The Best Sunglasses for Every Outdoor Adventure

Sunglasses are a must for any time of year. They protect your eyes from UV light and reduce the chance of conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration. They also reduce eyestrain when it’s bright outside and eliminate disorienting glare while driving. (Glare is a problem while driving in the snow too!) Plus, they help to shield your eyes from wind, rain, or flying debris.

Any cheap pair of UV glasses will work—you can find decent options at drugstores or discount stores like TJ Maxx or Ross—but a few of us on the Gear team have tried dozens of pairs of sunglasses while we ran, hiked, swam, walked, lounged in the sun, and drove. These are our favorites.

Updated July 2021: We’ve tested a ton of new glasses and added fresh picks for 2021.