Our method
How we rate sunglasses
Every score on this site is built the same way, and this page shows you exactly how. If you can't see what a number is made of, it's decoration — so here is ours, in full.
- 0
- Pairs we claim to have lab-tested
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- Free products accepted
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- Sponsored placements
- 5
- Named metrics behind every score
What we do
For every pair we cover, we compile its published specifications— lens material, polarization, lens tint and coating, UV rating, frame material, coverage and fit, and the manufacturer's stated features — from the official product pages and the live Amazon listing. We normalize those into comparable terms, then score each pair against a fixed rubric. The result is a set of judgments from documented research, computed the same way for a $15 pair and a $250 one.
What we don't do
We do not run a testing lab, and we have not hands-on-tested these pairs. Everyone in this category says they tested twenty pairs. We didn't, and we say so — here is the published-spec math we used instead. That honesty is the whole point: a number we can show you the source of beats a number we made up in a lab we don't have.
The five metrics
Every score is the mean of five metrics, each rated out of 10:
- Glare control. How well the lens cuts reflected glare for its intended use — genuine polarization for water and driving, or contrast tuning where polarization would hurt (cycling, golf). A non-polarized cycling lens can score well here for the right reasons.
- Optics. Optical clarity and the quality of the lens material and tint — glass and premium polycarbonate at the top, budget film-laminate lenses lower.
- Fit & coverage. How well the frame shape and grip suit its job — a wrap that seals side light for sport, a stable no-slip fit for running, a swing-clear frame for golf.
- Durability.Frame and coating toughness and the brand's warranty and service record, from published information and aggregated owner sentiment.
- Value. What you get for the live price relative to the alternatives — this is where a cheap pair can out-score an expensive one, and often does.
The overall score is a simple average of those five. We do not secretly weight it, and we do not round it up to look better. Because the metrics are named and visible on every product card, you can disagree with our weighting and re-rank in your head — which is the point.
Where our numbers come from
Specs come from manufacturer spec sheets and official product pages. Optical and eye-health facts come from reputable sources (for example the Cleveland Clinic and The Vision Council), cited by name on the page. Where a measurement came from someone else's testing, we say whose it was. Every roundup and guide ends with a visible Sources list.
Prices, and why they vanish
Prices render only from Amazon's live data, stamped with the date we checked. If our data is more than 48 hours old, the number disappears and the button falls back to "Check price on Amazon" — we would rather show you nothing than a figure that has rotted. We never type a price by hand, and we never show a remembered one.
Independence
We accept no free product and no sponsored placements, and no brand sees our copy before it publishes. We are funded by Amazon Associates commissions, and commission rates never change a ranking. Our full independence rules are in the editorial policy.
Corrections
If we get a fact wrong, tell us and we'll fix it within 48 hours with a visible note. Contact us here.