The 6 Greatest Sun shades for Males of 2024

The Kaenon Burnet Mid sunglasses can truly do it all, and they were some of our favorites to wear in our testing (and beyond). We’ve evaluated both their grey and brown lenses, and found both to be outstanding, offering top-notch clarity, superb color rendition, and heightened contrast without distorting reality. They also have almost zero back reflections, which is an impressive feat. The mid-size we tested offers a secure fit on most average-sized heads, gripping comfortably with a protective, face-hugging wrap. If you’ve got a larger head, the Burnet also comes in an XL version.

The biggest drawback to these glasses is their rectangular lenses have a sporty aesthetic. That said, they’re not the sportiest-looking shades in our lineup, and all of our testers liked their look. The price is steep, but the extra bucks buy you a great pair of shades in this case. A lower-scoring but more affordable alternative to this style is the Tens Classic.

We love the cool detailing on the Camp Eyewear Trail, which upgrades them from just another pair of wayfarers to glasses we were excited to put on and wear outside. They have solid all-around performance, with comfortable, crisp lenses and only a hint of blue to enhance contrast. They’re very smooth and glossy, with an excellent shape that is comfortable and pleasing to wear for all our testers of varying head sizes. They’d be easy to love even without the wooden bows, but with them, they’re just plain fun, and the wood helps keep them from sliding during casual use.

Unfortunately, the lack of rubber sections can be an issue when you’re hot and sweaty — they don’t stay put quite as well as some other contenders we reviewed. Moreover, the Trail has the standard coverage flaws of almost every pair of modern wayfarers, with medium-sized lenses and a rather flat frame that lets sunlight in the sides, bottom, and — depending on where you wear them on your face — over the top. Aside from these relatively minor disadvantages, there’s still so much to love about these unique, budget-friendly shades, and we recommend them. A similar style that scored a little higher is the Tens Classic. This is a direct-to-consumer model, and we have seen the price fluctuate a bit: it might be available at a lower cost than the Camp Eyewear Trail.

The Native Eyewear Wells is an affordable pair of sunnies capable of making an easy style transition between trail running in the morning and meeting someone for drinks in the afternoon. They’re lightweight and slightly sporty without looking out of place paired with a polo shirt and khaki shorts. We found their plastic frames comfortable and secure on the face, thanks to their strategic rubbery pads at the nose and behind the ears. Larger lenses and a good base curve offer coverage without drowning narrower faces. To add to the list of reasons we love these sunnies, they’re also one of the most affordable shades in this lineup.

For being advertised as a “large” fit, the Wells are smaller than we expected. Across our team of variably sized and shaped faces, they’re best fitted on averaged-sized heads and are tight on wider faces. The inserted rubbery pads in the bows and nose do the job, but they’re not the cleanest fit. However, our tester has owned and worn these glasses regularly for several years, and these irregularities haven’t worsened. If you want one pair of sunglasses that look just as natural in the woods as in the city, these more budget-friendly frames are a great fit. If you’re looking for a larger fit, we recommend opting for a larger pair, or even the Kaenon Burnet Mid in size XL.

Our tests showed that the Costa del Mar Rinconcito is a fantastic pair of sunglasses for anyone who spends a ton of time on the water. These seriously impressive lenses are darker than average, with total polarization and 100% blue light blockage. They are one of very few shades from our testing that exhibited almost no reflection on the backs of the lenses. Small rubber pads embedded in the nose pads and backs of the bows keep them securely attached to your face as you water ski — or even downhill ski. They have just the right amount of curvature to add extra coverage to these medium-large lenses where you need it most.

However, the Rinconcito may give you pause if you’d rather have just one pair of sunglasses you can wear everywhere. These high-performance shades are some of the sportiest-looking models in our test lineup. If that’s your vibe, then there’s no problem — but if you’re looking for a pair to wear to a black tie event or blend in while visiting a fashionable city, these sunglasses probably aren’t it. The less-versatile look and above-average price are the only drawbacks to an otherwise impressive pair of glasses. If you want more versatility for your dollar, the classic look of the Ray-Ban Original Wayfarer Classic may be right up your alley. Just note that aside from style and versatility, it scored lower than the Costa del Mar Rinconcito in all the other test metrics.

The Kaenon Rockaway are a great pair of well-balanced shades. We found them secure without feeling tight, and were comfortable enough to forget we were wearing them — which is exactly what you want. They have excellent lenses and solid coverage that allows for minimal glare on the backsides of the lenses. Our testing team all loved the feeling of wearing the Rockaway and felt they brought a touch of added style to a classic frame shape. They stayed put on sweaty runs and looked good during backyard barbecues, making them a fantastic all-day companion.

The lenses we tested featured a protective VLT of 12%, but they felt a tad lighter than many other models in the same ballpark. Not enough that we felt the need to squint on bright days, but these lenses are noticeably brighter when looking into the sunset than many other sunglasses with a similar VLT. Other Kaenon models we reviewed included a good quality zippered hard case, but this model only came with a microfiber drawstring bag. And while we like the look, these shades aren’t exactly pushing the mold regarding style. Still, the Rockaway performed well in all our driving, hanging out, and lifestyle tests, proving a comfortable fan favorite at a great price. If you prefer darker lenses, the Costa del Mar Rinconcito performs excellent in bright light.

The Ray-Ban Original Wayfarer Classic has never gone out of style, looking as great today as when it debuted in 1952. We found them attractive on every face and with every style, giving off that cool-as-a-cucumber laidback vibe that so many of us love. They work just as well with board shorts as a polo shirt — even many women love these glasses. Though no sunglasses are truly unbreakable, these are hefty and robust, lending a serious level of credibility to their durability — backed up by an almost unheard of seven barrel hinges on each side.

This beefiness does come with a cost — the Original Wayfarer is heavy. Don’t get us wrong, we found them quite comfortable to wear, with glossy smooth frames that feel great — as long as you don’t mind their heftier weight. Made in the OG of wayfarer style, they have a very exaggerated forward slant to the lenses, which looks cool but leaves a pronounced gap over the tops, lessening their coverage. But if you’ve got your heart set on this look, we don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the performance of these classic shades. Still, if you need more coverage, we suggest considering other top contenders like the Kaenon Burnet Mid.

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To read more about our testing process, check out our How We Test article.

Bradley Nichols and Senior Review Editor Maggie Nichols led the review team. Bradley has been an outdoor adventurer for years, living and recreating in Reno, Nevada, one of the sunniest places in the United States. From hitting the slopes in the winter to backpacking in the summer, Brad always keeps his eyes protected and comfortable wherever he roams. Maggie has been leading backcountry trips for over 15 years in blindingly bright environments, from kayaking the Caribbean and snorkeling the Galapagos to rafting the American West and backpacking the Sierra Nevadas. As a glasses-wearer since age four, Maggie is a self-professed “glasses junkie,” demanding a lot from her eyewear. She and Brad enlisted the help and critical eyes of many friends, family, and coworkers to test and rate these shades.

We test sunglasses in as many seasons and conditions as possible.

Hands down, the best lenses we tested were in the Kaenon Burnet. The Ultra Grey 12 lenses are everything we never dared to dream a grey lens could be. Not only are they crystal clear, but they’re also versatile, performing equally well in both bright and low light. They have almost no reflections off the backs of the lenses and manage to increase contrast by boosting colors in ways we normally associate with brown lenses. We tested the Kaenon Rockaway with their Brown 12 lenses, which are nearly as good. They’re just a touch lighter than we typically want, but they provide exceptional clarity and enhanced contrast without drastically changing the color of things.

The Costa del Mar Rinconcito had nearly as impressive a performance. Their Blue Mirror lenses provide excellent clarity and true-to-life colors, with a hint of increased blue-ish contrast. They have nearly no reflections from the backs of the lenses and do extremely well in bright lighting conditions, though not quite as well in lower light situations.

The Vuarnet Legend 03 are also some of our favorites, scoring near the top. Despite not being polarized, they have a dual gradient (darker on top and bottom for sun and glare, respectively), have a darker tint, and have an excellent mirror coating. The Maui Jim Lighthouse lenses are also impressive. These ridiculously lightweight glasses are some of Maui Jim’s latest non-glass lenses, but with all the best contrast and clarity they have made themselves known for.

The Maui Jim Kawika lenses we tested, however, proved to be polarizing (pun intended). We tested their Hawaii Lava lenses, which have excellent clarity and minimal back glare, but the top half is blue-grey while the bottom is amber. Some of our testers didn’t mind this, while others found it distracting. The Tens Classic and Smith Lowdown 2 both feature excellent amber lenses with a very pleasant combination of color enhancement and clarity, making them very easy to wear in the sun.

Comfort

Ensuring your sunglasses are comfortable enough to wear all day is not a task we take lightly. We considered as many aspects of comfort as possible, measuring every pair and testing their balance on different-sized faces. We wore each pair for hours to see if they became tight, heavy, or uncomfortable. We noted where they touched our faces and if that changed as different people wore them.

We were very impressed by the comfort of the Kaenon Rockaway. These medium-sized glasses fit well on all our testers’ heads, from those who wear XL helmets to those who wear small hats. They manage to fit securely without ever feeling tight. They’re lightweight and balanced well enough that we found it easy to forget we were even wearing them. Rubbery nose pads feel great even when running, preventing bouncing and slipping. We loved wearing these glasses from sun up to sun down.

The Kaenon Burnet Mid is very comfortable, with a snug, secure fit — they also come in a larger size for wider faces. The Costa Rinconcito is impressively comfortable, too, with flexible frames to accommodate varying head shapes and perfectly placed rubbery padding to keep them in place without squeezing. The Maui Jim Lighthouse stands out here for being absurdly flexible, to the point that they feel strange compared to other glasses. They’re ridiculously lightweight and have pliable bows and even nose pads that conform easily to the face. We’ve never worn another pair that felt like the Lighthouse. Most of our testers loved the feeling, though some didn’t enjoy the odd sensations as much.

The Smith Lowdown 2 fit in that casual way that we find effortless to wear all day. The Tens Classic and Camp Eyewear Trail are both modern wayfarer styles with just enough extra details that we appreciate. The matte frames and near-perfect shape of the Tens Classic make them well-suited to most shapes and sizes of faces. The Camp Trail has a glossy finish and wooden bows that look good and feel surprisingly comfortable for long periods.

The Maui Jim Kawika are more comfortable than anticipated for their style. Though heavy-looking across the brow, these shades are well-balanced and rest close to the face. The adjustable nose pads are comfortable without being intrusive. The Dragon Burgee LL is an easy-to-like pair of sunglasses that are solidly pleasant and lightweight, if not outstanding.

Style and Versatility

Though style is subjective, some sunglasses look good on many people and in various situations, while others seem to fit only a few or have limited applications. We asked as many folks as we could wrangle up to tell us how they liked the look of every pair. We also considered how well they work in different scenarios, from lounging in the hammock to hiking in the local hills.

If style is your number one priority, it’s hard to go wrong with the timeless look of the Ray-Ban Original Wayfarer. These classics have been practically unchanged since they were first introduced in the 1950s. They look good on everyone — no matter the gender, age, or style — and have an appearance that goes with many outfits and situations.

For anyone who’s a huge fan of the classic wayfarer vibe, the Ray-Ban Aviators brings that to life. Their thin metal frames and oversized, slightly triangular lenses remain a time-honored and well-loved look for a reason. The Maui Jim Kawika are a bit more specific in their look, but many of our testing team also loved their vibe. The red mirror coating of the Hawaii Lava lenses we tested gave a distinctly beachy impression. Their heavy brow with thin metal rims and the metal bridge were fondly described as “nerdy chic” by one member of our testing team.

The Camp Trail earns high marks for style, too, with their mostly-wooden bows and excellent take on a modern wayfarer style. Not far behind are the Tens Classic, with a universally appealing matte finish and near-perfect proportions for faces of all sizes and shapes. If you’re looking to match the level of your sunglasses style to that of your new tailored vest or pressed polos on your European vacation, the Vuarnet Legend 03 are the perfect pair, always on point with premier wardrobe choices. For mixing outdoor and activity performance with style, the Smith Lowdown, Native Eyewear Wells, and Oakley Holbrook Polarized are all solid options.

Frame Quality

Since no one wants something that’s just going to break or fall apart after a few months, we scrutinized every frame. We looked into construction materials and inspected hinges. We checked the fit of the lenses and the overall flexibility of each model. We also scoured the internet for recurring complaints from other users to see if we could replicate their issues.

Two glasses stand out here for their beefy and durable frames: the Kaenon Burnet Mid and Ray-Ban Original Wayfarer. Both are thick and feel strong and sturdy in hand, with wide hinges and very solid builds. Though slightly less burly, the more flexible Costa Rinconcito also stands out. The Rinconcito feel durable despite slightly thinner frames. They have rubbery, well-attached pads and flexible spring hinges that accommodate overextension. The Kaenon Rockaway isn’t quite as beefy as the Burnet Mid but is still built solidly with good quality, durable materials.

The Vuarnet Legend 03 also features solid construction that doesn’t loosen with regular wear and has just the right level of flex to be adaptable. The Maui Jim Kawika may look delicate, but every thin metal component we tested proved sturdy and strong. Unlike some models with adjustable nose pads, we weren’t left worried that we would snap the Kawika’s right off.

The Camp Eyewear Trail frames are thick and solid, with treated wood making up a portion of the bows around a stabilizing metal skeleton. They also boast some of our favorite over-extendable hinges, both in their exaggerated beefy build and with their ideal pressure that’s both comfortable and secure. The Tens Classic and Smith Lowdown 2 are also built well, with sturdy frames that have a small amount of give. The Classic have regular hinges that feel solid, while the Lowdown 2’s autolocking hinges that putting them on even easier.

Coverage

Leaving large gaps around the edges of lenses can completely defeat the purpose of wearing sunglasses in the first place. We tested coverage across various face sizes and shapes to see which ones keep you covered and which ones don’t quite cut it. We also tested how well they stay put once you start sweating on a hot summer day.

Models with the most coverage combine large lenses, face-hugging curves, and a close-fitting frame. We found the best, most consistent coverage from the Kaenon Burnet Mid, Costa Rinconcito, and Vuarnet Legend 03. All three of these sunglasses have large, rectangular lenses in frames that wear comfortably close to the face, nearly sealing edge gaps without any of them being full wraparound models. The Native Eyewear Wells, Oakley Holbrook Polarized, and Kaenon Rockaway aren’t far behind, with their larger-than-average lenses and decently face-hugging base curves. These models are simply a bit smaller than the previous three, therefore providing a bit less coverage.

Modern wayfarer-style sunglasses like the Tens Classic and Camp Eyewear Trail — and even the not-quite-a-wayfarer, Dragon Burgee LL — provide pretty good coverage, with wider frames and medium lenses, though they leave obvious gaps around their edges because of their flatter shapes. The Smith Lowdown 2 are about on par with wayfarers for coverage, falling somewhere between the lens shape of sportier glasses but with a slightly flatter fit like wayfarers.

Conclusion

We know there are a ton of sunglasses out there to choose from, so we’ve spent months — in some cases, years — wearing, testing, and comparing the ones in our lineup to help you find an ideal pair for your lifestyle and your budget. Now go out and soak up some vitamin D!

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