The perfect driving sun shades let you get pleasure from your drive extra comfortably and safely with none pointless distraction from the solar. Whether or not you’re in search of one thing basic to make you are feeling like Hollywood motion star, or one thing sporty and versatile for on a regular basis lively put on, we spent the final two years testing practically two dozen of the very best driving sun shades that can assist you discover the suitable pair for you.
We put these sun shades to the check by driving and recreating throughout the sunny state of California. From coastal street journeys alongside Freeway 101, to hurry hour visitors in L.A., to the excessive elevation summer time sunshine and winter snow in Lake Tahoe, we wore these sun shades in among the most strenuous gentle circumstances possible. If you wish to skip the studying and simply try our prime picks, think about the sporty Smith Redding, the basic Ray-Ban Aviator, or the succesful and affordably-priced Tifosi Swick Polarized.
On the finish of our record, remember to try our Comparability Chart, together with our complete Purchaser’s Information that features a new Worth & Worth part.
Editor’s Word: Our October 8, 2024 replace to this Information provides the Shinzu Tamura Umeda, our new prime decide for probably the most trendy driving sun shades, and extra details about value & worth to assist inform your buy choice.
The Greatest Driving Sun shades of 2024
Greatest Total Sporty Driving Sun shades
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Greatest for
Wraparound protection in all circumstances -
Lens materials
Glass -
Body Dimension
Small/Medium -
Lens Form
Sq. -
Polarized
Sure
-
Wonderful optics and coloration accuracy -
Wraparound fashion supplies nice peripheral protection -
Shut, snug match
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Shut match may cause fogging throughout lively use
Greatest Funds Driving Sun shades
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Greatest for
Energetic use, all-around put on -
Lens materials
Polycarbonate -
Body Dimension
Medium/Giant -
Lens Form
Sq. -
Polarized
Sure
-
Inexpensive value -
Comfy match -
Good protection and safety
-
Sportier fashion may not go well with everybody
Greatest Aviator-Type Driving Sun shades
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Greatest for
Basic aesthetics, nice peripheral imaginative and prescient -
Lens materials
Crystal -
Body Dimension
Medium -
Lens Form
Aviator -
Polarized
No
-
Modern basic look -
Sturdy lenses -
Plentiful peripheral imaginative and prescient, minimal bind spots
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Lacks peripheral protection -
Not all lens types are polarized
Greatest Driving Sun shades for Excessive Glare
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Greatest for
Driving on vibrant summer time days -
Lens materials
Plastic -
Body Dimension
Medium -
Lens Form
Rectangle -
Polarized
Sure
-
Spectacular distinction enhancement -
Sturdy body -
Good-looking styling
-
Costly for plastic lenses
Most Fashionable Driving Sun shades
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Greatest for
Nice optics and basic fashion -
Lens materials
Talex -
Body dimension
Medium -
Lens Form
Spherical -
Polarized
Sure
-
Basic retro fashion -
Light-weight frames and lenses -
Wonderful optical high quality -
Onyx HD lenses present nice coloration accuracy -
Out there in two body colours and 5 lens types
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No peripheral protection -
Considerably costly
Greatest Over-Body Driving Sun shades
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Greatest for
Sporting over prescription glasses -
Lens materials
Plastic -
Body Dimension
Medium -
Lens Form
Wrap round rectangle -
Polarized
Sure
-
Inexpensive -
Suitable with most prescription glasses -
Cuts glare
Better of the Relaxation
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Greatest for
Lengthy street journeys, overcast circumstances -
Lens materials
Polycarbonate -
Body Dimension
Medium/massive -
Lens Form
Aviator -
Polarized
Sure
-
Good worth -
Filters out glare -
Versatile
-
Like many polarized types, these glasses make LCD screens tough to learn
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Greatest for
Brilliant circumstances, bigger face shapes -
Lens materials
CR-39 (glass-like resin) -
Body Dimension
Giant -
Lens Form
Sq. -
Polarized
No
-
Nice match for bigger faces -
Efficient on sunny days -
Sturdy hinges
-
Greatest for
All-day consolation, timeless fashion -
Lens materials
Acetate -
Body Dimension
Small/medium -
Lens Form
Spherical/teardrop -
Polarized
No
-
Fashionable -
High quality supplies
-
Costly for non-polarized glasses
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Greatest for
Of us on a funds -
Lens materials
Nylon -
Body Dimension
Medium -
Lens Form
Sq. -
Polarized
Sure
-
Inexpensive value -
Included case -
Good worth for polarized lenses
-
Greatest for
On a regular basis put on, basic aviator appears to be like -
Lens materials
AOLite Nylon -
Body dimension
Medium -
Lens form
Aviator -
Polarized
No
-
Light-weight -
Comfy -
Minimalist design
-
Greatest for
Followers of the basic wire body look -
Lens materials
Composite -
Body Dimension
Medium -
Lens Form
Rectangle -
Polarized
Sure
-
Fashionable -
High quality supplies
-
Costly for non-polarized glasses
-
Greatest for
Followers of the basic ’50s Clubmaster look -
Lens materials
Crystal -
Body Dimension
Small/medium -
Lens Form
Spherical -
Polarized
Sure
-
Unisex fashion -
High quality supplies -
Clear optics
-
Retro fashion isn’t for everybody
Greatest Driving Sun shades Comparability Chart
How We Examined the Greatest Driving Sun shades
Our Professional Testers
Right here at GearJunkie, we put on sun shades practically each single day, whether or not we’re driving round city, hanging outdoors with pals or household, or doing one thing lively like working, biking, mountain climbing, {golfing}, or paddling. We’ve been fastidiously scrutinizing the sun shades marketplace for nearly 20 years, and have examined dozens of various merchandise in that point.
In our newest 2024 replace, year-round Lake Tahoe resident Nick Bruckbauer added a number of new pairs of shades to this evaluate, drawing on his expertise driving within the high-altitude sunshine and reflective snow round Lake Tahoe. You don’t admire having a terrific pair of driving sun shades such as you do if you’re trying into the California sunshine at 6,300 ft of elevation, reflecting off a blanket of 4 ft of recent snow!
Our Testing Grounds
Nick principally wore these sun shades within the Lake Tahoe space, testing them whereas driving across the lake, in addition to throughout each day outside actions like mountain climbing, rise up paddle boarding, and path working. He additionally examined these sun shades on coastal journeys to Monterrey, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles, in addition to a 5,000-mile summer time roadtrip from California to Wisconsin and Missouri. Nick has worn these sun shades in nearly each driving situation possible, together with full-on summer time sunshine, trying straight into sunrises and sunsets, being surrounded by glare from winter snow, and thru overcast and foggy days which are nonetheless awkwardly vibrant.
Our Testing Course of
Our testing course of considers body and lens high quality, total sturdiness, glare management, peripheral imaginative and prescient, consolation, and elegance. We wore all of those sun shades in several circumstances, and in lots of instances, wore them side-by-side to get a direct comparability. All the sun shades on this record stood out from the pack. As new types hit the market, we’ll remember to check and think about them for this record.
Purchaser’s Information: How you can Select the Greatest Driving Sun shades
Eye Safety
An excessive amount of daylight may cause everlasting harm to our eyes. Similar to pores and skin, eyes have to be protected against the solar’s UV rays. A superb pair of sun shades will hold your eyes protected and cozy on and off the street.
Driving Security
In vibrant circumstances, sun shades may help us see the street forward with readability and accuracy. With out sun shades, our capacity to understand depth and distance may be severely impaired, particularly within the early morning or late afternoon gentle.
Consolation
Correct imaginative and prescient and eye safety apart, driving within the vibrant solar is simply plain uncomfortable. With out driving sun shades, extended squinting can result in nagging complications.
What to Search for When Buying the Greatest Driving Sun shades
Your go-to driving sun shades ought to elevate your expertise behind the wheel. When it comes time to pick out the very best pair for you, there are a number of vital elements to contemplate. On this purchaser’s information, we are going to go over the first advantages of the very best driving sun shades and totally clarify what you need to think about earlier than making a purchase order. Don’t accept something lower than the right pair of driving sun shades.
Sort of Body
Body Dimension & Form
Earlier than buying a pair of the very best driving sun shades, it’s smart to ensure they’re well-fitted and cozy. Completely different body dimensions and shapes work higher for various folks. You want a body that won’t trigger discomfort or require fixed adjustment.
Some frequent body varieties to take a look at embrace wayfarers, aviators, round, rectangular, protect, and rimless. When you’re not sure what dimension or sort of body suits your face finest, go strive on some shades in particular person to start out narrowing down your choices.
Body Sort & Protection
Glasses with wider frames and taller lens designs will present extra protection and safety. Keep in mind that daylight may also enter your eyes from the aspect if you are driving, and it might be smart to decide on a pair of glasses that gives added safety from all angles.
Body Materials
Whereas body materials comes down to non-public choice, you ought to be conscious that some supplies are extra versatile and sturdy than others. Most driving sun shades function a body made out of acetate or nylon. Each supplies are light-weight and are capable of maintain their form even in excessive circumstances. Metallic frames are frequent, too, although they have a tendency to supply much less wraparound safety.
Sort of Lens
Polarized Lenses
A superb-quality pair of driving sun shades ought to have polarized lenses. When harsh daylight displays off surfaces, together with tail lights, puddles, and cease indicators, the ensuing glare may be quickly blinding. Polarized lenses can block a few of this intense mirrored gentle and make driving safer and extra snug. A few of our favourite lenses are the ChromaPop lenses from Smith Optics.
Drivers must be conscious that polarized lenses may also make it tough to see some digital dashboard shows. Earlier than buying, check the sun shades towards your sprint show to ensure you can nonetheless learn the shows.
Gradient Lenses
Gradient lenses are lighter on the backside and darker towards the highest. Whereas driving, the darker a part of gradient lenses can block daylight, whereas the lighter portion of the lens will nonetheless let you see your dashboard and the street clearly.
Transitions Lenses
Transition lenses are capable of change from clear to darkish relying on the sunshine circumstances. As a result of these lenses depend on direct UV gentle to work, they most likely aren’t the only option for driving, as your automobile’s windshield filters out among the solar’s UV gentle. Nonetheless, there are some nice driving sun shades with transition lenses.
Lens Materials
Most sun shades lenses are constituted of polycarbonate or glass. Glass tends to supply the very best optical readability and can be more durable and extra scratch-resistant. Whereas polycarbonate lenses aren’t as sturdy, they’re extra light-weight and fewer prone to break upon impression.
Sturdiness
The sturdiness of a pair of sun shades relies on supplies, craftsmanship, and weight. On the whole, glass lenses are extra scratch-resistant, whereas polycarbonate lenses are much less prone to shatter beneath impression.
Acetate and nylon frames strike stability between hardiness and suppleness. Once you aren’t sporting your glasses, hold them protected in a spot the place they won’t be scratched or broken.
Worth & Worth
The value of a pair of driving sun shades can range from beneath $50 to nicely over $400. Many cheaper pairs is not going to be polarized or present enough UV safety. Costlier sun shades might embrace higher-quality supplies and lens expertise. We all the time suggest making your choice based mostly on consolation and efficiency slightly than value.
Funds
Imagine it or not, however you possibly can nonetheless get high quality pair of polarized sun shades for nicely beneath $100. Our favourite funds decide, the Tifosi Swick Polarized, is available in at simply $60, and supplies a easy but trendy body form and high-quality lenses. We’ve worn them driving, mountain climbing, working, and paddle boarding, and so they excel in all actions. At this value level, you could be sacrificing some higher-end supplies like lens coatings or extra premium body supplies, however a funds pair of shades can shield your eyes simply in addition to the costlier fashions.
Mid-Tier
When you step as much as the $100 to $300 value vary, you’ll begin seeing a number of the massive identify producers. A lot of the fashions we examined from manufacturers like Smith, Ray-Ban, and Oakley fall into this class. Along with paying a bit extra for the model recognition, this class will sometimes embrace higher-grade body supplies and higher-end lens options just like the ChromaPop lenses from Smith. Our prime total decide, the Smith Redding, falls on this class with a listing value between $215 and $295, relying on the body and lens choices chosen.
Premium
When you begin taking a look at choices over $300, you’ll begin seeing extra designer manufacturers and merchandise that is perhaps equally targeted on fashion and trend than on operate and efficiency. Two of the costliest merchandise we examined, the Shinzu Tamura Umeda ($325) and the Persol Steve McQueen (beginning at $472), each have classically styled body shapes and high-end lens choices. The body of the Persol Steve McQueen additionally folds in half, a novel function we haven’t seen on every other check fashions. At this value vary, the value tag may be attributed to extra premium supplies, fancier body designs, and numerous lens choices.