Gear

The Best Sunglasses for Every Outdoor Adventure

Protect your eyes in style while you lounge, run, paddle, or work on your computer outside.

Sunglasses are a must for any time of year. They protect your eyes from UV light and reduce the chance of conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration. They also reduce eyestrain when it's bright outside and eliminate disorienting glare while driving. (Glare is a problem while driving in the snow too!) Plus, they help to shield your eyes from wind, rain, or flying debris.

Any cheap pair of UV glasses will work—you can find decent options at drugstores or discount stores like TJ Maxx or Ross—but a few of us on the Gear team have tried dozens of pairs of sunglasses while we ran, hiked, swam, walked, lounged in the sun, and drove. These are our favorites.

Updated July 2021: We've tested a ton of new glasses and added fresh picks for 2021.

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  • Image may contain Screen Electronics Projection Screen and White Board

    Before You Buy

    How to Pick the Perfect Sunglasses

    Sunglasses are a necessity, but they're also a fun accessory. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

    Look for glasses that block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Just as sun exposure can cause skin cancer, UV exposure contributes to cataracts and possibly macular degeneration. All our picks are rated at 100 percent.

    If you're driving, in water, or on snow, you need polarized lenses. A polarized lens has a chemical layer to reduce glare. If it's important to see where you're going, you need them; not so much if your focus is on looking cool. 

    Try virtual fittings. Allure's guide is a good place to start if you have no idea what frames flatter your face. Many retailers also offer similar selection tools. 

  • Photograph: Tens

    Instagram Lenses IRL

    Tens Sunglasses

    Tens sunglasses are all about the ~vibes~. Developed by photographers, the lenses are available in five different styles, all of which are tinted to apply a filter to your field of view. The Original lens adds warmth, while Boulevard makes pink and violet hues pop. 

    An important caveat here is that the Tens are not polarized. That means they're not a great pick for driving, snowboarding, swimming … and other activities where you might need sunglasses. They also don't filter out as much light as traditional sunglasses. But they look cool on your face, and they make everything look infinitely cooler without drastically altering what you see. Each lens comes in multiple style options and there’s a money-back guarantee.

    $149 at Tens
  • Photograph: Amazon

    Our Favorite Cheap Sunglasses

    Sojos Small Round Classic Polarized Sunglasses

    Fancy, expensive sunnies are all fun and games until you misplace them. (Or, leave them in a chair so a friend accidentally sits on them and your triple-digit shades shatter. Just like your heart.) WIRED reviewer Parker Hall swears by these cheap sunglasses from Amazon. 

    After buying and losing multiple pairs of Ray-Bans, he gave these a shot. The Sojos pair looks and feels exactly the same as their much-pricier counterparts. If you’re concerned about their quality, consider that you’re probably just used to drastically overpaying for sunglasses. 

    $14 at Amazon
  • Photograph: Maho

    For Biking and Running

    Maho Tulum Sunglasses

    Maho makes lots of attractive shade styles, but Tulum is our top pick. The round lenses are flattering and the glasses are super lightweight, coming in at less than 7 ounces. The best part, though, is the Zuma fit and retention system (which is also baked into other styles). 

    The nose pads and earpieces feature grooved thermoplastic sections, which use Van der Waals forces to become grippier on wet surfaces. The sweatier you are, the more secure the sunglasses will be. They don’t slide down your nose or work themselves toward the ground when you’re running; they stay put. Maho also backs its sunglasses with a lifetime warranty.

    $150 at Maho
  • Photograph: Rheos

    These Sunglasses Float

    Rheos x Southern Tide Floating Sunglasses

    Sweat-resistant glasses are important, but if you're bopping around in lakes or pools, you'll want sunglasses that won't sink to the bottom if they fall off. The polarized glasses in the Rheos x Southern Tide collection will stay at the surface. Plus they're treated with a hydrophobic coating to repel water while you float. We tried the Faris frames, but between the six frames available and multiple color combinations for each, we think there’s a pair for every person and style. (You could also just put a neck strap on your old pair, too.)

    $78 at Rheos Gear
    $78 at Southern Tide
  • Photograph: Aview

    If You Want to Color Swap

    Aview Interchangeable Sunglasses

    Aview glasses are for those who want lenses to match every outfit but don't want to pack six pairs of glasses on a trip. First, pick your frame color—there’s only one type of frame available in black, tortoiseshell, or clear—and then choose any of the six polarized lens colors. They slide in and out of the frames over the included clear lenses so you can switch between classic black or brown, to fun colors like blue, yellow, or pink whenever you want. 

    You can even get your prescription put in so you won't need separate prescription sunglasses. Right now, they're a bit narrow on wider faces, so hopefully more frame options will become available.

    $120 at Aview
  • Photograph: Sunski

    Eco-Friendly Frames

    Sunski Topeka

    The Sunski Topekas are affordable sport frames with grippy rubber nose pads that curve around your face to keep out sun, wind, and peripheral glare. They weigh less than an ounce and have polarized lenses. Most importantly for anyone who is attempting to reduce their plastic waste, Sunski is a member of the business sustainability nonprofit 1% for the Planet, which was started by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard. These glasses are made from recycled polycarbonate, and they're also covered by Sunski's Forever warranty.

    $68 at REI
    $68 at Backcountry
  • Photograph: Betsey Johnson

    More Sunglasses

    Honorable Mentions

    We've tried so many sunglasses that not every pair can take a top spot. The ones below we love nearly as much.

    • Le Specs Neptune Deux for $89: These are perfect classic sunglasses that feel well-made and come with a carrying pouch. This brand has a ton of options for men and women, including some really fun ones.
    • Betsey Johnson for $38: We love all the accessories from this brand. They're unique and fun, with heart shapes and butterfly accents, but they're still wearable.
    • Roka Oslo for $160: These are WIRED senior associate editor Adrienne So's favorite glasses. Like the Maho Tulum sunglasses above, these stick to your face the sweatier you get. Plus they weigh just 0.67 ounces.
    • Goodr OGs for $25: These are great cheap glasses made to stay put while running, and there's a bunch of frame and lens colors to choose from. Despite its anti-scratch coating, they did seem to get scratched more easily than some expensive pairs.
Medea Giordano turned her shopping problem into a career as a product writer for WIRED. She covers a little bit of everything but loves health, beauty, and pet tech. Prior to WIRED, she was an assistant editor at Wirecutter and an assistant in the newsroom of The New York Times.... Read more
Writer and Reviewer
Louryn Strampe is a product writer and reviewer at WIRED covering a little bit of everything. She especially loves discounts, video games … and discounted video games. She previously wrote for Future PLC and Rakuten. She currently resides in northern Illinois with two fluffy cats.
Writer and Reviewer
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