Best Golf Sunglasses 2023

Best Golf Sunglasses

A pair of sunglasses is one of the best golf accessories (opens in new tab) to get especially when playing golf during the summer months and when the sun is low as it rises and sets. Manufacturers have made big strides in recent times in terms of lens technology and frame design, whether you are looking for something sporty and colorful or maybe a more traditional type of shades, there is something for everyone. From Oakley to Bolle, to even Henrik Stenson's designs, we have narrowed things down with hopefully something for every budget. The best sunglasses should fit you well, look great and, most importantly, give you a comfortable visual experience.

We've picked plenty of classic styles and colors, and there's plenty of different frame and lens color options for you to fully customize your glasses to your personal taste. Now before we get to the models, we should say that UV stands for ultra-violet radiation, and it is split into three groups, A, B, and C, each of which can be harmful in different ways. The best models below help protect from all three. 

Also for other ways to protect yourself from the sun we recommend taking a look at our guides on the best sunscreen for golf, best golf hats (opens in new tab), best golf caps and best golf polo shirts (opens in new tab) which are made from fabrics to guard against harmful rays.

Best Golf Sunglasses

Oakley's Portal X model is one of the best golf sunglasses on the market because it is perfect for use not just out on the golf course but also away from it too. Importantly we felt the design lends itself to being worn all day because comfort is one of the key characteristics. After testing we found these to be stylish, comfortable and the Prizm Dark Golf lenses undoubtedly enhance the contrast on bright days, which is especially helpful on greens with subtle slopes.

The tacky material used for the nose pads ensures a comfortable but secure fit while the special Unobtanium material on the inside of the earsocks has a similar feel and increases in grip when wet. This ensures that when you sweat, a common occurrence when playing on hot sunny days, they stay firmly in position when you swing.

• Read our full Oakley Portal X Sunglasses Review

‘Call it sweet. Call it sick. It’s Swick.’ These come in a collection of colors and come from a company that specializes in sporting sunglasses and they are lightweight, durable and comfortable.

And we think they’re very cool and are a unisex design so handy for when your other half wants to borrow them. Sunglasses can be pretty pricey but these are a very affordable option. Importantly there are lots of different styles, colors and designs to choose from as well so these will suit just about anyone. 

These have quickly become our go-to pair because of how they strike the perfect balance of performing on the golf course while looking trendy off it. The fit is snug yet comfortable thanks to the adjustable soft-touch rubber nose pads. The lenses provide great coverage and provide excellent protection and contrast, which we really noticed testing on a bright sunny day.

The lenses are especially hard wearing too thanks to the anti scratch coating and the super oleophobic coating on the front that repels oil, grease, sweat, water and fingerprints. The carry case included is firm for ample protection and there's even an extra nose pad included for those who prefer a smaller fit. All in all, these golf sunglasses were hard to fault. 

• Read our full Henrik Stenson Torque 3.0 sunglasses review

These are great for when you want to tee it up in the midday sun. They come with interchangeable lenses so you can adapt to the different times of the day and the comfort level is something else, meaning they will suit any sport that you want to try in them. 

The ultra-light vented frames and Thermogrip technology deliver a secure but highly comfortable fit. They also come with a sturdy case and protective bag too.

This pair are simple and sporty. The more subtle looks compared to some other Oakley offerings will likely be preferable to the many golfers who favor a more traditional aesthetic style.

When we got our hands on a pair we noticed they are extremely light, the fit is very comfortable, and you will quickly forget you’re wearing them. The lenses are effective from bright harsh sunlight to milkier conditions. You still maintain a sense of depth and perspective and it’s easy to read greens with them on as they maintain, and often enhance, the contrast of certain colors. They’re pretty robust and come with a very solid case.

• Read our full Oakley Half Jacket 2.0 XL Sunglasses Review

Mercenary blends fashion with cutting-edge technology designed to assist the golfer. It’s a lightweight, minimalist design with a larger lens for wider field of view. Although the Mercenary is available in various frame and lens combination, we found the best lenses for the course to be the Prizm and Prizm Dark Golf.

Prizm technology fine tunes vision for specific sports and environments. Prizm Golf and Prizm Dark Golf help players see changes in grass texture by improving the contrast between various shades of green. That really helps you pick out the contours and see the lines on the putting surface. So realistically then they could help you hole more putts and if that doesn't warrant inclusion in this best golf sunglasses list, I don't know what will.

For golfers that want a little more substance with the style at a price point that doesn’t hurt the wallet too much, the Sunwise Parade White sunglasses are an appealing prospect. They feature Polafusion polarized lenses that filter out potentially damaging light and provide vivid color contrast in bright light while also reducing glare.

The fit is adaptable thanks to the adjustable nose pad, which helps the sunglasses stay securely in place when you’re swinging as to limit distractions. In testing we noticed the frame is very lightweight but also surprisingly sturdy and anyone that plays other sports or goes running will find these come in handy when doing this type of activity on sunny days, such is the performance on offer.

• Read our full Sunwise Parade White sunglasses review

Henrik Stenson more than anyone understands how important it is to get the best golf sunglasses, so much so he started his own eyewear company in 2017. The Iceman 3.0's are the signature model in the range and they are suitable for more sporting activities. They have been designed with TR-90, which is an ultra-lightweight and flexible polymer for the frame, and they sof rubber grips for comfort.

The lenses are also a significant feature here. They are anti-scratch and have a sharp, ventilated HD lens for outstanding visuals out on the golf course. This particular golf specific lens enhances contrast so that the terrain appears more distinct and defined, while natural color balance is still maintained. That being said we also think they also work off the golf course too.

The aesthetics of the Radar EV Path sunglasses certainly grab your attention with the bright white frames, almost iridescent purple/orange lenses and futuristic shaping likely to split opinion and definitely won’t go unnoticed. They certainly seemed to divide the Golf Monthly team when we got a pair for testing!

The PRIZM lenses live up to the promise of enhancing color, contrast and detail, which is essential for golf, particularly on and around the greens. The slightly larger size of the lenses gives good peripheral visions and they also reduce glare and keep your eyes safe from harmful UV rays. The Oakley Radar EV Path provide everything you need from a pair of golf sunglasses. The lenses enhance your view of the course while protecting your eyes, and the lightweight, robust and comfortable frames are ideal for sporting activity. 

• Read our full Oakley Radar EV Path Sunglasses review

This sophisticated pair is aimed at golfers that don't take themselves too seriously and want to look good on the fairways. The Vincero Villa performs to a degree to thanks to its polarized, scratch resistant lenses. They come with a whopping five year warranty and the included hard case should help you keep them in tact for longer than most - two details we really like.

The attention to detail is obvious, with the Italian Mazzucchelli Acetate frame and Vincero's trademark Italian Marble Inlay, you'll turn heads whether you're wearing these on or off the course. The fit is snug and narrow, which enhances the look and ensures they stay in place while you swing. In all honesty, we probably wear them off the course more than on it, but for the social golfer these are the perfect pair of golf sunglasses that also don't break the bank.

Sunglasses can cost a small fortune but in the Sunwise Evenlode Black, you’ve got the option of a pair that ticks a lot of boxes for the fraction of the price. The wraparound design looks slick and offers all around protection from the sun plus they’re noticeably lightweight.  

They’re extremely versatile too because of the three additional colors of lens that come included, so you’re essentially getting four pairs in one. Our pair came fitted with the Smoke mirror lenses (category 3) for use in strong light and testing in bright, low-level sunlight we appreciated what they offered. There are also Clear lenses (category 0) for clear conditions, Yellow lenses (category 1) for low light and Orange lenses (category 2) for medium light, so can adapt the sunglasses to suit the conditions you’re about the face. 

• Read our full Sunwise Evenlode Black sunglasses review

One of Oakley’s most popular models, the Flak 2.0 features High Definition Optics that provides superior optical clarity and razor-sharp vision at every angle. Oakley’s Prizm lens technology also fine-tunes vision that comes into its own when you’re on the course and reading greens, for example.

The matte black frame, which looks great, pairs well with a black iridium lens which prevents direct glare and heat. Speaking of the frame it is constructed with Oakley's O Matter material accompanied by Unobtanium ear socks and nose grips for no slip grip. To put it simply, the sport-friendly Flak 2.0 sunglasses are technologically terrific and we think they look great.

Based in Maui, Hawaii, the company began selling sunglasses on the beach nearly forty years ago, and has grown its collection from seven styles to over 125. Because of Maui Jim’s colorful beginnings, the company prides itself on enhancing the world’s true vivid colors in detail – great for us golfers who frequently find ourselves staring out over lush green fairways.

The Cliff House model - which gets its name from a stunning location on the Big Island - are classic sunglasses that come with polarized lenses that offer bright, clear views everywhere you look. Its PolarizedPlus2 lenses eliminate 99.9% of glare, while reducing light from above and below, allowing your eyes to relax as well.

How we test golf sunglasses

With every golf product Golf Monthly tests, not just sunglasses, we are committed to giving key insight into how products actually perform out on the golf course as well as off it too. With sunglasses that means seeing how they help whilst playing, but also how versatile they are to be used in other areas of life too. We should also mention that no manufacturer can pay for a good review, instead we tell it how we see it.

Things to consider when buying golf sunglasses

There are several factors to be wary of when looking at buying new golf sunglasses and below are the ones we consider to be the most important.

Clarity/tint

There are obviously several types of lens and tints that can be beneficial to different people and their eyes. Many brands have their own proprietary lens technology, such as the PRIZM by Oakley. These designs are created to bring out the colors of the golf course and help players see the ball better against grass and sky.

From a tint perspective, have a think about which color you would prefer because they do different things. For example;

Rose Copper

Sunglasses with a rose copper tint are perfect for the putting green as they remove yellow and red tones from the color green. Therefore this can help players read breaks and how the grains sit on the green. Contours are also seen more clearly.

Brown/amber

Contrast is important for golfers and lens with a brown or amber tint will work the best for this. These will even help your distance vision by improving the grass contrast as well as the sky so that you can see the ball clearly as it travels through the air. They also work very well in cloudy weather and in low light.

Gray and Green

Usually these may not be that ideal golf golf but they may help those who have light sensitive eyes.

Lens Quality

Linking with the above point, the quality of the lenses themselves is important too because good ones will give better clarity of vision on the fairways and greens. They should also help with the below factor too...

Strength/durability

Golf sunglasses have to be able to deal with some wear and tear that can occasionally come from the game. Transporting them around in the golf bag, dropping them, and other things can occur so be sure to go for a design that is durable and strong when needed.

Of course given the varying styles of golf sunglasses now, some will be stronger than others and some designs will be made from stronger materials so this is something to be wary of. The good thing is no longer are strong designs massive and chunky, as the growth in technology has allowed super-lightweight models to be sturdy too. We definitely recommend models that are scratch, impact and possibly water resistant too.

Comfort

If you are going to have sunglasses on all day they have to be comfortable. The materials used have to feel soft and yet also grippy especially on those areas around the nose and ears. Let's face it, you won't keep them on if they are uncomfortable so it is worth trying some models on before you buy.

Style

As we mentioned above, there are lots of different styles of golf sunglasses now. From classic designs to aviators, to retro models and sporty glasses, there is a design for everyone. Additionally many of them are incredibly versatile too so if you want a pair to use off the golf course, have a think about a style that can work anywhere.

Budget

Some models cost more than others so people should also think about price. Some cheaper models will do the job nicely but then there are also premium models for those who want to spend a little more.

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