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hanopem-blog · 6 years ago

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The best polarized sunglasses you can buy

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The Insider Pick: · The best polarized sunglasses for you are going to vary based on the shape of your face and the activities you plan to engage in, but our favorite all-around unisex pick for those of you who plan to do a bit of everything is

Ray-Ban's Clubmasters with an aluminum frame

While sunscreen and skin care have been a popular topic in light of a recent FDA ruling on ingredient listing requirements, many of us neglect to give our eyes the protection they deserve. Cheaply designed sunglasses that we don't mind scratching may seem like the way to go when they're so easy to lose and scratch regardless of cost, but poorly designed sunglasses often leave our retinas exposed to harmful UV rays that can lead to macular degeneration, cataracts, and myriad other troubles down the line.

Then there are more immediate matters for concern, like snow blindness, especially when we're near water, which is highly reflective in all its physical states. While snow blindness clears after a few days, it will leave you with the unpleasant sensation of having something along the lines of smoldering embers trapped inside your eyes, which is a mild nuisance at very best.

When choosing a pair of sunglasses — no matter how much you want to spend, and whether they're polarized or not — make certain that the lenses have a UV rating of 400, which indicates that they effectively prevent the maximum wavelength of UV rays (measured in nanometers) from passing through to your own lenses.

Polarized lenses add another level of protection by reducing glare brought on by reflection, or horizontal light. While not always necessary, polarized lenses are generally worth having, even if you go for a cheap pair. The main difference with a cheap pair of polarized shades is that you won't have the clarity of a high-grain glass or quality resin, which might leave you squinting a lot, and you'll have a harder time seeing your phone screen while wearing them, which, in our opinion, is worth dropping a few extra dollars for most people.

The best polarized sunglasses overall

Sunglass Hut

Why you'll love them: The lightweight but sturdy aluminum frame and thick, scratch- and shatter-resistant metal-rimmed glass lenses keep the timeless

Ray-Ban Clubmasters

on par with the best.

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: 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 $213

Buy the folding Ray-Ban Clubmasters with acetate frames from Sunglass Hut for $233

The best polarized sunglasses for the great outdoors

Maui Jim

Why you'll love them:

Maui Jim's World Cup polarized sunglasses

are built with high-quality carbonate lens and frames that thoroughly prevent stray light.

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 won't succumb to wearing cataract sunglasses or the like— at least not until our rightful time — Maui Jim's World Cup shadeswill better than suffice.

Apart from their renowned lenses, Maui Jim's World Cups are designed to seal potential gaps where stray light gets in with a design that cups your eyes and offers full wraparound protection. This induces a goggle-like effect that some may find unflattering, but they're not nearly as loud or clunky as other options, and should be low-profile enough if you find yourself strolling the street after you've left the beach.

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, along with a lifetime warranty, which might be reason enough to choose them over Maui Jim's World Cups, whether you're on a budget or not. And, to appease your inner environmentalist, their frames are constructed using a castor oil as opposed to traditional petroleum.

Yet one more good option, which we must highlight for anglers, is Smith's Guide's Choice. While they're probably a little large for the more casual crowd, their larger lenses and frames, along with the rubber nose pad that keeps them from sliding, make these a great pair of polarized glasses for sportier souls.

Pros: Full wraparound sides, Maui Jim's scratch- and solvent-resistant SuperThin glass lenses, corrosion-resistant hinge springs

Cons: Maybe not styled for some, expensive, a brief 2-year warranty

Buy the Maui Jim World Cup polarized sunglasses from Sunglass Hut for $229

Buy the Native Eyewear Sightcaster polarized sunglasses on Amazon for $108.71

The best sustainable polarized sunglasses

Best sustainable polarized sunglasses Frames Direct

Why you'll love them: Detailed but still sleek,

Costa x Bureo's Pescador polarized sunglasses

are made from sustainable materials.

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 worth it. Plus, you get to help out the environment and a Chilean fishing community through your purchase.

A slightly sportier take on 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.

Anglers should also take Maui Jim's World Cups to scrutinize over light in basically the same way, but these glass lenses are much more scratch resistant, and potentially more durable — We'll report back on our findings once we've had them for a while.

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 for $199.99

Buy the Swell Vision Classic polarized sunglasses for $99.00

Buy the Swell Vision Women's polarized sunglasses for $99.00

The best polarized sunglasses with a prescription

Warby Parker

Why you'll love them: If you don't want to spend upwards of $500 on a pair of prescription sunnies,

Warby Parker

has a ton of styles ranging from $175 for a basic prescription to $375 for progressive 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 most 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 $175

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Men's

)(

Women's

)

The best cheap polarized sunglasses

Amazon

Why you'll love them:

Gamma Ray's Polarized Wraparound Sport

and

Cheaters

are fully serviceable shades for an exponentially lower price than the rest of the sunglasses we recommend, so losing them won't keep you up at night.

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 threeof 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 Cheatermodel, and Lifehacker for its computer glasses. Meanwhile, more than 400 Amazon buyers gave the Wrap Around Sports an average of four stars, and nearly a thousand Amazon buyers gave the Cheaters an average of 4.1 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 $8.99 per pair or $16.99 for a three pack

Buy the Gamma Ray Polarized Wrap Around Sports on Amazon for $12.99

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