Tested: The Best Cheap Men’s Sunglasses to Wear Year-Round

Sunglasses are one of the most important pieces of any guy’s stylish wardrobe, but they come with a few caveats. They’re small, easy to break, even easier to lose/misplace, and on top of it all, designer models can cost hundreds — if not thousands — of dollars. As you might surmise, these things don’t mix well. There’s nothing worse than buying a brand new pair of $300+ glasses, only to lose them, scratch them, or dismember them within a month of ownership. That’s why a lot of style-focused men have turned to the more affordable side of the genre to get their eyewear fix. And although good ones aren’t always easy to find in the sub-$100 range, we’re here to help with this guide to the best cheap sunglasses around.

How We Tested

Admittedly, there are a lot of not-great cheap sunglasses out there, which is why this category can get a bad rap. However, if you know where to look, you can find shades that are arguably just as good as their more expensive competitors, if not better. For this guide, we looked at some of our favorite “cheap” sunglasses brands, paying attention to visual aesthetic, durability, construction methods, and lens quality. And, of course, each pair had to meet our $100 ceiling.

From there, we sourced our units for testing and spent considerable time wearing each pair of sunglasses. We considered how they looked and felt on our faces while also focusing on how the world around us looked through their lenses. The results are detailed in our guide below.

Cheap Sunglasses Cutoff: We kept our picks around the ~$100 price range as we can consider them cheap, but still stand by the quality of the product.

What to Look For

UV Protection: It’s important to choose a pair of sunglasses that block at least 99% of UV rays, as the rays can damage your eyes. UV 400 protection (which blocks all rays below UV light’s 400-nanometer cutoff) is one of the most common you will see among sunglasses, and it does the job of blocking nearly 100% of UV rays. All of the models in this guide boast 100% UVA and UVB blocking.

Polarization: Polarized lenses will decrease light glare and strain on your eyes, which is especially important if you’re driving or doing intense activities outdoors. Most options will be polarized, or at least have the option to add it. But if you’re just worried about style, then it may not be an issue.

Durability: While this may be a budget list, that doesn’t mean these are flimsy sunglasses. However, glasses made of mostly plastic are ideal if you want some beaters, and glasses with sturdier construction (like those that have metal hinges) will be more durable.

A.J. Morgan Grad School

Best Low-End Pick: A.J. Morgan’s Grad School glasses might not inspire with their low price point, but they’re as close as you’re going to get to a pair of designer shades without spending hundreds of dollars –– and at the lowest point on our list. These fashion-forward eyewear accessories are sleek, stylish, and protective, offering UV400 lens protection, impact-resistant qualities, and an injection-molded plastic/metal frame that can take a licking but keep on ticking. The best part? They’re available in a variety of colorways, including a timeless tortoiseshell sheen.

The Good

For testing, we went with the “crystal” colorway here, which sports dark, slightly blue-tinted lenses. I really loved the clarity I got with these lenses, allowing me to read signs from farther away and see heightened details on plants and flowers. These aren’t polarized but the glare was reduced enough for a better experience. Likewise, the lenses are purportedly impact resistant, which I fortunately wasn’t required to experience first-hand, but they do feel rather sturdy.

A rounder take on the classic wayfarers, the A.J. Morgan Grad School is also highly stylish, so long as they look good on your face. There’s slight complexity above the bridge with a small curvature, while the coloring of the crystal frames was unlike any ~$20 I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen a lot). The stems gripped my temples really well without suffocating them, and the smoothness of the injection-molded plastic felt good against my skin.

As a bonus, these were also some of the only sunglasses here that we found for sale on Amazon. So if your situation allows you to save even more money, then we’d recommend checking these out for that reason alone.

The Not So Good

As excited as I was to try on the Grad School shades, I was a bit disappointed to discover that my face was a bit too wide for these. So be warned if you don’t have a narrow face. Likewise, I wanted a little more color from the lenses. While the greens looked analogous to real-world greens and the blues were enhanced a bit, there wasn’t anything else going on in terms of color with these blue-tinted lenses. These wouldn’t be my first choice for hiking as a result. However, depending on which model you get, the lenses will be a different color as well, giving you some options if that’s important to you.

I should also mention once again that these are not polarized sunglasses, which may cause an issue for some wearers with more sensitive eyes.

Verdict: At the lowest end of this list, the A.J. Morgan Grad School sunglasses are some of our favorites in terms of styling, although they may be a bit narrow on your face. While they aren’t polarized or as high-contrast as we’d hoped, the impact-resistant lenses do have some nice clarity. Subtle styling and a comfortable wearing experience should help push these towards the top of anyone’s list.

Knockaround Mount Evans

Best Aviators: If you’re a regular within the affordable eyewear space, it’s likely that you’ve heard of Knockaround. To say that these guys are one of the driving forces behind the stylish, low-cost movement would be an understatement. As such, the Mount Evans Aviator provides a perfect illustration of the brand’s devotion to stylish recreations of the greats, without the hefty price tag. Each example features a slim, gold-metal frame, tortoiseshell rubber detailing, polarized, square-shaped lenses, and an FDA-approved, impact-resistant rating, making them an attractive alternative to your more expensive glasses. Like many on this list, they offer full UV400 sun protection and polarization, shielding your eyes from the detriments of dangerous light exposure. There are currently five colorways available but we got hands-on with the gold-toned frames with aviator green lenses.

The Good

When it comes to sunglasses, aviators are my style of choice, so I do consider myself more of an expert in that realm. That being said, the Knockaround Mount Evans is one of my favorites I’ve worn, not only for how low-profile they felt on my face but how well they handled colors with polarization. Doing a side-by-side comparison to my own Target-brand aviators, the square-shaped Knockaround just makes the world look fuller. While I once thought that wearing sunglasses would inhibit my experience of the outside world, I see now how it’s the exact opposite –– as long as you have good lenses in front of your eyeballs.

Oftentimes, polarized lenses can get a bad rap for being too dark. However, I found the lenses on these shades to balance anti-reflectivity with contrast quite well. Blues and green popped, while other hues weren’t altered much at all. Nevertheless, my eyes felt super comfortable in the outdoors as well. Aviators aren’t the best hiking sunglasses, but if you do have an inclination to put on a pair, these would serve you just fine.

From a style perspective, the gold-toned frames of the Grad Schools are a nice touch, leveling up these “cheap” sunglasses to a pair worthy of competing with designer shades. Likewise, the tortoiseshell rubber tip covers are a solid accent point while also feeling comfortable against my head. As an aside: A lot of times, these adjustable nose pads won’t come evenly aligned but I loved how the Knockarounds came perfectly even.

The Not So Good

Admittedly, there’s not a lot to complain about the Knockaround Mount Evans. They look fantastic, have balanced lenses, and overall feel well-constructed, especially compared to other budget aviators. However, if you’re looking for the old-school aviators with the much wider silhouette, these aren’t those.

My other complaint is that every once in a while, the bridge on the sunglasses would catch my eyebrows, but only on the right side. This got annoying when it happened a couple of times in a row but it wasn’t even necessarily a deal-breaker for me.

Verdict: Slightly smaller than your average aviators, the Knockaround Grad School sets itself apart in a few noteworthy ways. From the surprising contrast of the lenses considering the polarization to the elevated stylistic touches, these sunglasses are worth every penny. We noticed the bridge catching on our eyebrows every so often but these have so much perceived value, it was worth the annoyance.

I-SEA Cove

Best Square-Frame Sunglasses: Wayfarers are typically well-represented in the cheap sunglasses department, but very few are as well-made as I-SEA’s Cove, a flagship model from the brand that blends classic styling with deceptive sophistication and durability. These square-shaped shapes also come equipped with polarized lenses –– a rarity in the wayfarer category –– and handcrafted frames with unfettering construction. Listed with the exact dimensions of the frames and bridge, the Cove is now available in 5 colorways, although we went with all-black to help with our Johnny Cash impression.

The Good

You’ve undoubtedly seen a ton of cheap wayfarers but one look at the I-SEA and you can tell that these are not your bargain bin shades. Unexpectedly dense and heavy in hand, the Cove has a level of durability that’s obvious right away as well. I loved how the brand enhanced the simple styling with the dual pins at the temples, the subtle keyhole at the nose, and even the angular top of the bridge. The stems are also not content with simple sticks but get some dynamics with a thoughtful shape that evolves up to the tips. The metal used inside of the plastic frame is unspecified but you can view it through the see-through inside of the stems, and it certainly helps with maintaining the durability. The build is highly level, too, which assists the fixed nose pads quite a bit.

The Not So Good

Simply for style, the dark lenses, while polarized, won’t get you a long way in terms of contrast. While we can’t complain much since our eyes retained an apt comfort level. However, these lenses are admittedly dark, which isn’t inherently a bad thing but still worth noting. I also wish there were a few more colorways. Unlike, say, aviators, wayfarer-style sunglasses should have more versatility since they’re more color-forward than other styles.

Verdict: Unexpectedly dense compared to other plastic sunglasses, the I-SEA Cove are arguably some of the best wayfarers on the market regardless of price. We do wish there were more colors, but just because we love this model so much. From the dense, sturdy build quality to the subtle design choices, these shades level up your average wayfarers in nearly every way.

Huckberry Cruisers Sunglasses

Best Hiking Sunglasses: Huckberry has a thing for the preservation of heritage styling, but that doesn’t mean the styles it decides to sell on its site aren’t versatile. And these Cruiser Sunglasses are the perfect example, as they have a stylish round silhouette and fit comfortably on any face. These modern shades have been constructed with heavy-duty plastic and feature scratch-resistant lenses. On top of that, the temples guard the outside of the hinge for added protection. Simply put, these shades are purpose-built for getting pushed around a bit. When fully stocked, the Cruisers are available in seven colorways. We got hands-on with the Haze frames with Forest lenses.

The Good

I’ve always admired the look of the Cruisers from afar. Huckberry does a great job with its branded sunglasses, offering a new twist on classic styles. The Cruisers take the traditional wayfarer shape and adds some angularity up top, extra roundness at the bottom, and a slight keyhole at the nose. I particularly love the Haze colorway with its translucent frames. Visually, the lenses deliver pretty good color mimicking across the spectrum, but if you want some sort of contrast enhancement, you won’t really get that here. Nevertheless, the outside world only looks a little darker through the lenses than it would without them, which is a good thing.

For as small as the lenses are, especially compared to some other options here, they provided a large field of view. I also appreciated how close to my eyes these frames can get. I pushed the shades all the way back and felt the coverage from up above, despite the inherently open design. Likewise, these sunglasses don’t really move around a whole lot, which is great for movement-based activities. I also love how tight the hinges were, which allowed the Cruisers to fit on my head without squeezing and stay put when I hung them from my shirt collar.

The Not So Good

As implied earlier, the Cruisers are rather small on my head and are obviously intended for individuals with narrower faces –– despite the large field of view. Self-conscious with how they looked, I wasn’t comfortable wearing these out and about for too long. It should also be stated that Huckberry currently has some availability issues with the Cruisers in that they’re not available at all, in any colorway. Luckily, the online retailer has other models currently up for grabs, and at similar price points, such as the Weekenders and Sunseekers.

Verdict: Gripping your face without being uncomfortable, the Huckberry Cruisers are our top pick for hiking and the outdoors. Purpose-built for durability, these shades also give you polarization, solid color mimicking, and scratch-resistant lenses, all while sporting a unique aesthetic –– despite the narrow fit. They will come with some availability issues but if you see these back in stock, you shouldn’t hesitate.

Kent Wang Keyhole

Best Keyhole Sunglasses: Round glasses have certainly been making a comeback over recent years, so if you want a modern pick, then consider these shades from Kent Wang. With the keyhole nose slot and spring hinges, these shades seem like they’d cost a heck of a lot more than $55. Unlike other sunglasses, typically made with injection mold plastic, these are constructed from blocks of cellulose acetate (or horn) for a more monobloc build with no seams, making them more durable in the long run. Additionally, the spring hinges allow for more flexibility and a wider range of motion in the arms. You can also choose between two different lens sizes (50mm and 47mm) and currently 8 different frame colors. We went with the tortoiseshell.

The Good

If you’ve got a larger head, you’ll love the flex hinges on the Kent Wang Keyhole, which go back a little farther than other frames. Likewise, this is perfect for reducing wear on the hinges after removing the sunglasses time and time again with just one hand (which can put unwanted pressure on the hinges). However, my favorite aspect of these shades is the visual aesthetic. Sporting a classy tortoiseshell frame and a modern-style keyhole bridge, these have a high perceived value, like something you’d see from premium brands like Persol.

In terms of contrast, the Kent Wang Keyhole mimics color very similarly to the Huckberry Cruisers above. However, I noticed the green popping a little bit more here. The polarized lenses are also great for people who don’t love the typically-dark shade of normal polarized lenses. These don’t black out the world around you in the same way as, say, the Huckberry Cruisers or I-Sea Cove models.

The Not So Good

All things considered, the Kent Wang Keyhole sunglasses are a real winner. However, they’re not without their drawbacks. I noticed that they don’t stay on my head all that well. I probably wouldn’t do any rigorous activities with these –– although, they’re not really designed for such things anyway. Also, the nose pads are likely the least comfortable of the ones we tested. They felt beefy against my nose and put pressure against my bones in an undesirable way.

Verdict: If you weigh in the beautiful frames, the nice color mimicking, and the flex hinges that help preclude wear, the Kent Wang Keyhole is one of our favorites and feels like something you’d find from premium brands. While we didn’t love the unwanted pressure of the nose pads or the lack of grip at the temples, we felt that this model’s high perceived value embodied the spirit of this guide in nearly every way.

Sunski Avila

Best Frameless Lenses: Like Knockarounds, Sunski is a lauded name within the affordable eyewear space. The brand’s mission to recreate iconic shapes and styles at a fraction of the cost of its competitors has made it a go-to for many frugal individuals, and when it comes to silhouettes like the Avila, we can see why. Not only do these glasses boast a light and slender persona, but they’ve also been gifted with a set of certified UV400 polarized lenses, a durable SuperLight recycled polycarbonate resin frame, and an entry-level price tag compared to the brand’s outdoor-focused flagship models. We know, these shades aren’t technically frameless –– there’s a discreet metal undergirding –– but we love the elevated style of this silhouette.

The Good

The visual appeal of the Sunski Avila is apparent from the minute you take the sunglasses out of the pouch. The tortoiseshell frame color isn’t too aggressive, drawing all the attention to the lenses themselves (there are currently 5 other colorways available as well). The rounded shape has a subtle metal base underneath but these don’t look cheap by any means. They’re also very comfortable on the face, with the lightweight lenses making it easier to wear these all day if you want. These also looked really good on my face. I opted for them as much as any other on this list.

I really liked the polarization here, which wasn’t as dark as other options. I even had to check to make sure. While the greens and blues are slightly muted, I loved how brows and reds truly popped with these. Likewise, the clarity was some of the best of the options we tested, with certain far-away details getting enhanced through the acetate.

The Not So Good

There’s not a whole lot to complain about with the Sunski Avila, and nothing that would prevent you from buying it aside from the higher price tag compared to the others on this guide. My main quibble is that the field of view of the lenses isn’t great. In fact, I can see a lot out of the sides of the rounded lenses, which could inhibit the sunglasses’ effect when driving. Nevertheless, this doesn’t affect the width of the shades on the face.

Verdict: On the higher end of this “cheap” sunglasses list, the Sunski Avila won’t be as hiking-friendly as the brand’s higher-end offerings, nor will it be great for driving with its narrow field of view, but we thought these specs looked better than almost any others here. The psudo-frameless look is a definite plus, and the lightweight, comfortable frames make these easier to wear all day long.

IZIPIZI #C

Most Stylish Sunglasses: Izipizi’s #C sunglasses are an interesting model that capitalizes on the return of vintage shapes. Designed in Paris, it adopts a classic silhouette that looks like it was pulled straight out of the ’70s, amplifying it with the inclusion of Category 3 lenses, flexible arms, a grippy, rubberized texture, and a clean aesthetic that’ll leave an impression on anyone you come in contact with. The best part? They’re lightweight, comfortable, and affordable, checking off all the boxes that we look for when we’re in the market for a pair that we can utilize without fear of loss, damage, or dismemberment.

The Good

One of the selling points of the #C is just how many colorways are available. Right now, Izipizi has a whopping 27 options in stock. We went with the crystal frames, since they felt the most unique. And we have to say, they look even better in person. The idea here is for the lenses to serve as the only “visible” part of the sunglasses; the frames themselves are completely see-through, which is a cool effect, blending a wayfarer aesthetic with a late-’90s transparency. The dual pins on either side of the lenses are a nice touch. Also, like the Kent Wangs above, these Izipizis have the flex hinges, which prevent wear on the hinges from removing them improperly over time.

Contrast-wise, the lenses give a really beautiful pop of the greens and blues, although reds and browns get slightly muted. From an outdoorsy perspective, these are some of the most favorable for color.

The Not So Good

Like several others here, the Izipizi #C is a bit narrow on the face, which was a disappointment since I was excited about wearing these around town. Nevertheless, the frames are still comfortable on the face. Also, I do wish the brand offered a polarized version to truly blackout the lenses, which would play very well against the transparent frames, but this is just a minor complaint.

Also, the lack of metal in the stems might affect the durability of the frames as a whole, although I didn’t experience any such fragility.

Verdict: Boasting nearly 30 colorways, the Izipizi #C benefits from flex hinges for larger heads and reduced wear, along with a very designer-style aesthetic. While the frames are a bit too narrow for our liking, the shades do boast a transparent effect (in the Crystal colorway) that was unlike anything else we’d seen thus far. While the suggested retail price is around $60, you can find these discounted from some sites, depending on the colorway.

CAMP Glacier Yellowstone Edition

Best Premium Cheap Sunglasses: If you have a few extra bucks to spend, you might consider looking at CAMP Eyewear, whose superb range of sunglasses not only features highly-inspired sunglasses but stylish, thoughtfully-constructed pairs as well. This unique special-edition version of the brand’s Glacier silhouette takes its inspiration from America’s first National Park, Yellowstone, and finds its theming from there. Sporting a wide profile with a retro-style bridge, the plant-based bioplastic frames are given a metal core, stainless steel hinges, and genuine wood inlays for quiet touches of style. Best of all, 5% of every purchase goes towards local park non-profits.

The Good

A lesser pair of sunglasses would’ve taken the Yellowstone inspiration and gone totally wacky with it. But not CAMP. These special-edition shades find design cues in subtle ways such as the embossed wooden inlays or the mere color of the frames, which the brand calls “Sap,” inspired by the landscape of the National Park. Also, the glasses come in a mini “sleeping bag” zippered carrying case, which is just awesome. The profile of the Glacier is the widest on this list, making this great for wider heads, bolstered even more by the flex hinges that aid with durability and longevity.

Available in two different lens types (and varying in price by $20 depending which you get), the Glacier is always polarized. We got hands-on with the “Basic Polarized” lenses, which are gradient and don’t really tint the world around you all that much, which might not be everyone’s cup of tea but certainly allows you to view nature on a more firsthand basis. In terms of comfort, the Glacier fits like a glove and never slides around on my face. But I honestly loved how these looked the most, with a sleek, style-forward aesthetic that combines sporty with casual. You’ll surely get some compliments. These probably got the most use from me over the course of my testing period.

The Not So Good

As stated, the two different lens types are polarized, although they’re not heavily polarized. Meaning, if you have sensitive eyes and assume these will cover you outdoors, you might want to look elsewhere. Also, the $89+ price tag is easily the highest on this list, with a $109 option available as well if you choose the upgraded lenses.

Verdict: While the CAMP Eyewear Glacier Yellowstone Edition are the most expensive on this list, and by a long shot, they’re worth every penny. Meticulously designed and well constructed, the sunglasses keep their National Park inspiration close to the vest and never border on kitschy, even a little bit. You might want the polarized lenses to be a bit more, um, polarized, but these specs are seriously stylish and won’t be too dark to view the world around you, all while protecting your peepers.

Cheap Sunglasses Comparison Chart

Cheap vs. Expensive Sunglasses

While low-cost eyewear was once shunned by the community due to bad taste, horrible design choices, and exceedingly questionable quality, advances in technology, material construction, and architecture have opened new doors for eyewear providers. Gone are the days when a pair of glasses in the sub-$100 range will leave you high and dry after a handful of uses. Instead, companies have found a way to durably mimic some of history’s most iconic styles, without the designer price tag.

Honorable Mentions

Blenders’ Amber Coast shades have gone up a lot in price in recent years, but we still like them a lot. However, we already had better wayfarers above. Nevertheless, these are still the brand’s best option and will appeal to some people for good reason.

Tifosi is a popular brand, as is their Swick model, but we don’t think “cheap” sunglasses should necessarily look cheap.

The Nooz Cruz is a great lightweight option and looks stylish to boot, but they might not win over some of the other comparable sunglasses in the guide above. And at nearly $70, this is on the higher end as well.

Wayfarers, admittedly, aren’t hard to come by at cheap prices but these goodr OGs are still quite popular, and come polarized as well. On the other hand, we don’t love the branding for these and always feel like they look even cheaper than they actually are.

Shield-syle single-lens glasses are super popular right now, but a lot of them can be quite pricey. We liked the Shady Rays Nitro for the adjustable nose pads, the $54 price tag, and the brand’s reliable warranty protection, which is important to have with shades of any price.

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