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We all love a good pool, lake, beach day, whether you're paddling out, diving in, or just coasting in a flamingo floatie. Before you jump in, sunscreen is a must because one thing’s for sure: the sun doesn’t take breaks. But it doesn’t stop at your skin, what about your eyes?!
The only thing standing between you and the cool, crisp water is a bad sunburn and a missing pair of sunglasses. While sunburns on your skin are easy to spot and feel (OUCH!), did you know your eyes can also be susceptible to UV damage?! Just like your skin, your eyeballs can suffer from overexposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Photokeratitis is a leading condition with symptoms including eye pain, redness, and blurry vision. While it doesn’t lead to blindness, it can seriously damage your vision, making you more vulnerable to long-term UV sensitivity. And, boy, does that ruin your fun under the sun.
That’s why choosing the right sunglasses for your water sport isn’t just smart, it’s essential. Perform at your peak ability, or have fun wiping out in style with the right eyewear. That means UV protection, quality lenses, and properly fitted frames. Engaging in water sports exposes your eyes to intense sunlight, reflective glare, and challenging conditions.
Whether you're navigating rapids, catching waves, or sailing open waters, the right sunglasses are crucial for protection and performance. This comprehensive guide delves into the best sunglasses for water sports, ensuring you make the best decision for your aquatic endeavors!
When selecting sunglasses for water activities, prioritize the following features so you can pick the shades that best fit your needs:
Essential for reducing glare from water surfaces, enhancing visual clarity, and reducing eye strain. Yes, water surfaces can impair your vision, even cause temporary blindness because of light bouncing off the surface which can throw you off your game. The only glare you should receive is from your frenemies after breaking a new PR. Prevent squint and potential eye damage with all polarized lenses.
This feature blocks 100% of UVA and UVB rays, safeguarding your eyes from harmful radiation. UV light is invisible to the eye, so going out into the open water without the proper UV protection can seem harmless, but this can cause major problems like pterygium (Surfer’s Eye) or cataracts. Thankfully, all goodr sunglasses have this level of protection.
Hydrophobic (water repelling) and oleophobic (oil repelling) coating help reduce the need for frequent lens cleaning. Chances are water will splish and splash all over you, and your skin will produce sweat and oil. Minimize your cleaning routine and keep your vision clear during activities.
Materials like TR90 or rubberized grips ensure the sunglasses stay in place during movement and wet conditions. Keep your hands on your fishing poles and paddles and away from falling frames.
Ensures comfort during prolonged use and resilience against impacts. The last thing you want is a pair of heavy and clunky frames to weigh down your performance on the water. Lightweight frames ensure you glide through your sport with ease. But lightweight does not mean flimsy–make sure your sunglasses are also made of durable materials so they can handle your water-filled adventures!
Prevent fogging by allowing airflow between the lenses and your face. Some sunglasses come with pre-made ventilation holes, or anti-fog coating so you can keep your vision pristine! A properly fitted pair of sunglasses can also reduce foggy lenses. Use one of our handy, dandy sunglasses size guides if you’re unsure about your size!
Whether you’re a recreational fisherman or a sportfishing champ, you're spending a fair amount of time staring at water. And chances are, that water is reflecting light back into your eyes making it harder to see your catch of the day! The proper lenses cut water glare so you can reel in that lunker and earn those bragging rights.
The best sunglasses for you Codfathers should offer enhanced contrast in varying light–think amber, copper, or green mirror lenses. Frames matter, too. The more coverage you have, the better for seeing what’s lurking beneath the surface. Take wraparound frames, they help reduce sunlight from entering through the sides, and are less likely to fall off when casting or reeling.
Stoked to hit the waves? Don’t forget your hydrophobic lenses!!! Since you're dealing with saltwater all day, saltwater-resistant tech should be a priority, so your shades can catch as many waves as you. We see you out there shreddin’ and hangin’ ten like a pro, but even the best surfers take a few wipeouts. That’s just part of the right, right?! Make sure your sunglasses don’t go on their own solo surf session when you bail with a secure strap.
Balance is everything, and a lightweight pair of sunglasses can give you sun protection and won’t mess up your stability during a drop. And don’t overlook ventilation! Foggy lenses mid-wave? Total kook move. You don’t want your shades fogging up right when your buddy’s dropping into a mack wave. They’ll need a witness when it’s time to brag over post-surf drinks, so don’t leave ’em high and dry just because you didn’t have the right eyewear.
When you’re out on the water, the sun’s coming at you from all angles–overhead and bouncing off the waves below. You name it. It’s like a full-blown light show for your eyeballs, but not a fun one when you’re squinting and potentially frying your peepers. That’s where polarized lenses come in clutch, cutting down on the sheer amount of glare you’re receiving, so you can keep your eyes on the horizon (and enjoy the ride way longer).
goodr’s anti-slip temple grips design are absolute deck heroes when it comes to staying on your face while cruising straight or turning hard. The last thing you’d want is your sunglasses going overboard because of slippage. And the real navigators out there, don’t skip the high-contract lenses, because squinting your way across the water is a total vibe killer.
When harnessing the power of the wind during your sails, you are often fully in the glare of the sun. Blue mirror lenses can combat that offshore brightness. Non-corrosive hinges along with salt water-repelling hydrophobic coating allow you to not worry about spray hitting your face as your sunglasses won’t deteriorate due to it. Anti-reflective inner lenses can be a benefit, as they reduce the intensity of the sunlight beams coming from behind you. You need to focus on charting and headwind. We can take care of the sunglasses part of the voyage skipper. Set the mainsail and away we go!
We bet you’ve had the unenviable experience of having sunglasses that wouldn’t sit still while you were rowing. Annoying, right? Well, goodr has some great lightweight frames that won’t bounce around, staying firmly in place during high-intensity strokes. Our snug fit, non-slip temples, and nose pads help reduce bouncing. It can get pretty steamy in the boat during high-exertion sessions and cool during dawnie sessions. Get sunglasses with fog-resistant ventilation so those factors don’t affect your ability to power 10 or fulfill any other commands from your coxswain.
No matter the sport, all-around polarization is the first thing to consider when choosing sunglasses. They have multi-use functionality as they can improve your visibility for different water conditions. Whatever the activity, there’s always the potential to be submerged in water, ease your worries, and get floating frames to avoid sacrificing your newest sunnies to Poseidon. Light conditions change during the course of a day and throughout the seasons, and versatile lens colors (black or brown) will be adaptable to the different circumstances. All of these are great considerations as you narrow in on your sunglasses of choice and dive into your water sport.
While paddling in a lake you are often hit by wind and splashes of water; a full-wrap design prevents this from having any effect on your eye coverage. Rubberized grips will keep sunglasses secure from launch to landing and for Class I Rapid to Class II Rapid. Along with the occasional splash of water, there’s often the possibility of capsizing overboard. Choose water-repellent coatings so that you can maintain vision in the kayak or out of it. It might be the difference between swimming to shore and being able to self-rescue.
While you are considering going pro, here are some pointers on the best pair of sunglasses to wear while SUPing. A secure fit is a principal consideration–you want sunglasses that can withstand all sorts of wind conditions and any tumbles you might take. Polarized lenses help with clarity so that your vision can adapt between shaded and bright open waters. SUP is an intense sport meaning lots of sweat. (goodr sunglasses laugh in the face of sweat, btw.) A pair of sunglasses that have sweat and water resistance would be ideal so you’re not dealing with slippery sunglasses on long paddle expeditions.
Polarized lenses are often known by another name—anti-glare. As the name suggests, they help cut down on the harsh sun glare reflected off the water. You don’t want to be blinded by the light mid-sports play or while paddling along. It’ll make everything a lot harder when your visibility is low. Polarized sunglasses reduce those glares and help reduce eye strain, so you can stay outside longer doing the activities you love.
It's a good idea to wash them when they visibly look or feel grungy, and regularly to keep ‘em lookin’ squeaky clean. Here are the steps we recommend you take when cleaning:
We don’t advise it. Not all regular sunglasses offer sun protection or the special features that water sports sunglasses offer. Water sports sunglasses are optimized to be compatible with any activity you might be getting up to on any given day of the week. Better to have sunglasses that work with you to deliver better performance than a pair that’s not really fitted to your activities.
When you’re boating, you’re constantly on the move, and it’s incredibly easy to lose your sunglasses at sea. A little guppy told us aquatic life isn’t too keen on returning lost items, so your chances of seeing those sunnies again are nil. That’s where no-slip sunglasses come in. They stay put and give you reliable sun protection thanks to polarized lenses. Whether it’s sunlight reflecting off the waves or bouncing off bright white sails, you're getting hit from every angle. Polarization cuts down on all that glare, helping you see clearly and improving your optical depth perception, so you can keep your focus where it belongs: on the adventure.
Whether you're paddling intensely or taking a tranquil ride through quiet streams, you need UV protection from the sun. When it comes to choosing a pair of sunglasses for kayaking, you should be looking for ones that provide full UV 400 protection, blocking those UVA and UVB rays from your peepers. Other features that are a must are wraparound sunglasses toso protect your peripherals and to keep your vision clear through splashes. Grips that are rubberized so they can stay secure are also a useful feature to make sure you don’t lose your sunglasses during some choppy waters.
Polarized, polarized, polarized - we cannot recommend these lenses enough. They are the best lenses to counteract the sun glare. Oleophobic sunglasses materials keep your glasses water resistant, so a splash or two won’t affect your paddling. Wraparound sunglasses are advisable too, since they give the full range of eye protection, no matter what part of the day you’re paddling during. Even in cloudy conditions, it's still very important to always wear eye protection. While the sun may not be visible, there are always UV rays outside, so it is always good to wear a pair of sunglasses when outside.
THE SUNNIES THAT STARTED IT ALL
THE STORY BEHIND THE SHADES
