The best overall
Thick glass lenses held by an aluminum frame make the Ray-Ban Clubmasters an easy, nearly indestructible choice for people on the move, and while they're still among the more popular — and arguably tired — designs, they at least give the Aviator and Wayfarer shapes a rest.
I was gifted a pair a couple of years ago, and while it's safe to say almost every pair of shades I've owned before or since has taken on a scratch or two at least, this pair has survived just about everything. I should add that I'm extremely rough on sunglasses. I even managed to sit on this pair — strictly for testing purposes — and unbend it from an unnatural 45-degree angle without creasing, let alone snapping the bridge piece.
I've also dropped and kicked them (again, for testing) across fiberglass decks, marble floors, and concrete sidewalks, and they've somehow survived it all. These things are just simply not like the others.
Aesthetically, the Clubmasters seem to suit just about every face shape and outfit, no matter how formal or relaxed, and perhaps that's why they're so iconic. While they lack the full wraparound protection of sportier options, we don't assume most of you will be bopping about town in what could reasonably be mistaken for a tinted pair of safety goggles pilfered from your father's workshop — we certainly won't be. But we'll never judge, and if we're completely out of touch, there's an option below for you, too.
Pros: Fit for any occasion, sturdy
Cons: Pricey, a small amount of light passes through the sides, which doesn't make for the best protection in direct sunlight
Buy the Ray-Ban Clubmasters with aluminum frames from Sunglass Hut for $243 Buy the folding Ray-Ban Clubmasters with acetate frames from Ray-Ban for $233The best budget polarized sunglasses
If you're looking for a cheap pair of driving lenses, or just aren't willing to dish out for another pair of Ray-Bans or Maui Jims because you've lost and broken so many that it hurts, a pair or three of either Gamma Ray's Polarized Cheaters (a Wayfarer-style) or Wrap Around Sports (the sportier version pictured above) should do you well.
While they're nowhere near as durable as the other sunglasses we're recommending here, they do come with a lifetime warranty (though we haven't tested it, yet) against both scratching and shattering. If you can manage to find a case for them, they might last a whole lot longer.
Gamma Ray has gotten praise from both Wirecutter for the Cheater model, and Lifehacker for its computer glasses. Meanwhile, more than 1,200 Amazon buyers gave the Wrap Around Sports an average of 4 stars, and more than 400 Amazon buyers also gave the Cheaters an average of 4 stars.
Pros: Metal-reinforced hinges, budget-friendly
Cons: Cheap nylon frames will break if you're not careful
Buy the Gamma Ray Polarized Cheaters on Amazon for $7 per pair or $14.99 for a three-pack Buy the Gamma Ray Polarized Wrap Around Sports on Amazon for $14.99The best for outdoors
In 1965, orthodontist and ski bum Dr. Bob Smith developed the first sealed thermal lens and vent foam goggles, what came to be known and revered as the modern ski goggle. But he didn't stop there, and his line of sunglasses is no less revolutionary.
Smith's ChromaPop lenses come in six different tints, all geared toward different lighting, so whether you're inshore fishing on a gray day or offshore on a bluebird one, they've got the lens for you. On a recent fly fishing trip in Hawaii, I realized, perhaps a little too late in the day, that the shades I'd brought along were not defining the elusive bonefish I was trying to spot — not as well as my guide's Smiths were. We switched glasses at the end of the day and I was suddenly spotting the "gray ghosts" left and right. I'm still kicking myself.
Granted, to run the gamut of light situations you'll encounter as an angler, you'll need at least two pairs of sunglasses. This, of course, isn't cheap, but then performance optics hardly ever are.
But Smith doesn't just cater to anglers; the brand also has a performance line designed for runners and cyclists with removable lenses — I only wish they'd offer interchangeable lenses with their ChromaPop fishing line.
Around the web, Amazon users give Smith a formidable 4.7-star rating overall, and premier fly fishing publication Hatch calls Smith's Techlite Polarchromic Copper lenses "the most versatile pair of fishing sunglasses on the market."
Pros: Lens tints for all light, fishing-, performance-, and lifestyle-specific frames
Cons: Can be pricey
Shop Smith Optics from REI starting at $75.73 Shop Smith's polarized sunglasses on Amazon (prices vary)The best sustainable sunglasses
Sunglass manufacturer Costa recently teamed up with skateboard company Bureo, which has been producing these sunglasses with frames made entirely from recycled fishing nets. Now that Costa is popping its high-end glass lenses into the glasses, they're a little pricier, but we think they're much more scratch-resistant now, and they're worth it. Plus, you get to help out the environment and a Chilean fishing community through your purchase.
A slightly sportier take on classic Wayfarers, Costa x Bureo's Pescadors are tumble-finished for a detailed finish and grip to keep them neatly propped on the bridge of your nose. The lenses are Costa's patented 580 Lightwave glass, and they offer full 400-nm UV protection while selectively filtering out high energy visible light (blue light) and yellows to cut haze and offer better crispness, which any angler ought to appreciate.
For a less-expensive, similarly eco-friendly and sustainable pair of sunnies, check out Swell Vision's Women's or Classic unisex glasses, which are made from bamboo. They're ultra-lightweight, come with sturdy double-jointed metal hinges that allow for a little play in the temples, and did we mention that they float?
Pros: Sustainably made, high-end lenses, full 400-nm UV protection
Cons: Pricey
Buy the Costa X Bureo Pescador polarized sunglasses from FramesDirect for $199.99 Buy the Swell Vision Classic polarized sunglasses on Amazon for $35 Buy the Swell Vision Women's polarized sunglasses on Amazon for $35The best for prescription lenses
Born out of necessity by traveling students who were fed up with replacing overpriced glasses, Warby Parker has established itself as the budget-friendly, socially-responsible option for prescription lenses and sunglasses alike.
While you'll spend a small fortune ordering prescription lenses along with some of the other frames on this list, Warby Parker covers a good swathe of styles while staying kind to your wallet. The company also promises that for every pair of glasses sold, a pair will be donated to someone in need.
If you can afford them, it would be hard to build a case for not buying your sunglasses from Warby Parker, but they do fall short of offering a set of frames that cater to sportier souls who might like or require a pair that offers a little better protection from stray light.
In almost every aspect, Warby Parker should probably have you covered. We like the sleekness of the unisex Durand model, but they touch on everything from aviators and wayfarers to Lennons and Jackies.
Pros: Affordable, durable
Cons: No warranty (apart from one-year scratch repairs), no thick frames for protection from intense, direct sunlight
Shop Warby Parker's prescription sunglasses starting at $95 Shop Warby Parker's men's sunglasses Shop Warby Parker's women's sunglassesWhat else we considered
I've been testing polarized sunglasses since I started wearing them to fish when I was about 10, and in the interim, I've tested dozens upon dozens. There are a few key features that make a good pair of polarized shades, and the brands below all tick those boxes, but for reasons discussed below, they're not on our main list of picks.
- Maui Jim (starting at $229): While polarized lenses are a given, the best sunglasses for a day at sea are only as good as their frames. And since most of us won't probably succumb to wearing cataract sunglasses or the like — at least not until our rightful time — Maui Jim's World Cup shades are better than suffice.
- Native Eyeware ($81.75-$109): A similar, more affordable on-the-water option is Native Eyewear's Sightcaster, which is similar in design and profile, but about half the price. The Sightcasters come with Native's interchangeable N3 lenses, which is something we wish Smith Optics would do, but Natives aren't quite as technical compared with Smith's. Still, they're wonderful fishing-specific glasses, and if you're on a budget but still want some high-quality lenses, look no further.
- Persol (starting at $280): Persol offers an elevated look (at an elevated price), but you get the best hardware around, and there's something to be said for that. While we know and love Persol well, their prices are prohibitive for most people, and so we didn't include them in our top picks. That said, if you have the extra money and degree of care, they'll last a lifetime.
