Best Affordable Travel Sunglasses For Men (Updated for 2023)

Sunglasses are one of those travel accessories you want to make sure you pack before traveling. As a traveler myself, I know how important it is to protect your eyes while roaming the globe. Plus I know you want to look good while doing it!

There are some special features you want to make sure your sunglasses have before traveling which I will cover in this post. It is not always easy to make the right selection for a good pair of travel sunglasses. There are so many styles and options!

One important thing to know is that you don’t need to spend a fortune. You can stay on a budget and still buy a very nice pair of sunglasses.

In this post, I will show you the best affordable travel sunglasses for men. We’ll look at all the different styles, prices and specifications of all the best travel sunglasses and see which ones are the best for you.

 

 

What To Look For With Travel Sunglasses – Must-Have Items

• Quality
• Comfort
• UV Protection
• Coverage
• Polarized

1. Quality

With quality for sunglasses, you have 2 options. Go the cheap route, get poor quality and buy more often, or pay more upfront and get decent quality that will last. The problem with the first option is you will end up paying more in the end and be frustrated with your purchase.

Let’s say you bought a $20 pair of sunglasses that were ok but they ended up breaking in the first few months, so you bought a new set twice every year for 6 years. In this case, you spent $240.

Now, let’s say you bought a really good quality pair of sunglasses for $135 and they lasted for over 6 years. That’s $135 spent total. You spent less money and spent it smartly on a high-quality item. And you only needed one pair instead of 12. Which would you prefer?

2. Comfort

Comfort is a must-have with travel sunglasses. Who wants to wear glasses that are not comfortable? There are a few things to look for here. The weight is the first thing to consider; the lighter the weight, the more comfortable they will be.

Normally, the larger the sunglass frame, the heavier they will be. If they are too heavy, this will cause slippage and be uncomfortable. It’s a nuisance to constantly be pushing your sunglasses back throughout the day.

Frame materials and styles all contribute to the flexibility, weight, and comfort of your sunglasses.

3. UV Protection

It’s proven that too much UV exposure is damaging to your eyes. UV protection is a must when considering your next pair of travel sunglasses.

According to allaboutvision.com, “Look for sunglasses that protect you from 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB light. This includes those labeled as “UV 400,” which blocks all light rays with wavelengths up to 400 nanometers. (This covers all of UVA and UVB rays.)”

Other things to look for:

• Sunglasses that screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light
• Lenses that are perfectly matched in color and free of distortions and imperfections
• Lenses that are gray for proper color recognition

4. Coverage

Coverage is something that most people don’t think about when choosing a pair of sunglasses. But it is something you need to consider and is very important.

The more area of your eye that the lens covers, the more protection your eyes will receive. Your skin area around the eye is very sensitive and can damage easily.

The larger lenses will protect your eyes from harmful UV rays that come in from the side. This will help in preventing wrinkles as you squint and frown less often.

You can also consider wraparound sunglasses as they do a great job in blocking light from the sides.

5. Polarized

Polarized sunglasses can be a lifesaver for your vision. Polarized lenses have a special chemical coating that helps eliminate or reduce glare. Glare is caused by light from the sun reflecting off water or a solid surface.

Polarized lenses filter the light that comes in from different angles and allow you to view objects clearly. This will not only protect your eyes but it will also prevent you from squinting. You will avoid eye issues like irritation and redness or even temporary blindness.

Best Overall Pick – Travel Sunglasses For Men

 

#1. Oakley Men’s Half Jacket 2.0 XL Iridium Sport Sunglasses

Features and Specifications

✅ Prescription-ready lenses that are interchangeable

✅ Flexible polycarbonate frames

✅ Lightweight and comfortable semi-rimless design

✅ 100% UV protection

✅ Lens width: 58mm

✅ Lens height: 37mm

✅ Bridge: 17mm

✅ Arm: 129mm

If you are looking for a great quality pair of travel sunglasses and you need to stick to a budget, then the Oakley Men’s Half Jacket 2.0 XL is a perfect choice.

There are many things to love about these sunglasses, including the comfortable and lightweight design and modern look and feel. A huge plus for these sunglasses is the fact that they are prescription ready and the lenses are interchangeable.

You will get perfect clarity with Oakley’s patented High Definition Optics (HDO) which is one of the best in the industry today. The lenses are also treated with a hydrophobic barrier protecting the lenses from smudges, scratches, and moisture.

 

Who should buy these sunglasses?

If you are a traveler who spends time outdoors, on the beach, or playing sports, you will appreciate these. Oakley has a long history of designing great sunglasses for athletes and outdoor adventurers.

Who should not buy these?

If you are looking for Polarized sunglasses, these are not for you. Oakley does offer these in a polarized version but they will be more expensive.

You can get the Oakley Men’s Half Jacket 2.0 XL sunglasses on Amazon.

 

 

 

Best Budget Travel Sunglasses

I mentioned earlier that you don’t need to break the bank to find a great pair of sunglasses. This is true. Most people are looking to find that happy medium between really expensive and really cheap.

Taking all the must-haves and important factors into consideration, my recommendation for a cheap pair of travel sunglasses is the Duduma Polarized Sports Sunglasses.

 

Duduma Polarized Sports Sunglasses

Features and Specifications

✅ Polarized lens – 100% UV protection

✅ Lightweight and stylish

✅ Polycarbonate lenses and frames

✅ Scratch resistant, durable and unbreakable

✅ Lifetime warranty

✅ Lens height: 40mm

✅ Lens width: 64mm

✅ Leg and frame length: 140mm

 

Who should buy these?

If you are on a budget and looking for a pair of sunglasses that meet most of the must-haves, these are for you. They are stylish, provide great eye protection and if anything happens to them, you get a lifetime warranty. These are great for all travelers, including hikers, runners, or those who just want to enjoy the outdoors.

Don’t expect these to be as high quality as some of the higher end brands like the Oakley Half Jacket mentioned earlier. It’s just not the same class of sunglasses. But overall, I still recommend these for the small price you will pay.

 

Who should not buy these?

If you are looking for high-end quality, these are not for you. I don’t mean they are really poor quality; they just don’t compare to other brands that are more expensive. I guess you get what you pay for here.

You can get the Duduma Polarized Sports Sunglasses on Amazon.

 

 

Best Budget Sunglasses For The Beach

If you plan to spend lots of time at the beach, then you want to have a pair of sunglasses that will do a great job protecting your eyes from the glare of the water and the bright sand.

You should wear sunglasses that are polarized and provide 100% UV protection.

My recommendation for the best sunglasses for men while at the beach is the Polarized Floatable Shades by KZ Gear. Yes, they float! Plus the awesome modern and stylish design will have you looking your best while enjoying that sunshine — all at a great price.

Polarized Floatable Shades by KZ Gear

Features and Specifications

✅ Very lightweight and floatable

✅ Polarized lenses – UV400 protection

✅ Crystal-clear viewing

✅ Tough and durable design, perfect for the beach

✅ Lens width: 52mm

✅ Frame width: 138mm

✅ Lifetime warranty

 

Who should buy these?

If you are traveling or going to be spending time near a beach, pool or lake, these are for you. Not only do they provide great UV and glare protection, but they float. They are also very inexpensive and are easy to carry around with you.

Who should not buy these?

If you are looking for a standard sunglasses design like Rayban or Oakley’s, then these are not for you. Most people who buy these sunglasses are looking for that real funky and cool looking design. They have an old school look to them and the lenses really stand out in a crowd.

You can get the Polarized floatable sunglasses by KZ gear on Amazon.