If there’s one essential you’ll always need on your travels, it’s sunglasses. Exploring the world involves discovering the outdoors and trying adventurous activities, so as a result, researchers strongly link eye disease and international travel.
Sunglasses can filter out the sun’s UV rays and shield the eyes from dirt and debris, helping prevent injuries and infections so you can enjoy as many new experiences as possible. They can work indoors, too: by blocking sunlight, sunglasses can help you control light exposure so you can easily recover from jet lag after a long-haul flight.
That said, not all sunglasses are created equal—so how exactly can you find the perfect pair for your travels? Try this quick buying guide to get started:
Check the label
Whether you’re mountaineering, skiing, or hitting the beach, you’ll be exposed to high levels of UV radiation that studies link not just to age-related blinding conditions like cataracts, but also to UV keratitis. Also known as “snow blindness,” this condition can cause pain, excessive tearing, and even temporary vision loss—which is why you want to get travel sunglasses that can prevent it. To start with, the pair you’re looking at should be labeled “100% protection against both UVA and UVB” or “UV 400.”
That will ensure sufficient UV protection to slow how quickly the eyes age. To protect against UV keratitis, you’ll also want to check for polarization. Sunglasses labeled as being polarized use special lens filters to block glare, which is the root cause of snow blindness.
Fit your frames
The perfect travel sunglasses should fit comfortably. Frames that are too tight can add pressure to your temples, causing headaches, and those that are too loose can easily fall off both during intense activities like cycling and simpler ones like enjoying a beach day. Either way, a pair that doesn’t suit you perfectly can significantly impact your travel experiences, so it’s vital to fit your sunglasses in-store before buying them.
You can do this online, too. Target Optical has a virtual tool designed to help users try on glasses online. It takes your unique face measurements with your device camera, then uses augmented reality (AR) to accurately show how different sunglasses frames will look on you. That can help you better estimate the best fit for your needs, even if you’re buying your travel sunglasses remotely.
Add your prescription
If you need vision correction, you may be among the third of glasses and contact lens-wearing Americans who find that eyewear spoils vacation quality because they can’t go for more than a day without it. To remedy this, 24% of them buy prescription sunglasses, so you may want to do the same. You can add your updated prescription to virtually any pair of sunglasses, including those at optical stores.
If you’re shopping online, simply go to the product page of your chosen model and add the necessary strength per lens. From here, you need to input your pupillary distance. This ensures additional visual comfort and correction by centering your prescription in each lens depending on where your pupils sit.
If your optometrist didn’t include this measurement in your prescription, you can use Banuba’s camera-to-face distance tool to measure pupillary distance remotely. It similarly uses AR to generate accurate results, which you can then use to buy effective prescription sunglasses.
Get travel-friendly features
Getting travel sunglasses with flexible nylon frames and shatter-proof polycarbonate lenses can definitely help them withstand even the most adventurous itineraries, but why stop there? Lots of eyewear brands offer sunglasses with dedicated travel-friendly features, so browse your options and see which ones will be especially useful for the kind of vacation you like.
Do you prefer traveling light? Maui Jim recently released the Lelepau foldable sunglasses collection, which boasts models that will perfectly fit in your carry-on. Despite their portability, however, these pairs don’t compromise on quality: they still come with polarized lenses and rubber nose pads for a secure yet comfortable fit.
Are you looking forward to hitting the beach or trying water activities ranging from kayaking to jet skiing? Kraywoods sells floating sunglasses that you can easily find, even after you drop them in the water. Models like the Magnolia can accommodate prescriptions and are even sweat- and water-resistant, ensuring they won’t easily slip off your face, either.
About the Author: Ruben, co-founder of Gamintraveler.com since 2014, is a seasoned traveler from Spain who has explored over 100 countries since 2009. Known for his extensive travel adventures across South America, Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Africa, Ruben combines his passion for adventurous yet sustainable living with his love for cycling, highlighted by his remarkable 5-month bicycle journey from Spain to Norway. He currently resides in Spain, where he continues sharing his travel experiences with his partner, Rachel, and their son, Han.