Buying guides
Sunglasses Buying Guides
The decisions that actually matter — lens type, tint, UV, fit — explained without the jargon or the hype.
Most sunglasses confusion comes down to a handful of decisions: polarized or not, which lens color, whether UV400 is doing what you think, and how to match a frame to your use. These guides answer those, with sources, so you can spend confidently.
Start with polarized vs non-polarizedif you're not sure whether you want polarized at all — it's the decision that changes everything else. Then use the category roundups (fishing, cycling, golf) to turn the decision into a pick.
- Buyer's guide
Buyer's guide
Polarized vs Non-Polarized Sunglasses: Which Do You Need?
The anchor guide: what polarization does, a comparison table, and the three cases (screens, ice, greens) where non-polarized wins.
- Buyer's guide
Buyer's guide
How to Tell If Sunglasses Are Polarized (3 Easy Tests)
The LCD rotate test, the reflection tilt test, and the two-pairs cross test — confirm polarization in under a minute.
- Buyer's guide
Buyer's guide
The Best Lens Color for Fishing (by Water and Light)
Copper and amber for variable inshore light, green and blue mirror for bright offshore, gray for neutral — the tint matters more than the logo.
- Buyer's guide
Buyer's guide
Are Polarized Lenses Good for Cycling?
Usually no: polarized dims your Garmin's LCD and can mask wet-road sheen. Photochromic and non-polarized contrast lenses are the better bike choices.
- Buyer's guide
Buyer's guide
Are Polarized Sunglasses Good for Golf?
The green-reading debate, both sides: why many golf lenses are non-polarized contrast tints (Prizm Golf) and when a polarized crossover still makes sense.
- Buyer's guide
Buyer's guide
Best Running Sunglasses for Beginners
What a first sport pair needs: sweat-activated grip, light weight, a fit that does not bounce, UV400 — and a low price, because you will lose a pair.
- Buyer's guide
Buyer's guide
UV Protection in Sunglasses, Explained (UV400 vs Everything Else)
What UV400 means, how UVA and UVB differ, the lens category scale, and why UV protection is unrelated to price, darkness, and polarization.