Outdoors Gear The Best Polarized Sunglasses of 2023, Tested and Reviewed We tested dozens of the best polarized sunnies—here are our top picks By Nathan Allen Nathan Allen Outdoor Gear Editor University of Missouri-Columbia Lindenwood University Nathan Allen is the Outdoor Gear Editor for TripSavvy. Nathan loves many outdoor activities but makes it a priority to run or bike on singletrack every day. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 05/10/23 We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. TripSavvy / Rob Lefebvre Polarized sunglasses are ideal to have for most people. The glare-reducing lenses are excellent for anyone taking long drives, spending time near bodies of water, fishing, running, cycling, or other activities where clear and precise vision is paramount. To help you make an informed decision, we tested dozens of polarized sunglasses, focusing on attributes like appearance, fit, comfort, style, quality, and value. We had multiple people test the same pair of sunglasses to account for different face shapes and sizes. At the top of our list is the Huckberry Weekenders, which have an excellent design and look and performed very well across all our tests. Take a look below at all of our picks, curated for specific uses and face types. The Rundown Best Overall: Huckberry Weekenders at Huckberry Jump to Review Best Overall, Women's-Specific: Indy Nolita Sunglasses at Indysunglasses.com Jump to Review Best Overall, Men's-Specific: Raen Aren Polarized Sunglasses at Amazon Jump to Review Best Budget, Women’s: I-Sea All Aboard Polarized Sunglasses at Amazon Jump to Review Best Budget: Knockaround Premiums Sport Sunglasses at Amazon Jump to Review Best Value: Tifosi Polarized Sunglasses at Backcountry.com Jump to Review Best Fishing: Bajío Calda Sunglasses at Moosejaw.com Jump to Review Best Prescription: Warby Parker Barkley Sunglasses at Warbyparker.com Jump to Review Best Cat Eye: Maui Jim Capri Polarized Cat Eye Sunglasses at Amazon Jump to Review Table of contents Expand Our Picks How We Tested What to Look For FAQ Why Trust TripSavvy Best Overall Huckberry Weekenders Sunglasses Huckberry View On Huckberry Our Ratings Fit 5/5 Performance 5/5 Quality 4.5/5 Appearance 4.5/5 Value 5/5 What We Like Classic design that looks good and fits well on most faces Lightweight and durable Excellent price What We Don't Like Nothing yet! The Huckberry Weekenders are classics and an easy pick for our best overall polarized sunglasses. We love these sunnies for many reasons. The timeless rendition of the Wayfarer design fits—and looks good on—most faces. The lenses are polarized and 100 percent UVA and UVB resistant. They have a comfortable yet snug fit, and they’re lightweight while also durable. At only $39, what more could you want from a pair of shades? Don’t let the value price fool you. The lenses are high quality and performed better than many much more expensive pairs we tested. That’s likely due to the plastic frame material, which might turn off some wearers. But if you’re prone to losing or being hard on your sunglasses (we get it), we can’t think of a better option for polarized sunglasses based on cost and performance. Price at time of publication: $39 UVA/UVB Resistant: Yes | Materials: Heavy-duty plastic with scratch-resistant lenses TripSavvy / Elise Wojczyk Wang Best Overall, Women's-Specific Indy Nolita Polarized Sunglasses Indy View On Indysunglasses.com View On Tillys.com Our Ratings Fit 5/5 Performance 5/5 Quality 5/5 Appearance 5/5 Value 5/5 What We Like Cat-eye look is stylistic without going over the top Durable and high-quality construction that didn’t slip around Comfortable to wear for long amounts of time Good price point What We Don't Like Not everyone might appreciate the cat-eye look While Huckberry's Weekenders are certainly unisex, if you're looking for a more feminine or cat-eye look, we recommend the Indy Nolita Polarized sunglasses. Less an athletic or active aesthetic and more of a stylistic statement, the Nolitas work well in a professional or relaxed beach setting. We appreciate these sunnies' durable and high-quality construction, which fit multiple faces well and didn't slip around. We also found these sunnies extra comfortable for wearing for an extended time. And while we labeled these as our best overall, women's specific pick, don't let that deter the men from rocking these sunnies. We agreed they could work equally well for a man looking for that cat-eye style. Price at time of publication: $79 UVA/UVB Resistant: Not listed | Materials: Acetate with polarized lenses TripSavvy / Jessica Vadillo Best Overall, Men's-Specific Raen Aren Polarized Sunglasses Raen View On Amazon View On Backcountry.com View On Glassesusa.com Our Ratings Fit 5/5 Performance 5/5 Quality 5/5 Appearance 5/5 Value 4.7/5 What We Like They are fairly unisex and could probably work for women as well Lightweight, sturdy, and versatile Stylish without being overly splashy What We Don't Like Somewhat expensive Like the Indy Nolitas above being marketed as women’s-specific sunnies, Raen lists the Arens as men’s sunglasses, but we also view these as fairly unisex, especially considering the Arens run smaller and fit well on smaller faces. We found these sunnies very lightweight yet sturdy and expect them to last a long time with proper care. They also have multiple applications as they worked for us, bike commuting, running errands, and going to the beach, among other applications. They’re stylish without being overly splashy. Bonus: They are UVA and UVB-resistant. While they are a bit pricey, especially compared to others on the list, we think they’re worth the cost. Price at time of publication: $175 UVA/UVB Resistant: Yes | Materials: Honey acetate with Green Polarized CR-39 lense TripSavvy / Taylor Fox Best Budget, Women’s I-Sea All Aboard Polarized Sunglasses I-Sea View On Amazon View On Malvados.com Our Ratings Fit 5/5 Performance 4.5/5 Quality 4.5/5 Appearance 4.5/5 Value 4.8/5 What We Like Excellent budget sunnies with a cool retro look Good polarization for such a low cost What We Don't Like Felt flimsier than others we tested We don’t blame anyone for looking only at budget sunglasses. In fact, considering how easy it is to break or lose sunnies, we often recommend it. Look no further than the I-Sea All Aboard sunglasses, coming in at less than $30. The budget sunnies have a retro look that we think looks even better in person than what the website shows. Now, the budget price has some drawbacks; mainly, we thought the sunnies felt flimsier than others tested and on the list. But they passed our polarization tests with flying colors. These sunnies are definitely stylish, but we don’t recommend them for any sort of sporting or active outdoor activities. As mentioned, they’re on the flimsy side and don’t hold onto the face as well as others on this list. (If you are looking for a budget pair of active sunnies, we’ve got a recommendation below.) But considering their price, we think they’re definitely worth the purchase. Price at time of publication: $28 UVA/UVB Resistant: Yes | Materials: Metal frames with scratch-resistant and polarized lenses Best Budget Knockaround Premiums Sport Sunglasses Knockaround View On Amazon View On Dick's View On Knockaround.com Our Ratings Fit 5/5 Performance 5/5 Quality 4.5/5 Appearance 5/5 Value 5/5 What We Like Some of the sportier sunnies we tested and at an excellent cost Budget but you still get polarization and UV protection Lightweight What We Don't Like Nothing yet! If you are looking for a budget pair of sportier polarized sunglasses, we recommend the Knockaround Premiums Sport sunglasses. These unisex sunnies are incredibly lightweight thanks to their polycarbonate construction. They are sturdy and stayed secure on our face while testing. And at just $26, they’re the cheapest pair of sunnies on our list. They’re UVA and UVB-resistant, have excellent polarization, and Knockarounds partners with CleanHub to help remove plastic from the ocean. Price at time of publication: $26 UVA/UVB Resistant: Yes | Materials: Polycarbonate with scratch-resistant lenses TripSavvy / Maria Bouselli Best Value Tifosi Optics Swank Polarized Sunglasses REI View On Backcountry.com View On Competitivecyclist.com View On Tifosioptics.com Our Ratings Fit 4.5/5 Performance 5/5 Quality 4.7/5 Appearance 5/5 Value 5/5 What We Like Some of the most practical and best-performing sunglasses we tested Work well in casual and active settings Hydrophilic rubber nose becomes tackier when wet What We Don't Like Nothing yet! The Tifosi Swank Polarized sunnies have been one of our favorite polarized sunglasses for years. They’re fairly similar to the Knockarounds above, but we’ve found them a tad more durable thanks to shatterproof polycarbonate materials. We’ve used these sunnies, for fly-fishing, running, cycling, and hiking, among other activities, and they continually perform as well as other more expensive options we’ve tested. Tifosi says its polycarbonate lenses are 20 times stronger than glass at a third of the weight. The Grilamid TR-90 Nylon frame is also strong. The aforementioned shatterproof lenses are also fully UVA and UVB-resistant. And the hydrophilic rubber nose piece becomes tackier when wet, keeping them more secure when you sweat, or other moisture hits them. All of this adds up to one of the better pairs of sunnies we’ve ever owned. Price at time of publication: $55 UVA/UVB Resistant: Yes | Materials: Grilamid TR-90 Nylon frames and shatterproof plastic lenses TripSavvy / Elise Wojczyk Wang Best Fishing Bajío Calda Sunglasses Bajio View On Moosejaw.com View On Tackledirect.com View On Bajiosunglasses.com Our Ratings Fit 5/5 Performance 5/5 Quality 4/5 Appearance 5/5 Value 5/5 What We Like Excellent polarization for fishing applications Lots of planet-friendly practices Comfortable to wear for long amounts of time, which is key for a pair of fishing sunnies What We Don't Like Expensive As someone who primarily fly-fishes in smaller rivers and streams, sight fishing is crucial. So having a pair of excellent polarized sunnies is paramount. For over a year, I’ve loved the Bajio Calda Sunglasses (and have caught many fish along the way!). To me, a pair of fishing sunnies must meet two necessities—be comfortable wearing for long periods and cut through glare. The Caldas do just that thanks to soft and grippy rubber skin contact points and some proprietary polarized tech that cuts glare and blue light. Bonus: Bajio creates excellent pairs of sunnies while caring for the planet and oceans. It’s a 100 percent carbon-neutral company and uses glass lenses and bio-based frames. Look good, find fish, and protect the earth. All good stuff. Price at time of publication: $209 UVA/UVB Resistant: Yes | Materials: Bio-based frames and glass lenses Best Prescription Warby Parker Barkley Sunglasses Warby Parker View On Warbyparker.com Our Ratings Fit 5/5 Performance 4.7/5 Quality 4.5/5 Appearance 4.7/5 Value 5/5 What We Like Can be purchased with or without prescription lenses Come in multiple sizes, making them work for pretty much every face type What We Don't Like Nothing yet! Warby Parker’s Barkley sunglasses are another classic-looking pair of sunglasses. But they are also available in prescription lenses and multiple sizes, including medium, wide, and extra-wide. (They’re also non-prescription for those who like the style.) For those looking at prescription lenses, the Barkleys come in single-vision, progressive, and reader options in five lens colors. The polycarbonate lenses will also block 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Simply put, we believe these are the best pair of sunnies for anyone wanting prescription lenses. Price at time of publication: Starts at $95 UVA/UVB Resistant: Yes | Materials: Cellulose acetate and polycarbonate TripSavvy / Rob Lefebvre Best Cat Eye Maui Jim Capri Polarized Cat Eye Sunglasses Maui Jim View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Mauijim.com Our Ratings Fit 4.5/5 Performance 5/5 Quality 5/5 Appearance 5/5 Value 5/5 What We Like Cat eye look is versatile Excellent for multiple applications What We Don't Like Very expensive Feeling like rocking the cat eye? We suggest the Maui Jim Capri sunglasses. Despite the cat-eye shape, our testers found these sunnies very versatile, working in urban commuting and work situations and at the beach or on a boat. However, we don’t find them versatile enough to be a sporty pair of sunnies—the most adventurous thing we did with them was take them on long dog walks and day drinking. Despite the cost—they’re one of the most expensive pairs on our list—we think they are excellent glasses and worth the price for anyone looking for chic and highly functional sunnies. Price at time of publication: $349 UVA/UVB Resistant: No | Materials: SuperThink Glass material for the lenses TripSavvy / Anna Popp How We Tested We picked about two dozen pairs of sunglasses and dispersed them to our expert testers nationwide. Testers judged each pair of sunnies on fit, appearance, performance, value, and overall quality. Each tester rated each of those attributes on a five-point scale. We averaged those scores to create an overall score for each pair of sunglasses, impacting which sunnies made our list above. What to Look for in Polarized Sunglasses Intended Use Polarized glasses are generally broken into two categories—casual and athletic. Consider your intended use when deciding which type of polarized sunglasses you want to purchase. A casual pair will work if you’re looking for a pair to wear driving, running errands, or going to the park or beach. Those pairs tend to have classic looks and don’t emphasize things like fit as much. But if you’re looking for a pair of sunglasses to wear while running, cycling, hiking, or other more physical activities, opt for a more athletic pair of sunnies, which will likely have wider lenses, better grip at the contact points on your face to prevent the sunglasses from slipping when you sweat, and will feature stronger materials. UV Protection According to Derek Lin, an optometrist at Park Slope Eye in Brooklyn, New York, one of the biggest misconceptions about sunglasses is that dark lenses equal UV protection. "You could have a pair of dark shade tinted sunglasses, but if it doesn't have the UV protective coating, it actually can let through almost half or maybe even almost all the UV light through it," Lin says. "There's a misconception that dark equals UV protection." But, Lin says, most polarized sunglasses from reputable brands and retailers will have at least some UV protection. "Going back to the polarized, because polarized is already like an upper echelon, higher tier version of a sunglass, it's already almost given as a fact that it's gonna have a hundred percent UV protection," Lin explains. Price The price you can pay for polarized sunglasses varies quite a bit. Within this roundup, we’ve included sunglasses from about $25 to $350. Like most things, the amount you spend on sunglasses will have to do with your priorities and budget. If you frequently lose or break sunglasses, you might opt for a cheaper pair that are replaceable. That said, if you spend a lot of time outside in sunny conditions and use sunglasses as a piece of gear, you might need a higher quality pair of polarized lenses that will cost you more. You might also benefit from owning two pairs, one for each purpose. Likewise, consider your intended use and activities (as mentioned above) and how frequently you lose or break sunglasses. But generally, you can get a solid pair of polarized sunnies for $50 or less. Frequently Asked Questions What is polarization? Without getting too much into the scientific weeds, polarized lenses have a chemical treatment that filters light to reduce glare. “There's a whole science behind it, but the net effect is that basically, all the horizontal rays coming off of a surface—whether that be off the pavement, off a snow bank, off the water—a lot of that horizontal light is filtered out,” Dr. Lin explains. What are the benefits of polarized sunglasses? “It really is helpful for people who are drivers, skiers, fishermen,” says Dr. Lin. “They're in very high-glare environments where the amount of light that they're getting is a very high-intensity amount, and being able to filter through all that noise actually gives you a better picture. I know a lot of times people can say you just need more light so we can see better, but actually, in certain environments, if you have too much light, it can actually decrease and actually give you a whiting-out effect of certain details, which for certain activities, can be quite dangerous. Investing in a nice polarized pair of glasses, if you are one of those junkies that end up doing one of these hobbies, is definitely well worth your money.“Can the average person benefit from it? 100 percent. It's something that I think everyone should be willing to save up a little money for and spend that on a nice pair of sunglasses that they can wear for years, and it will pay them back many dividends time after time again.” How should I clean my sunglasses? If the glasses come from the manufacturer with specific care instructions, always use those. Generally speaking, it’s usually okay to hold them under the tap for a quick warm-water rinse, then (lightly) use a microfiber cloth to dry them. Why Trust TripSavvy Nathan Allen is TripSavvy’s Senior Commerce Editor. Based in Southern California, he wears sunglasses every day. Nathan combined his thorough knowledge and experience with many sunglasses and sunglasses brands with the testing insights of other TripSavvy experts to create and write this roundup. We consulted Derek Lin, an optometrist at Park Slope Eye in Brooklyn, New York, for what kinds of UV protection is best in a pair of sunglasses. The 11 Best Places to Buy Sunglasses Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Tell us why! Submit Continue to 5 of 9 below. Continue to 9 of 9 below.