When the sun comes out, you want to be looking your best. You want to be giving off a confident air whenever your work commitments, summer holidays, recreational activities, exercise plans and daily routines take you out into the sunlight. You don’t want to be squinting and blinking without any shades, let alone pulling a scratched and scruffy pair out of a dusty drawer. You want shades that will help you look good.
Knowing how to buy sunglasses isn’t always that easy, though. Between high street retailers, online outlets and opportunistic pop-up shops, buying sunglasses can be a daunting prospect. It’s hard to know how to choose the best sunglasses for your needs, and it’s equally difficult to know what’s a fair price and what isn’t. Are you paying for quality, or just the brand? Spotting a top quality pair from a cheap knock-off can cause a few headaches too.
If you’re trying to buy some sunglasses but don’t know where to start, don’t worry - there’s no shame in that at all. Read on to discover our top tips for buying sunglasses, and some expert picks of the best shades on the market...
How to buy the best sunglasses
There are numerous questions to consider before investing in a new pair of sunglasses, and you shouldn’t rush into a purchase until you’ve found the perfect sunnies; ones that match your budget and your individual needs and tastes.
What’s your budget?
Whether you’re looking to spend under £50 or over £500, you’ll be able to find sunglasses to match your budget. With each price point you step up, you’ll see more designer brands and less generic shapes/styles. If your glasses are meant to be purely functional, you may well find an ultra-affordable option that matches all of your needs. But if you want your sunglasses to turn heads, earn compliments and add a layer of class to your summer wardrobe, you may want to pitch your price expectations higher.
Sunglasses often come in ranges where the actual price you pay will depend on the design, materials, size and colour. Splash out on a pair of Ray-Ban Sonnenbrille Clubmasters, for example, and you might be spending anywhere between £76 and £270 depending on the colour and lenses you go for.
Are polarized sunglasses better?
Polarized sunglasses are coated with a clever chemical that diminishes glare, allows you to see clearer in bright conditions and helps to reduce the harmful effects of UV light. If you’re looking for a pair of sunglasses for driving, boating or any other outdoor activity, opting for a polarized coating is a highly beneficial move. Thanks to the glare reduction, you won’t have to squint, and that leaves you free to focus on whatever it is you’re doing. However, if you’re looking for glasses to simply lounge around in, you might find polarization to be an unnecessary expense.
How long do you want them to last?
Are you looking to make a one-off purchase to see you through a short period of sunshine, or are you looking for some long-term summer eyewear to tide you over for years? If you are leaning toward the latter option, you’ll want to keep an eye out for warranties and insurance offers that will make your new glasses last longer. You’ll also want to remember that bigger name brands will probably produce sturdy glasses that last a little longer, compared to the cheaper options.
Do you want clip on/flip up sunglasses?
In recent years, clip on/flip up sunglasses have become a very popular choice. If you’re a glasses wearer that doesn’t want to fork out extra for prescription sunnies, clipping a pair of sunnies onto your existing spectacles can save you money and make you look cool. Going for a flip-up option will also mean that you can switch quickly and easily between sunglasses and your normal glasses, which can come in handy when you’re driving or reading - or when the weather is changeable.
READ NEXT: The best running watches for 2018, from £50
The best sunglasses to buy from £9
Ray-Ban Sonnenbrille Clubmaster: The best all-round sunglasses
Price: from £76 to £267 | Buy now from Amazon
The Sonnenbrille Clubmaster range is ideal if you want to blend Ray-Ban’s iconic style with some unique colour splashes of your own choosing. There are 27 different colours to select from, with both the lenses and the frames customisable to your own tastes. If you pick carefully, you’ll end up with a pair of sunglasses that are suitable for every kind of summertime engagement.
You’ll also get a sleek magnetic case to house your new shades in, and a two-year warranty as standard. This warranty allows you to get a replacement pair if your glasses break due to a fault on the manufacturer’s part, which protects your purchase nicely.
Key specs – Warranty: 2 years; Case included: Yes; Polarized: No
Cat Eye Sunglasses In Acetate by Celine: The best retro sunglasses for women
Price:£290 | Buy now from Matches Fashion
Cat eye sunglasses are a very popular look for women at the moment, and you won’t find any snazzier options than these eye-catching Cat Eye Sunglasses In Acetate by Celine. They are designed to suit all face shapes and flatter the cheekbones, and they work great when worn with bold chunks of colour. The glasses themselves are available in a variety of hues: the frames come in coral, baby blue, lime, red or ivory, with mirrored lenses available with certain colours. As well as looking good, they also protect from UVA and UVB rays. The acetate frame is high quality and long-lasting, and the product as a whole is protected by a two-year warranty.
Key specs – Warranty: 2 years; Case included: Yes; Polarized: Yes
Saint Laurent Round-Frame Gold-Tone sunglasses: The best retro sunglasses for men
Price:£270 | Buy now from Mr Porter
When it comes to men’s sunglasses market, round frames and gold tones are very much the current style. These Saint Laurent sunglasses tick both of those boxes, have a nice old-school style to them, and boast fetching green lenses and tortoiseshell tips. They are particularly well suited to those with angular faces, and Mr Porter will collect them right back from you if you aren’t happy with your purchase. These premium sunnies have smooth nose pads that will add extra comfort without leaving an imprint on your face, and come polarized and with 100% UV protection, to protect your eyes and clear your vision on the brightest summer days.
Key specs – Warranty: 28 days return policy; Case included: Yes; Polarized: Yes
CGID Wayfarer Sunglasses: The best budget polarized sunglasses
Price:£16 | Buy now from Amazon
If you want a polarised pair of sunglasses but don’t want to break the bank, you won’t find a better option than these Wayfarer-style shades. Made with aviation grade alloy materials, these CGID Wayfarer Sunglasses are ultra light and very durable. Better still, they’re cheap, and especially so considering that they have polarised lenses that will block harmful UV rays and reduce glare. There are 17 designs to choose from, with different coloured lenses and frames, including vintage designs and more modern designs with sprung arms and removable rubber nose pads. In terms of protection and cover, you get a case included and a 30-day money back guarantee to return the glasses if you’re not satisfied.
Key specs - Warranty: 30 days money back guarantee; Case included: Yes; Polarized: Yes
Zillerate Sports Sunglasses: The best budget sunglasses for exercise
Price:£19 | Buy now from Amazon
Buying sunglasses for sporting activity needn’t break the bank, and these Zillerate sunnies are a prime example of how low you can go on price while still getting a quality product. For under £20, you can nab these sleek-looking sports sunglasses with polarised lenses, impact resistance, and a snug fit to your face. A hardshell case is included, and there is a great warranty package for extra protection: including a 30-day manufacturer’s warranty as well as a year-long ‘no questions asked’ replacement guarantee.
The team at Zillerate is confident that you will love these shades, and with over a hundred happy customers raving about them on Amazon, it’s easy to see why. If the black colouring isn’t to your liking, they also come in blue.
Key specs – Warranty: 1 year; Case included: Yes; Polarized: Yes
Michael Kors 5007 Mirrored Aviator Sunglasses: The best Aviator sunglasses
Price:£144 | Buy now from Sunglass Hut
These pilot-pink gold sunglasses from Michael Kors are the coolest aviators this side of Top Gun, and not too pricey for a pair from a big name brand. The rose-coloured lenses are even mirrored for an extra layer of aesthetic awesomeness. When bought through Sunglass Hut, you also get free shipping, custom fitting, a year’s warranty, free cleaning/adjustments for life and 30 days to return the product if you aren’t satisfied. There’s also a designer case included with the Michael Kors branding on it, so even if you have them packed away, these glasses will still look sharp. The only downside is that they aren’t polarized.
Key specs – Warranty: 1 year; Case included: Yes; Polarized: No
Stella McCartney Sky Icy Ice Sunglasses: The best semi-transparent sunglasses
Price:£165 | Buy now from Stella McCartney
Semi-transparent frames are also very on-trend for sunglasses-wearers now, and Stella McCartney’s stunning new range is one of the hits of 2018. This fully unisex range of high-quality glasses allows the customer to pick from blue, yellow, orange or Tea Rose Melange colouring, along with a fun Multicolour option that blends white frames with blue lenses and purple design flourishes. These style-mag favourite shades are covered by a repair-or-replace guarantee for six years, meaning that if your glasses turn out to be faulty, you won’t have to fork out again, and with a sleek style that’s bound to stay fashionable for years, these could be a very wise purchase.
Key specs – Warranty: 6 years; Case included: Yes; Polarized: No
Duco Driving Sunglass: The best budget sunglasses for driving
Price:£18 | Buy now from Amazon
Duco’s Men’s Driving Sunglasses are perfect for long car journeys in the sunshine. For a very reasonable £18, you can get these stylish glasses as well as a case to hold them and a lifetime warranty. You can also get a full refund within 30 days if you aren’t satisfied. Being dissatisfied would put you in a minority, though, as there are over a thousand glowing reviews on this product’s Amazon page.
The lightweight metal frames are sleek and shiny, and the polarised lenses will protect you from glare and overly bright sunlight. There are also seven different colours to choose from, allowing you to add a pop of colour to suit your own style and preferences.
Key specs - Warranty: Lifetime; Case included: Yes; Polarized: Yes
Urban Outfitters Extreme Cat Eye Sunglasses: The best budget sunglasses for women
Price:£14 | Buy now from Urban Outfitters
If you want to get that cat eye sunglasses look without breaking the bank, Urban Outfitters has you covered. For just £14, you can pick up a pair of extremely angular cat eye sunglasses from this high street retailer, complete with slick and chic design and dark-tinted lenses that contrast starkly with the quirky frames. You can choose from white, yellow, clear, black, red or cream frames, which gives you a striking selection of options for such a low-cost range. There may not be a long-term warranty or a case included in the price, but for this kind of money you can’t argue.
Key specs – Warranty: 30 days returns; Case included: No; Polarized: No
Splaks Frameless Flip Up Clip On 2-Pack: The best clip-on sunglasses
Price:£9 | Buy now from Amazon
If you wear prescription glasses and don’t want to fork out for prescription sunglasses for summer, this incredibly affordable 2-pack of flip-up/clip-on sunglasses from Splaks is well worth purchasing. For just £8.79, you get two sets of clip-on sunnies to add to your existing glasses and transform them into sunglasses. They’re ultra lightweight, which saves your eyewear from becoming overly heavy and, as an added bonus, the yellow lenses are designed to be worn at night, protecting you from the glare of oncoming headlights. True, there is no warranty, but at this price you could always buy another set if you needed to.
Key specs - Warranty: None; Case included: Yes; Polarized: Yes
