The 10 Best Polarized Sunglasses of 2022 (2024)

FAQs

What is the number 1 sunglasses brand? ›

1. Ray-Ban. It's no surprise that Ray-Ban is the top pick for the best sunglasses brands in the world. After all, this heritage powerhouse has been making very high-quality, stylish sunglasses for more than 80 years — its Aviator-style shades were originally designed for military use but went “public” in 1937.

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.

Brown – These lenses are good in everyday conditions, because they enhance contrast and work well in low-light conditions. Blue – Blues enhance your color perception while reducing glare. They are trendier and considered more aesthetically pleasing. Green – Green lenses are best for general purposes.

The combination of performance eyewear and relaxed street style has made Oakley the biggest selling brand in the sunglasses market.

In a head-to-head comparison, Maui Jim and Ray Ban both offer UV protection and polarized sunglasses, but Maui Jims are much more appropriate for outdoor sports, while Ray Bans can make a bold fashion statement but won't offer the same sunglasses protection.

Italy has a longstanding reputation as being a leader in sunglasses production, but Japan is the new up-and-coming country for producing the highest quality eyewear. Learn more about why the best sunglasses are made in Japan and how to pick the perfect pair.

Expensive sunglasses are usually worth the higher price because they have a better design and are more likely to last longer. There are a lot of things to consider when choosing the best sunglasses for your needs, and the price tag is just one of them.

Polarized lenses will not protect your eyes from UV damage more than standard 100% UV lenses. However, they can give you clearer, more accurate vision and alleviate some eye strain. If you find yourself squinting a lot, even when you're wearing sunglasses, consider investing in polarized sunglasses.

Are Prizm Lenses worth the money? There is not much doubt that Prizm lenses make a marked improvement in visual clarity, particularly with peripheral vision. There a key benefits for athletes in the filtering out of 'visual noise', improvement in depth perception and added contrast in colour wavelengths that matter.

The best tints for driving are grey, amber, and copper-tinted lenses because they maintain color distinction. Light green, blue, red, and pink can distort important colors, which are crucial for seeing traffic lights.

Are there different levels of polarized sunglasses? ›

Barton: There are many different levels and many different price points. The basic way that it works is the same — it requires a film. There are different quality levels of film where some are more effective than others, but the big difference comes in how the lens is made with that film and how clear the lens is.

Dark colors (brown/gray/green) are ideal for everyday use and most outdoor activities. Darker shades are intended primarily to cut through the glare and reduce eyestrain in moderate-to-bright conditions. Gray and green lenses won't distort colors, while brown lenses may cause minor distortion.

For Driving

Both lenses provide the glare-reducing benefits of polarization, but the color ultimately depends on your personal preference. Gray is a popular choice for its true-to-world color experience and brown is ideal for contrast-enhancement.

Gray sunglass lenses are a very popular lens tint because they are suitable on both cloudy and sunny days, providing anti-fatigue benefits and overall protection from glare – especially glare shining off water and wet roads.

The aviator was originally designed to give military pilots the best possible coverage for their eyes in the sky. Both the teardrop shape and more rectangular aviator shape feature larger lenses that provide full coverage of the eye socket for pilots.

In a head-to-head comparison, Maui Jim and Ray Ban both offer UV protection and polarized sunglasses, but Maui Jims are much more appropriate for outdoor sports, while Ray Bans can make a bold fashion statement but won't offer the same sunglasses protection.

Polarized lenses will not protect your eyes from UV damage more than standard 100% UV lenses. However, they can give you clearer, more accurate vision and alleviate some eye strain. If you find yourself squinting a lot, even when you're wearing sunglasses, consider investing in polarized sunglasses.

Barton: There are many different levels and many different price points. The basic way that it works is the same — it requires a film. There are different quality levels of film where some are more effective than others, but the big difference comes in how the lens is made with that film and how clear the lens is.

Category 3 is for strong sunlight and the most common category because almost all brown and grey (or 'smoke') lenses are Category 3. Shop leisure style sunglasses. Category 4 is typically a very dark grey or brown lens – ideal in mountains or desert where the sun is intense and there are high glare conditions.

Oakley sunglasses are known for their sporty edge, while the Ray-Ban style delivers a more classic, “Hollywood” type of style. Both brands offer several styles, shapes, and colors to choose from as well, which makes a difference when searching for a pair that's suited for your face shape and personal aesthetic.

Why are Maui Jims so good? ›

Maui Jim sunglasses allow you to see color in ways you have never seen before, thanks to their patented PolarizedPlus2 technology. Their unique formula of digital polarization enhances color in bright conditions, leaving you with a crisper and more vibrant visual world.

Stars such as Jennifer Aniston, George Clooney, Reece Witherspoon and Brad Pitt are big fans of Maui Jim frames, whilst Johnny Depp, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift and Beyonce favour Ray Bans.

UV400 protection provides our eyes with the highest level of protection. It blocks out 100% of all harmful light from the sun including harmful UV rays. Polarized lenses use a special film to further filter reflected light and reduce glare from smooth surfaces.

The biggest disadvantage of polarized sunglasses is their effect on LCD screens. Polarized sunglasses can make LCD screens hard to view due to the way that the lenses filter light. Screens can become extremely dark or even completely blank at some angles when viewed through polarized lenses.

Look at a bright, reflective light source (e.g., glass, water, or polished metal) with your shades on. If the light increases in intensity when you tilt your head sideways to around 60 degrees, you're wearing polarized sunglasses. If there's no change in quality, they're just tinted.

Dark colors (brown/gray/green) are ideal for everyday use and most outdoor activities. Darker shades are intended primarily to cut through the glare and reduce eyestrain in moderate-to-bright conditions. Gray and green lenses won't distort colors, while brown lenses may cause minor distortion.

Sunglasses with category 3 lenses are best for daytime driving conditions — any higher is considered too dark to drive safely.

Gray tints help provide true color perception, as well as reduce fatigue and glare. It is the most popular tint for general purpose use, providing the best sun-blocking and anti-glare protection on bright, sunny days. Amber is a good all- purpose sunglass tint because it enhances contrast, especially outdoors.

While UV400 lenses might offer the best level of sun protection — not all sunglasses have them. It's entirely possible to buy a pair of dark-tinted shades (category 3-4) that do not provide adequate UV protection.