The best sunglasses for driving come in all shapes, sizes, and styles. Everyone has different concerns for their driving shades. And a pair of good sunglasses to have in the car may look different for you than it does for your friends or family.
Regardless of your needs or desires, the finest sunglasses for driving share a few key features. They should:
Together, these attributes make for the ideal driving sunglasses.
Discover our top picks for the best sunglasses for driving, whether you prefer clip-on lenses or you need to stick to a budget. This guide will help you find classic, cool, and comfortable shades from brands like Persol, Nike, Ray-Ban, and more.
As you shop for your next pair of road trip-ready shades, you may be focused on form over function, opting for fun cat-eye frames or retro-chic wayfarers. Or, you may prioritize features like a polarized lens or a wide viewing field (among many other options).
Style and functionality are equally important for many glasses wearers. Thanks to the selection of popular driving sunglasses at FramesDirect.com, you can have the best of both worlds with frames that will both protect your eyes and make you look great behind the wheel.
The best sunglasses for driving will have 100% UV protection from harmful UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C light. Most car windshields offer a protective coating against harmful UV rays. But by adding a pair of sunglasses with a level three tint or lower, you can ensure optimal vision protection. Plus, UV protection helps reduce eye strain.
Driving while wearing a pair of uncomfortable glasses can take your focus off of the road. And this can be potentially dangerous for you, your passengers, and other motorists around you. For optimal comfort, look for a pair of adjustable frames that fit your face well.
Which glasses fit your face shape and head size? Certain frame styles may flatter your features more than others. Choosing a pair of shades that suit your specific face shape will help protect your eyes from harmful light. They should also compliment your unique characteristics.
Specialty lens coatings like mirror coatings, polarization, and anti-reflective coatings are a great option, too. They can make all the difference in both protecting your vision and providing exceptional clarity before you.
Wraparound frames often come in flattering rectangular silhouettes that shade your frontal and peripheral vision from the bright outdoors. You can find the same protection in sunglasses with the proper coverage, too.
When you decide to shop for the best driving sunglasses, be sure that the selected frames offer the correct amount of coverage — whether or not they feature a wrapped design.
Certain lens colors are suited to certain light conditions. If you tend to drive in foggy, low light, or cloudy conditions, you will want to opt for blue or pink lenses.
Gradient lenses are also a great option for driving. The dark tint shifts to a lighter tint, which allows one pair of glasses to suit multiple light conditions.
All of our sunglasses at FramesDirect.com are 100% authentic and directly sourced from the manufacturer for quality and durability. Choosing shades for driving that are crafted with durable materials allows you to keep your new favorite pair for years to come.
So which are the right sunglasses for you when it’s time to hit the road?
Our Picks for the Best Sunglasses for Driving:
Timeless style, award-winning UV protection, and a corrosion-resistant titanium construction make the Maui Jim Cliff House-247 sunglasses our top choice for the best driving sunglasses overall.
The adjustable nose pads and comfort-coated tips promise stability and a slipless fit. So, driving on hot or cold days is a breeze. The classic aviator design never goes out of style. Whether you’re with the family or out with friends, you’ll be the best looking in the bunch with these Maui Jim shades.
Persol is a trusted name in eyewear. Each and every pair of their glasses being handcrafted in Lauriano, Italy with unrelenting attention to detail.
The Persol PO3048S shades feature the brand's proprietary Meflecto stem system for a fully adjustable, balanced fit. You will almost forget you’re wearing during long hours on the road.
The rectangular frames boast a streamlined wayfarer-inspired design that flatters most face shapes. And the saddle-bridge offers a balanced fit across the bridge of the nose and cheeks. Opt for these handcrafted shades, and you’ll discover some of the most comfortable frames out there.
We’ve seen a lot of questions about whether or not polarized lenses are good for driving. Since the purpose of polarization is to reduce glare in bright conditions, polarized lenses can be extremely useful. They provide a clear field of view and reduce vision-impairing flares from reflective surfaces. This includes everything from sun-soaked asphalt to road markers and signs.
Oakley's tried and true lens technology surpasses many of its competitors. Thus, its Frogskins sunglasses won our pick for the best polarized sunglasses for driving. These stylish and popular frames offer a sharp look paired with superior anti-glare technology. This is perfect for keeping your eyes protected and focused during long hours on the road.
Gas, car maintenance, snacks — you have plenty of expenses to worry about on your next road trip or work commute. Worrying about the expense of your driving sunglasses on top of these concerns can be overwhelming.
Thanks to our wide selection of designer frames at FramesDirect.com, you can find stylish, durable, and UV-blocking shades at any price point.
Our favorite pair for the best affordable driving sunglasses are the Nike Rabid. Not only do the shades boast Nike’s signature sport-inspired aesthetic and “Just Do It” performance features, they come with a price tag of less than $90.
Now you can feel confident in your style choices and the health of your eyes with a cost that won’t break the bank.
Different lens tints, including gradient lens tints, are suited to different light conditions. Gray, black, and brown lenses tend to be the most common. But pink-, blue-, green-, and yellow-tinted lenses each hold a place among the best options for driving in certain light conditions.
Our choice for the sunglasses with the best lens color for driving are the Ray-Ban RB2132 New Wayfarer. This is thanks to the frames’ availability in more than 25 lens color options.
The shades boast a truly iconic shape, shark fin temples, and the signature Ray-Ban logo. Such features let you enjoy the reliable style of Ray-Ban, along with the best tint to match your needs on the open road.
During sunrise and sunset, the sun sits almost level with the road. The sun glare makes these times the most difficult and dangerous times of day to drive.
A pair of Costa Fantail sunglasses are our pick for the best sunglasses for driving into the sun. They are simply a must-have to make sure you have peak clarity while on the road.
We love the Fantail for its sleek wraparound design, which provides a wide field of view. This, paired with Costa’s proprietary lens technology, allows for ultra-clear optics.
As you head out on the road, don’t let your vision be an afterthought. Opt for the Costa Fantail to ensure safety as you drive into the sun.
Takumi is known for making high-quality frames — frames that stand up to highly varying light conditions. What makes this possible? Their optional clip-on lenses, which are attached by ultra-strong magnets.
The Takumi TK1020 eyeglasses with a convenient magnetic clip-on lens are our pick for the best clip-on sunglasses for driving.
These Takumi shades make it easy to go between light conditions. The convenient clip-on (and off) sunglass lenses allow any prescription glasses wearer to enjoy taking to the road — day or night.
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