Hiking has seen an enormous boom around the world. According to the AllTrails p, Hiking is up 50% in 2020 – with gyms closings, people home and not running, this is no surprise.
This trend has continued and will continue as more and more avid hikers explore new trails. Becoming a regular hiker means being well equipped with all of your essential hiking essentials, including good sunglasses for hiking.
Our eyes are often neglected, but in the blazing sun (even in the winter months), more damage can be done to your eyes than you think, which is why hiking sunglasses are quite a complex technology.
We’ve listed some of the best sunglasses for trekking and hiking that offer both protection and functionality.
At a glance: Here are our best hiking sunglasses
A couple of frequently asked questions about sunglasses for hiking
Before we get into the best hiking sunglasses for women and men, let’s first answer a few frequently asked questions people have when looking for good hiking sunglasses.
Do I need sunglasses to go hiking?
Short answer: yes. Whether you are hiking, fishing, hiking, cycling or doing water sports, good quality sunglasses are essential. Not only do they protect your eyes from the sun, but they also provide great protection from dirt, sand, snow and other things that get in your eyes during active outdoor activities.
Are polarized sunglasses better for hiking?
Polarized lenses are an absolute must when hiking, especially if you are hiking near large bodies of water. Polarized lenses offer the wearer additional protection from direct sunlight and glare from water or snow.
When light reflects off a surface such as snow or water, the light becomes “polarized”. Polarized sunglasses filter out this reflected light and reduce glare.
What makes good hiking glasses?
Have you ever been on a hike with the wrong sunglasses? Whether they slip down your nose, constantly fog up or offer insufficient glare protection – the wrong hiking sunglasses can really ruin your hike.
Here are some things to look out for in good hiking and outdoor sunglasses:
- Polarized lenses: Polarized sunglasses are essential when hiking – never buy a pair that isn’t polarized!
- Anti-fog coating: Fogged up glasses block the view – not always a problem when hiking, but an excellent quality for outdoor sunglasses.
- Weight: If you are going to wear sunglasses for long periods of time, you will want lightweight sunglasses for added comfort.
- Non-slip fit: Look for sports or hiking glasses that are designed to stay in place – especially if you tend to sweat on your face.
- durability: You don’t want fragile sunglasses that are prone to wear and tear. Look for frames made from durable materials and lenses that are shock and scratch resistant.
- UV protection: Make sure you buy sunglasses with UV protection. If you want to make it really chic, then get yourself sunglasses with photochromic (transition) lenses, which get lighter and darker depending on the surroundings. These are great for hikes where you move between shady wooded areas and open landscapes.
- aesthetics: Even if it isn’t the first thing you’re looking for, you still want to like the look of your sunglasses. There are enough quality sunglasses out there that still look good – so find one that suits your style.
- price: Do not always choose the breast option; Invest in a quality pair that will not only serve you better on the trails, but will also last for many years to come.
Can I get glasses for hiking?
If you have to wear glasses in everyday life, you can still get glasses for hiking. Many sunglasses manufacturers and retailers now offer you the option to indicate your prescription and they will make a pair for you. Ryder’s glasses and Abaco both offer this possibility.
Alternatively, you can also find a pair of “clip-on” glasses or large “pass-over” glasses that you can wear over your normal prescription glasses when hiking.
So what’s the best sunglasses for hiking?
High-quality and comfortable glasses when hiking can make the difference between an enjoyable and an uncomfortable hike. Choose wisely when buying trekking sunglasses.
Here are some of the best outdoor sunglasses:
Abaco polarized
Abaco makes some excellent walking sunglasses at reasonable prices. While not the most technical of glasses, they are great for the average hiker.
Their lenses are polarized and have 100% UV protection and 2 mm polycarbonate lenses. They are also provided with a triple scratch resistance and an anti-reflective coating on the inner lens.
Specifications:
- Lens material: Polycarbonate
- Polarized: Yes
- price: They range from $ 60 to $ 100
IRONMAN Triathlon enthusiast
These IRONMAN® sunglasses are ideal for racing and hiking. The square wraparound style has a rubberized black plastic bezel with stainless steel detailing on the temples and polarized lenses to reduce glare.
Specifications:
- Lens material: Polycarbonate
- Polarized: Yes
- price: $ 39.95
Pello – Standard from Ryder’s Eyewear
Ryders Eyewear offers great sunglasses for all outdoor and sports activities. We love this special style because it offers both the „sporty” and the „casual” sunglasses look.
Its anodized magnesium-aluminide frame is lighter and stronger than aluminum, and its wire-core temples and nose pads can be adjusted to fit your face perfectly. It is also shockproof and offers 100% protection against UVA, UVB and UVC rays and harmful, high-energy light up to 400 nm. That is a lot of protection!
Specifications:
- Lens material: Polycarbonate, hydrophobic
- Polarized: Yes
- price: $ 149.99
Jackson – Standard from Ryder’s Eyewear
Another great option from Ryder’s eyewear, the Jackson standard, gives a more classic, casual look. It is also shockproof and offers 100% protection against UVA, UVB and UVC rays and harmful, high-energy light up to 400 nm.
This pair is an excellent choice for women’s hiking sunglasses.
Specifications:
- Lens material: Polycarbonate, hydrophobic
- Polarized: Yes
- price: $ 149.99
Foldable polarized sunglasses from Foldies
These are not your normal trekking sunglasses, but are perfect for the traveler who loves to hike a bit on their travels (and doesn’t have to carry certain sunglasses with them).
The unisex polarized Folding Classics by Foldies are practical, stylish, robust and can be easily folded up to pack in the backpack. They are also 100% UVA + UVB protected and have polarized, scratch-resistant lenses.
They are the perfect backpack sunglasses!
Specifications:
- lens: HepTEK ™ 7-layer lens system
- Polarized: Yes
- price: $ 69
Oakley Flak 2.0 XL
You will find some great Oakley hiking glasses, but the Oakley Flak 2.0 XL is a great all-round option for hiking sunglasses. It’s light, hugs your face and the frame has a rubber coating for extra grip.
The polarized lenses are optimized with high-definition optics and patented XYZ optics for razor-sharp clarity. The lenses are also coated with black iridium, which provides a mirror-like reflection and offers you more protection.
Specifications:
- lens: Polycarbonate
- Polarized: Yes
- price: $ 128
Julbo Explorer Mountain sunglasses
The Julbo Explorer Mountain sunglasses were developed for extreme conditions. These are for hikers tackling the big mountains like Mt Kilimanjaro and Everest Base Camp – they’re a bit of a stretch for average hiking.
The frame material is made of nylon and the lens material is made of polycarbonate. As for the polarized lenses, the Julbo Explorers have full spectrum UV protection, an anti-reflective coating and a brown color.
Specifications:
- lens: Polycarbonate
- Polarized: Yes
- price: $ 229
GOMER – polarized smoky black
Pretty much all sunglasses from Bomber glasses are perfect for hikes that involve swimming – be it a dip in a waterfall, lake, or river. Their glasses are all buoyant – which means you won’t lose them if you forget to take them off before jumping in the water!
Their sunglasses are designed for optimal comfort and performance with lightweight, durable materials. They are both polarized and offer 100% UVA and UVB protection.
We love the Gomer Bomb sunglasses with polarized smoked lenses for their clean lines and their retro style for a fun, bold look.
Specifications:
- lens: Polycarbonate
- Polarized: Yes
- price: $ 62 (use the code 15 BOMBER for 15% discount)
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