The Best Fishing Sunglasses of 2024 – GWC Mag

Fishing sunglasses protect your eyes from harmful UV rays that can cause permanent damage to your vision, but they also provide a shield from the sharp hook you’re flinging through the air. No one wants to catch a streamer in the eye.

Many factors go into a good pair of shades, but it truly comes down to quality lenses that are comfortable to wear. A good polarized lens allows you to peer through the water in ways the naked eye can’t. Technology has come so far, leaving anglers with nearly limitless lens options for every kind of fishing.

The lead author of this guide is Aaron King, a northern California-based competitive angler. Aaron spends most weekends casting into promising pockets of California’s best bass lakes. In addition to expertise on the water, Aaron is a self-described gear nut who never stops tinkering with his trolling rig and accessories. After testing dozens of sunglasses, this list contains the tried-and-true standouts.

Scroll down for our recommendations for the shades that will suit you well on the water. Check out our comprehensive Buyer’s Guide and Frequently Asked Questions sections for helpful tips, and have a look at our Comparison Chart to steer your decision-making.

Editor’s Note: We updated this Buyer’s Guide on March 29, 2024, by adding the Costa Del Mar King Tide Frames as our top pick, and ensuring all products are current and up-to-date.

The Best Fishing Sunglasses of 2024

Fishing Sunglasses Comparison Chart

How We Tested Fishing Sunglasses

Just like most outdoorsy people, we live in sunglasses here at GearJunkie. No matter what kind of activity we’re doing we have a pair for the task.

Throughout our careers as outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen, we’ve learned a few things about what makes the right pair. Through rigorous and extensive on-the-water testing we narrowed down this list to some of our favorites.

Many experienced anglers contributed to this list, including our Hunt and Fish Editor Rachelle Schrutte and Aaron King — an experienced competitive sport fisherman based in California. The greater GearJunkie team has decades of collective experience on lakes, rivers, freshwater, and saltwater. Our testing process brought us to just about every teeming fishery under the sun — from Baja to Minnesota. Along the way, we assessed durability, shape and coverage, effectiveness, clarity, weight, and style.

While we did test some of the more popular models from major brands such as Maui Jim, Oakley, and Smith, we also checked out options from smaller more fishing-specific manufacturers.

As new fishing sunglasses hit the market, we’ll be sure to get our hands on them to ensure that our list includes the best of the best at any given time. And, if you’re interested in sunglasses for other outdoor adventures, check out our guide to the Best Sunglasses for the Outdoors.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose Fishing Sunglasses

When shopping for fishing sunglasses, it’s important to consider your budget, style, activity, location, and personal comfort. This is easier said than done. Let’s break down a few of these key factors.

Fishing Disciplines

There are so many wonderful ways to fish. Some folks do it for work, others do it for fun, and some combine the two as professional sport fishermen. There are dozens of subdisciplines out there, but perhaps the most important distinction is freshwater vs. saltwater.

Freshwater

Freshwater fisheries include lakes, rivers, and ponds. Freshwater fishing is generally associated with tame water, fairly shallow water, and shady vegetated banks. Wide open lakes and reservoirs often come with sunny conditions and lots of surface glare. In such environments, a lens like the Costa King Tides that has side shields and offers a lot of protection will come in handy.

When fishing shallow water, a high-contrast lens can help identify movement while sight-fishing. We’re strong proponents of finding a single versatile pair of glasses like the Smith Guide’s Choice that can handle all of your fishing needs. Still, every day is a little different when fishing freshwater, and it’s wise to own a few pairs that you can switch in and out of depending on the day’s conditions.

Saltwater

Saltwater fishing means large waves, big swell, huge fish, possible storms, and relentless sun. Again, every fishery is different but it’s safe to assume that you’ll be out on the water with the sun beating down and reflecting all over the surface of the water.

If that’s the case, you’ll want a pair of those very bright lenses to protect your eyes while you’re out chasing your desired species. For these instances, give the Wiley X P-17 or the Fin-Nor Tilloo a shot. Getting familiar with common weather patterns in your fisheries can also be helpful when shopping for glasses.

Saltwater is hard on gear, and sunglasses are no exception. If you want your sunnies to last in marine environments, we recommend seeking out a durable pair and treating them to frequent freshwater rinses. And, if you’re considering a trip to the tropics, check out our complete guide to gear you need to bring.

Lens Types and Materials

Lenses are the most important component of sunglasses. There are endless different lenses on the market, and each offers slightly different features and characteristics. Recent technological advancements in optics, as we see in the Bajio Vega, have been incredible and the standards for lens quality have never been higher.

With that said, there are plenty of sub-par lenses on the market. Quality is number one, but it’s also crucial to pick a lens that matches the weather conditions and water depth where you’ll be fishing.

Lens Color

We anglers consider color when selecting our lures and flies. We want to do the same when it comes to our lenses. Our eyes are powerful, adaptable, and delicate — but most of all they are unique. Every person has a different experience of light and color. We can’t say for certain what will work for you, but we can give you an idea of what works for most folks. It will be up to you to do some trial and error. 

If you’re heading out to a local lake during a bluebird day and won’t be doing much shallow-water fishing, you’ll likely want to grab some blue or green mirror lenses. If you’re going out to fly fish on a free-flowing river, we’d recommend a high-contrast lens like copper or copper-silver. Try some low-light rose or silver lenses for evening fishing and good topwater bite.

Owning a different pair of sunglasses for every kind of weather isn’t feasible for everyone. We recommend that you first start with a pair of “do-it-all’’ glasses and branch out from there. Most of the frames that we mentioned in this article can be matched up with a green mirror lens to form a versatile workhorse. Many brands offer free exchange options — especially if purchased through retailers or distributors.

Lens Material

The other key lens consideration is material. Most frames nowadays offer both polycarbonate and glass lens options, such as seen on the Costa Del Mar Lido. Don’t be fooled by these simple terms — most modern lenses aren’t made of a single solid material. Instead, lenses often consist of 10 or more layers of different hair-thin materials and treatments including hydrophobic coatings, anti-reflective coatings, and anti-scratch protection. Due to these variables, we can’t strictly say that glass or polycarbonate is always better.

Glass lenses are known for supreme scratch resistance due to their inherent hardness. It’s also said that glass lenses can offer better optical clarity. Typically, glass lenses also make for a heavier pair of glasses.

Polycarbonate lenses are a great choice if weight savings are a priority for you. Every brand has a bit of its own variation when it comes to the lens materials that it offers. Like with color, we encourage buyers to compare specific lenses to each other rather than broad categories like glass and polycarbonate.

Fit

Ideally, fishing sunglasses are comfortable enough to wear all day long. Comfort is a direct result of fit. Finding the right fit for you takes time, but it’s a worthwhile process. Don’t compromise on this.

On the practical side, the right fit helps prevent sunlight from sneaking in from the sides, maximizing your eye protection. Features like adjustable nose pads and temple tips help provide a snug yet comfortable grip.

Many fishing sunglasses like the Bajio Stiltsville have large frames to maximize coverage and protection. This works well for those with large faces, but it can be an issue for everyone else. Refer to our comparison to get a better sense of the fit of all of our recommended glasses.

Durability

Along with advancements in lens technology, there has been a notable shift toward innovative frame materials in recent years. Many of the brands highlighted on this list have moved beyond conventional steel, aluminum, or other metal frames. Instead, leading brands have embraced alternative materials that offer performance enhancements and/or environmental benefits.

Current trends lean toward frames crafted from robust and heat-resistant nylon or acetate-based materials. Furthermore, there’s now a strong emphasis on sustainability. Many frames utilize biodegradable plastics or recycled plastics retrieved from our oceans, reducing the environmental impact in case a pair goes missing in the great outdoors.

Durability is a huge concern when it comes to small hardware and added features like nose pads and temple pads. When we fish, we put our gear through the wringer. We want glasses that don’t fall apart after a single season. We’re confident in the durability of the sunglasses on this list, but to best protect your investment, look for a pair of sunglasses with a decent warranty.

Bonus Tip

Buy Croakies. And if you don’t know what Croakies are, they’re corded keepers for your glasses. If you take a digger and end up face down in the river, they’ll keep your glasses from leaving your body. Some of them float, which is a bonus if you’re fishing deep water.

Seriously, buy them. You won’t regret it.

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