Polarised Sunglasses

Choosing polarised sunglasses by where the glare comes from

Polarised sunglasses cut the flat glare that bounces off water and bitumen, and where you meet that glare most should decide your pair. On the boat or the rocks, the fishing pair has HD polarised lenses that help you spot fish under the surface. For long drives, the polarised driving glasses put a category 3 lens in a full polycarbonate frame, and the photochromic pair goes dark in bright sun and clears under cloud. Hats and watches for the same long days outside are in our military accessories.

On the bike or on foot, fit matters as much as the lens. The wrap around and running pairs curve close to the face and stay put when you move, and the polarised cycling pair has interchangeable lenses with an adjustable nose piece. The tactical goggles take a different route: a full frame, a wind barrier and swappable lenses, in black, khaki or green. On a cold early ride, wear them over a balaclava so your eyes and face are both covered.

Weight, frame shape and packing them away

Most frames here are polycarbonate, which keeps them light. The camo pair, with its leaf print, weighs 20.3g and the folding pair 23.3g. That folding frame closes in three, so it can ride at the bottom of a rucksack. Half frames, as on the hiking and sports pairs, keep the weight down, while full frames like the driving and wooden pairs hold the lens all the way round.

If you would rather wear something other than plastic, the wooden sunglasses combine bamboo arms with a PC frame and screwed hinges. The bamboo pair has a full square frame with metal details for a retro look.

Which lens for which light?

Lens category tells you how dark the tint is. Category 3, listed on the hiking, cycling, driving and mirrored pairs, is the one for strong summer sun at the beach or out in the bush. The black polarised and mens pairs use category 2, a lighter tint for milder days.

One thing to know before you drive: a polarised lens can make some phone screens and head-up displays look dark or patchy at certain angles. Try your pair in the car before a long trip.

A beret gives your eyes no shade at all. If you wear one of our berets outdoors, keep a pair of sunnies in your top pocket for the drive home.