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We hunted through hundreds of the best women's sunglasses on the market before settling on these 15 to test side by side. Paddling lakes, playing in parks, hiking, running, and driving long distances, we put these shades through the wringer. We checked their fit on different face sizes, their ability to stay put and keep us protected, and gauged their likeability and style across preferences. Regardless of your personal fashion sense or face shape, We've lined up some of the best sunglasses for different lifestyles and budgets.
Our test team's overall favorite pair is the Ray-Ban Erika. They're an adaptable style that looks great across a range of faces and feature quality lenses with an excellent gradient. If you're seeking sunglasses that are quality yet still affordable, check out the CAMP Eyewear Trail, a polarized wayfarer that offers decent quality lenses and style. Read on to see all our favorite picks from testing.
If you're on the hunt for some new shades, we're here to help you feel great without squinting your way through the day. We've also tested the top sport sunglasses and cycling sunglasses. And for those of us prone to losing or breaking our sunnies, we tested out and selected the best cheap sunglasses so you don't have to drop an arm and a leg on a great pair.
Editor's Note: We updated our women's sunglasses review on November 7, 2024, to ensure our lineup is current and available for purchase.
Not polarized (though polarized versions are available)
A touch loose on the top of the head
The Ray-Ban Erika provides excellent quality and great style. Their lenses are crisp and clear, offering protection in bright light while still maintaining their functionality in medium to low lighting. Though many pairs we tested have gradients, the Erika sets the bar for what a gradient should be. They're dark and protective on top, without being too dark for lower light, and they transition smoothly to a lighter shade on the bottom without totally losing their protection. The glossy fronts and flexible metal bows feel comfortable, familiar, and secure on the head. They're fairly lightweight at 22 grams, even though their medium-large lenses and width offer above-average coverage and a style our entire panel of testers loved.
Though the particular Grey Gradient lenses we tested aren't polarized, the Erika come in a wide variety of colors — in both lenses and frames — many of which are polarized. The flexible metal arms are comfortable on the face but are a tad bit loose for securely wearing on the top of your head. The grey lenses appeared more of a purple hue, though we found ourselves enjoying the extra style and contrast they provide. Though a bit pricey, these shades delivered a top-notch performance across the board for less than many others. Those shopping for protective polarized lenses should check out the Maui Jim Honi. This pair of shades earned top marks in our lens quality metric — just be prepared to shell out some dough.
In every season and with every style, we love wearing the classic Erikas.
Though they may seem at first to be “just another” pair of wayfarers, we found a lot to like about the Camp Eyewear Trail — including their modest price. As one of the pairs of shades we tested that look good on all genders, our whole team of testers found themselves fighting to wear these sunglasses. They offer solid, all-around performance with quality lenses and comfortable frames. Their glossy finish and wooden bows make for a great look and a fit that works well on a wide range of head sizes and face shapes.
Of course, this glossy finish can be a detriment if you're hot and sweaty, as they may slide down during movement. Additionally, as wayfarers, the Trail have the standard coverage pitfalls of this shape of sunglasses. Medium lenses and relatively flat curvature allows sunlight to sneak in around the edges of the glasses. But despite these minor flaws, we love a lot about these unique, lower-cost glasses. Should you require more coverage, you might find the Vuarnet Legend 03 to be a better fit. It topped the list in this metric, but it's slightly less stylish and versatile than the Camp Eyewear Trail.
The classic look with upgraded wood bows and a great feel make the Camp Trail one of our favorite pairs.
The Kaenon Rockaway is a very comfortable pair of sunnies that proved great in almost every situation. They manage to be secure without feeling tight, even on our testers with wide faces. They're lightweight and well-balanced, with rubbery nose pads that keep them securely in place even on sweaty and windy runs. Good quality lenses keep back glare to a minimum, and the Brown 12 lenses we tested enhance contrast and color in a very natural way. Our testing team also liked the look of these shades — they're a light upgrade to a very classic and versatile style.
On the other hand, the Rockaway aren't exactly pushing the bounds of fashion if that's something you're after. We find them easy to like — one tester referred to them as the “safe” option. The Brown 12 lenses we tested have a protective VLT of just 12%, yet they somehow feel a bit lighter to look through when compared to other lenses with the same VLT rating. This didn't hamper our vision, but it was noticeable compared to other models. We're also bummed that, unlike other Kaenon glasses we've tested, the Rockaway didn't come with a zippered hard case; just a microfiber drawstring bag. But at the end of the day, we love the fit, feel, and function of these easy-to-wear sunnies — and the price isn't bad either. If you prefer dark lenses with a more adaptable style, the Ray-Ban Erika is right up your alley.
We loved wearing the Rockaway so much and we're so impressed they can keep up with us from vineyard explorations to trail runs.
The Smith Caper ChromaPop is an admirable pair of sunglasses in both performance and style. They fit very securely on the face, with snug bows, rubber nose pads, and a head-hugging form. This level of stability makes them a reliable set of shades for life on the go — whether that's hiking up a mountain or peering over the edge of a canoe. The ChromaPop lenses we tested add just a hint of increased contrast without distorting colors. The higher VLT (Visible Light Transmission) of 15% make them easy to wear without obscuring your view in lower light situations. The polarization and mirror coating both cut out distracting glare from other surfaces, making these a great choice for super bright days.
Some of our testers found the snug fit of the Caper to be a little too snug. The fit seemed to be less based on head size than skull shape and where the bows happen to hit above the ears. Some of our widest-faced testers loved wearing them all day, while some with slender faces found them to squeeze after a few hours. Their mirror lenses also show smudges easily. And the simple microfiber bag case these sunnies come with is too shiny, making it almost stick to the lenses without really cleaning anything off of them. A regular microfiber cloth does the trick, but you'll have to get your own. At the end of the day, the fit, protection, and stylish fashion these shades offer make them our favorite pick for both grabbing brunch in the morning and hitting the trails in the afternoon. But if you have a slender face, we recommend checking out the Costa del Mar Fernandina.
Choosing the right sports sunglasses is all about balancing performance and style.
For those with slender and smaller faces, the Costa del Mar Fernandina are the shades for you. Many of our testers have wanted to find a pair of aviators that look awesome without being too large or not quite right for their faces. Enter the Fernandina, with their versatile and appealing shape. The dark, polarized lenses and mirror coating provide superb protection from the sun. While nose pads are notorious for getting caught in the hair, the intensely squishy pads on these easily bend and are even made to pop out (and then easily back in again) under pressure. These shades fit firmly and securely on even our smallest-headed tester, with a sturdy build that can keep up with steady wear.
The only area in which the Fernandina fell a bit short is when heading directly into a low sun. At this angle, the rays of light seem to reflect around inside the Green Mirror 580P lenses we tested, creating an illuminated layer in the lens that made it difficult to see with clarity. Those with wider faces lamented the narrow build of these small frames, while those with slender faces found them unicorns among women's sunglasses. For most of our testers, though, any time we wanted to feel bold, fashionable, and downright cool, we put on the Fernandina. Another stylish pair we love for wider faces is the Smith Caper ChromaPop, which looks just at home on the trail as in town.
We've never felt as cool in a pair of sunglasses as we do in the Fernandina.
The Ray-Ban Original Wayfarer Classic has been in style for decades, looking as fly today as they did when they were first released in 1952. Across the board, these shades look good on everyone who tried them and with every fashion, from dresses to board shorts and ripped jeans to three-piece suits. They're built to last, with a whopping seven barrels on each hinge and some serious heft to their robust frames.
However, the tradeoff for all this sturdiness is a heavier weight. At a staggering 45 grams, the Original Wayfarer is one of the heaviest pairs of sunglasses we tested. If you can get over just how heavy these are on your face, they are quite comfortable to wear. As the OG wayfarer shades, they have an exaggerated forward slant to their lenses, which contributes to their style but also leaves an oversized gap at the top of the lenses. Critiques aside, if you've been coveting this look, we think you'll be happy with the performance these classic shades offer. Another stylish and lightweight pair we dig is the Ray-Ban Erika, which is half the weight of the Ray-Ban Original Wayfarer Classic.
All of our testers loved the cool vibes of these classic wayfarers from Ray-Ban.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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We don't take the task of testing sunglasses lightly.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
How We Test Sunglasses
To help find the best sunglasses for every lifestyle and budget, we spent hours researching the most promising pairs on the market before choosing these top contenders for head-to-head testing. Over the past several years, we've taken test pairs all over the world to every kind of environment, from the equator to the North Pole. We've driven across the country and back, gone out to brunch, paddled across lakes, napped on beaches, and hiked up peaks, assessing lens and frame quality and evaluating comfort across an array of face shapes.
Our testing of women's sunglasses is divided across five different metrics:
Quality of lenses (30% of overall score weighting)
Comfort on nose and ears (25% weighting)
Versatility (20% weighting)
Quality of frame (15% weighting)
Face coverage (10% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
Lead testers Maggie Nichols has been wearing glasses since she was 4 years old and knows what constitutes the right fit and look for a pair of frames. She's obsessed with protecting her eyes, as she's been working in sunny outdoor environments for over 20 years, from being a kayak guide in the Caribbean and leading students snorkeling along the equator to backpacking the sunny Sierra Nevadas and researching wildlife on the African savannah. Maggie has been our lead sunglasses tester — from running and paddling to summer vacations and gardening — since 2018.
Paddling in sunglasses.
Hiking through Japanese shrines tests sunglasses performances in light to shade transitions.
The Le Specs Armada lenses are a pleasant purpley-blue, with a very top-heavy gradient that works well in bright light.
Testing sunglasses around home and around the world.
Analysis and Test Results
To thoroughly analyze contenders, we divided our assessments into five separate metrics. By combining the outcomes of tests in each metric, every pair of women's sunglasses ends up with an overall score that makes them easily comparable. Here we tease apart each metric and discuss the top contenders in specific areas.
What's the Best Value?
Finding a great pair of women's sunglasses doesn't have to cost a fortune. While, in general, clearer, more protective, and better-contrasting lenses cost a little more, there are plenty of high-performing shades that buck this trend.
The Camp Eyewear Trail have excellent lenses in quality frames that provide outstanding comfort without sacrificing fashion — all while costing less than most. While the Ray-Ban Erika are a bit pricier, they still come cheaper than many others, were our favorite to wear, and have scored the highest in our tests for multiple years now. The Kaenon Rockaway are an excellent pair of performance shades that are comfortable to wear, and the Tens Classic are a solid, classic-looking contender — both at a fair price. We've also tested a group of the top cheap sunglasses if you want to find other budget-friendly options.
Find out how well the shades you want stack up to the competition.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
Lens Quality
Lens quality is the single most important aspect of any pair of glasses. To test this, we considered a wide range of attributes. We compared our lineup of sunglasses side-by-side in bright and harsh lighting, noting clarity, contrast, and color distortions. We also checked each pair for back reflections, that annoying phenomenon of seeing your face reflected back at you.
The Maui Jim Honi have some of the most protective and pleasant lenses to look through. The shade of brown we tested has just a hint of color and contrast enhancement. We tested the Hawaii Lava lenses in the Maui Jim Kawika, which proved to be polarizing. Though they offer excellent clarity and protection, and minimal back glare, they are blue-grey on top and amber on the bottom, which some of our testers didn't mind and others found distracting. We love the lenses of the Maui Jim Lighthouse, which are part of Maui Jim's more recent line of non-glass lenses that still maintain the top-notch quality of the rest of their lineup.
The Kawika lenses are crystal clear, though the dual-tone of the Hawaii Lava lenses we tested were hit and miss with our testers.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
The Vuarnet Legend 03 lenses are another favorite. Though they're not polarized, they're a superb shade with excellent mirroring and a dual gradient (darker on top and bottom for sun and glare), making them protective and comfortable. The Ray-Ban Erika is another pair with excellent lenses. Their Grey Gradient lenses that we tested also aren't polarized but are a clear, contrasting shade of blueish grey with precisely the top-down gradient transition that feels good to our eyes.
We adore the lenses in the Maui Jim Honi.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
The Kaenon Rockaway have great lenses, with enhanced contrast that still looks natural, good protection, and minimal back glare. The Smith Caper also has lenses we love, with color-enhancing shades of brown and protection that's comfortable and clear to wear. Not far behind are the Smith Lowdown 2, with a slightly darker tint and a touch less “pop” to their ChromaPop. The Tens Classic lenses are designed by photographers and are a very pleasing shade to look through. Their subtle gradient helps cut down glare, while their overall darker hue makes them an excellent choice for very bright days, despite not being polarized.
Even without being polarized, the Vuarnet Legend 03 are some of our favorite lenses in bright light.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
The Camp Eyewear Trail also have solid lenses in a comfortable grey color without any major flaws. The Ray-Ban Aviators also have good lenses — we tested the Green Classic G-15, which appear quite grey. They felt darker than many others, though that may be due to the contrast between the lenses and the open sides. Still, they're good lenses with very minimal back glare — a difficult feat for a pair of shades with so much open space for the sun to sneak in. We like the lenses in the Costa Fernandina in most situations outside of heading directly into the setting or rising sun. At these low angles of light, we found it very difficult to see much through these lenses. But they excel at midday sunlight angles.
The Ray-Ban Aviator lenses felt darker to wear than their VLT rating would suggest.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Comfort
Our entire panel of testers evaluated every pair of sunglasses in our lineup to assess comfort. We noted where each pair touched the face and if it was distracting. We checked which are adjustable and how well that adjustability lets each wearer dial in their unique comfort needs. We also considered rubber cushioning and special nose pads and wore every pair for hours to see if they squeezed or fell off.
We're very impressed by the easy comfort of the Kaenon Rockaway. These unassuming shades provided a secure fit on every tester who tried them, thanks to a comfortable grip, light weight, and great balance. Rubbery nose pads keep them pleasantly perched on the nose even when sweaty. Another one of the most comfortable pairs we tested is the Ray-Ban Erika. The lightweight nylon frame rests comfortably on the face, and their metal bows are flexible enough to offer security and a versatile fit. These are truly a pleasure to wear, and our entire team of testers loved the feel of these sunnies. The Maui Jim Honi frames have perfectly placed embedded nose pads, flexible hinges to accommodate a variety of sizes of heads, and a shape that's easy to forget you're wearing. The Smith Caper ChromaPop are also impressively comfortable, with a more snug fit and fully rubber nose pads to keep them securely in place.
We love wearing the Ray-Ban Erika all day long.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
The Tens Classic are comfortable in the way of the best wayfarers we've tested, with the added bonus of a silky matte finish that feels oh-so-good on your face. The Maui Jim Kawika are far more comfortable than we expected for a pair of sunglasses with adjustable nosepads and such a bold frame. They're well-balanced and a delight to wear. It's also hard not to love the featherweight feel of the almost absurdly light Maui Jim Lighthouse. Even without any adjustability of their nose pads or bows, these hyper-flexible shades seem to fit everyone. The Persol PO3108S also fit very well (on small-medium width heads), with adjustable nose pads and three lines of added “Meflecto” flexibility to each of the bows. The Costa Fernandina are surprisingly comfortable and secure, especially for a pair of aviators, though they also fit narrower heads best.
The Tens Classic are super comfortable to wear all day long.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Style and Versatility
While there's no true test for what's “stylish,” we asked our panel of testers which sunglasses they preferred. We noted trends — where they existed — of pairs that were well-loved or those that weren't. We assessed which were best for certain face sizes and which were just great all-around glasses. We also considered versatility across different activities, checking to see if each pair stayed put when sweaty or if they just became annoying.
Though the majority of our panel of testers have never been big “aviator people,” all of us adored the Costa Fernandina. They have slightly thicker bows than average aviators, with a splash of funky patterning, shorter lenses, and an attractive shape. If you like the classic shape and oversized look of old-school aviators, the Ray-Ban Aviators may be more your vibe. The Ray-Ban Original Wayfarer also made every member of our testing team feel as though their whole look just went up two style points.
Feelin fly in these classic aviators from Ray-Ban.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
The Persol PO3108S and Maui Jim Kawika are also both impressively stylish, though not quite as universally loved as the Fernandina and Original Wayfarer. The Persol look is bold without being “too much” and works just as well with cut-offs as it does with a cocktail dress. The Kawika has distinctive spring break vibes when paired with the red mirrored Hawaii Lava lenses we tested and a frame that one of our testers described fondly as “nerd chic.”
We feel exceptionally cool in the Costa Fernandina.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
The Ray-Ban Erika and Camp Eyewear Trail are well-loved styles by all who tried them on. Though they're two different vibes, both of these shades look good on a wide variety of face sizes and shapes. The Maui Jim Honi adds fashion to function, though their smaller size relegates them to work best on smaller and narrower faces. The Dragon Waverly brings a very distinctive look to the lineup, with a thick-framed style that one tester described as “hippie gone modern.”
The Waverly bring a distinct vibe to our lives.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
We found it hard to hate the Tens Classic on pretty much any face or gender. Though they lack the flair of the Camp Trail wooden bows, the Tens Classic look is still a step above your “average” wayfarer and is a great size that most people find appealing. Even the Smith Caper, though slightly sportier in their appearance, was a crowd favorite, with enough security of fit to back up their use even across active endeavors.
The Persol PO3108S are stylish enough to explore fashionable European cities - pictured here in Oslo.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Frame Quality
A good pair of frames goes a long way toward making your sunglasses last. We poked, prodded, and pulled every part of these glasses, checking screws and wiggly bows. We examined them for scratches and assessed their flexibility. We also turned to the vast sea of testimonials online to see if we noticed any of the many reported issues.
The Ray-Ban Original Wayfarer Classic have some of the sturdiest, beefiest frames we tested. The Ray-Ban Erika also have excellent quality frames that offer just the right level of flexibility and solidity. They feel good and easily stood up to all our testing without any harm. The Vuarnet Legend 03 and Kaenon Rockaway aren't far behind, each sporting solid construction that stays tight throughout use with just the right amount of flex. The Tens Classic and Camp Eyewear Trail once again stand out as above-average wayfarers that perform consistently on many faces, in bags, on top of heads, and chucked on the passenger seat of the car.
The Camp Eyewear Trail are built durably and have easily survived multiple seasons of regular use.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
The Smith Caper ChromaPop are solidly built, with plastic frames that flex, rubber pads to improve grip, and well-attached sections. The Smith Lowdown 2 lack the rubber nose pads, but are similar in construction to the Caper. The Maui Jim Kawika look like they have delicate components, with their adjustable nose pads and wire bridge, but they're deceptively strong. They also have flex hinges, which allow for overextension without breakage. Though we don't expect it from glasses with such thin wires, the Costa Fernandina are also impressively durable. They're reinforced in typical aviator weak points, like the bows and hinges. They also have unique nose pads that are extremely flexible and made to pop in and out of the frames easily, so they never get seriously tangled in your hair.
A few pairs that we tested have some minor but potentially large flaws that we feel are worth mentioning. The Maui Jim Lighthouse has extremely lightweight, flexible frames that we greatly enjoyed wearing, but we worry about their longevity. We found many other user testimonies of these breaking where the bridge connects the two lenses, and their intensely pliable frames make us fear that we'll accidentally crush them. And while we love the quality of the Maui Jim Honi frames, they lose some points due to the tendency of the translucent frames to create a blinding glare below the lens in certain angles of light.
The Maui Jim Lighthouse are absurdly lightweight - though we're unsure if its construction will maintain its integrity over the years...
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Coverage
To evaluate coverage, we looked into the base curve of each pair of glasses to see how well they hug the face or if they leave large gaps. We considered lens size and effectiveness. And we asked people with different face shapes to note where the sun could sneak around the edges and creep inside.
We found the best coverage in glasses with large lenses and curved frames that sit close to the face. The Vuarnet Legend 03 fit this profile. If coverage is your number one concern, these are the best in our lineup. The Maui Jim Honi combines more reasonably sized lenses with a close-fitting face-hugging curve, helping to keep the eyes decently covered. Though they're not as curved as the others we've mentioned, the Ray-Ban Erika have larger lenses than many others that provide extra coverage — just not from the sides, as they're both flatter and have very narrow bows that do little to block side light. Similarly, the Dragon Waverly have large lenses and thick frames that add more protection but are on the flat side, still letting some light creep in the sides.
The Kaenon Rockaway have a lightly curved shape with decent coverage, but they let some light in the sides if the sun hits you at a harsh angle. Though they're a little flatter and have slightly smaller lenses, the Smith Caper ChromaPop provides a shape and fit with decent coverage. Many of the wayfarer styles we tested are the next best regarding coverage, including the Tens Classic, Smith Lowdown 2, and Camp Eyewear Trail. These three have similar lens sizes and shapes, as well as similar fits that offer solid coverage, but have the same downfalls as one another — open sides and a high potential for gaps on the top and bottom (depending on how you prefer to wear them).
Heading out for adventure wearing the Smith Lowdown 2.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
Conclusion
There seems to be an endless sea of sunglasses out there to choose from, and it can be challenging to evaluate the style and effectiveness just by scrolling through websites. Sunglasses can be a tough purchase depending on your face shape, style preferences, and lens needs. We did our best to put every one of the frames in this review to the test to bring you an accurate and thorough picture of which pairs perform the best and which will look best on your face.
