As an avid group of outdoors folks, GearJunkie has had the chance to put many sunglasses to the test in harsh conditions. We have tested literally hundreds of sunglasses. And over the years, the cream has really risen to the top, producing this list of the best sunglasses for outdoor pursuits.

Go beyond style with sunglasses that combine classic good looks with next-level technology and design. And if you’re working on a tight budget, don’t worry, we have some great cheap sunglasses, too!

The lead tester of this review has been kind of crazy for sunglasses ever since he had corrective LASIK eye surgery in 2016. After a lifetime of corrective lenses, LASIK opened up a new reality in which Denver’s 300 yearly sunny days became a remarkable opportunity to wear shades regularly.

Below you’ll find a selection of the best sunglasses you can buy. We also break out some good budget sunglasses as well as pursuit-specific eyewear for fishing, boating, running, mountaineering, and more. Finally, we feature a few models that meld fashion and function.

If you don’t have time to shop and just need the best sunglasses for general outdoor use, we recommend the Costa del Mar Fantail Pro, or for smaller faces the Mainsail. For women, we recommend the Smith Optics Wander — or Tifosi Swank if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option.

A note on our selections: Over our many years of testing, we have come to realize that with sunglasses, you really do get what you pay for. Our lead tester has had a single pair of Costa del Mar Pescadors for more than four years now and wears them very regularly. Amazingly, they are still in excellent condition and unscratched. If you are a person who can care for gear, even when used hard, quality sunglasses will last much longer than their cheap brethren and are a better investment long term.

Read on to simplify your search for sunglasses with our best shades of 2024, or jump to the end of the article for a guide on choosing the best sunglasses for your needs, a comparison chart, as well as an FAQ section.

Editor’s note: We updated this article on January 16, 2024, adding detailed specs and features to each product and a comparison table.

The Best Sunglasses of 2024

Sunglasses Comparison Chart

How We Tested Sunglasses

GearJunkie editors have spent years learning about outdoor products, including sunglasses. We meet with brands to learn about the latest technology. Then, we research and test the best products on the market to ensure they perform in their intended environment.

Our goal is to help you find the best products for your outdoor pursuits. And we’ll do our best to find them within your budget, too.

The lead author of this article, Sean McCoy, has worked in the outdoor gear testing industry for nearly 15 years. He began his career serving customers as a rock climbing specialist at Midwest Mountaineering in Minneapolis. He then worked at newspapers to hone his reporting and research skills.

As the former Editor in Chief of GearJunkie, he tested hundreds of pairs of sunglasses over his 10 years at the helm of the brand. Today, he oversees editorial production across multiple websites. And he still loves testing gear.

Mary Murphy also contributed to this article. The Managing Editor at GearJunkie, Murphy puts optics to the test as an avid hiker, paddleboarder, and skier.

Adam Ruggiero and Rachelle Schrute also contributed testing notes for this article.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Sunglasses

If you’re shopping for sunglasses, we’re here to help. Below, find our best advice for choosing sunglasses for any budget.

Best Sunglass Brands

What are the best sunglasses brands? After in-depth testing and research, our team agrees that Costa del Mar makes the best sunglasses you can buy, period. We base that judgment on lens quality and durability, which we’ve found to be unrivaled even by other top sunglasses.

But if Costa isn’t your jam, don’t worry. There are many great premium sunglasses these days. The other best brands for sunglasses, according to our testing and research are Maui Jim, Bajío, Smith, and Spy. Roka makes great sunglasses for athletes, as do Julbo and Dynafit. Ombras and Shwood are both remarkably good for small brands.

Among the classics, Ray-Ban and Oakley are still excellent brands, and some of their classic styles are among the most popular on the planet.

If you want some party sunglasses on a budget, don’t forget about Pit Viper, the bombastic brand that builds wild styles with quality lenses.

As an outdoor publication, we do not consider fashion-first sunglasses from designer or fashion-first brands. In our opinion, they do not match the quality of more focused sunglasses. If you’re looking for styles from Chanel or Versace, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Frames

When choosing sunglasses, frame material helps dictate both appearance and weight. Among our favorite models, you’ll see recycled plastic from fishing nets and even titanium used for the frames.

Titanium makes an exceptionally light frame material we prize for its durability, but you’ll pay a premium price for it. Other metal frames include Monel, Flexon, and aluminum. Most of our test glasses for outdoor use do not use metal frames.

The majority of the frames we test are made from various types of plastic. Common plastics include zyl (zylonite or cellulose acetate), nylon, epoxy, and cellulose acetate propionate.

These are durable, light materials but have questionable sustainability. We look for brands that use recycled plastics when possible, such as the Costa Del Mar Pescador above.

Lens Material

For optical clarity, there are no better lenses than mineral glass. They also provide excellent scratch resistance, so they’re a top choice when clear vision is a priority. However, glass lenses have some flaws. They are heavy, expensive, and more prone to shattering than plastic lenses.

Next down the scale for optical clarity are lenses made from a material called CR-39. It performs nearly as well as glass but weighs about half as much and is less prone to shattering.

Polycarbonate and Trivex are two other materials popular for their impact resistance. While both have less optical clarity than glass or CR-39, polycarbonate and Trivex lenses are much more impact-resistant than other types of plastic and thus popular with cyclists, shooters, and others who put a premium on physical eye protection.

Shape & Design

Beyond style (and let’s face it, style is important), the shape of sunglasses has a big impact on performance. Wider, larger sunglasses will offer more optical and physical eye protection.

Wraparound styles will protect eyes from the sides as well as directly in front. But larger sunglasses do not fit every face well. Those with smaller faces will want sunglasses that stay secure when moving the head up and down and side to side.

Similarly, those with larger heads and faces should favor larger shapes and designs. Smaller sunglasses will not protect the eyes well here, and too snug a fit can cause headaches for the wearer.

Polarized Lenses

Many sunglasses come with both polarized and nonpolarized lenses. For fishing, watersports, or other activities where glare reduction helps, polarized lenses are a much better choice. By cutting down on glare, polarized lenses allow the wearer to see into the water much better than non-polarized lenses.

They also tend to make blue skies pop more vividly. Some prefer nonpolarized lenses for driving, as they can cause strange aberrations with some windows.

Price

When it comes to sunglasses, we’ve found you really do get what you pay for. Less expensive sunglasses can perform well. But as you shell out $200 or more, expect greatly improved durability and optical quality.

Our top-rated sunglasses have proven themselves over years of testing. And they still look almost new today. But do note our budget choices are still good for many uses and will last if well cared for.

FAQ