The 15 Best Polarized Sunglasses for Men Who Won't Sacrifice Style for Protection
If you don’t yet own a pair of polarized sunglasses, you’re missing out (and probably squinting a lot). These shades use specialized lenses that block glare, reducing strain on your eyes and allowing you to see more clearly. Picking these over traditional models is a smart move for all kinds of outdoor activities, from running and biking to kayaking or fishing. But the best polarized sunglasses for men provide a stylish way to accessorize on top of their protective qualities.
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The Best Polarized Sunglasses at a Glance
Best Polarized Sunglasses Overall: Randolph Engineering USA Gold Classic Aviator Sunglasses, From $339
Best Polarized Fishing Sunglasses: Costa Del Mar Half Moon Polarized Sunglasses, $220
Best Polarized Sports Sunglasses: Goodr Wrap G Polarized Sunglasses, $45
Best Lightweight Polarized Sunglasses: Tifosi Track, $60
Most Stylish Polarized Sunglasses: Raen Basq Polarized Round Sunglasses, $185
Polarized Sunglasses: Dealing With Glare
Why would you want polarized sunglasses? Put simply, they help cut down glare caused by reflected light. When light hits a flat surface (like the road or water), it reflects in every direction, creating glare. This glare can cause eye fatigue, headaches, or in extreme cases (like on snowy slopes), even temporary blindness.
Reducing glare can make it easier to see and safer to be outside. That's especially true when performing high-speed activities, like biking or driving, that require clear vision and quick reaction times.
How Polarized Sunglasses Reduce Glare
Unlike lens tints, polarization is designed specifically to reduce glare from the environment around you. Polarized sunglasses have a special polarized filter on their lenses. This filter is made of a compound with molecules that naturally line up in one direction. The compound is uniformly applied to a lens so that all the molecules are aligned the same way. That allows the compound to absorb the horizontal wavelengths of reflected light while letting natural light, which travels in vertical wavelengths, pass through. The glare gets cut down, and you’ll get a clearer view of what’s around you.
Polarized sunglasses can be found in all kinds of styles, from ultralight, high-coverage sports frames for outdoor enthusiasts to classic polarized aviators you can wear with a suit. Read on for our top picks.
The Best Polarized Sunglasses for Men of 2024
Why You Should Trust Me
Anthony Mastracci is a Senior Commerce Editor for Men's Journal and specializes in finding the best deals on men's fashion, footwear, and accessories. As an athlete, a fisherman, a style enthusiast, and a glasses-wearer, he's very picky about the way he chooses accessories, and finding the best polarized sunglasses is no different. In 2024 alone, he's tested and worn over two dozen pairs from brands like Randolph, Goodr, Tifosi, and more, and has found a few he thinks everybody needs to own.
Cameron LeBlanc is a New York-based fashion writer for Men's Journal and brings a well-rounded perspective on the latest trends in the men's lifestyle world. He's previously written deep-dive articles on the best aviator sunglasses, baseball sunglasses, and even reading glasses, giving him a long-running knowledge of which brands are producing top-tier polarized sunglasses today.
