Explore our collection of hiking sunglasses and eyeglasses to find the best frames to wear on the trail. From rugged mountaineering shades with polarized lenses, to weather-resistant glasses for day hikes, our selection of sunglasses and glasses for hikers includes the performance frames you’ve been searching for.
Hiking encompasses a variety of activities, including trekking, backpacking, and mountaineering. Each of these undertakings requires a different type of eyewear. If you’re headed out on a simple weekend day hike with your friends, a pair of sturdy shades with 100% UV protection will suffice to protect your eyes from the sun’s rays. If you mountaineer or trek, you’ll need heavy-duty glasses or sunglasses with side shields to safeguard your eyes from wind and snow. Consult our list of the Best Sunglasses for Hiking to see our top eyewear picks for exploring nature on foot.
Not always. While it’s usually a good idea to wear sun protection when you spend long hours outdoors, whether it’s overcast or sunny, if your gray, black, or dark brown-tinted sunglass lenses make the trail ahead difficult to see on overcast days, we’d recommend clear lenses with UV coating, even if you don’t need a prescription added to them. The lenses will block harmful UVA, B, and C light and reduce eye strain and the risk of burn. You can also choose a light brown, copper, or yellow lens tint to wear in heavily shaded areas to increase blue hues and improve green contrast for a clearer, nuanced field of view.
Yes, in specific hiking conditions. Mountaineering enthusiasts who hike in bright, reflective snow will absolutely want to choose hiking sunglasses with glare-cutting polarized lenses. But if you hike or trek through heavily wooded areas, you won’t need polarized sunglasses, as fewer reflective surfaces exist on the forest floor.