Picture this: You’re in the middle of a great morning workout, coasting alongside the water, when all of a sudden a major glare shines right in your eyes and you can barely see. The worst! Thankfully, with the right pair of lenses, you can run (or walk, or cycle) glare-free. The best polarized sunglasses will protect your vision without cramping your style, stay put (no matter how much you sweat), and feel so lightweight that you might forget you’re even wearing them.
Polarization means that glasses have a filtered coating that’s designed to block horizontal light waves—the kind that reflect off of shiny surfaces. “Think of it almost as invisible slits on the lens,” Colorado-based optometrist Joshua Watt, OD, FOVDR, tells SELF. You’re still able to see light waves that come at you vertically, but you won’t get that bad glare that bounces off of water, snow, and windshields.
This not only helps us see better, but also makes things a heck of a lot more comfortable, New York City–based optometrist Jennifer Tsai, OD, tells SELF. Because no one needs burning, watery eyes, right?
We hunted down the best polarized glasses to make your outings happily glare-free, no matter what kinds of adventures you get up to. Check out our faves below, plus some advice on what to keep in mind when you’re shopping for your new favorite pair.
Our top picks
- Best Overall: Julbo Spark, $230
- Most Durable: Knockaround Fast Lanes, $38
- Best for Cycling: Zeal Optics Harbinger, $199
- Best for Running: Woosh, $18
- Best Aviator-Style: Tifosi Schwae, $35
- Best for Small Heads: Goodr Circle G, $25
- Best for Large Heads: Nike Fire, $83
Shop the best polarized sunglasses
Sure, you can find a cute pair of sunnies at the gas station. But finding high-quality polarized sunglasses takes a little more digging. These picks will keep glare out of your eyes, protect you from UV rays, and stay in place through all kinds of activities.
Best Overall: Julbo Spark
Comfort is king when it comes to these Julbo glasses. Strategically-placed soft rubber along the nose and temples offers just the right amount of grip to keep the frames in place—without grabbing at your hair. More importantly, these sunnies will also keep your eyes happy: The translucent brown lenses I tried out make things nice and crisp, and they’ve never fogged up on me, even when I’ve gotten good and sweaty on 30-degree mornings.
For even better visibility, you can also get the Spark with photochromic lenses that get darker in bright light, and vice versa. You can even order these shades in your prescription, which can make a major difference: “Even a little bit of that correction is going to make a big impact on the clarity of the sunglasses and how well you see,” Dr. Tsai says.
Lens material: Polycarbonate | Colors: 4
Most Durable: Knockaround Fast Lanes
For the price, these sporty shades from Knockaround are a no-brainer. The polarization is spot-on, and with UV400 protection, you know your eyes are safe. Plus, they’re FDA compliant for impact resistance, so it’s NBD if they get, well, knocked around a bit.
I purposely dropped mine on the sidewalk a few times to put that to the test, and honestly saw no scratches or other damage. My only quibble is that the hinges are a bit stiff, so it’s hard to close them all the way when you’re not wearing them. Otherwise, they make for excellent travel sunglasses that won’t get beat up in transit—and, hey, if you lose them, that’s just a good excuse to try another fun color.
Lens material: TAC (Triacetate Cellulose) | Colors: 31
Best for Cycling: Zeal Optics Harbinger
Serious outdoor cyclists need shades with protection from more than just bright lights. “For road cycling where you’re going 30 miles an hour, you want to make sure that you have good wind protection,” Dr. Watt says. “That’s going to be a bigger lens—it’s going to be wrapping around.” At the same time, you want to make sure you’ve got enough ventilation so they don’t fog up under your helmet once you start to sweat, he adds.
This pair from Zeal Optics checks both boxes—and then some. I particularly love the clear color contrast you get through these bright, reflective lenses; it makes it easy to see, even on rainy days. Plus, super grippy pads on the nose and temples keep them secure under my helmet without feeling like they’re pinching my head.
Lens material: Plant-based polymer | Colors: 2 polarized options
Best for Running: Woosh Polarized Sunglasses
Woosh
Polarized Sunglasses
“I’m a massive fan of Woosh sunnies,” running coach Alli Felsenthal tells SELF. She’s raced her last four marathons in her pair, thanks to how lightweight, durable, and comfy they are. And, importantly, they “don’t slide down while running at faster paces,” she says. That means you can get your miles in, distraction-free.
Just know that some users say they fit best on smaller heads. So if you’ve got a big noggin, you might want to size up to something like the Nike Fire instead.
Lens material: Polycarbonate | Colors: 21
Best Aviator-Style: Tifosi Schwae
As cute as aviator sunglasses are, anyone who puts their long hair back into a ponytail while working out knows how annoying it can be when you slide aviators up on top of your head, only to get them tangled up in your hair. This pair from Tifosi is specifically designed to solve that problem: The nose pads are embedded right into the stainless steel frame with no extra spaces to trap stray hairs—just some small, grippy pads that help them stay put. Plus, Tifosi says the grippiness increases as you sweat, and I’ve found they stay in place no matter how intense my workouts get—I only remember I’m wearing them when I catch my reflection in a mirror.
Maybe best of all, they’re so comfy that I barely notice them whenever I slide them on. The thin frames make them super lightweight (only 24 grams).
Lens material: Polycarbonate | Colors: 1 polarized option
Best for Smaller Heads: Goodr Circle Gs
All kinds of runners love Goodrs: These inexpensive sunnies are lightweight and truly don’t slip, even when you’re dripping in sweat. Plus, they give you both polarization and UV protection.
I’ve relied on a few different pairs for years, and they’ve stood up to several drops on sidewalks and trails, even in the pool a couple times. (The only thing that’s ever damaged a pair is my toddler.) I just wish they had a bit more anti-fog, since they can get a bit cloudy inside during hard workouts when it’s extra chilly out.
Because I have a smaller head, I particularly love the Circle G frames with round lenses and a slimmer fit. Bonus: Fun style names like “Freshly Baked Man Buns” and “Influencers Pay Double” help me head out the door with a smile.
Lens material: TAC (triacetate cellulose) | Colors: 19
Best for Large Heads: Nike Fire
If tight frames constantly give you headaches, consider looking for a roomier fit, like you get with the Nike Fires. Despite being designed for bigger domes, these polarized sunglasses are surprisingly lightweight—I can barely feel them when I take them out on walks or bike rides.
The lenses also offer crystal-clear definition. Just know that if your head isn’t XL, they can bounce a little during high-impact sports like running.
Lens material: Plastic | Colors: 2
How we tested these sunglasses
I tapped eye doctors and outdoor athletes for their top polarized picks that can stand up to sweaty workouts. Then, over the course of a few weeks, I put several pairs to the test on outdoor runs, walks, bike rides, and hikes.
On every outing, I considered how they impacted my vision—whether the light was flat or super bright—plus how well they stayed in place during bouncier workouts like running, whether they fogged up when things got sweaty, and just how comfortable they felt on my head after an hour or two of wear.
What to look for in polarized sunglasses
Not sure if your pair is polarized? “A way to test for it is to hold [the glasses] up to a screen, like your phone, and rotate it—if the screen goes dark, that has polarization,” Dr. Tsai says. (This happens because the glasses’ polarization interacts with the polarization of the screen). But as nice as anti-glare is, it takes more than just a polarized coating to make a solid pair of sunnies. Here’s everything else experts suggest keeping in mind as you shop.
The exact fit you need partially depends on how you’ll be wearing your sunglasses. While cyclists might want something that wraps around the sides of their face for extra wind protection, runners who hit the road in the middle of the day might just want to make sure their glasses lay flush against their eyebrows so no light peeks in from above, Dr. Watt says. Either way, look for “a pair that fits well and doesn’t move on your face,” he says.
Polarization can be added to any lens color, Dr. Tsai says, but certain colors might be more useful in certain scenarios. For driving, she recommends grey or brown lenses for better color and depth perception. For sports where you’re in or around water, she suggests reaching for grey, green, or amber lenses, while golfers (or anyone else surrounded by lots of green) are best off with brown, green, or amber.
Just because a lens is dark doesn’t mean it will protect you from harmful UV rays. Dr. Tsai recommends always checking the label: “It should indicate UV absorption up to 400 nanometers,” she says.
Polarization isn’t the only coating a lens can have. “Some of them come with blue light filtering and anti-reflective coatings as well,” Dr. Tsai says. Dr. Watt points out that some sunnies (like the Julbo Spark) also feature photochromic lenses that get darker depending on the UV exposure, which can be helpful for anyone who’s outdoors around sunrise or sunset (when light conditions can quickly change).
Frequently asked questions about polarized sunglasses
Are there different grades of polarized sunglasses?
Technically, yes, there can be different grades of polarization. “Some can be more fully polarized, whereas some are more partial,” Dr. Tsai says, explaining that it just depends on how far the filters are spaced apart in the coating.
However, you won’t see brands marketing that a particular pair has a higher or lower grade of polarization. “These days, more or less, they make them just with the full amount or without,” Dr. Tsai says.
Who shouldn’t wear polarized sunglasses?
Anyone who relies on a screen shouldn’t wear polarized sunglasses, since the lenses can make it more difficult to see digital devices. That includes pilots, drivers who use screens for navigation in their cars, or cyclists who depend on bike computers.
Related:
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- I Found Running Belts With Tons of Pockets That Actually Stay in Place
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