Best Sunglasses for Driving: Review and Buying Guide

The best sunglasses for driving that can change your whole driving experience.

byJonathon Klein|
Accessories photo
Share

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

There’s a moment that we’ve all had. You get into your car, open up the garage, back out into the day, and as soon as you turn the wheel to head to wherever you’re off to, you’re blinded by the searing sun. Yep, you either forgot or don’t have a pair of driving sunglasses. Driving is already comprised of a thousand different distractions but one of the biggest is that great ball of fiery gas in the sky: the sun. And it can ruin a perfectly lovely drive through the mountains if you can’t see where you’re going. But with so many options available, where do you start?

You start here, with The Drive and our guide on the best driving sunglasses.

Best Overall

Dillon Optics George Polarized

Summary
When you need the best sunglasses around.
Pros
  • Lightweight
  • NIR technology
  • Sharp clarity
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Only 30-day money-back guarantee
Best Value

Kaliyadi Polarized Sunglasses

Summary
An inexpensive set of three sunglasses that’ll do the job you need.
Pros
  • Inexpensive
  • Polarized
  • Three-pack
Cons
  • Cheap lenses
  • Cheap frames
Honorable Mention

Chaps Square Sunglasses

Summary
A pair of sunglasses that look good and feel good too.
Pros
  • Scratch-resistant
  • Retro look
  • Case and cleaning cloth included
Cons
  • Somewhat expensive
  • Not a name brand

Summary List

Our Methodology

I've owned a ton of sunglasses in my lifetime. Hundreds. Mostly due to my inability to keep them from getting scratched or broken or lost in the hundreds of cars I've been tasked at reviewing each and every year. I’ve owned inexpensive and expensive units and I know what to look out for. For this buying guide, I went with a handful I’ve owned in the past, a few I still own, and a select group that, though I haven’t had them in my hands, they're from legit brands and are sworn by left, right, and Sunday by folks who love driving as much as I do and I trust. 

Best Sunglasses for Driving: Reviews & Recommendations

Best Overall: Dillon Optics George

Pros

Indestructible 

Polarized

Industry Leader

Cons

Expensive

Dillon Optics George Polarized are by far the best sunglasses you can buy. They're sleek, get every ounce of glare away from your pupils, and do so with glass that's lifted directly from military rifle scopes. No, seriously, Dillon Optics uses glass that originates from the military rifle world. The George Polarized glasses feature Dillon's NIR lens tech, which uses "polarized diffuse reflector that reduces internal reflections within the lens allowing for noticeably sharper clarity, while at the same time protecting the lens from scratching or exposure to harmful environmental conditions."

These George Polarized glasses are great for driving, biking, or any outdoor adventures you may have. They are expensive though, but these are designed to last a lifetime.  

Best Value: Kaliyadi Polarized Sunglasses

Pros

Inexpensive 

Polarized

Three-pack

Cons

Cheap lenses

Cheap frames

I chose these sunglasses from Kaliyadi, as I actually own them and use them for driving almost every day. This three-pack comes in a variety of lens colors and tints and is extremely affordable. They’re also reasonably robust in their design and these glasses have to take the punishment of someone who constantly forgets where he left them, which is when children find them and get their grubby paws on. 

These are polarized sunglasses and work extremely well reducing the overall glare of both windshields and water. By no standard or stretch of the imagination are they the best driving glasses out there, but their value and that they come in a pack of three makes them worth the inexpensive price of admission. And if you lose one, you have two more to select from.   

Honorable Mention: Chaps Square Sunglasses

Pros

Scratch-resistant

Retro look

Case and cleaning cloth included

Cons

Somewhat expensive

Not a name brand

While you might know the name Chaps from the dad-spec shirts and slacks from your last trip to Kohl’s, the brand has more to offer than just clothing for the assistant to the regional manager, chief among them these sunglasses. With a more retro-inspired 1970s look, these sunglasses come with a UV coating to increase eye protection and are fully polarized to make for excellent driving conditions.

Both the frames and lenses are made of scratch-resistant plastic, which keeps them lightweight and durable. And a case and cleaning cloth come with the glasses to keep everything nice and shiny and non-scratched when not in use. They’re also relatively inexpensive compared to the Dillons, coming in at a middle-of-the-road price range.

Best for Driving: SPY Optic Helm 2

Pros

Name-brand quality

100 percent UV protection

Lightweight

Cons

Name-brand price

Not as customizable as others

SPY Optic is one of the most well-known eyewear brands in the world, though not usually for its sunglasses. I know SPY Optic due to my love for all things action sports and have owned a few of the brand’s snowboard goggles, which have all been excellent. That’s here with the Helm 2s, too.

The lenses are polycarbonate, provide 100 percent UV protection, and are scratch-resistant, while the frames are made of Grilamid plastic to be both lightweight and strong, making them perfect for a long cross-country drive. SPY went for a retro look, but the color of the frames and lenses are customizable so you can get the right look for yourself. These sunglasses aren’t inexpensive though, so they are an investment. 

Best for Women: Ray-Ban Erika Round

Pros

Unisex design despite being women’s glasses

Ray-Ban quality

Fully polarized

Cons

Ray-Ban price tag

Can snap if you're not overly careful

I’ll be honest. These sunglasses from Ray-Ban are dope no matter your gender. I used to have a set and loved them and was very sad when they went the way of the dodo after a particularly long road trip. They were my constant companion in many a sports and supercar. As they’re Ray-Ban, the quality is impeccable and they’re fully UV-protected, as well as polarized.

The wireframes are robust enough to withstand short drops and won’t deform unless you really put your foot on them. And the lenses are scratch-resistant to a degree, as if you really want to, you can put scratches into the lenses. They also come with Ray-Ban’s name-brand price point, but you get what you pay for.

Best for Men: Oakley Holbrook Square

Pros

Oakley quality

Multiple options for fit

Blue light protection

Cons

Expensive

Design may not be for everyone

Outside of Ray-Ban, is there another sunglasses company that’s more widely known than Oakley? The brand has been producing high-quality sunglasses for decades and these Holbrooks are no slouch. With a vintage design that seems to be all the rage today, these glasses are engineered to fit an active lifestyle and support all your driving needs.

Both polarized and protected against the sun’s harmful UV rays, the Holbrooks are made with plastic frames and Oakley’s Plutonite lenses. They’ll even protect your eyes from the harmful effects of your device’s blue lights, which are increasingly encroaching your sightlines in your car's cockpit. Oakley also made sure the construction is designed for comfort, though there are options for the base fit, a standard three-point fit, XL, and one made of metal, so your options are extensive. 

Best Unisex: Pit Viper Sunglasses

Pros

Great peripheral visibility 

Multiple designs

Impact-resistant

Cons

Design is not for everyone

Lenses could be more scratch-resistant

Do you like keggers and partying it up? Are you an action sports athlete with a taste for Monster and killing tires? Well then, these Pit Viper sunglasses are the right choice for you. Pit Viper is a relative newcomer to the sunglasses market but it’s made waves by partnering with some of the biggest names in action sports. The glasses are impact-resistant for all you active lifestyle motocross folks, and fully UV-protected.

The frames are impact-resistant plastic with rubber nose and ear pads for increased comfort, and weigh very little for increased comfort over long periods of time. And the lenses are so large that they curve around your head for better peripheral visibility. Pit Viper also offers them in about 10,000 patterns and styles so you can find your perfect look. They’re also not super expensive, which makes them all the more attractive.

Best Polarized: Maui Jim Wiki Wiki Aviators

Pros

PolarizedPlus2 technology

Updated aviator design

Contoured design

Cons

Super expensive

Can scratch

Last but not least, as well as another pair of aviators, we have these sunglasses from Maui Jim. Called the Wiki Wiki model, these aviators are everything you’d want in a set of sunglasses with the best polarization around. Speaking of which, these sunglasses feature Maui Jim’s PolarizedPlus2 lens technology which “go beyond shielding your eyes from glare and harmful UV rays by enhancing colors to reveal the true beauty of the world around you.” That means when you pull up next to a Lamborghini, you're gonna see its real sparkly hues.

The lenses are composite and protected against UV rays, while the frames are titanium. They’re also a more updated design than the traditional aviator sunglasses and are more contoured to the person’s head. However, you’re gonna spend a healthy dime on these sunglasses as they’re the most expensive on this list.

Our Verdict on the Best Sunglasses for Driving

When you’re looking for the best driving sunglasses, you cannot go wrong with Dillon Optics’ Delta Polarized glasses. They’re sleek, made of military optical-grade glass, polarized, and extremely comfortable. But they’re expensive, so if you just want a set that you can wear every day and not care about, the Kaliyadis are perfectly adequate, too. 

What to Consider When Buying Sunglasses for Driving

Though you may have an idea of what you’re looking for in terms of the style and brand, sunglasses for driving have a host of features you should consider before hitting the Buy It Now button. To get you up to speed and your pupils protected, we put together this buying guide that details all you need to know about sunglasses construction, style, and key features. You’re welcome. 

Key Features

Fit 

Sunglasses that fit well not only look good, but they’re also very effective at blocking out harmful UV rays by keeping them on your head and not on your dashboard. The author has personally gone through several dozen pairs of sunglasses in an attempt to find the most comfortable for his nose. The sunglasses you get should fit snugly and shouldn't be too tight or uncomfortable and the frame shouldn’t be very wide, as UV rays may get in through the sides. The center of the lenses should align with the center of your eyes. 

UV Protection

The main job of your sunglasses is to protect your eyes from UV rays. Be sure to get sunglasses that offer 100 percent UV protection as they should protect your eyes from both UVB and UVA rays. 

Polarization

Also make sure that the sunglasses have polarized or anti-reflective lenses, which minimize glare. Polarization reduces glare caused by reflective surfaces like water or your windshield and can make driving easier on your eyes and more enjoyable. 

Tint

Tints can actually help you see further and more clearly, and aren’t just for aesthetics. Those with gray lenses reduce brightness without distorting color and are ideal for driving. Those with brown or amber lenses have the ability to reduce blue light and glare. Gradient lenses are similar to your car's windshield. They are usually darker at the top and gradually fade to a lighter tint. Like your windshield, they block sunlight from above but don't darken your view. Colored lenses can also increase contrast and may be useful for sportier driving.

Sunglasses for Driving Pricing

Driving sunglasses can range from hella cheap to holy crap expensive and depends on the brand, the materials, and its scratch resistance. If you’ve only got the dough for something cheap, you don’t have to spend more than $15 for a set of two on Amazon that’ll serve you well until you inevitably scratch the heck out of them. And then there are those sunglasses that cost what a good day at the track will be—in the several hundred dollar range. This just means you’ve got options. 

FAQs

You've got questions. The Drive has answers. 

Q: What is the difference between polarized and non-polarized lenses?

A: Polarized lenses are designed to filter out light and are treated with a special anti-blur and anti-haze coating. Non-polarized glasses reduce the overall brightness of all types of light but don’t reduce glare.

Q: What sunglasses for driving can I wear if I have prescription glasses?

A: If you wear prescription eyeglasses, you can find clip-on driving sunglasses that fit over your glasses or sunglasses that are to your prescription. An extra pair of prescription driving sunglasses are going to cost you more out of pocket, though. 

Q: What types of lenses are available with sunglasses for driving?

A: Get lenses that fit your lifestyle. There are polarized and non-polarized lenses as we mentioned above. Polycarbonate lenses are more impact-resistant and are good for those who are into sports, running, or biking. Progressive lenses are designed to help the user see farther away.

Why Trust Us

Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.

Learn more
stripe
Accessories