The Best Sunglasses for Golf on Any Budget
If you need sunglasses for golf, not just any pair will do. Check out our top picks!
The best sunglasses for golf must check a few key boxes. First, they need to stick to your face without wavering. If your sunglasses shake or fall off when you hit a tee shot, that’s a quick deal-breaker.
Second, They can’t let in light from the periphery. It’s too distracting to try to play golf in sunglasses with a natural light coming from the side.
Finally, they can’t be too light, or too dark. You need to find a balance in the lens that allows you to wear them for a full round, even when you step into the shade or some cloud cover rolls through. If you’re constantly taking off and putting on your sunglasses throughout your round, your eyes will never adjust and it’s a huge distraction.
As a bonus note, I actually prefer non-polarized lenses for golf over polarized lenses. Both have their pros and cons, but polarized lenses can hinder depth perception, and when you’re trying to track a ball a couple hundred yards away, that’s not a good thing.
I consider myself somewhat of an expert on great sunglasses for golf. I had LASIK eye surgery done almost a decade ago, and the only side-effect of that is light sensitivity, which means sunglasses are a must for me when I’m outdoors. If you add it all up, I’ve played hundreds of rounds of golf with sunglasses, so I feel confident recommending the best sunglasses for golf.
Ria Golf HD+
SHOP RIA
Price: $189-$199
Polarized: No
If you're looking for the best sunglasses for golf, you need to check out the sunglasses designed specifically to enhace performance on the course, and those are the Ria Golf HD+ sunglasses.
There are actually five designs to choose from, with both men's and women's styles in Ria's Golf HD+ line. Ria's Golf HD+ sunglasses are designed to highlight contrast, which helps you get a better read on the greens, and track your ball better through the air.
The Golf HD+ sunglasses range from $189 to $199 per pair, and each style comes in various colors and patterns.
Wiley X WX Founder
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Price: $120
Polarized: No
The Wiley X Founder Sunglasses are a great pick if you're looking for sunglasses to rock on and off the course. I've been wearing these sunglasses for a full golf season and perhaps the best way I can sum up their comfort is I often forget I’m wearing them, which is a great thing. They're comfortable and lightweight – I weighed them at just 26 grams – and not so tinted that you need to take them off when you step into a shady area.
Like a great pair of golf shoes, these look just as good off the course. This model is available with polarized or non-polarized lenses, and I prefer the non-polarized because depth perception is way better with non-polarized lenses, and in golf, that's a big priority.
Goodr Just Knock It On
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Price: $35
Polarized: Yes
Goodr makes plenty of sunglasses specifically for golf, and we really like the Just Knock It On model, although you may find a different style fits your taste better. With plenty of options for men and women, and prices that enable you to buy multiple pairs, Goodr gets our pick as the best golf sunglasses for ladies.
These woodgrain-design sunglasses feature non-reflective lenses that help track the ball, and they're designed to fit bigger heads. If your sunglasses typically fit too snug on your head, give these a try. They also have a no-slip silicone nose insert which keeps these securely on your face while you swing.
At just $35, Goodr is a great value pick for golf sunglasses. That price allows you to buy multiple pairs, and you won’t suffer a panic attack if you get home and realize you accidentally left them in the golf cart.
Vortex Banshee
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Price: $129
Polarized: Yes
Comfortable, lightweight, and durable. That's the story of the Vortex Banshee sunglasses, and we're sticking to it. We've thoroughly tested these sunglasses on and off the golf course, and can confirm all three.
The polarized lenses offer maximum protection to your eyes, and these shades meet the highest Ballistic Impact Testing standards, so you don't have to worry about breaking them. If something does happen to your Vortex sunglasses, however, you still don't have to worry, because they're protected by Vortex's VIP warranty. That warranty covers your product, no matter what happened, whose fault it was, or where you bought it.
Shady Rays Blackout
SHOP SHADY RAYS
Price: $31
Polarized: No
Here's a great pair of affordable, non-polarized sunglasses from Shady Rays. This Blackout model is just what it sounds like, black lenses in black frames that look great with any outfit.
Not only do these check in at a great price – the best on our list – but Shady Rays backs them up with its lost or broken replacement program, which is also exactly what it sounds like. If you lose or break your shades within two years, simply submit a claim to Shady Rays, and they will replace them.
Shady Rays also makes some golf-specific sunglasses, its Green Wolf line, which are partially polarized to highlight contrast without disguising the sun's glare on the golf ball, but those are about four times more expensive, and we've had a great experience with the standard Shady Rays on the course over the years.
Oakley Men's Half Jacket 2.0
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Price: $129
Polarized: No
Oakley prioritized golfers when it created these Half Jacket Prizm sunglasses. The Prizm Golf lenses are built for the course, enhancing color in low to medium light to help you get the best possible read on the greens and track your ball.
These shades are also built to let you easily swap out the lenses when the situation calls for it, so you're always prepared no matter what the day holds.
Fun in the Sun
It wasn’t that long ago when David Duval and his wrap-around style shades were synonymous with golf sunglasses. That design was great for the course, but not something you always want to wear.
Thankfully, advancements in lens and frame technology allow golfers to choose from more standard round designs, as well as squared options. Today, you have ample options to find the pair that best fits your style, needs, and budget.