer minimal color distortion and are often darker than other colored lenses. Brown and amber lenses increase the contrast of what you see, though the exact nature of this increased contrast depends on the specific lens. These often do better in variable and medium light conditions than gray lenses, but sometimes suffer in bright conditions.
There are many coatings and colors you could get your new lenses in. We can help take out the challenge of deciding which combo is right for you. Credit: Rob Gaedtke
Photochromic
Many sports-oriented lenses are photochromic, meaning they'll change tint when exposed to bright sunlight. This solves the problem of wanting a dark lens in the brightest part of the day or for snow travel at high altitude, and then needing a much lighter lens when you're back below treeline late in the afternoon, with no snow and less sunlight. You could bring two lenses and deal with the hassle of swapping them out, or you could use one photochromic lens. These lenses can usually be found with running and cycling-specific sunglasses.
These lenses illustrate their photochromic abilities: when a bright light shined upon the lens, they immediately darken. As you see, this effect only takes a few seconds to happen. Credit: Justin Simoni
Polarization
Lenses with polarization cut down on harsh horizontal glare coming off of surfaces like water, which makes them very popular for anglers, who are often staring down into the depths of the ocean looking for any sign of a nibble from a prospective dinner. Polarization helps reduce eye fatigue in these situations. In the modern world, most of the screens: our laptops, our phones, our watches are also polarized, so if you do plan on using any of these while wearing sunglasses, do note that they may cause the screen to appear black, and polarized glasses won't make a good choice for you. We've punked ourselves out during sunny photo shoots wondering why our camera won't turn on, only to realize it's just the sunglasses we've been wearing!
One way we verify claims that lenses are polarized is by holding them up to another polarized object, like a laptop screen. At the correct angle, both polarized surfaces will completely block light from getting through. You can use trick yourself with your phone's screen while testing out sunglasses yourself. Credit: Justin Simoni
Frame Considerations
Sunglass frames are important for more than just their looks. Several attributes help certain types work better in specific situations. Consider getting nylon frames if you're looking for lightweight, durable frames. They offer a great blend of strength and flexibility, which makes them great for high-intensity sports.
These bio-based nylon frames are impressively bend-able! Credit: Justin Simoni
Other plastic frames, including acetate, boast low weight, high functionality, and reasonable durability for casual uses. Though they're often less flexible than nylon frames, plastic frames cost less and come in an astonishing array of colors. Some use recycled and renewable materials.
Less expensive sunglasses often have light frames in many styles and colors. Credit: Justin Simoni
Checking the hinges of your potential new glasses is a very important consideration. Some sports glasses increase their secure fit by having bows that grip more effectively, then offset this added pressure by including flexible hinges. These flex hinges can overextend, helping them to be more comfortable — especially on wider faces — and add durability to the overall frame construction. Even standard barrel hinges deserve some attention. Though they can't overextend, there are better and worse constructions here, too. More barrels generally make a more secure hinge less likely to loosen over time. Five is a good number, though we tested many with just three and a few with seven. No matter how many barrels you end up with, ensuring you can get a small screwdriver to tighten or loosen them is a must, as they may loosen over time.
It's important to make sure whatever glasses you choose have frames that fit securely and comfortable on your face, whether you're climbing a route or reading a book in the hammock. Credit: Rob Gaedtke
Consider the other touch points of your potential new glasses on your face. All sunglasses will rest on your nose and above your ears; some may touch your eyebrows or cheeks. Consider sunglasses with adjustable nose pads if you have a narrow or wide nose. On the other hand, if you often place your sunglasses on the top of your head when going indoors and have longer hair, those free-floating nose pads are likely to get caught. If you're looking for sunglasses to wear while you sweat, consider the material used to make the nose pads. Glossy plastic and heavy materials will likely slide on your nose if wet. Instead, look for a matte finish, embedded rubber nose pads, and lightweight glasses. And if you're the type of person who often needs to bend the bows of your glasses to get them to fit your head or sit straight on your face, plastic bows are much more challenging to reshape than metal.
These sunglasses come with a set of grippy nose pieces of different sizes, to help dial in the fit and feel of them on your face. Credit: Justin Simoni
When choosing frames, you'll need to consider your face shape to get the desired coverage you want. If you often wear your sunglasses with a hat, you should not consider top-down coverage. But if you find yourself hatless at midday, ensuring you can minimize the space between your eyebrows and your glasses will prove far more comfortable for your eyes. Getting side and bottom coverage to protect your eyes is also important for anyone outdoors.
Finding the right frames to add coverage when you need it most - from having a snowball fight in the woods to exploring a new city. Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
While larger lenses are an obvious fix, smaller lenses can be just as effective with the right frame curvature. Look at the base curve before committing — a higher number means the pair is more curved to fit your face. Your typical pair of gas station or music festival wayfarers is about a base curve of 6. Some fashionable glasses look almost flat, with a base curve of around 4. Sportier models that wrap around your eyes almost as well as goggles typically advertise a base curve of about 8.
These cycling-specific sunglasses have an 8-base curve to fully wraparound your face, while also featuring a frame shape that's flat on the top, to land flush with your helmet. Credit: Justin Simoni
Sunglasses for Every Use
In a perfect world, you could find a single pair of sunglasses to wear to brunch, on trail runs, touring European cities, and kayaking at sunset. While those sunglasses can exist, depending on your style, it's much more common to have two pairs of sunglasses — one you love to wear when you're dressing up or just lounging around and another with the sports performance you need for your preferred activities. No matter what you wear sunglasses for, there are some useful tips to remember while shopping around.
Nothing puts sunglasses to the test quite like running the San Juan. Credit: Shayna Gaedtke
Casual and Everyday Sunglasses
Are you mostly looking for a solid pair of sunnies for everyday wear? You know, the ones you can put on to drive to the store, hang out at the beer garden, or wear to all those outdoor weddings this summer? Choosing the best everyday sunglasses has much to do with whether you like how they look on your face — but that's not all you should consider.
Sunglasses can simply be a functional piece of your wardrobe, complementing both your look and the conditions around you. Credit: Justin Simoni
When investing in casual shades, regardless of cost, check if they will protect your eyes. Check that the lenses have 100% UV protection (most do), and consider if you're going to be driving in them or if you live in a place that gets snowy. If that's the case, you'll want polarized lenses to help keep your eyes comfortable no matter how much glare surrounds you. Grey lenses are popular and often block out more light than other color lenses. In contrast, brown/amber lenses enhance contrast and are typically easier to wear in variable lighting conditions, such as partly cloudy days and golden hours.
Even when you're shopping for style, don't forget that the job of your sunglasses is to protect your eyes and keep you comfortable. Credit: Maggie Nichols
If buying a pair online, read about the frames' size to ensure they fit your face. Look to testimonials to see how they fit other people's faces to help gauge how they might look on yours. Consider adjustable nose pads, flex hinges, and overall size. And look into the return policy of whatever pair you choose, just in case you don't like them.
Some sunglasses are wide and sit a little high on the bridge of the nose, which may not be the best fit for smaller faces. Credit: Justin Simoni
Once you have your sunnies in hand, test them thoroughly before the return period ends. Wear them when you're sweaty and do jumping jacks to see how comfortably they stay put. Wear them outside when the sun is directly overhead or coming at you from the side to check if their coverage and fit offer the protection you want.
It's important to know your measurements, as some sunglasses may be too small for the wearer and lack enough coverage on the sides for sun protection. Credit: Justin Simoni
Golden hour- just after sunrise and just before sunset- can be some of the most challenging times of day for sunglasses, so see how yours do. And don't be afraid to return them and try something else if they don't work for you.
A proper pair of sunglasses should be able to hold fast, even on the monkey bars. Credit: Justin Simoni
We have three reviews that cover casual sunglasses: men's sunglasses, women's sunglasses, and cheap sunglasses. Below, we highlight the overall scores for each sunglass category. Check out each review for more details about how each sunglass model compares.
If you're still sacrificing quality function for the sake of style, you've got the wrong pair of sunglasses. Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
Running Sunglasses
If you've got the looks covered, and you're on the hunt for a set of specs for running — or other sweaty outdoor sports like climbing, hiking, paddling, golfing, etc. — there are other considerations you'll want to keep in mind while you search. Glasses that are comfortable to wear all day and won't bounce around as you do are a great place to start. If you're in hot environments, muggy places, or just sweating a lot, breathable shades are a must to avoid fogging lenses.
For sports that involve exceptional glare and light exposure, like water sports, snow sports, or climbing, we highly recommend getting polarized lenses. This added layer of protection will lighten the strain on your eyes by cutting out glare from the sun bouncing off of water, snow, or rocks. Consider other light wavelength protection if your chosen sport has you outside for extended hours. HEV or blue light blockage is particularly useful around the water for activities like paddling or fishing.
Certain lens coatings are helpful here as well. An oleophobic coating helps reduce oil on the lenses, which is handy for glasses worn close to your face. A hydrophobic coating is useful if you plan to be around the water or splashed a lot (or rained on), as it helps water droplets to roll more easily off the lenses. If you want to run in your new shades, consider an anti-fog coating to prevent your lenses from clouding too much. A quality anti-reflective coating on the backs of the lenses is something we highly recommend, as it helps reduce back reflection.
Lens protections and frame fit are both very important when selecting the right sports sunglasses for your lifestyle. Credit: Maggie Nichols
When it comes to quality performance from your frames, think less about their style and more about how well they fit and stay put. Many sports-oriented specs have embedded nose pads and even temple grips to help them stay in place. Check their weight to see if they are as light as your intended use requires. Frames made of nylon are often flexible, offering a secure fit. Flex hinges are useful, too, both for possible impact and for comfort over an extended period. Check their base curvature to see how face-hugging your potential new shades will be, and consider the overall size of the lenses to gauge their coverage. If you often wear a hat or helmet while you're out, keep that in mind when looking at the bow dimensions and lens height of any potential glasses. And, of course, when you get them, put them to the test to ensure they perform how you need them to.
A good fitting pair of sunglasses that stay in place and provide excellent coverage and protection can be a real benefit to you while you focus on bombing down your local hill. Credit: Justin Simoni
Our detailed running sunglasses review scores each model on key purchase decision metrics. Below, we highlight the overall scores of the models we tested. However, we have more details on those scores in the full review article.
It's hard to get used to the look of full shield sunglasses, but they will win you over once you see how they perform. Credit: Rob Gaedtke
Cycling Sunglasses
If you need a pair of glasses specifically for biking — whether on the road or the trail — there are a few additional considerations beyond what you might require for other sports. Adding coverage is usually a plus for cycling shades because you'll have more wind in your face than in many other sports. Look for this not just in the size of the lenses but also in their curvature and shape, particularly on the outsides of the lenses and in the center, between your eyes. When considering a close-fitting pair with large lenses, ensure they have an anti-fog coating. Without this added layer, a goggle-like fit will likely start fogging as you sweat your way through your ride.
Added coverage is a must for wind and dust protection while biking. Credit: Zach Wick
If you're a road biker, lenses with polarization are best to help minimize glare off the road. If you often find yourself riding among the trees, you may not want the polarization, as it can sometimes disguise the rocks and bumps you need to see in the path. For mountain bikers, it can also be advantageous to have two sets of lenses — one meant for bright days with a high VLT and one meant for cloudy or overcast days that offer wind and dust protection without cutting down much, if at any, low light. Some pairs come with two lenses right out of the box, and others offer interchangeable lenses.
When evaluating the frames, try on potential pairs with the helmet you'll wear while riding. Take it to the store if shopping in person. Low-riding helmets can be limiting with cycling shades, which tend to be larger on your face. Be sure to buckle your helmet as you would when riding to see how the straps fit over the bows of the glasses. Check how well they stay secure on your face by jumping. Carefully consider the comfort of the bows over your ears, especially while wearing your helmet, to make sure the fit is just right.
These sunglasses fit flush with the rider's helmet, offering a supreme amount of comfort that could become a very important factor on all-day rides. Credit: Justin Simoni
Our review of cycling sunglasses considers all the above factors. We detail which models performed best in which metric and how price and value factor in. Below, we chart the overall score of our cycling sunglass test suite, but the full review has much more detail to explore.
Cheap Sunglasses
Sometimes you're just not ready to make a major investment in a pair of expensive sunglasses. The best pairs can oftentimes cost upwards of $200, and can easily stretch ones budget. Or, if you're prone to losing or repeatedly fumbling your sunnies, you may be better off going with a cheaper pair. In many instances, a cheap pair of sunglasses may make more sense. Cheaper sunglasses can look good and function well, but we can't guarantee that they'll reach the same level of quality as more expensive pairs.
Cheap sunglasses can look great and function well, easily handling the task that you've bought them for. Credit: Justin Simoni
One characteristic they almost always possess is UVA/UVB protection, which will often be labeled on the sunglasses specifications as “UV400” protection. Even lightly tinted cheap sunglasses will have UV protection, as UV blocking is done by the lens material itself (usually some sort of plastic) rather than the added tint applied to the lens.
These inexpensive sunglasses still show excellent UV blocking abilities. Credit: Justin Simoni
Cheap sunglasses usually aren't as durable as their more expensive brethren, and you typically see this in the hinges and nose pieces, which, while functional, might actually be delicate if you try to abuse them in any way. Oftentimes, cheap sunglasses try to emulate styles of more expensive shades, but fail to execute perfectly on these little details. For casual use, they'll look good enough, and if you lose them on a night fueled with libations, it won't quite hurt as much as that round you picked up for the entire bar 15 minutes before closing time.
These cheap sunglasses have a thin wired frame, with small hinges and nose pieces that are adjustable, but may be more delicate than more expensive pairs like Ray-Bans. Credit: Justin Simoni
Our favorite cheap sunglasses may be a little more expensive than the rock bottom pairs, but they deliver on a sweet spot of value. They look and feel like more expensive sunnies, but may just use fewer materials, or come with less features, like multiple lenses, a storage case, or some sort of replacement warranty scheme. Oftentimes, you can find a good pair of cheap sunglasses with polarized frames, good lens quality, and even some with an anti-scratch coating. One thing we find with cheaper sunglasses is that they're often available in a plethora of colors and styles, so grab a few different colors of a cheap pair that you're falling in love with.
We've tested all types of sunglasses in all kinds of conditions. Credit: Jason Peters
Our review team has tested and ranked sunglasses for women and sunglasses for men — with plenty of unisex pairs, too. In the process, we rounded up budget sunglasses, and we've also tested running sunglasses for breathability and bounce. From the trail to the beach to your best friend's wedding, we're here to help you find the perfect pair.
Conclusion
There are thousands of possible sunglasses on the market to choose from. As many of these are also style accessories, seemingly endless models are available at any given moment. Yet they are also essential to the continued health of your eyes. No other article of clothing may have quite the same high-level combination of fashion, function, and protection as sunglasses. By testing hundreds of pairs of sunglasses and evaluating their performance, fit, and looks, we can help you find the ideal pair for your lifestyle, vibe, and wallet.
—Maggie Nichols, Joshua Hutchens, Jeremy Benson, and Justin Simoni
