The Best Fishing Sunglasses of 2025

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 competitive angler based in northern California. Aaron spends most weekends casting into promising pockets of California’s best bass lakes. In addition to his expertise on the water, Aaron is a self-described gear nut who never stops tinkering with his trolling rig and accessories.

In addition to our hunt and fish editor, Rachelle Schrute, contributor Conni Mahoney and her husband, John, both avid fishermen, round out the testing team, bringing decades of experience and knowledge. After testing dozens of sunglasses, this list contains the tried-and-true standouts.

Editor’s Note: We updated this buyer’s guide on March 17, 2025, adding the Costa Del Mar Grand Catalina as the best retro fishing sunglasses.

The Best Fishing Sunglasses of 2025

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 Schrute and Aaron King — an experienced competitive sport fisherman based in California. In 2024, John and Conni Mahoney began contributing to this guide. John has been fishing since he was tiny in Montana and has worked in and guided through fly-fishing shops in Bozeman, Mont., and Crested Butte, Colo.

When he met his wife, Connie, in Montana, he introduced her to his love of fly fishing, and together, they have fished through Montana down to the famed waters of the Gunnison Valley, where they have settled. Across the board, they know fishing and the gear. They are backcountry fishermen, always hiking, climbing up and down banks, and in all the weather. This means they understand the value of quality sunglasses and all gear.

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 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. To help you find the best fishing sunglasses for your unique needs, we’ve included a buyer’s guide, a frequently asked questions section, and a comparison chart.

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 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 Bajío 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.

Becoming more popular are prescription options for sunglasses. Maui Jim Alenuihaha is our favorite for readers as they use a unique bifocal element that is nearly undetectable to see from the outside.

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 and the Costa Del Mar Grand Catalina. 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 like the ones featured in the Smith Redding 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 Bajío 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. The Smith Redding glasses were some of the most comfortable and best-fitting of all the options we tested. 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.

The Costa Del Mar selection (Costa Del Mar Lido, Costa Del Mar King Tide Frames, Costa Del Mar Taxman, Costa Waterwoman 2, and Costa Del Mar Grand Catalina) uses bio-based material to make their frames.

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. Goodr Sunglasses are not necessarily the most durable sunglasses, but they do have an amazing warrenty for how affordable they are!

Pro 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.

Price and Value

Are you the person that has always jumped for the cheapest gas station shades they can find? If so, you may not really understand what a higher quality pair of shades will bring you.

Even the cheapest fishing sunglasses should have some basic required features. But if you spend a lot of time on the water or sight fish regularly, it may be worth upgrading to an option that packs more features.

Budget

Budget sunglasses cost between $15 and $30. With that budget, you can get a set of shades with basic polarization. When shopping for budget fishing glasses, be sure to verify that they are polarized. Polarization cuts glare on the surface of the water and allows you to see what’s happening under the surface. It is very common for lower-priced sunglasses not to be polarized.

Our favorites at the budget price are Goodr sunglasses. They offer a modern, good-looking frame with polarized lenses and a fantastic warranty.

When you shop for budget sunglasses, you’re giving up the optical clarity you get with better lenses. You may notice distortion around the sides of the lenses where they enter the frame. They are often very basic, may not be as comfortable on your face, and may not come in a variety of lens color options.

Mid-Tier

Mid-tier sunglasses cost between $50 and $190. There are fewer options in this range than in the budget or premium range, but glasses like the Wiley X P-17 do offer some upgrades over budget lenses.

These glasses will have a better-designed, more well-thought-out frame. The Wiley X is one of our favorites because the frame curves around your face, blocking light from getting into the sides of the sunglasses.

You’ll also get more lens color options, and the obvious lens distortion will disappear when upgrading to middle-of-the-road sunglasses. However, you still won’t have the clearest lens or a lens with unique technology like the Smith Chromapop.

Premium

These are the shades you get when you want to find the perfect pair of sunglasses. Brands like Costa Del Mar, Smith Optics, and Bajio live in this category. All of these companies specialize in making high-quality sunglasses that range from $200 to $360.

In this category, you will find the best lenses on the market, like the Smith Chromapop lens, which can be found on Smith’s Guides Choice. This lens is ultra clear and makes colors pop more, which is very helpful for picking up fish movement while sight fishing.

Often, sunglasses in this range will have different size options, allowing you to get the perfect fit for your face. They’ll usually have an adjustable nosepiece, and some, like the Costa Del Mar King Tide, have removable side plates that you can use to eliminate all glare while on the water.

Premium sunglasses also offer the greatest selection of lens colors and options. Cheaper models may have only one or two lens options, but premium sunglasses often have 5-10 lens color options, both mirrored and non-mirrored. You can often also get prescription lenses in premium sunglasses.

Frequently Asked Questions