The 10 Best Sunglasses for Men of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
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We tested 17 pairs of men’s sunglasses – these are the pairs worth buying.
Travel + Leisure / Anna Knief
Fact checked by Rich Scherr
Few accessories scream “I’m on vacation” more than a pair of sunglasses. And yet, their function is far more than style alone. According to Manhattan-based optometrist Jennifer Tsai, a bad pair of sunglasses, or none at all, can lead to an increased risk for light sensitivity, retinal damage, cataracts, pterygiums, and dry eyes. “Quality matters when it comes to protecting your eyes from sun damage,” she said.
Risk of eye damage is even more pronounced during travel when we’re often exposed to constant sun. According to Tsai, it’s crucial to have increased protection while on vacation, which you can achieve by using polarized sunglasses that do a better job at filtering light. Polarized lenses are especially great when driving, exercising outdoors or doing water activities like boating.
To determine the best quality sunglasses for men, we tested 17 pairs over the course of six months. While wearing them during everyday activities like going on walks, running errands, driving, hiking, playing sports, and running, we judged each pair based on five characteristics: quality, fit, appearance, performance, and value.
Best Overall: Raen Aren Polarized Sunglasses
Why We Love It
This is a high-quality and long-lasting pair of sunglasses with a unique style.
What to Consider
These sunglasses aren’t designed for sports.
Of all the sunglasses we tested, the Raen sunglasses were our absolute favorites, earning perfect ratings in every category. These glasses feature excellent durability and construction and after six months, they still look brand new and the arms are still sturdy. When you fold the Arens, the hinges stay solid and stiff, so you can comfortably hang them from your shirt or prop them up on your head without worrying about them falling off. The frames are just as durable, but are soft on the nose without pinching, and even fit smaller faces without looking too oversized.
We love the style of these glasses, and the uniquely-shaped arms add a bit of edge. Plus, they’ll work for both men and women and come with a high-quality, durable case.
Price at time of publish: $175
The Details: 53mm | UV protected | Polarized
Best Budget: Knockaround Premiums Sport Sunglasses
Why We Love It
This is a lightweight and sturdy pair of glasses you that won’t feel too bad about if you lose or break.
What to Consider
The arms don’t extend far, so be careful about snapping them.
It’s rare to find a good pair of sunglasses under $50, let alone a pair that’s polarized, but the Knockaround Premiums manage to be both. After six months of testing, the frames, arms, and hinges are all still high-quality and there are no signs of wear. These glasses feature a comfortable fit, sturdy hinges, and lightweight materials. We also loved the color of the black/blue tinted lenses.
Price at time of publish: $35
The Details: 51mm | UV protected | Polarized
Best Sport: Ombraz Classics Polarized Sunglasses
Why We Love It
These sunglasses have extremely durable lenses that won’t scratch or allow glare to burn your eyes.
What to Consider
The armless design might be too unorthodox for some.
We’ve been wearing these glasses for over two years, for everything from hiking and backpacking to swimming and driving. In all that time, we’ve never experienced any issues with glare, high-intensity light, or wind, and they haven’t scratched. To put it simply, we love these sunglasses.
Despite the name, the Ombraz Classics don’t have a classic design. They’re armless, meaning they have a cord strap instead of solid arms that perch over your ears. The advantage of this design is that you don’t need to worry about broken hinges, and they hang easily from the neck when they’re not covering your eyes. You can also quickly tighten the cord during any activity for a snug fit.
Price at time of publish: $160
The Details: Regular or narrow | UV protected | Polarized
Related: The 13 Best Sunglasses for Kids of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
Best Prescription: Warby Parker Barkley Sunglasses
Why We Love It
The materials used for the frames are biodegradable, so they won’t last long in a landfill.
What to Consider
The frames don’t feel as high-quality as others and stretched out after six months of use.
These Warby Parker sunglasses are a casual, classic pair of travel shades. We found them to be comfortable with a roomy fit while remaining snug against the temples so they don’t need constant adjusting. We also love Warby Parker’s industry-defining offer to let you try on the sunglasses at home to see if you like them before making a commitment.
These lenses passed our polarization test and we found they completely blocked all glare. Just keep in mind these Warby Parkers aren’t made for more rigorous activities, like working out or playing sports. After carrying these shades around in bags for over six months, we noticed some wear on the case, which isn't as sturdy as the glasses themselves.
Price at time of publish: $95
The Details: M, wide and extra-wide | UV protected
Best Lenses: Huckberry Weekenders Sunglasses
Why We Love It
These well-priced sunglasses block all intense sun and glare.
What to Consider
After regularly using these sunglasses for six months, the paint is starting to chip along the frames.
We were wowed by the Huckberry Weekenders because of how they managed to protect eyes from the sun with the polarized lenses. We found these to be sturdy and lightweight, making them an ideal pair of all-around sunglasses. The fit of these glasses is just right and they come at an accessible price point; however, unless you're gentle with these sunglasses, they may not last quite as long as other options.
Price at time of publish: $39
The Details: One size | UVA/UVAB protected | Polarized
Best for Cycling: Oakley RadarLock Path Sunglasses
Why We Love It
These sunglasses are very comfortable on the nose bridge and won’t slip.
What to Consider
You’ll have to upgrade if you want a polarized option.
Oakley’s wraparound sunglasses are iconic in the cycling world, and the RadarLock Path continues to hold its ground after frequent use over six months of tests. We found that the blue-tinted lenses cut the glare and wind in warm weather or snow, and they were supremely comfortable. The nose pads are soft and pliable, but not slippery. We also loved the overall quality of these wraparound sunglasses and found them to have the perfect combination of function and style.
Price at time of publish: $222
The Details: 44mm | UV protected
Best for Fishing: Bajío Calda Sunglasses
Why We Love It
Caldas are a lightweight, polarized pair of sunglasses that’ll look cool both on and off the water.
What to Consider
They have a beachier look than your typical fishing sunglasses.
The Bajío Caldas are perfect for everything from fly-fishing to boating. We have been using this lightweight pair for years and love how durable they are, especially considering how long they’ve lasted. Not only are they comfortable, but the polarized lenses also block the sun’s glare and allow you to see what’s going on underwater – a key part of fly fishing, in particular. While the pair we tested has a lens tint that is lighter and rosier which is better for river fishing, you can also choose different tints based on where you like to fish.
Price at time of publish: $259
The Details: M | UV protected | Polarized
Best Style: Oliver Peoples Finley Esq. Sunglasses
Why We Love It
The arms are reinforced with metal rods so you won’t have to worry about them breaking.
What to Consider
These aren’t recommended for anything sporty.
Oliver Peoples’ sunglasses wowed us at first sight. They seem to radiate quality and they look very stylish while doing so, although they don't provide as much light protection as other options. Over six months of use, we continued to be impressed as we manipulated and put on the sunglasses, finding them to be some of the sturdiest we tried, thanks to metal rods that reinforce the arms and fine Italian craftsmanship.
Price at time of publish: $398
The Details: Regular | UV protected
Best for Driving: Randolph USA Aviator Matte Chrome Sunglasses
Why We Love It
These sunglasses have military-grade lenses designed for pilots.
What to Consider
The angled lens tilt may be off-putting for some.
Go full “Top Gun” behind the wheel with these stylish aviators from Randolph USA. We loved the fit, especially due to the unique Bayonet tips that wrap around the temples. The materials used for these sunglasses are military-grade, so it’s no surprise that we found them to be sturdy, lightweight, and looking completely untouched even after tossing them around during six months of use. The green-tinted lenses were impressive, too, and passed the polarization test. As for the style, we can’t complain. Note that these are also available in a non-polarized option that is less expensive.
Price at time of publish: $319
The Details: 52mm/55mm/58mm | UV protected | Polarized/Non-polarized
Related: The 10 Best Blue Light Glasses of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
Most Packable: Persol PO0714 Folding Sunglasses
Why We Love It
These sunglasses are extremely high quality and can easily slide into your pocket.
What to Consider
The style is more unique than classic.
Originally introduced in the 1960s as the world’s first folding sunglasses, the Persol 714s continue to stand out as perhaps the most packable, easiest-to-transport shades on the market. After three months of tests, we found they fully blocked all sunlight and glare and were adequately polarized. However, we did find them to be a tad uncomfortable during extended use. Overall, we recommend these shades for someone who wants something very packable and who appreciates the style.
Price at time of publish: $335
The Details: L | UV-protected | Polarized
Other Sunglasses for Men We Liked
While these sunglasses didn’t quite make our list of the very best, we still found them deserving of an honorable mention.
Tifosi Swank Polarized: We loved the fit and quality of these sunnies, but they didn’t shine in terms of design or style when compared to others we tested.
Persol 3O3292S: These pricey retro sunglasses have a unique style, but we found they didn’t do a great job of blocking sunlight.
Travel + Leisure / Elise Wojczyk Wang
Our Testing Process
We tested 17 pairs of sunglasses during everyday activities like driving, shopping, running and more for a period of three months. We examined the different parts of the sunglasses, including the lenses, arms, hinges, and bridge/nose pads, then put them on to check for fit, quality, performance, appearance, and value. We also conducted polarization tests to see whether sunglasses that were labeled as such were actually effective. Our tests will continue for a total period of six months.
Tips for Buying Sunglasses for Men
Prioritize UV Protection
Optometrist Jennifer Tsai recommends looking for 100 percent UV-blocking lenses (sometimes labels indicate “UV absorption up to 400mm”). Cheaper sunglasses may not offer this level of protection, even if they are made to be darker, which can cause pupils to dilate, creating a higher risk of sun damage.
Choose polarized lenses for water or snow
Polarized lenses are a great idea when partaking in water or snow sports like fishing and skiing, as exposure to the sun’s glare can lead to eye damage.
Consider a virtual try-on before buying
Many sunglasses brands offer a virtual try-on feature, which uses augmented reality to see how the shades will look on your face before buying. This is a great way to get a feel for how the glasses will look before making a commitment, and important since everyone’s face shape is unique. Some companies, like Warby Parker, also let you try on the sunglasses at home with the option to return them if they don’t fit perfectly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean if sunglasses are polarized?
Polarized lenses have a special chemical filter that blocks sunlight and glare. These are especially ideal during water and snow sports, when the sun is extra reflective.
How should I clean sunglasses?
Simply rinse and rub with a dab of simple dish soap on your finger. Then rinse again and dry with a clean, lint-free cloth.
How do I know what size sunglasses will fit best?
Sunglasses tend to be listed by the width of the lens, (i.e. 55mm), or in a general size like M (medium) or XL (extra-large). When trying them on, they should fit snugly across your nose and ears. If you want to protect your eyes as much as possible, opt for larger lenses that provide more coverage.
Why Trust Travel + Leisure
For this story, freelance journalist Joel Balsam combed through in-house testing insights and referenced product descriptions to create a comprehensive list of the best sunglasses for men. In his travels to more than 55 countries, Joel is avid about high-quality, fashionable sunglasses and often packs several pairs including one with red lenses (since life is better in rose-colored glasses). He also spoke with Manhattan-based optometrist Jennifer Tsai for her expert insights.
Related: The 8 Best Sunglasses Cases of 2023
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