These Polarized Sunglasses Offer Plenty of Protection from Sharp Glares

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Sunny days by the water are one of the great joys of summer, but whether you’re relaxing by the ocean or running on a lakeside trail, the sun reflecting on a body of water can cause your eyes some serious discomfort. A pair of polarized sunglasses can help prevent the sharp glare from reflective surfaces from damaging or hurting your precious peepers.

While polarized lenses don’t typically have greater UV protection than non-polarized glasses, they do help you see better when there’s a glare, whether that’s a body of water or a line of parked cars at the track. Polarized lenses sometimes cause screens to appear dark, so they’re a better bet for driving, running, or exploring the great outdoors than they are for working on your laptop outside. We’ve rounded up the best polarized sunglasses to keep you seeing clearly all summer long.

Looking for performance sunglasses? Check out the best sunglasses for runners.

The Best Polarized Sunglasses

• Best Overall: Tifosi Swank Polarized Sunglasses

• Best Value: Goodr OG Polarized Sunglasses

• Best Visibility: Smith Boomtown Chromapop Polarized Sunglasses

• Best Prescriptions: Smith Lowdown Slim 2 RX Polarized Sunglasses

• Best Alternative Lenses: Oakley Flak 2.0 XL Polarized Sunglasses

What to Consider in Polarized Sunglasses

What Does Polarization Really Do? Is It Essential?

If you’ve ever worn polarized sunglasses near a body of water before, there’s a chance you noticed that you can see underwater more easily than you can with your naked eye. That’s because polarization is made to reduce sharp glares, such as the kind that bounces off the surface of a lake or ocean on a sunny day.

The physics behind this tech are a bit complicated, but the short explanation is that reflections like those on the surface of water transform light into “unpolarized” light which means the polarity of the light waves is no longer uniform with the rest of the light entering your eyes. Polarization blocks that extra light, meaning you get less glare without darkening your vision too dramatically.

That said, polarizing glasses aren't always optimal for your runs, and there are plenty of instances in which you’ll benefit from other types of lenses. First and foremost, if you want to look at any kind of screen while you’re running, such as your phone or watch, be warned that those screens are polarized as well and can be difficult to see through your lenses. You may also want to see the glare on certain reflective surfaces, such as ice on the road in the winter.

If you want your sunglasses to give your vision more contrast while still toning down how much light hits your eyes, look for different lens technologies like Oakley’s Prizm lenses or Smith’s Chromapop lenses, both of which make it easier to see small cracks in the sidewalk or rocks and roots on the trail—or simply make colors pop on a beautiful day.

Lens and Frame Styles

If you’ve ever been to a major running event, you’ve likely seen how wild people’s sunglasses can get. Sure, you’ll see plenty of classic sunglasses like the Goodr OG adorning runners’ faces, but you’ll also see enormous, face-swallowing, one-piece lenses like the one on the Smith Boomtown. Why all the variation? It comes down to where and when you wear sunglasses the most.

Classic frames are versatile—it’s a lot easier to look natural at the farmer's market or on the beach while wearing them—but they don’t give you as wide a field of view as those enormous single-lens glasses. On a technical trail, it may be prudent to try some of those avant-garde designs so you don’t miss a stray rock or root that could decimate your ankle. For a compromise, you can also find glasses like Oakley’s Flak 2.0 XL, which has a frame on only the upper half of the lenses that keeps your view of the trail under you unblocked.

How We Selected Polarized Sunglasses

Finding the right sunglasses is one of the most personal choices a runner can make—you’re considering everything from your environment to your head shape to your style. As such, we started our evaluations by asking around Runner’s World headquarters to get a wide pool of data about the brands and models our team prefers.

From there, we looked at top models from brands we trust to find options that still have polarized lenses (it’s not as easy as it used to be), taking into consideration everything from weight to price to prescription lens availability. And to round the list out and provide more variety, we made sure to include various lens styles that we’ve found work for us on our runs and don’t look too gaudy.

Swank Polarized Sunglasses

When I worked at a bike shop, we had two racks of sunglasses sitting next to each other: One was a tall, clean, well-lit display case full of Oakley’s most popular (and expensive) models, and one was a comparatively dark, non-flashy metal rack covered in Tifosis, including the Swank.

Customers flocked to the Tifosi rack every time—I can count on my hands the number of times I unlocked the Oakley case for someone—because they knew they didn’t have to spend hundreds to get a quality pair of sunnies.

The Swanks are Tifosi’s all-rounder glasses that feel just as comfortable and appropriate on a long run as they do in your backyard while you’re cutting grass. They’re impressively tough for a sub-$100 set of shades, and they also grip your temples and nose snugly enough to prevent slippage without squeezing too hard. Better yet, you have plenty of color options on Tifosi’s site.

OG Polarized Sunglasses

If you are going to be out near the water, you probably don’t want to risk losing a pair of expensive sunglasses. The solution? This pair of Goodrs. They’re presentable enough to wear on a regular basis, but at around $30, it won’t be a devastating blow if they happen to fly off into the creek next to your favorite trail.

As long as you can keep them from sinking, they are also quite durable and hold up well against the elements and unplanned drops. These are also a favorite among runners in our office for their nonslip, lightweight frame.

Boomtown Chromapop Polarized Sunglasses

Wide-lens glasses might not look as natural in a casual setting as their two-lens siblings, but there’s no doubt that models like Smith’s Boomtowns will give you a wider field of view than any other option. Thanks to the lack of a gap between the left and right lenses, you’re far less likely to miss something small in front of your feet because your glasses were in the way.

Smith has plenty of other wide-lens options that don’t use polarization, but they and the Boomtown similarly use Chromapop technology to improve color contrast in a wide range of light levels. That means that, even on a punishingly bright day, you can still pick out the nooks and crannies on a dubious trail with ease.

Lowdown Slim 2 RX Polarized Sunglasses

Several members of our staff have set up sunglasses to have their prescriptions built into the lenses, and Smith is a favorite for its ease of setup. All you have to do is select the “Prescription” option on the Lowdown’s product page (or the product page of any other pair of glasses into which the brand can install your Rx) and fill out your numbers right on the page. No secondary page or site, no frills, and no uncomfortable questions.

Unfortunately, you can’t get Smith’s frames covered by your insurance, but these glasses are made to take plenty of abuse and will last you ages—in other words, you’re paying for high-quality sunglasses, and you’re getting your prescription built in as a bonus.

Flak® 2.0 XL Polarized Sunglasses

Oakley’s lenses are some of the easiest to swap out in a pinch for various weather conditions. Want something with less tint for a rainy day? Pop a set of clear lenses into your Flak 2.0 XLs in less than a minute and be on your way. Need more color contrast? Grab yourself some Prizm lenses, which come in various base colors that prioritize different colors for different sports.

The Flaks are one of many Oakley pairs we recommend if you’re willing to splurge on quality specs—check out the Radar EV Path and the M2 for other polarized lens styles—but we’re putting the Flaks in this roundup for their comparatively classic style that won’t look as outlandish while you’re sitting at the cafe or pub with a post-run beverage. These shades also have prescription lenses available.

Rydon Slim Polarized Sunglasses

One of the drawbacks of large sunglasses is their tendency to trap heat around your face, which can prove irritating on a sweltering day. For something with a little less coverage, try these Rydon Slims, which have ultra-thin temple arms, a minimalistic half-frame design, and small lenses that give you plenty of eye coverage without swallowing your face.

These glasses are more fragile than other models recommended here thanks to their lack of redundant construction, but if keeping your shades light and breezy is paramount, you can’t go wrong with this set of Rudys.

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