Find the perfect pair to protect your eyes during all of your travels.

Sunglasses are so much more than a fashion statement. Having the right pair can provide crucial protection from the elements and harmful UV rays. Trust us: nothing ruins a good trip faster than blinding glare from the water during a boat ride or the sunny reflection of a snowy ski slope. When it comes to sunglasses, you’ll often see there are both polarized and nonpolarized options. If you’re looking for glare reduction and maximum protection from the sun’s UV rays, polarized is the way to go. 

We tested 23 pairs of sunglasses featuring UV protection over a period of six months, obsessing over the finest details of each pair when it comes to quality, fit, appearance, performance, and value. We also consulted with both an optical design expert and an optometrist to learn more about the in’s and out’s of polarized sunglasses. Read on to explore our top picks.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: Kaenon Polarized Sunglasses at Amazon $175 Jump to Review Best Everyday: Knockaround Premiums Sport Sunglasses at Amazon $38 Jump to Review Best Active: Ombraz Classics Polarized Sunglasses at Ombraz.com Jump to Review Best Prescription: Warby Parker Barkley Sunglasses at Warbyparker.com Jump to Review Best Packable: Persol PO0714 Folding Sunglasses at Amazon $486 Jump to Review Best Aviators: Randolph USA Aviator Matte Chrome Sunglasses at Amazon $259 Jump to Review Best for Fishing: Maui Jim Kōkua Sunglasses at Mauijim.com Jump to Review Best Lightweight: Sunski Avila Black Slate Sunglasses at Sunski.com Jump to Review Best Budget: Huckberry Weekenders at Amazon $39 Jump to Review Most Versatile: Tifosi Polarized Sunglasses at Amazon $55 Jump to Review

Best Overall

Kaenon Polarized Sunglasses

$175 at Amazon Why We Love It

• These are stylish, durable, and incredibly comfortable.

What to Consider

• They are sized for medium to large faces and may be too big for smaller faces.

These sunglasses from Kaenon exceeded expectations in all of our testing categories, earning them the top spot in this list. We found that these fit perfectly and stayed in place regardless of the activity, whether we were driving, working in the yard, or exercising. While the materials don't look particularly luxe at first glance, these are surprisingly durable — we accidentally sent them flying to the ground at one point and were prepared to see them break but found just a small mark on one lens. This alone convinced us that these sunglasses are worth the high price tag, but the other features added to their value as well. The lenses are polarized with a special SR-91 coating that blocks glare as well as dirt and oil buildup, and we found this to be remarkably effective. The glasses are also versatile enough to wear in various situations. One thing to note is that the wraparound frames are sized for medium to large faces. After three months of regular use, these still look and feel brand-new.

The Details: One size | 5.44 ounces | Wraparound | SR-91 lenses

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Best Everyday

Knockaround Premiums Sport Sunglasses

$38 at Amazon $38 at REI $38 at Backcountry Why We Love It

• A rectangle lens is a versatile, flattering shape that you can wear everyday.

What to Consider

• The style of this pair skews casual.

We love this pared-back design from Knockaround, making them a highly functional pair of sunglasses that are as durable for everyday use as the brand’s name would imply. “Rectangles are probably the most universal shape,” Jeff Press, the former longtime creative director of Morgenthal Frederics, says — and this pair certainly lives up to that standard. The polarized lenses themselves are even approved by the FDA for impact resistance. After six months of wearing them, we loved the comfortable rubber nose pads that help keep these glasses in place during a variety of activities. They're made from a lightweight polycarbonate material that won’t hold you down but is also built to last. 

The Details: One size | Square | Polycarbonate

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Best Active

Ombraz Classics Polarized Sunglasses

View on Ombraz.com View on Lensandframe.co $140 at Huckberry Why We Love It

• This pair has a unique built-in adjustable cord that keeps these sunglasses in place no matter what.

What to Consider

• We found that the cord can pinch a little.

It can be difficult to stand out in the world of sunglasses design, but Ombraz manages to do so with a unique and useful design we’re not quite sure we’ve seen anywhere else; instead of typical arms that hold the sunglasses in place on your ears, this pair is held on to the back of your head using a custom-woven, 100 percent recycled Japanese nylon cord. You can wear these truly for any activity and rest assured they won’t go anywhere — water sports, hiking, biking, you name it. We did notice that sometimes the cord can pinch and pull your hair when tightened, and the material the cord is made of is prone to collecting and trapping sunscreen. But if you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind style that stands apart and can stand by your side for all your adventures, this is your pair. After six months of wearing them for a variety of activities, we found them to be protective, and they never caused any eye fatigue.

The Details: Regular and narrow sizes | Armless | TR-90 material

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Best Prescription

Warby Parker Barkley Sunglasses

View on Warbyparker.com Why We Love It

• They’re easy to order online and return if you don't love them.

What to Consider

• They may pinch the bridge of the nose.

Warby Parker does an excellent job of providing high-quality prescription frames at a compelling price point, and with an easy-to-use online interface, to boot. This pair is made from hand-polished cellulose acetate that gently molds to your individual head shape over time (we found that after about six months of wear, they no longer pinched and felt fully adapted to our fit), and features durable details such as akulon-coated screws built to last (and stay put for) a lifetime. The prescription lenses in this pair are made from polycarbonate, the most impact-resistant and scratch-resistant material for sunglasses. We loved this pair during our tests, but noticed they weren’t as lightweight or grippy as proper sports or activewear glasses. But overall, they’re a beautiful pair that’s built to last. 

The Details: Medium, wide, and extra wide widths | Square | Polycarbonate

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Best Packable

Persol PO0714 Folding Sunglasses

$486 at Amazon View on Sunglasshut.com View on Persol.com Why We Love It

• This pair is classic, durable, and folds up for easy packing.

What to Consider

• We noticed they started to feel heavy after several hours of wear. 

Packable? Sunglasses? That’s right — this iconic Italian sunglasses brand is known for its timeless frames and the fact that they can be folded down into a packable shape. This style has been popular since the 1960s, when it was introduced as a folding version of Persol’s famous 649 model. If you’re a serious traveler adhering to a carry-on-only lifestyle, the ability to make your sunglasses even more compact is invaluable. After six months of regular use, we also loved that they can be tossed in a bag without any case and still remain scratch-free. While we did notice that this pair started to feel heavy on our nose and ears after a while, overall we loved the luxurious look and feel of these frames, and the idea that they are built to last for many adventures to come. 

The Details: One size | Round | Acetate

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Best Aviators

Randolph USA Aviator Matte Chrome Sunglasses

$259 at Amazon View on Randolphusa.com View on Smartbuyglasses.com Why We Love It

• These glasses offer classic American style.

What to Consider

• They are offered in small, regular, and large sizes, so measure carefully before ordering. 

Few sunglasses brands come close to Randolph when it comes to beautifully made, carefully engineered, domestically produced products. This is certainly an investment pair that will last a lifetime. We were impressed by the quality of the lenses, the light weight and durability of the frames, the overall design aesthetic, and how easy it was to adjust the size of the frames by flexing the arms and molding each pair to your specific face size. After wearing this pair for six months, we found they block just enough light to keep your eyes comfortable but let in enough so the world does not appear muted, dull, or overly dark. The lenses provide crisp and color-true images. If you’re going to invest in a single pair of aviators that will stand the test of time — both physically and aesthetically — this is the pair to get.

The Details: Small, regular, and large sizes | Aviators | Metal

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Best for Fishing

Maui Jim Kōkua Sunglasses

View on Mauijim.com Why We Love It

• These are comfortable enough to wear all day and won't budge while leaning over the boat or reeling in a fish.

What to Consider

• A padded nose bridge would make these a little more comfortable.

If you’re planning on wearing your sunglasses during a leisurely day on the water, you’ll love the Maui Jim Kōkua Sunglasses. During testing, we wore these in direct sunlight on various occasions while boating, swimming, working outside, and spending time on the beach. In all cases, they fit comfortably and didn’t budge during any kind of movement, so they’ll stay on your face even when you’re reeling in a monster. These are lightweight and don’t cause any soreness or hot spots throughout the day. The materials of these sunglasses feel sturdy and showed no signs of damage when we tried to bend and drop them. We did notice a few scratches after three months of testing and quite a few drops, but still consider them to be quite durable considering how well they have held up.

These are also easy to clean with a dust cloth. What really makes these glasses impressive is their polarization — we spent several days on the water in the bright sun and noticed that they cut through glare so we could see fish and aquatic details better from our boat. They also added a nice saturation and contrast pop to everything, making the water and greenery feel more tropical. Overall, we think these are a great do-it-all pair of sunglasses that are particularly useful on the water.

The Details: One size | Square/wraparound | Plastic

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Best Lightweight

Sunski Avila Black Slate Sunglasses

View on Sunski.com Why We Love It

• These lightweight frames don't cause any discomfort around the nose or ears.

What to Consider

• The back of the lenses sometimes reflect and make it difficult to see.

If you don't like the feeling of heavy sunglasses on your face, these sunglasses from Sunski are a great lightweight option. We found during testing that they fit just right, with their light design making them almost unnoticeable while wearing. They felt secure at all times without feeling tight, and we were never worried about them falling off. We could wear these for hours at a time without any comfort issues around our nose or ears. While these didn't feel like luxury glasses, we were impressed with their sturdiness and durability considering how lightweight they are. They also come with a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects. The polarization is excellent and blocked glares without causing any eye strain. We wish that the lenses had an antireflective coating added to the back, as we could sometimes see our eyes reflected in the glass, which made it hard to see. We continued to notice this during our three-month testing period, and found that we don't like to wear them in environments where we are backlit (like uncovered outdoor situations) because of this. Other than that, we think these are solid lightweight sunglasses that are stylish enough for everyday wear when glaring won't be an issue.

The Details: One size | Round half-frame | Recycled frames

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Best Budget

Huckberry Weekenders

$39 at Amazon Why We Love It

• These are well-made, polarized lenses at incredible value.

What to Consider

• The design isn’t particularly unique.

Some of us believe in spending as little as possible on sunglasses because they’re the type of thing that gets easily lost, crushed, or broken anyway. If you’re in that camp, take a look at these; for a pair that rings in at less than $50, these Huckberry Weekenders deliver serious value. You’ll want to keep an extra pair in your tennis bag for an impromptu game on a sunny day. Although the lenses are still in perfect condition, after about six months of regular use, the paint along the frames has started to chip. We appreciated the frame’s fit and comfortable feel as well as the high-quality polarized lenses but did feel that the design was a little basic. But overall, for polarized glasses at this price, they’re a compelling proposition. 

The Details: One size | Square | Plastic

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Most Versatile

Tifosi Polarized Sunglasses

$55 at Amazon $55 at REI View on Tifosioptics.com Why We Love It

• This style comes in numerous colors and patterns with lots of personality. 

What to Consider

• The bridge feels a little uncomfortable on the nose when worn for long periods of time.

Some people prefer the idea of a one-and-done pair of sunglasses that you can wear on a variety of occasions, from outdoor pursuits to leisure activities. We value this high-performing pair from Tifosi for their just-right proportions that look good on a variety of face shapes and sizes. We did notice that the nose bridge started to pinch slightly when we wore them for longer periods of time. But overall, this pair stood out thanks to its light frame; no-slip fit; and shatterproof, scratch-resistant — and polarized — lenses. They also come in more than two dozen colors, and the price tag is fair.

The Details: One size | Square | Polycarbonate

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Other Polarized Sunglasses We Liked

Two other pairs of sunglasses we tested didn’t quite earn a spot on this list but scored high marks nonetheless.

Maui Jim Cruzem: We loved the classic look and feel of these quintessential rectangle frames, and how lightweight and durable they felt. However, we preferred the other Maui Jim option on our main list.

Costa del Mar Fantail Pro: You’ll be hard pressed to find a sturdier pair of sunglasses on the market. We felt they had great durability and could withstand any activity but found them a little less comfortable than other styles when worn for longer periods of time. 

Our Testing Process

During our testing process, we closely examined 23 products from a range of prominent brands. We evaluated each one based on its quality, fit, appearance, performance and value, taking careful notes during our initial two-week testing period.

We examined each pair manually, looking closely at the lenses, arms, hinges and bridge and nose pads before putting them on. If the sunglasses were marketed as having polarized lenses, we performed a quick test to confirm polarization by holding the glasses about 6 to 8 inches in front of our face and looking through them towards a bright screen or window; upon rotating the lenses ninety degrees, we confirmed that they were polarized by assessing whether the screen or window got darker than when holding the glasses vertically (each pair on this list passed this test). 

Finally, we wore the sunglasses during everyday life for activities outside of the home such as going on walks, running errands, driving, hiking, playing group sports, running, and more, wearing the sunglasses throughout a longer six-month testing period. We will continue to update this article as we test new pairs of sunglasses.

Travel + Leisure

Tips for Buying Polarized Sunglasses

Choose a versatile style

Shop smarter, not harder. It’s easy to get carried away and think you need dozens of pairs of sunglasses for all sorts of occasions and activities, but the reality is that less is more —  especially when you’re traveling. A single pair or two (with a case) will serve you well for most everything. We’ve seen a rise in recent years of activewear sunglasses that don’t look like activewear sunglasses — so they have the light weight, added grip, and antifog lenses of something you’d wear while running or biking but have a classic look you could also wear while driving or going to brunch without looking like you’re training for the Tour de France. 

Travel + Leisure

Look for options with UV protection

Polarized lenses are more common than not these days, since they offer so many benefits. The reduction of harmful UV rays entering the eyes is especially important, as too much UV exposure has been shown to lead to cataract formation, certain eye cancers, as well as worsening eyesight over time, resulting in vision becoming hazy, blurry and less saturated with color. Make the smart choice and opt for something with a little extra UV protection.

Prioritize comfort

Even the best performing sunglasses won't mean much if they aren't comfortable to wear. When selecting sunglasses, you'll want to think about features like size, padding, and weight. Skinnier and heavier sunglasses may feel more uncomfortable on your face than wider, lighter ones. You will also need to be mindful of the activities you will be bringing your glasses to. If you are going to be moving around a lot, for example, you'll want glasses that stay snug on your face for maximum comfort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Todd Plummer is a Boston-based attorney and writer who covers travel and menswear. For this article, he worked with Travel + Leisure’s editors to determine the best polarized sunglasses based on a series of in-house tests completed in our New York City lab and in the real world. He also spoke with Dr. Jennifer Tsai, a board-certified optometrist practicing in New York City, and Jeff Press, the former longtime creative director of Morgenthal Frederics, for their expert insights.

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