Whether you kayak in a skirt or a simple sit-on-top, you need a reliable pair of shades to safeguard your eyes from glare and harmful UV light. We’ve reviewed our five favorites in the Best Sunglasses for Kayaking to help you winnow down the myriad options in sunglasses for water sports. Explore sunglasses with proprietary polarized lens technology, lightweight construction, and an included or optional head strap.
Whitewater kayakers have different eyewear needs than ocean kayakers and paddlers. Since you may hit a rapid and roll in a whitewater kayak, shades with a helmet-compatible, tight-fitting head strap are a necessity. Ocean and touring kayakers may not need goggle-style eyewear, but added features like impact resistance and polarization are still important. Our list includes durable frames that resist damage from salt- and freshwater for dependable extended wear, and sunglasses with gray, blue, and amber lens tints to help you see clearly in varying light conditions.
The Top Five Kayaking Sunglasses:
There’s so much to love about Revo as a sports eyewear brand, and even more to covet about the Coast sunglasses, making them an easy frontrunner as the Best Kayaking Sunglasses Overall. The sleek wraparound frames feature Revo’s groundbreaking NASA-based polarized lens technology for clear optics, and the elastomeric temple tips and nose pads offer an ultra-secure fit. You can easily add the compatible Revo Retainer Cord to ensure you don’t lose these sunglasses to a large wave or rough surf. Enjoy elevated performance in the Revo Coast sunglasses.
An essential eyewear style for boating enthusiasts everywhere, the Maui Jim Local Kine 810 offers the secure fit of wraparound sunglasses and a clear, unobstructed field of view, making them a standout for the Best Sunglasses for Whitewater Kayaking. The polycarbonate lenses with added Clearshell™ coating resist scratching helps you to see clearly and you can add a behind-the-head strap for a secure fit around your head or a helmet. Hit the rapids and protect your eyes wearing the Maui Jim Local Kine 810.
Costa makes dependable eyewear favored by active watermen and women the world over. The Cat Cay is our pick for the Best Prescription Sunglasses for Kayaking, thanks to their scratch-resistant lenses, 8-base wrapped profile, and durable Bio-Based Nylon construction. Costa’s patented venting system helps keep these frames from fogging during heavy exertion, and the hydrolite rubber nose pads and temple tips promise a secure fit. Enjoy optimal contrast and a clear field of view wearing these Rx-ready shades from Costa.
With their sleek, ultra-lightweight, semi-rimless design and flexible carbon fiber construction, the Oakley Carbon Blade shades are easy standouts for the Best Oakley Sunglasses for Kayaking. The featherweight titanium hinges resist corrosion from salt- and freshwater, and the proprietary optics allow you to see clearly through bright light and glare. The bayonet-style temples contour around the head for comfort, and the Unobtainium® ear socks get grippier when wet for a secure fit. Look and feel your best powering through the waves wearing the Carbon Blade sunglasses from Oakley.
Never worry about losing your shades to the rapids wearing the Smith Guide’s Choice sunglasses. These Best Kayaking Sunglasses with a Head Strap feature a fully adjustable leash so the frames stay in place even when you capsize. The frames boast ChromaPop+™ lenses for ultra-clear, distortionless views, in a fully wrapped profile with wide temples. Crafted in eco-friendly performance plastic, the Smith Guide’s Choice sunglasses are lightweight, sturdy, and durable.
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