Stay Shady In Style: The Best Sunglasses For Men In 2022

Why Trust Us

Our team loves spending time outdoors in the sun but we all know that bright sunlight can take its toll on our eyes. Most of us have more than a few pairs of sunglasses and we wear different ones for different occasions. We've owned and tested many pairs of shades for eye protection as well as for looks.

Who This Is For

This guide is for anyone who loves spending time outdoors in the sun or even those who need a good pair of shades while driving. Sunglasses are more than just tinted glass spectacles so we've put this guide together to help you choose sunglasses that will shield your eyes from the sun's UV rays but also compliment your style. If you're looking for some of the best sunglasses brands for men to complete a cool look for yourself, this guide is definitely for you.

How We Picked

Putting together our selection of the most popular men's sunglasses wasn't easy because the choices are almost limitless. However, not all sunglasses are the same with some being nothing more than tinted lenses inside a frame. We chose the sunglasses in our selection by first looking at brands that are known for high quality and style. We also looked for those that offered exceptional protection from the sun's harmful UV rays as well as shades that are durable.

Features To Look For In Sunglasses For Men

Sunglasses appear to be a pretty basic concept: you look at them, if you like them, you tend to buy them. But there are a few factors that you should consider when purchasing a pair of sunglasses, including UV protection ratings, shape, and whether to side with polarized lenses or not.

UV protection - You want to look for the best sunglasses for men that offer at least 99.9% resistance to UVA and UVB rays. These give you optimal protection from the sun’s harmful rays, allowing you to spend time in the sun without worrying about retina damage, especially if you're hiking or fishing.

Polarized  - This is a nifty little feature that helps immensely for certain outdoor activities. Good quality shades are meant to diminish the effects of intense sunlight and make you squint less. At the same time, they should protect your eyes from harmful rays. Polarized sunglasses reduce or eliminate glare so they can be a lifesaver when you’re driving, skiing or fishing. They're not a must-have for everyday use though.

Frame shape  - There are frame shapes that are definitely for men and then those that are undeniably designed for women. However, some frame shapes are unisex and suitable for both men and women. Sunglasses for men are typically a little sharper, and often more square than women's glasses. The frame shape is directly related to sunglasses styles and you should look for the style that compliments the shape of your face and your features.

Different Lens Types

If you’re looking to keep everything as clear as possible, polarized lenses reduce glare and add a sort of HD effect to everything you’re looking at. These are the norm, but they’re also used heavily by post-cataract patients or those who receive laser eye surgery to improve their vision. It helps with the healing process.

Then you have photochromic lenses that blend between indoor and outdoor use. You don’t have to remove the social shield when you head indoors; light adjustments can help cut down on that immediate change in your eyesight when you head in from the sun, or vice versa. You can also choose gradient lenses which tend to have a darker tint at the top of the glasses with a lighter tint towards the bottom.

For men's sunglasses, you’ll also see polycarbonate lenses that come with built-in (or blended-in) UV protection, which is why a lot of high-end brands use this feature. Polycarbonate is a fairly good insurance measure against the damage that UV rays can cause to your eyes.

What about lens additives? UV protection often comes in the form of a coating or an added item into the glass or plastic lens construction. These require a bit of precision to ensure that the 100% UV protection claims are fully realized, as you’ll see on most sales pages and product display pages of men's sunglasses brands.

Critical for athletes, an anti-reflective coating is crucial to keep yourself in the game. Whether it’s cycling, running, or anything in between, you don’t need sunlight poking at your eyes while you’re trying to stay in full form.

Folks with kids, pets, as well as clumsy gents might benefit from scratch-resistant shades. Even putting them in and out of a case can cause light scratches that may become more noticeable over time. This is a major consideration if you plan on forking out the big bucks for your sunglasses.

Blue light reduction additives are excellent to cut down on fatigue and eye strain, especially if you work at the computer most of the day. This makes your sunglasses dual-use, but also helps protect against blue light that’s found in sunlight.

Q: Do I need to wear sunglasses?

A: We’re about to break down some science surrounding UV rays, which is 99% of the reason why we’re going to say yes, you absolutely need to wear sunglasses. Temperatures and UV exposure have been consistently trending upward for decades, with no sign of stopping. In fact, the importance of blocking UV rays is only going to increase with time.

Sunglasses help maintain a youthful appearance, especially around your eyes and the skin of your face. As we’re about to discuss, some UV rays will visibly age your skin faster, which nobody wants. For style, health and your youthful appearance, sunglasses are a must.

Q: What are UV rays?

A: According to the American Cancer Society, UV radiation is somewhere in between radio waves (low radiation) and x-ray machines (high radiation). They’re a form of electromagnetic radiation, specifically in the form of ultraviolet rays. These come in three different degrees of rays:

UVA - These are the weakest among the different ultraviolet ray degrees, primarily causing your skin cells to age faster. They can also produce genetic mutations that can later lead to skin cancer.

UVB - UVB rays have more energy than UVA rays and can alter or damage your DNA by penetrating your skin. These cause sunburns and are responsible for most forms of skin cancer.

UVC - You don’t see these on product descriptions and sales pages for sunglasses, because these never reach the ground. They get trapped in the atmosphere, but there are man-made forms of UVC rays. On average, they’re not the main factors that contribute to skin cancer.

To really grasp the full importance of why you need to block UV rays, these are the different ways they affect your eyes.

Cataracts - They’re not just “Things that old people get in their eyes sometimes.” This is a cloud surrounding your vision, changing your depth perception and ability to properly perceive images from your eyes to your brain. These are the most common things eradicated during laser eye surgery to restore 20/20 vision. They are created in the sections of your eye that specifically perceive light.

Pterygium - Commonly referred to as Surfer’s Eye, pterygium are non-cancerous lesions that form on and around your eyes, usually brought on by UV exposure. They can be painful and they can be removed, but are ultimately something you want to avoid.

Photokeratitis - More commonly known as Snow Blindness, this is usually a temporary vision impairment or loss, but in some cases, it can lead to permanent damage. Long-term exposure and minimal protection are are the root of this problem.

Potential for skin cancer - Your eyelids are just as, if not more susceptible to UV rays and transforming them into skin cancer. Cancer around your eyes has the potential to actually form and transfer into your eyes.

Macular degeneration - Also known as AMD, this is basically the decline in your vision that’s usually attributed to old age. The older you get, the more your eyes falter, but that process can be seriously expedited or created at a young age through constant UV exposure.

Harmful UV rays are attributed to multiple types of cancer, including, but not limited to melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and general skin cancer. UV rays also contribute to your physical appearance maturing faster than you want it to. You may look like you’re 50 when you’re 45, and so on. Your immune system can become compromised, and you can experience direct retina damage.

Q: When do UV rays affect my eyes?

A: To understand how UV rays affect your eyes, first, we need to understand how to measure them. When you see “UV 400 Protection,” it gets a bit confusing, because you also see “100% UV Protection.” While a lot of men give little regard to this piece of information, it actually serves a purpose.

400 refers to wavelengths with up to 400 nanometers. That’s where you cross over from minor UV protection into total shield territory. If you’re not wearing shades, UV rays affect your eyes the second they touch. UV is a lower form of radiation supplied by the sun, so when you think of it like that, when was the last time you heard “a little radiation won’t hurt.” We’re willing to bet that never is the answer.

Q: Which lens color is the best?

A: For low light conditions, yellow is best. Blue, green and gray work very well for the beach, reflecting the water in a glorious way. Otherwise, it’s really up to you. Your lens color and opaqueness will determine your stylistic element, which really comes down to your intended use. Are you hitting the boardwalk? Driving? A social shield to look mysterious? Whatever your reason, make sure that you’ll have proper protection and reflection from your lens color.

Q: Do darker sunglasses provide more UV protection than lighter lens tints?

A: Short answer: no, not in the slightest. This writer is using a pair of simple blue blocker glasses to reduce eye strain, and they’re 100% clear. I don’t even realize that they’re on my face half the time, and they have UV 400 protection (basically the best of the best). With sunglasses, darker shades come down to a style choice. Nobody puts on sunglasses to amplify their eyes; at just about any level of tinting, modern-made sunglasses can fulfill their primary function.

UV rays are invisible and don’t travel through light. It isn’t light that you want to get rid of, which does get affected by your shade tinting/darkness. UV rays are out there no matter what, so the underlying technology in your sunglasses is what’s keeping them from burning up your retinas.

Q: Can sunglasses for sports make a difference?

A: Absolutely. First of all, you need to have the right kind of tint to reflect light. Since you know you’re not going to wear sunglasses while out on the football field, these are primarily used for cycling, running, and more Olympic-style sports than contact. Think about how many instances you can run into sudden bursts of light, and what that could cause - bike crashes, tripping and getting injured; it’s a road you don’t want to go down.

Q: How do I care for my sunglasses?

A: For one, you could invest in a micro screwdriver kit. Find out if your frames and their connector are using Phillips head screws. If they are, they’ll be very small. You can pick up a reasonably priced micro screwdriver kit on Amazon. This little kit can be tucked away inside of your desk drawer, and when you feel your sunglasses getting a touch loose, you’ll remember it’s there. Keep in mind, not all sunglasses are going to have this little adjustment spot, as it’s usually more common among prescription glasses. Still, it’s worth checking out.

Next, you’ll need a decent lens cleaner. If your sunglasses have a coating or treatment to block against UV rays or block blue light, you’ll need to upkeep their integrity. Get mild cleaners that are gentle on lenses, which will also help prevent fibers from being left behind and streaking.

Speaking of fibers, you’re not going to use paper towels to clean your lenses. It’s just bad practice. These little white wisps get stuck on the lenses and these fibers can get trapped along the ridge where the lenses fit into the frames. Instead, invest in a proper cleaning cloth. If you’re mostly using your shades in the car, keep that cloth in the case with them.

Apart from that, it’s all about protecting them from damage. Keep a sunglass case in the car, and don’t leave them on countertops or dangling over your shirt’s collar. Most times when someone breaks a pair of sunglasses, it’s completely due to carelessness.

Q: Will a cheap pair of sunglasses protect my eyes?

A: If the price tag is seriously low, and it’s not Black Friday or a sale, then most cheap sunglasses are not going to do a good job of protecting your eyes. To clarify, the price tag has no effect itself (obviously) but reflects the quality of the sunglasses. UV-blocking technology is where you come into a higher price tag, and if it’s good quality, then you’re going to see a higher price tag.

Your eyes are incredibly important so you definitely want to avoid sunglasses that are cheap and poorly made using inferior materials. The best men's sunglasses are made using high-quality materials and they are stringently tested. In the end, you really do get what you pay for.

Sources:

1. Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation - American Cancer Society
2. UV Radiation & Your Skin - The Skin Cancer Foundation
3. Why Different Lens Color In Sunglasses? - All About Vision