13 Best Sunglasses for Water Sports

Finding the right sunglasses for water sports isn’t an easy task. You need to get a pair that protects your eyes and elevates your style while performing all the actions. For surfers, the sunnies need to stay afloat on the water. That way, you don’t have to worry about losing them when there’s a big Kahuna around. For winter sports fans, jet ski sunglasses are a must. They’ll protect your eyes from debris and moisture while filtering out harmful UV rays.

You need to remember that there’s no pair of sunglasses for watersports that can be a one-size-fits-all solution. Each sport requires different specifications. Just make sure you get shades with proper sun protection, anti-glare, and tough construction. We’ve prepared an overview guide on choosing jetski sunglasses and other water sports sunglasses in this article. But before we get to that, let’s check out our list of reviews below.

Costa del Mar Diego

13

Whenever we think of sunglasses for water sports, Costa del Mar Diego always crosses our minds. Inspired by San Diego’s fishing heritage, these sunnies are packaged with plenty of excellent features, specifically crafted to make your fishing and sailing more enjoyable. In addition to the tough nylon TR-90 frames, the Diego sports a sweat and airflow management to keep your eyes cool while in the sun. If you look closely, there are cutouts at the temples for attaching a sunglasses retainer.

As with most Costa sunglasses, the Diego is available in 580-lens and polycarbonate versions. There are also a variety of colors to choose from. Pick the one that best suits your weather conditions and get ready to go on a water adventure of a lifetime!

• What We Love:
  • Sweat and airflow management, which ensures your eyes stay cool while in the sun
• Pros:
  • Better airflow
  • Available in various colors
  • Perfect for sailing
  • Sturdy
• Cons:
  • It’s a bit pricey

Smith’s Guide Choice

12

The Smith’s Guide Choice is a pair of sunglasses made specifically for sight fishing. They offer unrivaled optical quality, so you can get maximum clarity and contrast when scanning water surfaces. If you do a lot of fishing, this pair of sunnies will be perfect.

Coming with an 8-base curvature, the Smith’s Guide Choice provides an excellent wraparound fit. They feel incredibly comfortable around your eyes and provide optimal sun protection. As for its lenses, the Smith’s Guide uses ChromaPop+ for exceptional clarity, contrast, and glare reduction. These may not be the pair of jet ski sunglasses you’re looking for, but they’re definitely great for sun protection. There are 14 different lens colors available, so there’s definitely something for any type of water sport.

Before we move on to the next one on the list, check out our best Raen sunglasses for travel. They’re great when you want a premium quality pair of handmade glasses.

• What We Love:
  • Perfect for sight fishing. Offers unrivaled clarity and contrast.
• Pros:
  • Available in a variety of lens colors
  • Best optical quality
  • Wraparound design
  • Includes a retainer
• Cons:
  • It might cost you a fortune

Oakley Split Shot

11

Getting a good pair of fishing sunglasses can sometimes cost you a lot. However, you can have the perfect Oakley Split Shot for less than 250 bucks! These sunnies promise unrivaled optical quality. All thanks to Oakley’s new Prizm Maritime lenses. Other than that, the wraparound design is incredibly comfortable. They feel so light over your head that you might even forget you’re wearing sunglasses after a while!

Depending on which color combination you choose, you can get these sunglasses for water sports for an absolute bargain. They’re also great when you want something a little eccentric for your eyes. That’s because you can customize each aspect of these sunglasses to suit your taste! Head over to the official Oakley website to find more details on this subject.

• What We Love:
  • Unbelievably comfortable wraparound design. Boasts Prizm Maritime lenses for unmatched clarity.
• Pros:
  • Available at a bargain price
  • Made in the US
  • Lightweight
  • Retainers included
• Cons:
  • The custom version is more expensive

Maui Jim Onshore

10

Sunglasses work differently for every face shape. Shades for round faces may not be suitable for square faces and so on. So what if we told you that a pair of sunglasses for water sports looks great on every face type? Wouldn’t that be awesome? Well, introducing the Maui Jim Onshore, an amazingly versatile sunnies for almost anyone!

These sunglasses come with classic Wayfarer frames. They’re comfortable to wear for long periods of time, largely due to their lightweight. The quality of the lenses also deserves praise. They’re made using the latest performance technology to ensure maximum clarity and contrast while on the water. Available in four different frames and lens colors, the Maui Jim Onshore would make a great alternative to jetski sunglasses. They look nice and reduce glare well.

• What We Love:
  • Looks great on almost anyone. Boasts the Wayfarer’s lightweight frames.
• Pros:
  • Great optical quality
  • Suitable for all face shapes
  • Reduce glare
  • Quality lenses
• Cons:
  • Only comes in four colors

KastKing Hiwassee

9

Need a new pair of sunglasses for water sports but don’t want to dig deep into your pocket? KastKing Hiwassee would make a remarkable choice. These fishing shades can be yours for a bargain price. They’re made from Grilamid, a tough material that’s virtually unbreakable and ultra-light. Perfect for intense activities while on the water.

With its wraparound design, KastKing Hiwassee is an affordable alternative that’s not to be missed. Plus, they’re available in a variety of lens and frame color combinations. And as if that weren’t enough, KastKing added rubber on the ends of the arms of the sunglasses. So when your sunnies get wet, they won’t slide off your head easily.

• What We Love:
  • Made from Grilamid, a tough material that is virtually indestructible
• Pros:
  • Affordable
  • Tough
  • Many color variations
  • Lightweight
• Cons:
  • Not as clear as other similar products

Costa del Mar Blackfin

8

If coverage means everything to you, then you really can’t go wrong with the Costa del Mar Blackfin Pro. These sunglasses come with extra-wide frames and side shields to keep the sun’s rays away from your eyes. It’s not surprising that these glasses are quite popular among professional anglers.

As you would expect from Costa sunglasses, the Blackfin Pro comes with tons of awesome features. There are sweat management ducts, rubber nose pads, and cutouts for retainers in the arms. Apart from that, these sunglasses are also lightweight. They don’t hurt your skin at all and feel natural to wear. If you can’t get your hands on jet ski sunglasses, the Blackfin Pro will make an awesome substitution.

• What We Love:
  • Provides great coverage. Comes with extra-wide frames and side shields to keep the sun’s rays away from your eyes.
• Pros:
  • Great coverage
  • Comfortable to wear
  • Lightweight
  • Sweat management
• Cons:
  • There’s not much choice of frame and lens color

Ray-Ban Clubmaster

7

Known for its iconic 1950s style, the Ray-Ban Clubmasters remain one of the most popular sunglasses among watersports enthusiasts to this day. They never seem to go out of style and are highly functional. You can head over to their product page on Amazon and find literally thousands of customers who say Clubmasters are tough sunglasses. They’re great for tough environments and varied outdoor adventures.

Just like most Ray-Ban sunglasses, Clubmasters offers dozens of possible lens and frame color combinations to suit your taste. And in case you want to look super-cool, we recommend going with gradient lenses. They have the darkest part on the top side and continue to fade all the way down, which allows you to get the best visibility at the level of your boat or kayak. In short, if you’re in the market for sunglasses for water sports, Clubmasters is definitely worth considering.

While you’re here, why don’t you take a little time to take a look at our best flip sunglasses for travel? Not only are they fashionable, but these sunglasses can also protect your eyes from UVA and UVB rays.

• What We Love:
  • Offers dozens of possible color combinations and frames to suit your taste
• Pros:
  • Acetate frames
  • Glass lens
  • Polarized
  • UV protection coating
• Cons:
  • It’s a bit expensive

Oakley Gascan

6

Since its founding in 1975, Oakley has become a legend in the sunglasses for watersports and jet ski sunglasses industry. Boasting Prizm’s patented lenses, Oakley sunglasses are built for outdoor activities. They provide better visibility and complete protection against UV rays.

Oakley Gascan also comes with excellent after-sales service. Included with each purchase are a microfiber bag and a cleaning cloth. Shipping is free, and in case you run into trouble, you can send the sunglasses back at no extra cost. Want to save even more? Become an Oakley MVP and get up to 50 percent off a new pair of sunglasses if you break your old one!

• What We Love:
  • Made for outdoor activities. Provides better visibility and complete protection against UV rays.
• Pros:
  • Polarized
  • UV protection
  • Lightweight frames
  • Prizm lens technology
• Cons:
  • It cost you more than 150 bucks

SeaSpecs Classic

5

If you have a great passion for diving or swimming, the SeaSpecs Classic will be one of the best items you’ll ever own. Seriously, these sunglasses will make you feel like Christmas is coming early! When they first started the business, SeaSpecs only focused their efforts and energy on making regular glasses. But now, they have a wide range of categories, which include cycling, fishing, and lifestyle.

SeaSpecs Classic will be great for any water-based activity. All thanks to the one-handed adjustable strap, which keeps the sunglasses in place, no matter how intense your activity. Apart from that, they offer everything you could possibly imagine from a pair of sunglasses for water sports. That includes lightweight frames, polarized lenses, and complete UV protection. And most importantly, these sunglasses float! So in case you accidentally drop them in the water, you can easily get them back.

• What We Love:
  • Features a one-handed adjustable strap, which keeps the sunglasses in place, no matter how intense your activity is
• Pros:
  • Specifically designed for watersports
  • Polarized lenses
  • Plastic frames
  • UV coating
• Cons:
  • The lenses are a little loose

Smith Lowdown 2

4

As the name suggests, Smith Lowdown 2 is an upgraded version of the older model. It still has that classic vibe you know and love, but with a couple of interesting extra features. The lenses use ChromaPop, which gives you a more natural view of the scene while doing a good job of protecting your eyes from UV rays.

Another fantastic thing about the Smith Lowdown 2 is its hydroleophobic coating. They’re basically special coatings over the surface of the lenses, which make it nearly impossible for moisture or water to penetrate your glasses. This feature also ensures that you can easily clean off your sunnies in case there are smudges or anything like that. If you can’t get your hands on jet ski sunglasses, Lowdown 2 will do a great job of keeping the glare out of your eyes. They’re available in varied colors and come with a lifetime limited warranty.

• What We Love:
  • Using ChromaPop lenses, which promise a more natural view of the landscape
• Pros:
  • Anti-reflective coating
  • Hydroleophobic
  • Non-polarized
  • Plastic frames
• Cons:
  • We’re still working on that!

Toms Wayfarer Sunglasses

3

Some of you may know Toms as a shoe manufacturer. But you know what? They’re actually also one of the best manufacturers of sunglasses for water sports around. The design of Toms Dalston Wayfarer Sunglasses is inspired by the Italian style. They’re made to cope with a wide variety of harsh conditions and weather. The secret lies in the Solaflex construction, a rubberized material that’s claimed to be able to withstand various wear and tear.

Whether you’re a canoeist, cyclist, or swimmer, the Toms Dalston Wayfarer is highly recommended. These sunglasses are tough and built to last. They have high-impact resistant lenses, are lightweight, and have 100 percent UVA/UVB protection. If you have no idea which sunglasses to get, the Toms Dalston Wayfarer will be awesome.

Want to elevate your look but don’t plan on spending a lot? Then our list of best aviator sunglasses for cheap is for you! Get yourself a cool celebrity look for just a few tens of bucks.

• What We Love:
  • Inspired by Italian style, made to cope with various conditions and harsh weather
• Pros:
  • Plastic frames
  • Plastic lenses
  • Non-polarized
  • UV protection
• Cons:
  • It doesn’t get many reviews

KastKing Toccia

2

KastKing is a brand that focuses on sunglasses for water sports, including fly fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. The Toccia series you’re looking at right now is equipped with Grilamid frames, a tough material that’s virtually indestructible. Apart from that, there are also impact-resistant lenses and anti-slip nose pads.

Made with polarizing technology, KastKing Toccia lenses are guaranteed to block 100 percent of harmful UV rays. They’re crafted according to U.S. ANSI standards for eye protection. And in case you run into some issues, KastKing offers a full-year limited warranty. Apart from that, shipping is free and includes a storage case.

• What We Love:
  • Crafted from Grilamid, a tough material that’s nearly indestructible. Comes with a free storage case.
• Pros:
  • Superior German and Japanese raw materials
  • Polarized
  • Impact resistant TAC lenses
  • Grilamid material
• Cons:
  • The coloring is said to faid easily

Typhoon Cayucos

1

Instead of sunglasses, Typhoon prefers to call their products ‘watershades’. That’s because their goggles are specifically made to deal with intense waters, no matter what type of activity you’re doing. If you head over to their product page, you’ll literally see dozens of great photos showing people enjoying their water sports while wearing these shades.

Typhoon Cayucos is often dubbed as the Swiss knife of sunglasses. They’re tough, sturdy, and built to last. These shades feature an adjustable band, a safety leash, and ventilated lenses to reduce fogging. To make sure you don’t lose your precious sunnies in the middle of all the action, Typhoon includes a silicone retainer. In short, these are great sunglasses for water sports. Heck, you might be able to conquer the world with these shades if you want!

• What We Love:
  • Specifically designed for water sports. It features some awesome features, including an adjustable band, a safety leash, and a silicone retainer.
• Pros:
  • Plastic frames
  • UV protection coating
  • Black camo frost style
  • Sturdy hinges
• Cons:
  • It costs you a lot

How to Choose Best Sunglasses for Water Sports

Whenever you decide to ride a surfboard, kayaking down a river, or sail across the ocean, eye protection should be one of your main concerns. However, a normal pair of sunglasses won’t do the trick. You need sunglasses for water sports that can help you see better in the sun while protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays.

Below are the three most important things to consider when you decide to buy a pair of jetski sunglasses or any water sports sunglasses. Keep reading to find a more detailed explanation.

Lenses

The surface of the water is highly reflective. That’s why the sun will feel more intense when you’re above it. Therefore, get yourself a pair of sunglasses for water sports that allow you to perform various actions without being distracted by glare. See if they’re equipped with category 3 or 4 lenses, which are highly recommended for water sports because of their ability to reduce sun intensity and total UV protection.

Design

Whether it’s a pair of jet ski sunglasses or other water sports sunglasses, they shouldn’t let any sunlight and glare get into your eyes. Therefore, get a pair of glasses with a wraparound design. Leave no room for reflected light and UV rays. See if the sunglasses have a curved shape that fits your head. Also, make sure that the arms are wide enough to prevent sunlight from entering from the sides.

Speaking of sunglasses, check out our list of the best round sunglasses for women? They never seem to go out of style and will be perfect for your next vacation!

Buoyancy

When you’re surfing or kayaking, it’s normal to have your sunglasses fall into the water, especially considering the fact that you’re constantly moving around. This is where a pair of floating sunglasses for water sports come into play. Made with a specific material, these sunnies will stay afloat when you accidentally drop them.

What Sunglasses are Best for Water?

Polarized sunglasses are still considered the best for anything involving water. They can reduce the intensity of light, allowing you to get better vision. Thus, you’ll be able to see clearly when fishing or swimming.

Are Polarized Sunglasses Waterproof?

Basically, water won’t damage sunglasses. It might affect them, but only if you sink them for a long period of time. So, it would be a good idea for you to quickly wipe your sunglasses clean when they get wet.

While we’re on the topic of sunglasses, why don’t you check out our best square sunglasses for travel? They offer the best coverage and look great on people with narrow jawlines!

Do You Need Polarized Sunglasses for Sports?

Yes, they are basically essential. Glare and light reflections will most likely affect your performance. But with polarized sunglasses, you will be able to see better. That way, you can make your fishing or kayaking more enjoyable.