Best Men's Beach Sunglasses (Top-Rated Frames for Under $100)

Summer starts June 21, so get ready for that glorious time on the beach. Whether you love to soak up the sun on your towel and finally get your tan back or hop in the water to get your workout, you need to protect your eyes.

A pair of sunglasses both elevates your outfit and ensures that you’re preventing long-term eye damage from UV rays. But not all sunglasses are made the same. Oftentimes, brand name sunglasses price gouge so that you’re paying a 1000% markup. 

Buying from smaller, independent brands means that you’re getting the same great product for much less money. So, we’ve rounded up the best men’s beach sunglasses (under $100) and explained important things you need to know to pick your perfect pair for a day of fun in the surf and sand. 

Sunglass Lenses Perfect for the Beach

When choosing men’s sunglasses perfect for the beach, you need to pick the best lenses. UV rays are out in full force on a sunny beach day, so you need to pick a pair with UV protection. 

But if you’re out playing frisbee on the sand, you may want a pair of polarized glasses that reduces glare so you can make that running catch. And if you can’t stand how sunny the beach is, you may want to tone down the brightness with mirrored lenses.

Protect Your Eyes from Harmful Rays with Sunglasses 

No matter what design of sunglasses you pick, you absolutely must choose one that offers 100% UVA/UVB protection or is rated 400UV. Both of these qualifications mean that they block harmful UV rays from hitting your eyes.

UV rays are a short wavelength and type of electromagnetic radiation from the sun. Excessive eye exposure to UV rays over time damages your eyes later in life. You can develop macular degeneration, vision loss, cataracts, and even cancer.

The most important element in any lenses for the beach is that they have complete UV protection. If the pair you’re looking at doesn’t specify this, then don’t assume it has it. Always choose a pair of sunglasses that proves it contains UV protection through the label or the product description on the manufacturer’s website.

A pair of square sunglasses with UV protection often cover your whole eye, making them a great choice for a day at the beach.

Use Sunglasses to Alleviate Glare and Enhance Clarity

Another common eye problem at the beach is excessive glare. The sun shines brightly off the ocean, and looking at it for long periods also causes vision damage. To protect your eyes from glare and help you see more clearly, purchase a pair of affordable polarized sunglasses. 

When your eyes look at the glare, there’s too much horizontal light entering your eyes which causes that overwhelming brightness. Polarized lenses block the intense horizontal light, so only the calmer vertical light comes through. This alleviates glare so you can see clearer at the beach, which is especially important when playing volleyball with friends.

However, always check that your polarized lenses also have 100% UVA/UVB protection, since some don’t include that. 

Sunglasses Can Reduce Brightness and Increase Style

Good mirrored sunglasses add a cool pop of color to match beachy vibes. Aside from their ability to elevate every outfit, mirrored lens sunglasses also reduce brightness and glare. 

Mirrored lenses are often seen in snowboard or ski sunglasses because they reduce the glare seen off the snow, even in low-light conditions. This makes them a good choice for the beach if you live somewhere that tends to be cloudy, like the Pacific Northwest.

How to Pick Sunglasses for the Beach

When choosing men's sunglasses for the beach, think about the lens color, the lens quality, and the frame material. 

Pick the Right Lens Color for Your Sunglasses

Green stands out as the best lens color for the beach. Green provides excellent contrast and shows colors in any light environment. Whether it’s a cloudy day or a sunny day, you’ll see things clearly in a pair of sunglasses with green lenses.

Other great lens colors that have been tested for the beach include blue sunglasses for increased colors, yellow lenses for low-light conditions, and brown/amber lenses if you want to assess distance and depth well. 

Choose Sunglasses with Great Lens Quality 

With lens quality, make sure the lenses offer 100% UVA/UVB protected or block rays up to 400nm in length. Polarized lenses or mirrored lenses are great for blocking glare, but you must check that they also offer 100% UVA/UVB protection.

When it comes to materials, avoid glass lenses. While they have some pros, they have too many cons to be considered the best beach sunglasses. That's why you should look for lenses made out of Tri-Acetate Cellulose, Polycarbonate, or Polyurethane, which are high quality and more scratch resistant. You can also find sunglasses that offer scratch-resistant coatings to protect the lenses from drops on the sand. 

Find Sunglasses Made From Good Frame Materials

Great design is important for on-trend shades, but the best sunglasses frames need top-of-the-line materials. The most durable frame materials for sunglasses are stainless steel or Grade AAA Acetate. These both offer some give without breaking, yet stay sturdy on your head. Which means your shades will be resistant from harmful elements and drops, making them the perfect travel sunglasses for all destinations. 

Top Beach Sunglass Styles for Men

The best style for you depends on what you want to say about your fashion sense. Before you travel on your next vacation, review these top beach sunglass styles for men. They’re so affordable, you could purchase all three pairs!

Modern Classic Aviator Shades

For a modern take on classic aviator shades, you can’t go wrong with Emerson. These affordable frames cost under $40 and feature a sleek acetate body with the classic keyhole nose bridge you know so well from the classic double-bridge frame. With six color options and 100% UVA/UVB-protected polarized lenses, you’ll look cool all summer long.

If you’re interested in affordable unique takes on the aviator, check out WMP Eyewear’s entire collection of classic to modern aviator sunglasses that look fantastic on both men and women. 

Sporty Wraparound Sunglasses Frames

For a game at the beach, you need a pair of wraparound sunglasses that won’t slide off when running, like the Suncloud Milestone Polarized Sunglasses. These sunglasses feature Hydrophilic Megol® nose pads which REI recommends in order to keep the sunglasses in place, even when you sweat.

At $55 full price, you can buy these classics for when you’re active and a more trendy pair for when you’re relaxing.

Retro-Inspired Round Eyewear

If you want to bring it back to the 60s on the beach, then check out a round pair of shades like Tate. These polarized sunglasses have round lenses with cool acetate frames, making them the best men's style to wear all-year-round. At only $39 and with five color combinations available, you can snag a pair of travel sunglasses to match every set of swim trunks in your wardrobe (and they're even great for women). 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Wear Polarized Sunglasses in the Ocean?

You can wear polarized sunglasses in the ocean but the salt water will damage the lenses faster over time. This is why it’s great to buy a budget pair of sunglasses. You can keep your eyes safe while swimming but won’t be so worried about keeping your sunglasses in pristine condition.

If you want to wear sunglasses while swimming, opt for a wraparound pair that will secure the frames to your face better, or wear a strap (like this one from Amazon) to hold your sunglasses tight to your head.

Which Sunglasses Are Best in Sunlight?

The best sunglasses for sunlight are polarized lenses that offer 100% UVA/UVB protection. The polarized lenses will reduce glare in sunny conditions, and the UVA/UVB protection stops harmful rays from causing long-term damage to your eyes.

Which Color Sunglasses Are Best for the Beach?

Sunglasses with green lenses are the best for the beach because they offer visual clarity and great color contrast on both cloudy and sunny days, making them the perfect fit for all kinds of destinations. However, other colors work well depending on what you need from the sunglasses. 

Yellow lenses work great in low-light conditions, perfect for people who live near a beach that’s often overcast. Blue lenses calm your eyes and help you see colors more clearly. Brown or amber lenses improve the ability to judge distances, making them great for driving to the beach or for catching a frisbee on the sand.