The 8 Best Travel Sunglasses

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her adventures around the world on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

See recent posts by Caroline Morse Teel

Sunglasses are the most important travel accessory you can pack. They protect your eyes, cover up jetlag’s dark circles, and help you see your destination more clearly. A good pair should have polarized lenses, anti-scratch technology, durable frames—and maybe even a travel-friendly feature like foldability.

We’ve rounded up the best sunglasses for travelers—plus, a secret tip for saving money on expensive name brand pairs.

Kaenon Rockaway Polarized Sunglasses

Two angles of the Kaenon Rockaway sunglasses — Kaenon

Lightweight frames, corrosion-resistant hinges, and polarized lenses make Kaenon’s Rockaway sunglasses the perfect pair for trips on the water or to the beach. Removable (and hypoallergenic!) nose pads allow you to get a custom fit that will work for both men and women.

The Rockaways come in neutral browns and blacks, plus a fun ombré blue and brown option that screams vacation.

Spy Discord

Two angles of the Spy Optic sunglasses — Spy Optic

Available in 24 frame/lense color combinations, Spy’s Discord sunglasses are ideal for the fashionable traveler. Opt for Spy’s trademarked Happy Lens technology to guarantee a good trip—the lenses are scientifically designed to enhance color and contrast and even boost your mood and alertness.

Ray-Ban Junior Rectangular Sunglasses

Small-faced travelers, here’s a secret tip: Check out youth-sized sunglasses and save big. These slightly smaller-framed glasses, like this pair from Ray-Ban, are the same design and quality as adult-sized pairs, but come with a significantly cheaper price tag.

Youth-sized sunglasses often fit women with smaller faces—so give them a try if most sunglasses tend to look too big on you.

J.Crew Dock Sunglasses

Looking for a cheap pair of sunglasses that you won’t be heartbroken if you lose or break on your travels? Check out J.Crew’s Dock sunglasses, which are affordable but still stylish.

J.Crew usually has big sales a few times a month, so before you buy be sure to check for discounted promo codes to make these sunglasses even affordable.

Knockaround Custom Sunglasses

Knockaround sunglasses on a rock outdoors (left) and a graphic showing mix-and-match Knockaround frame options on a blue background (right) — Knockaround

Can’t find any sunglasses that truly embody your unique sense of style? You can design your own sunglasses (for just $35) at Knockaround. This fun and affordable brand lets you choose different colors and patterns for every aspect of your sunglasses, from the arms to the lenses.

Julbo Camino Spectron 4 Sunglasses

Adventure trips require a different level of sun protection. For extreme outdoor pursuits, you may need glacier glasses, which are sunglasses that protect your eyes from all angles.

Julbo’s Camino Spectron 4 sunglasses come with removable side shields, so you can use them as normal sunglasses when you’re on less intense trips.

Joopin Polarized Foldable Sunglasses

Always have a pair of sunglasses on you when you need them with Joopin’s Foldable sunglasses. These lightweight sunglasses fold in half for easy packing. Despite the cheap price tag, Joopin features anti-glare, polarized lenses and a stylish design.

Ray-Ban Aviator Sunglasses

You can’t go wrong with a classic pair of Ray-Ban’s Aviator sunglass es that will look timeless in your travel photos, no matter the decade. This pair is made in Italy, and offers 100 percent UV protection and crystal lenses.

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them.

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