The editors and writers at Men’s Health gathered all our years of knowledge in expertise in playing golf and rounded together the best golf sunglasses for all-day play. Along with testing over 30 pairs of golf sunglasses in the past two years, we’ve also consulted with eye doctors and sports vision experts to outline what you should look for in a great pair of golf sunglasses.
What to Consider
Price Point
Buying a cheap pair of sunglasses for golf can greatly affect what’s called optical clarity on the course. “Many inexpensive sunglasses have distorted lenses, but even a slight visual distortion in the lens can change the visual appearance of the ball and may cause unnecessary swing modification,” says Dr. Randy Fuerst, a VSP network eye doctor, sports vision expert, and avid golfer. To combat buying a pair of golf sunglasses with bad optical clarity, Dr. Fuerst suggests shopping from your eye doctor or a reputable online glasses store.
Prescription
Before buying golf sunglasses, make sure to get regular eye exam checks. From what your eye doctor recommends, you can then start incorporating any special features you might need for your golf sunglasses—like prescription lenses. Even if you have a weak prescription, it’s worth adding prescription lenses to your golf sunglasses. “As we age, we can develop a minor distance prescription, so don’t be afraid to get a prescription in your sunglasses as needed—I frequently have patients who golf that complain of losing the ball on drives,” says Dr. Fuerst. “They insist they only need glasses for reading or working on a computer, but they are actually experiencing a 15-20% drop in visual clarity, contrast sensitivity, and depth perception that commonly comes with aging.” The good news is most quality golf sunglasses are available for prescription, Dr. Fuerst recommends.
UVA and UVB Protection
Just like buying any pair of sunglasses, make sure your sunnies offer proper sun protection. Dr. Fuertes maintains that your golf sunglasses should provide 100% protection form UVA and UVB rays. “Sun damage to the eyes can begin in as little as 15 minutes, and the damage is cumulative and can build over time leading to a variety of eye-related health conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma and even eyelid cancer,” says Dr. Fuertes. This is all to say, make sure you’re buying your sunglasses from reputable stores.
Polarized Lenses
Polarized lenses are not as important on the golf course as they are in everyday life. This is due to the lack of spots where glare can occur on a course, which is what polarized lenses help reduce. In fact, polarized lenses can cause warped vision at points on the course and even mess with trying to hit the ball. The biggest example of this is when you’re putting, as the lenses can over-focus on the crisp putting greens and create a weird grainy effect. Polarized lenses can be helpful though when playing near water and the sun is reflecting off it. We don’t really have a strong opinion on buying polarized versus non-polarized. Instead, we want to let it be known that polarized lenses are not a must-have for your golf sunglasses.
Lens Tint
As far as lens tint goes, there are a few different colors that could help with seeing on the course. “Dark green and moderate brown tints have been shown in several studies—as well as claimed by professional golfers—to help give an enhanced reading of the green,” says Dr. Fuertes. “These tints may help a golfer see undulations and slopes more clearly and can help prevent turning a two putt for par into a bogey.”
Dr. Fuerst made sure to warn about one specific lens design that’s become popular as of late: wrap-around lenses. “Wrap sunglasses that curve around the sides of the face are often recommended for cycling, water sports, skiing and hiking, but I wouldn’t advise them for golf because there can be minor distortions at the peripheral edges that can adversely affect the visual calculus that is part of the approach to the ball.”
How We Selected
For the past three years, I have been testing tons of golf sunglasses to find the best ones for the course. To narrow down our favorites, I evaluated golf sunglasses on lens design, frame quality, style, and price point. We also considered golf sunglasses mentioned in popular golf forums, like r/golf on Reddit, for community favorite picks that are lesser known to the general public.
I also consulted with Men’s Health Senior Gear and Commerce Editor Ryan Brower on the best golf sunglasses he’s tested during his years of playing. Together, along with other MH testers, we’ve assessed over 30 pairs for the creation of this guide. While we can’t guarantee a new pair of golf sunglasses will improve your vision, we can say it’s likely you’ll notice some kind of gain in clarity on the course—at the very least, you’ll get sun protection for your eyes. Many of these pairs below can fill a prescription too, so if you need to get a pair of golf sunglasses altered to your vision requirements you can go the next step and get that taken care of. Here are the seven best sunglasses for golfing in 2025.
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He also trained in martial arts for 12 years and holds a third degree black belt. He has written about the outdoors for nearly two decades and was previously the Managing Editor, Content Performance at Gear Patrol. He is also a Certified Beer Server and previously covered the craft beer industry. Ryan currently lives on the water in New Jersey with his wife and their dog.
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Will Porter is an LA-based freelance writer covering golf, tech, and travel. In addition to Men’s Health, his work has been published in GQ, Gear Patrol, The Strategist, and others. When he’s not writing, you’ll find him running the trails at Griffith Park or trying to catch every new movie in IMAX at the local movie theater.
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If you were to compare a $50-$100 pair of your everyday shades to the Rivet, the Rivet would be the obvious choice to use for golfing every time.The Rivet comes in a sport design most of us have worn before, so there’s no unexpected digging or inconveniences. The rubber pieces on the nose and temples hold firm, but not too tight. Overall, the comfort level is moderate. The plastic frame is a little heavy and thick when compared to the premium eyewear picks we have on this list. Alas, you have to remember you get what you pay for. If you want to prioritize the best comfort, you’ll likely be set back $150-$200 a pair.Perhaps you’re new to golf and have discovered that you need a dedicated pair of golf sunglasses? Or maybe you already have a pair of sunnies you like and need a backup pair? In any situation, the Rivet is an easy frame to recommend.Read more: Best Golf Clothing Brands”,”image”:”https://vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1713885294-tifosi-rivet-1-6627d06bdbeda.jpg”,”sku”:”B0C1P6HBYH”,”brand”:{“@type”:”Brand”,”name”:”Tifosi”},”review”:{“@type”:”Review”,”name”:”Rivet”,”author”:[{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Will Porter”}],”positiveNotes”:{“@type”:”ItemList”,”itemListElement”:[{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”1″,”name”:”Very affordable”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”2″,”name”:”Special lenses made specifically for golf”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”3″,”name”:”High durability”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”4″,”name”:”Comfortable nose and temple pieces”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”5″,”name”:”Comes with a protective zip case”}]},”negativeNotes”:{“@type”:”ItemList”,”itemListElement”:[{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”1″,”name”:”Moderate comfort, so they aren’t ideal if you want the best comfort you can get”}]}},”offers”:[{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C1P6HBYH”,”priceCurrency”:”USD”,”price”:”49.95″,”availability”:”https://schema.org/InStock”,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Amazon”}},{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.wayfair.com/–/pdp/cuisinart–cuisinart-countertop-single-burner-cb30-l838-cui3507.html”,”priceCurrency”:”USD”,”price”:”69.95″,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Wayfair”}},{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.walmart.com/ip/423969577?selected=true”,”priceCurrency”:”USD”,”price”:”74.95″,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Walmart”}}]}},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:2,”item”:{“@context”:”https://schema.org/”,”@type”:”Product”,”name”:”Sphaera Slash”,”description”:”Oakley is a chosen go-to for pro-golfers like Rickie Fowler, Ryo Hisatsune, and Hideki Matsuyama; almost all of whom are never seen without their sunnies on their head during a tournament. At the core of Oakley’s golf sunglasses is the Prizm Field lens, which is hailed by many for its ability to absorb the right amount of light (the lenses absorb 85% of light transmission) and create an ideal contrast between a white golf ball and the greens.The shades are even great when approaching to putt—which is worth highlighting because some high-quality shades can clash with putting greens and create a grainy look.You can buy Prizm lenses in polarized and non-polarized lenses, but since many golfers won’t have to combat glare very often while golfing, we loved how we could select the non-polarized Prizm lenses and save the extra cash. The Sphaera Slash is our go-to Oakley frame for golfing, though, because of its clever slash tech that prevents the frames from wrapping too far around your cheeks (something Dr. Fuerst advised us against), while still providing above-average coverage.”,”image”:”https://vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1750643399-oakleysphaera-6858b2b0df700.jpg”,”sku”:”888392665232″,”brand”:{“@type”:”Brand”,”name”:”Oakley”},”review”:{“@type”:”Review”,”name”:”Sphaera Slash”,”author”:[{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Will Porter”}],”positiveNotes”:{“@type”:”ItemList”,”itemListElement”:[{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”1″,”name”:”Trusted by PGA pros”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”2″,”name”:”Lens made specifically for field sports (i.e. on grass)”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”3″,”name”:”Premium, high-quality construction”}]},”negativeNotes”:{“@type”:”ItemList”,”itemListElement”:[{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”1″,”name”:”Very expensive”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”2″,”name”:”Don’t always fit well with certain hats”}]}},”offers”:[{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.oakley.com/en-us/product/W0OO9499?variant=888392665232″,”priceCurrency”:”USD”,”price”:”244.00″,”availability”:”https://schema.org/InStock”,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Oakley”}}]}},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:3,”item”:{“@context”:”https://schema.org/”,”@type”:”Product”,”name”:”Moonshot Flight Path”,”description”:””Cheap sunglasses” are useful for occasions where you risk losing and/or breaking your shades and don’t want to feel the pain in your wallet. For most of us, golf is one of those occasions. Knockarounds sell for less than $50 and include polarized lenses with remarkably clear vision. And, like Oakleys, Knockaround are trusted by PGA Tour pros like Joel Dahmen, Peter Malnati, and Harry Higgs. Unlike Oakley, they won’t drain your bank account.The real knockout here is the Knockaround’s Knockterra+ Lens Tech, a color enhancing technology that makes these absolutely dynamite on the varied terrain of the golf course. We had no issues seeing down range and up close with excellent clarity and no issues with depth perception.We found the construction and materials to be very sturdy for the price. Knockaround utilized a prototypical sports sunglasses design for the Flight Paths (Moonshot is the name of the lens), which is likely the most versatile frame style for sports, and, in 2025, for style as well. There are a variety of color options available at any given time, with new options introduced each season. You can spice up your look with something bold or keep it classy with timeless black frames. Even at this price, it’s not entirely fair to call these sunglasses cheap.”,”image”:”https://vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1751468084-img-8993-jpg-686548162ab7f.jpg”,”sku”:”B0D1Z4CN3G”,”brand”:{“@type”:”Brand”,”name”:”Knockaround”},”review”:{“@type”:”Review”,”name”:”Moonshot Flight Path”,”author”:[{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Will Porter”}],”positiveNotes”:{“@type”:”ItemList”,”itemListElement”:[{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”1″,”name”:”Knockterra+ lenses are worth the price alone”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”2″,”name”:”Come in a few different colors every season”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”3″,”name”:”Trusted by professionals “}]},”negativeNotes”:{“@type”:”ItemList”,”itemListElement”:[{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”1″,”name”:”Not as durable as more expensive frames”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”2″,”name”:”Could be more comfortable for long days on the course”}]}},”offers”:[{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D1Z4CN3G”,”priceCurrency”:”USD”,”price”:”55.00″,”availability”:”https://schema.org/InStock”,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Amazon”}},{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://knockaround.com/collections/golf-sunglasses/products/moonshot-flight-paths”,”priceCurrency”:”USD”,”price”:”55.00″,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”knockaround.com”}}]}},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:4,”item”:{“@context”:”https://schema.org/”,”@type”:”Product”,”name”:”Lowdown Metal”,”description”:”When it comes to optical acumen, few brands do it as well as Smith. We’ve tested pairs for golf, running, cycling, fishing, and just about any other activity that requires sunglasses, and in each case, Smith has left us impressed. When we received our pair of Lowdown Metal frames, it didn’t take long to see that these would be another win for Smith.Smith’s ChromaPop lenses are probably the brand’s standout feature. These give some of the best color we’ve seen from a pair of sunglasses, and the tech translates flawlessly to the golf course. The fairways and greens were, well, as green as can be, and we had no issues seeing the differences between the fairway and the rough or the green and the fringe. This makes every shot a confident one, even when the sun is blazing.The metal frames are also excellent. They weigh next to nothing, fold up easily, and are very comfortable on the face. The nose pieces are customizable, so you’ll always get the right fit and won’t have to worry about constantly adjusting them to the right spot across your nose.”,”image”:”https://vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1751468151-img-8984-jpg-6865485bba14a.jpg”,”sku”:”LOWDOWN-METAL-SUNGLASSES”,”brand”:{“@type”:”Brand”,”name”:”Smith”},”review”:{“@type”:”Review”,”name”:”Lowdown Metal”,”author”:[{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Will Porter”}],”positiveNotes”:{“@type”:”ItemList”,”itemListElement”:[{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”1″,”name”:”Lightweight metal frames are great in the summer”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”2″,”name”:”ChromaPop lenses provide some of the best color tech we’ve seen”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”3″,”name”:”They’re made to last a lifetime”}]},”negativeNotes”:{“@type”:”ItemList”,”itemListElement”:[{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”1″,”name”:”Since the frames are metal, they’re a bit pricier (Smith sells a plastic version, too.)”}]}},”offers”:[{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.smithoptics.com/en_US/p/sunglass/lowdown-metal-active-sunglass/LOWDOWN-METAL-SUNGLASSES.html”,”priceCurrency”:”USD”,”price”:”227.00″,”availability”:”https://schema.org/InStock”,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”smithoptics”}}]}},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:5,”item”:{“@context”:”https://schema.org/”,”@type”:”Product”,”name”:”Kanaio Coast”,”description”:”The Maui Jim Kanaio Coast is some of the lightest sunglasses we’ve golfed in. That’s thanks to a lightweight, injected nylon frame—and no, it doesn’t cut down on their durability one bit. While playing in these it felt like we didn’t really have glasses on, so their ability to be distraction-free is a huge plus. The fit is also extremely comfortable with spring hinges on the arms and adjustable silicone nose tabs, making them great for all head shapes and sizes. While the style is the trendy wrap style Dr. Fuerst advised against, we didn’t notice any distortion around the edges. If you do want to go with a style like this, just be aware that it can happen and to try not lean on your peripheral vision. The lens tint and color also provided us with great brightness and contrast, allowing for undulations to be accentuated. And we had no issues distinguishing between greens, fairways, and rough. They’re a great pair of sunglasses for all sorts of outdoor activities, and certainly ones that have a home on the course.”,”image”:”https://vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1751468813-img-1902-68654af5886d0.jpg”,”sku”:”GM766-02/”,”brand”:{“@type”:”Brand”,”name”:”Maui Jim”},”review”:{“@type”:”Review”,”name”:”Kanaio Coast”,”author”:[{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Will Porter”}],”positiveNotes”:{“@type”:”ItemList”,”itemListElement”:[{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”1″,”name”:”Lightweight, injected nylon frame”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”2″,”name”:”Adjustable fit with spring hinges and silicone nose tips”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”3″,”name”:”Polarized”}]},”negativeNotes”:{“@type”:”ItemList”,”itemListElement”:[{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”1″,”name”:”Wrap style can cause distortion around the edges”}]}},”offers”:[{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.mauijim.com/US/en_US/shop/sunglasses/wrap/kanaio-coast?variantCode=GM766-02″,”priceCurrency”:”USD”,”price”:”72.25″,”availability”:”https://schema.org/InStock”,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”mauijim”}}]}},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:6,”item”:{“@context”:”https://schema.org/”,”@type”:”Product”,”name”:”Ace Driver”,”description”:” The Ace Driver frame is made from titanium, leading it to be the lightest pair of sunglasses we tested without any compromise to durability. The silicone nose pads and temple tips offer elite comfort and lock-tight grip (even against sweat).As for the lens, Nike outfitted the Ace Driver with a polarized lens, which is helpful for driving off the tee box when the sun is beaming right in your face. The best detail about the lens, though, is the brown Course Tint color. Like Dr. Fuerst mentioned, a moderate brown tint has shown to enhance readings on the green. Dr. Fuerst noted the moderate brown tint can help see undulations and slopes more clearly too.We took all this lens info into account before playing a round in the Ace Driver. After play, we found the Ace Driver provides exceptional course clarity, especially when the sun is at its highest point of the day. The combination of the polarization and the brown tint helped limit eye strain while providing clear views of course terrain and golf balls.If you need to be sold more on the price, the Ace Driver also has potential as an everyday pair of sunglasses. We received several compliments on how stylish they looked, and the fact they have polarization makes them even more appealing for wear outside of golf. The verdict: absolutely consider buying these if you’re willing to pay a premium. The investment is well worth the purchase.”,”image”:”https://vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1715892326-1713884793-nike-max-pro-golf-662-664670634fe0c.jpg”,”sku”:”B0CRBC94KF”,”brand”:{“@type”:”Brand”,”name”:”Nike “},”review”:{“@type”:”Review”,”name”:”Ace Driver”,”author”:[{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Will Porter”}],”positiveNotes”:{“@type”:”ItemList”,”itemListElement”:[{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”1″,”name”:”Insanely comfortable and lightweight”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”2″,”name”:”Timeless style”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”3″,”name”:”Special Course Tint helps view slopes and golf ball easier”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”4″,”name”:”Rubber pieces are secure and don’t dig”}]},”negativeNotes”:{“@type”:”ItemList”,”itemListElement”:[{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”1″,”name”:”Some might not prefer the thin design”}]}},”offers”:[{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.amazon.com/Sunglasses-DRIVER-24010-Satin-Gunmetal/dp/B0CRBC94KF/ref=sr_1_7″,”priceCurrency”:”USD”,”price”:”183.00″,”availability”:”https://schema.org/InStock”,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Amazon”}},{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.glassesusa.com/gunmetal-large/nike-ace-driver-gunmetal/46-006759.html”,”priceCurrency”:”USD”,”price”:”181.20″,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Glasses USA”}},{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.walmart.com/ip/5374901968?selected=true”,”priceCurrency”:”USD”,”price”:”128.00″,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Walmart”}}]}},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:7,”item”:{“@context”:”https://schema.org/”,”@type”:”Product”,”name”:”Reefton Pro”,”description”:”Costa Del Mar sunglasses are well-known for their lens superiority on the water, loved by fishermen and watermen of all types. But Costas can certainly hold their own on the course—even Tiger Woods has been spotted in a pair in recent years. The Reefton Pro is a premium pair of shades that’ll cost you a pretty penny (they’re the most expensive in our guide). But the performance is also on that premium level. The larger frame is well-fitting and provides a ton of coverage area, helping to keep dust and dirt out of the eyes. And these lenses employ some of the top tier tech that Costa has to offer. Another perk is the sweat management channels and eyewire drains to keep things from fogging up and sweat dripping into your eyes. We found this extremely helpful during some steamy rounds this year. And if you happen to be playing a course on the water, the supreme polarization will come in very handy.”,”image”:”https://vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1751469404-img-1901-68654d449f4b0.jpg”,”sku”:”6S9080-97963988490″,”brand”:{“@type”:”Brand”,”name”:”Costa Del Mar”},”review”:{“@type”:”Review”,”name”:”Reefton Pro”,”author”:[{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Will Porter”}],”positiveNotes”:{“@type”:”ItemList”,”itemListElement”:[{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”1″,”name”:”Large coverage area”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”2″,”name”:”Premium quality lenses”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”3″,”name”:”Polarized”}]},”negativeNotes”:{“@type”:”ItemList”,”itemListElement”:[{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:”1″,”name”:”Most expensive pair in our guide”}]}},”offers”:[{“@type”:”Offer”,”url”:”https://www.costadelmar.com/en-us/sunglasses/6S9080-97963988490″,”priceCurrency”:”USD”,”price”:”63.00″,”availability”:”https://schema.org/InStock”,”offeredBy”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”costadelmar”}}]}},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:8,”item”:{“@type”:”Thing”,”name”:””,”url”:”https://www.menshealth.com/technology-gear/g44532186/best-golf-sunglasses/”,”description”:”Meet the ExpertDr. Randy Fuerst is an optometrist with 40 years experience and a an eye doctor within the Vision Service Plan (VSP) network. Dr. Fuerst is also a sports vision expert, and he served as the team optometrist for professional teams like the Sacramento Kings, San Francisco 49ers, and San Jose Sharks between 1988-2007. When Dr. Fuerst is not serving patients, the chances are he’s golfing. Dr. Fuerst’s ability to cross-reference his knowledge as an eye doctor and his ability to break down what makes a pair of sunglasses good for golf is a key reason we interviewed him.”,”image”:”https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/ecomm-breaker-67febcd349ec4.jpg”}},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:9,”item”:{“@type”:”Thing”,”name”:””,”url”:”https://www.menshealth.com/technology-gear/g44532186/best-golf-sunglasses/”,”description”:”More of the Best Golf GearBest Golf Club Sets for Beginners | Best Golf Bags | Best Golf Shoes | Best Golf Shirts | Best Golf Rangefinders | Best Golf Clothing Brands | Best Golf Pants | Best Golf Rain Gear | Best Golf Shorts | Best Golf Shirts | Best Golf Watches | Best Golf Gifts | Best Golf Gadgets | How to Get Fitted for Golf Clubs | Best Golf Clubs on Amazon | Garmin Approach S70 Watch Review”,”image”:”https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/ecomm-breaker-67febcd349ec4.jpg”}}]}}]
Cons
- Moderate comfort, so they aren’t ideal if you want the best comfort you can get
You can find a pair of Tifosi sunglasses for as low as $25. However, if you want to get the best bang for your buck, especially when it comes to sport shades, we recommend going up to the $50 Rivet sunglasses.
What makes the Rivet so great for golf is the crystal smoke lens with Enliven Golf tech. The Enliven tech helps highlight contrasts on the course, pulling the color of the golf ball while also revealing hidden slopes on the green. When playing with the Rivet ourselves, we definitely could tell a difference in how the lens created starker contrast. If you were to compare a $50-$100 pair of your everyday shades to the Rivet, the Rivet would be the obvious choice to use for golfing every time.
The Rivet comes in a sport design most of us have worn before, so there’s no unexpected digging or inconveniences. The rubber pieces on the nose and temples hold firm, but not too tight. Overall, the comfort level is moderate. The plastic frame is a little heavy and thick when compared to the premium eyewear picks we have on this list. Alas, you have to remember you get what you pay for. If you want to prioritize the best comfort, you’ll likely be set back $150-$200 a pair.
Perhaps you’re new to golf and have discovered that you need a dedicated pair of golf sunglasses? Or maybe you already have a pair of sunnies you like and need a backup pair? In any situation, the Rivet is an easy frame to recommend.
Read more: Best Golf Clothing Brands
| Prescription Availability | No |
| Price Range | Low |
| UVA and UVB Protection | 100% |
Oakley is a chosen go-to for pro-golfers like Rickie Fowler, Ryo Hisatsune, and Hideki Matsuyama; almost all of whom are never seen without their sunnies on their head during a tournament. At the core of Oakley’s golf sunglasses is the Prizm Field lens, which is hailed by many for its ability to absorb the right amount of light (the lenses absorb 85% of light transmission) and create an ideal contrast between a white golf ball and the greens.
The shades are even great when approaching to putt—which is worth highlighting because some high-quality shades can clash with putting greens and create a grainy look.
You can buy Prizm lenses in polarized and non-polarized lenses, but since many golfers won’t have to combat glare very often while golfing, we loved how we could select the non-polarized Prizm lenses and save the extra cash. The Sphaera Slash is our go-to Oakley frame for golfing, though, because of its clever slash tech that prevents the frames from wrapping too far around your cheeks (something Dr. Fuerst advised us against), while still providing above-average coverage.
| Prescription Availability | Yes |
| Price Range | High |
| UVA and UVB Protection | 100% |
“Cheap sunglasses” are useful for occasions where you risk losing and/or breaking your shades and don’t want to feel the pain in your wallet. For most of us, golf is one of those occasions. Knockarounds sell for less than $50 and include polarized lenses with remarkably clear vision. And, like Oakleys, Knockaround are trusted by PGA Tour pros like Joel Dahmen, Peter Malnati, and Harry Higgs. Unlike Oakley, they won’t drain your bank account.
The real knockout here is the Knockaround’s Knockterra+ Lens Tech, a color enhancing technology that makes these absolutely dynamite on the varied terrain of the golf course. We had no issues seeing down range and up close with excellent clarity and no issues with depth perception.
We found the construction and materials to be very sturdy for the price. Knockaround utilized a prototypical sports sunglasses design for the Flight Paths (Moonshot is the name of the lens), which is likely the most versatile frame style for sports, and, in 2025, for style as well. There are a variety of color options available at any given time, with new options introduced each season. You can spice up your look with something bold or keep it classy with timeless black frames. Even at this price, it’s not entirely fair to call these sunglasses cheap.
| Prescription Availability | No |
| Price Range | Low |
| UVA and UVB Protection | 100% |
The Ace Driver frame is made from titanium, leading it to be the lightest pair of sunglasses we tested without any compromise to durability. The silicone nose pads and temple tips offer elite comfort and lock-tight grip (even against sweat).
As for the lens, Nike outfitted the Ace Driver with a polarized lens, which is helpful for driving off the tee box when the sun is beaming right in your face. The best detail about the lens, though, is the brown Course Tint color. Like Dr. Fuerst mentioned, a moderate brown tint has shown to enhance readings on the green. Dr. Fuerst noted the moderate brown tint can help see undulations and slopes more clearly too.
We took all this lens info into account before playing a round in the Ace Driver. After play, we found the Ace Driver provides exceptional course clarity, especially when the sun is at its highest point of the day. The combination of the polarization and the brown tint helped limit eye strain while providing clear views of course terrain and golf balls.
If you need to be sold more on the price, the Ace Driver also has potential as an everyday pair of sunglasses. We received several compliments on how stylish they looked, and the fact they have polarization makes them even more appealing for wear outside of golf. The verdict: absolutely consider buying these if you’re willing to pay a premium. The investment is well worth the purchase.
| Prescription Availability | Yes |
| UVA and UVB Protection | 100% |
Meet the Expert
- Dr. Randy Fuerst is an optometrist with 40 years experience and a an eye doctor within the Vision Service Plan (VSP) network. Dr. Fuerst is also a sports vision expert, and he served as the team optometrist for professional teams like the Sacramento Kings, San Francisco 49ers, and San Jose Sharks between 1988-2007. When Dr. Fuerst is not serving patients, the chances are he’s golfing. Dr. Fuerst’s ability to cross-reference his knowledge as an eye doctor and his ability to break down what makes a pair of sunglasses good for golf is a key reason we interviewed him.
Will Porter is an LA-based freelance writer covering golf, tech, and travel. In addition to Men’s Health, his work has been published in GQ, Gear Patrol, The Strategist, and others. When he’s not writing, you’ll find him running the trails at Griffith Park or trying to catch every new movie in IMAX at the local movie theater.
Ryan Brower is the Senior Gear and Commerce Editor at Men’s Health, where he tests the best products in outdoor gear and tech. Baseball, surfing, and camping occupied most of his time growing up.
He also trained in martial arts for 12 years and holds a third degree black belt. He has written about the outdoors for nearly two decades and was previously the Managing Editor, Content Performance at Gear Patrol. He is also a Certified Beer Server and previously covered the craft beer industry. Ryan currently lives on the water in New Jersey with his wife and their dog.
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