Sturdy and stylish, the Sungait Vintage Round Sunglasses are the ideal beaters. They’re usually around $15 (or under), and they’re covered by a lifetime warranty. Also, they’re built from strong, light, and flexible TR90 plastic. The midsize round frames come in lots of colors, and they’re about as close to universally appealing as you can get. (No wonder these sunglasses are a Wirecutter staff favorite.) Stash a few pairs where you need ’em most—your backpack, car, entryway, you name it—and you’ll never again get caught without shades.

They’re attractive and versatile. These sunglasses have a classic, medium-coverage design, with rounded plastic frames, a keyhole nose bridge, and graceful metal temples (arms). “They’re a great, wearable shape,” said one panelist. (In fact, the Vintage Rounds look nearly identical to the popular Ray-Ban Erika sunglasses, which cost around $150 and up.)

They fit small- to medium-size faces well (and some larger ones, too). Most testers praised the fit and comfort of these shades, noting that they felt light (0.7 ounce) and secure, and they didn’t slip around. The Vintage Rounds have relatively short temples and pronounced temple tips (the parts that sit just behind the ears), so some panelists with a larger head found that this pair pinched behind the ears and felt too snug, but others weren’t bothered.

They’re nicely priced, so you can stock up on them. The Vintage Rounds are the least expensive sunglasses among our picks. And they’re even cheaper if you buy them in multipacks of two or three (at the time of publishing, a three-pack was about $25).

They come in an array of frame and lens options—a pair for every outfit!—with or without polarization. (We recommend polarized lenses because they reduce glare and eyestrain, though they can make it harder to see LCD screens.)

They’re virtually indestructible. The Vintage Round sunglasses are made from TR90, a durable, flexible, and featherlight thermoplastic; the temples are made from a sturdy metal. The lenses survived our key-scraping test unscratched, and the frames showed no signs of weakness when flexed and bent. One staffer accidentally stepped on her pair, and they emerged unscathed. Plus, the Vintage Rounds come with a lifetime breakage warranty (astounding, at this price), plus a mini screwdriver for tightening the hinges.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• Some testers with larger a head found these sunglasses to be too snug around the temples and behind the ears.

Key specs

• Frame width: 140 mm
• Frame material: TR90
• Lenses: UV400; non-polarized or polarized
• Colors: 18
• Warranty: lifetime

The sleek, sophisticated Kent Wang Sunglasses Keyhole are among the priciest shades we recommend here—but they could easily pass for designer sunnies costing three times as much. The round acetate frames come in small and large sizes, so they’re comfy and flattering on lots of different faces. One smitten tester even quipped that he’d like to be buried in them. Though we can’t promise they’ll make it that far, these quality sunglasses should last for many years.

They look expensive. These old-school, horn-rimmed frames have a keyhole nose bridge and round, medium-coverage lenses. They’re carved from cellulose acetate, a glossy bio-plastic material derived from cotton and wood fibers. Block-cut acetate makes colors and patterns appear richer and more variegated than regular, injection-molded plastic, the most common material used for inexpensive sunglasses. Indeed, the Keyhole sunglasses—especially in the two tortoiseshell patterns—have a beautiful depth and translucence. (For $95 more, you can also get these frames in a striking natural horn material.)

They come in two sizes. These sunglasses are the only pick that comes in two sizes: small (47 mm), for small- to medium-size faces, and standard (50 mm), for medium- to large-size faces. (The measurements refer to the width of each lens.) The keyhole design fits securely, even on low nose bridges, and it distributes the weight of the glasses evenly. The temples (arms) are attached with spring hinges, so they can flex and conform to heads of many sizes.

They’re built to last. Thanks to the spring hinges on these sunglasses, you can stretch the temples wide without stressing, deforming, or snapping the frames. The frames’ carved acetate material is strong and substantial—one tester observed that “these feel more ‘real’ than the others.” (At 1 ounce, these sunglasses are our weightiest pick, but they’re not uncomfortably heavy.) And the polarized lenses passed the key-scraping test without a scratch.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• These sunglasses are on the high end of “cheap.”
• They don’t come with a pouch or a case (annoying, considering their price); you can purchase a microfiber pouch for $3 or a hard-sided case for $5.

Key specs

• Frame width: 135 mm or 142 mm
• Frame material: cellulose acetate or horn (for $95 more)
• Lenses: UV400; polarized
• Colors: eight
• Warranty: two years

Of all the pairs we tested, the subtly whimsical I-Sea Ella sunglasses were the fan favorite (present company included). These round shades read more upscale than their under-$35 price tag, with sturdy, comfortable polycarbonate frames and chic metal embellishments. And their generous—but not oversize—proportions look especially good on medium- to large-size faces. These sunglasses are covered by a (fairly underwhelming) 60-day warranty against manufacturing defects.

They’re fun and flattering. The Ella sunglasses have an owlish shape, with flat-topped wings that extend straight out over round lenses, visually enlarging the eyes without looking exaggerated. Adding to their charm are decorative rivets at the end pieces (outer corners), a keyhole nose bridge, and metal-and-plastic temples (arms). “They’re cool and sexy,” raved one panelist.

They fit medium- to large-size heads. These frames were most popular among panelists who described themselves as having a medium- to large-size head. (People with an especially wide head found them to be snug.) Though other, smaller round specs that we tried looked cramped on some testers, the Ella’s proportions played nicely with larger features and faces. And while they looked great on testers who had a smaller, narrower head, too, the glasses felt loose.

These glasses received the highest cumulative comfort score from our testers. At 0.9 ounce, they’re lightweight without being flimsy, and the keyhole bridge distributes weight evenly across the face. While we were testing them indoors in a cool room, they stayed put—even on a low nose bridge. Out in the real world, when things got sweatier, they did slip down a bit.

They seem more expensive than they are. Testers consistently overestimated how much these glasses cost. “These felt actually nice—too nice to be cheap,” said one panelist. (Those metal-accented temples do add a refined je ne sais quois.)

The Ella’s sturdy frames are made from polycarbonate, a light, impact-resilient thermoplastic, and the polarized lenses passed the scratch test.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• The 60-day warranty, which covers only manufacturing defects, isn’t fantastic—most of our other picks offer warranties of at least one year.
• Some testers with a larger head found these sunglasses to be too snug around the temples.
• If you have a low nose bridge, these frames might slide down.

Key specs

• Frame width: 143 mm
• Frame material: polycarbonate
• Lenses: UV400; polarized
• Colors: six
• Warranty: 60 days

Other styles we like from I-Sea

Wire-framed round specs: The I-Sea Cooper sunnies have metal frames with rounded, wide-set lenses and adjustable nose pads. They don’t feel particularly sturdy, but they sure are stylish. They’re best for medium- to large-size faces.

The cool, casual Goodr OG sunglasses pay homage to (arguably) the most iconic silhouette in all of sunglasses-dom: the Ray-Ban Wayfarer. Like Wayfarers, the OG shades look good on practically everyone. Unlike Wayfarers, which start at around $180, the OGs cost $25. They come in more colors and lens tints than any other pair we recommend, and they’re covered by a one-year warranty. Also, the OG pair’s medium-size plastic frames have a special grippy coating, which helps to keep them in place on active days.

They look classic. With their Ray-Ban–esque, medium-coverage trapezoidal lenses set in thick plastic frames, the OG sunglasses have a timeless aesthetic appeal. These sunglasses were chosen as the (all-around) favorite by more panelists than any other pair we tested. “I put these on and said, ‘Ooooh,’” commented Wirecutter editor-in-chief Ben Frumin. “Then I realized that this is a pair I already own. They’re great!”

They’re available in over 50 colorways. Want options? The OG sunglasses come in oodles of frame-and-lens combos, whether you’re going for a pair that’s subtle (classic black and tortoiseshell) or scene-stealing (mirrored lenses, neon frames). Just be warned: Goodr has a dreadful naming scheme. We tested the OG pair in Bosley’s Basset Hound Dreams, but you might get drawn in by Flamingos On A Booze Cruise or Sunbathing With Wizards.

All of the colorways include polarized lenses, and some offer the option to add prescription lenses to the frames, starting from the not-so-cheap price of nearly $200. (The prescription lenses are made by online vision retailer Lensabl; we have only tested the OG frames with the regular, non-prescription lenses.)

They have a unique matte texture, and they’re built for action. These lightweight (0.7-ounce) plastic frames have a grip coating, which gives them a distinctive, rubbery feel—and it helps them stay put during vigorous activity. We were able to run, jump, and bend over in these sunglasses, with no slipping or bouncing. And they felt velvety soft—not sticky or sweaty—against skin, even on hot days.

The OG sunglasses are durable, too: The lenses didn’t scratch when scraped with keys, and the frames easily flexed when pulled on at the temples. They’re so pliable, in fact, that even sitting on these sunnies didn’t damage them.

They’re ultra-comfy on medium-size faces. The OG sunglasses fit best on medium-size faces, yet they’re flexible enough to accommodate those with a larger head, too. The keyhole bridge stays comfortably positioned, and the temple tips (the parts that hook behind the ears) are angled to provide a secure fit without digging in. They were slightly loose on testers with a smaller head.

Some testers with especially wide faces complained that the temples (arms) felt too snug. If you like the look of the OG sunglasses, but you worry they won’t be large enough, Goodr makes another style, the BFG, that’s nearly identical—except with wider frames, longer temples, and bigger lenses. (We have not tested it.)

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• The rubberized coating makes these shades more casual and less versatile than some of our other picks.
• These sunglasses have plastic (rather than metal) hinges.

Key specs

• Frame width: 139 mm
• Frame material: plastic with grip coating
• Lenses: UV400; polarized; prescription (starting at about $200) or without
• Colors: more than 50
• Warranty: one year

Other styles we like from Goodr

• A petite round pair: The Goodr Circle G sunglasses have hip circular lenses and a keyhole bridge, and their frames are made from the same grip-coated plastic as the OG pair. Most testers found them to be too small, though they looked excellent on one (admittedly big-headed) 6-year-old. These are best for small-size faces.
• Flexible, lightweight aviators: The large Goodr Mach G sunglasses, which also feature comfy, grip-coated plastic frames, have a classic aviator shape. Testers thought they were flimsy-feeling—probably because they’re so lightweight, at just 0.5 ounce. But they are flexible—they didn’t break or scratch in our stress tests. These are best for large faces.

For a square pair that’s more sophisticated than it is sporty, check out the I-Sea Cove sunglasses. Handsome, angular, and elegant, these medium-size nylon sunnies don’t translate as cheapies: Their polished surface and sturdy, wire-core temples (arms) made them a cut above most other similarly priced offerings. They’re covered by a 60-day warranty against manufacturing defects.

They’re sophisticated. The Cove sunglasses have larger square lenses set in glossy nylon frames, with decorative rivets at the end pieces (outer corners). The temples reveal an unexpected detail—an embedded wire core—that makes these shades read pricier than they are.

They fit best on medium-size faces. The Cove sunglasses were the highest-rated pair among testers who described themselves as having a medium-size face. “They fit me well, and I loved the way I looked,” raved one. They flatter larger-size faces, too, though some panelists who had a wide head told us the glasses were too snug. (“I like the look of these, but did not enjoy how they felt.”) They were too loose for those with a smaller head.

The Cove sunglasses have long temples, so if you find that most glasses pinch behind the ears, these could be a good option. Their wider keyhole bridge sits comfortably on larger noses; on testers with low nose bridges, however, these frames slipped down.

They’re sturdily constructed. At first, we mistook these nylon frames for carved acetate (a good thing!), thanks to their appealing translucence and sheen. While not quite as substantial as our acetate Kent Wang Sunglasses Keyhole pick—the Cove sunglasses weigh 0.8 ounce, versus the Keyhole pair’s 1 ounce—they’re not flimsy, either. In addition to being stylish, they have a metal core in the temples that lends strength and helps the glasses maintain their shape. The glasses weren’t damaged by flexing and bending in our stress tests; also, the polarized lenses ably withstood key-scratching tests.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• The 60-day warranty, which covers only manufacturing defects, could be better.
• Some testers with a larger  head found these sunglasses to be too snug around the temples.
• If you have a low nose bridge, these frames might slide down.

Key specs

• Frame width: 141 mm
• Frame material: nylon
• Lenses: UV400; polarized
• Colors: four
• Warranty: 60 days

Are you in search of supersize sunnies to satisfy your inner A-lister? The Lvioe Cat Eye Sunglasses are big, bold, and close-up-ready. “These made me feel like a ’70s ingenue on quaaludes, and I loved it,” one tester gushed. The extra-large cat-eye glasses are most at home on bigger faces (and personalities). And though they’re not covered by a brand warranty, these lightweight plastic, under-$30 shades have proven surprisingly hardy.

They’ve got star power. These oversize sunglasses command attention, with giant, piqued lenses connected by a sloping bridge (the part that fits over the nose). The lenses themselves are slightly inset and double-rimmed, lending a striking, subtly futuristic vibe to the vintage cat-eye silhouette.

Note: If you’re looking for a pair of cat-eyes that are glam, yet not quite as over-the-top and large as these, check out the Sunski Camina sunglasses.

They’re fabulous on larger, wider faces. Among our picks, the Cat Eyes have the biggest lenses and widest frames. Testers who described themselves as having a large or a very large head found these sunglasses to be particularly comfortable, well proportioned, and flattering. The frames have smooth contours that don’t pinch or rub, and they’re lightweight (0.9 ounce), especially relative to their size.

Many testers, however, struggled with the fit. “They’re so big that I don’t need to wear sunscreen,” joked one panelist. The temples (arms) are very widely set, so the glasses don’t sit snugly on small- to medium-size faces. And on a low-bridged nose, they slid all the way down.

They’re surprisingly tough. At first, the Cat Eye Sunglasses—which are sold on Amazon by an unpronounceable brand that doesn’t provide any warranty—didn’t inspire much confidence. But they’ve exceeded expectations: The hinges work smoothly, the lenses did not scratch when scraped vigorously with keys, and the frames flexed easily when bent.

Supervising style editor Ingela Ratledge Amundson bought her first Lvioe Cat Eye pair in 2022, when she was in search of cheap sunnies that she could be careless with over the summer. (Think chlorine, kids, and not a sunglasses case in sight.) “I thought they were cute, and I’d be lucky if they made it through one season,” she said. “But these things are like cockroaches—they can survive anything.”

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• Testers with small- and medium-size faces found these sunglasses to be too large and loose.
• If you have a low nose bridge, these might slide down.
• This pair isn’t backed by a warranty.

Key specs

• Frame width: 148 mm
• Frame material: plastic
• Lenses: UV400; polarized
• Colors: over a dozen (occasionally changing)
• Warranty: none

The right pair of aviators can make you stop traffic—or make you look like a traffic cop. Of the dozen or so aviator models that we tested, we found ourselves reaching for the less-traditional Sunski Shoreline sunglasses again and again. Large and laid-back, these recycled plastic frames read more surfer dude than state trooper. Plus, they’re lightweight and comfy, with a lifetime breakage warranty that helps offset their nearly $60 price tag.

They’re a beachy spin on classic aviators. Like all aviators, the Shoreline sunglasses have the signature flat top-bar across the browline. But while the prototypical design is typically executed in metal, with teardrop-shaped lenses, these shades have larger square lenses set in translucent, recycled plastic frames. “They have an unexpected, Cali-cool vibe,” said one tester.

If you’re seeking more of an old-school, Top Gun aviator vibe (no shade—that’s cool!), consider two other pairs we liked: the large, grip-coated Goodr Mach Gs or the smaller, metal-framed Knockaround Mount Evans sunglasses.

They’re big and comfy, and they have a texture that you’ll likely either love or hate. These sunnies fit most comfortably on people with a larger, wider head. “They’re not too tight, [so they don’t] give me a headache,” one panelist reported. By contrast, a smaller-headed tester remarked, “They felt like they’d fly off my face.”

Relative to their size, the Shoreline sunglasses are featherlight (0.7 ounce). Molded nose pads (on the inside of their smoothly contoured saddle bridge) help them stay put, and the frames have a matte texture that sits comfortably on skin without chafing. But the frames’ distinctive material was polarizing (unlike our Goodr OG pick, these glasses feel dry rather than rubbery). Some testers loved it, yet others found it to be a tactile turn-off.

They’re durable—and backed by a lifetime warranty. These sunglasses are very sturdy and flexible: They held up perfectly in our lens-scratching and frame-bending tests. But since life happens, they’re also covered by Sunski’s lifetime warranty—which is especially nice because these glasses are on the pricier side of “cheap.”

Wirecutter editorial director Christine Cyr Clissette said, “My husband has used the warranty two or three times by now. The replacement is always free, or they offer full credit toward a new pair. I make fun of him that he’s going to put them out of business if he keeps doing this.”

Note that the warranty does not cover lens replacement; Sunski offers replacement lens kits for around $20.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• They’re our priciest pick.
• Testers with small- and medium-size faces found these sunglasses to be too large and loose.
• Some testers didn’t like this pair’s matte texture.

Key specs:

• Frame width: 143 mm
• Frame material: recycled plastic
• Lenses: UV400; polarized
• Colors: three
• Warranty: lifetime

Other styles we like from Sunski:

• Large, Breakfast at Tiffany’s–style cat-eye glasses: The Sunski Camina sunglasses, a former pick, serve up plenty of Old Hollywood appeal. They’re dramatic, but not quite as oversize as our Lvioe Cat Eye Sunglasses pick (and they cost twice as much). These are best for larger faces.
• Highly rated round frames: The Sunski Dipsea sunglasses were popular with our test panelists. Ultimately, we preferred our (similarly priced) Kent Wang Sunglasses Keyhole pick, which comes in two sizes and feels more high-end. Still, the Dipsea pair is great if you like a slightly smaller, more circular lens. These are best for small- to medium-size faces.
• Elegant square sunnies: The Sunski Ventana sunglasses are the most refined-looking square shades that we tried, with thinner rims and cleaner lines than our I-Sea Cove pick. But they don’t seem as sturdy or substantial, and they’re $20 more. These are best for medium-size faces.

If you want square aviators that are best for small- to medium-size faces: The lightweight Knockaround Mount Evans metal aviators have square (rather than the traditional teardrop) lenses. They’re better suited to small- and medium-size faces than the Sunski Shoreline and Goodr Mach G aviators we also liked, but we didn’t find this pair’s thin, wiry frames as comfortable.

If you want cat-eye sunglasses with mirrored pastel lenses: At under $20, the ZeroUV Women’s Oversize Polarized Cat Eye Metal Frame Sunglasses offer plenty of bang for the buck. They feel well made, and they serve up plenty of look, with large, metal-rimmed frames and mirrored, candy-colored lenses (available in pink or blue). But our testers weren’t totally sold on the style.

If you want retro horn-rimmed half-frames: The large, metal, plastic ZeroUV Women’s Polarized Round Horned Rim Half Frame Sunglasses have a strong rockabilly vibe, with bold horned rims accenting only the top half of their round lenses. Like the similarly priced Cat Eye Metal Frames (also made by ZeroUV), we think these are a good value. You do, however, have to have a certain amount of panache to pull these off.

I’m a senior staff writer at Wirecutter covering style and accessories. I’ve reported on everything from bras to backpacks, and I co-authored our guide to the best blue-light-blocking glasses. You’ll never catch me leaving the house—on a sunny day or otherwise—without a pair of shades.

For this guide:

• I tested 29 pairs of sunglasses as part of our 2024 retesting round.
• I gathered feedback about the 14 most promising sunglasses contenders from a diverse panel of 27 testers.
• I interviewed Rose Mandel, OD, an optometrist and clinical instructor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
• I built on the reporting of writer Justin Krajeski, the previous author of this guide, who tested 66 pairs of sunglasses and interviewed three ophthalmologists (Ravi D. Goel, MD, Suzann Pershing, MD, and Ellen Koo, MD).

Like all Wirecutter journalists, I review and test products with complete editorial independence. I’m never made aware of any business implications of my editorial recommendations.

The experts I consulted for this article have been chosen by me for their knowledge and independence. Any affiliations that experts have with companies mentioned in this article have been disclosed with transparency and accuracy.

To find the best and brightest inexpensive sunnies, we weighed the following criteria:

• Price: We didn’t test any sunglasses over $70, and most of our recommendations are under $35. Whatever purpose your cheap sunnies are meant to serve—as a backup or an everyday pair—our picks are surprisingly nice for the price.
• UV Protection: We considered only glasses with lenses that had 99% to 100% UV protection or UV400 labeling (“UV400” means a pair blocks all rays with wavelengths shorter than 400 nanometers—the entire ultraviolet spectrum).
• Polarization: All of our picks have polarized lenses (or the option for free polarization), which reduce glare, improve clarity, and lessen eye strain. (One catch: It can be harder to see your phone’s LCD screen through polarized lenses.)

• Comfort and fit: We searched for sunglasses that would fit, flatter, and feel good on a wide range of faces. Testers with differently sized (and shaped) faces and heads assessed how each pair framed their eyes, sat across their nose bridges, and fit around their temples and ears. (No squeezing, pinching, digging, or slipping, please.)
• Style: There’s an eye-popping array of sunglasses out there—many more than we could feasibly test. We zeroed in on classic, time-tested shapes: round, square, cat-eye, and aviator sunglasses. If a particular model was offered in multiple frame colors or lens options, we viewed that as a nice bonus but not a requirement.
• Quality: We wanted our picks to blow away the typical beachside kiosk offerings, and we sought pairs with features like well-made frames, smoothly opening hinges, and scratch-resistant lenses. Though we preferred models with some warranty coverage, we didn’t make it a prerequisite.

For the 2024 rewrite of this guide, I tested 29 pairs of sunglasses. I began by vetting their quality, scratching each pairs’ lenses with keys and enthusiastically flexing and bending their temples (arms). I performed the lens-quality check recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

I also considered how smoothly the hinges functioned, how evenly the glasses sat on my face, and how sturdy their materials felt. Pairs with obvious flaws were eliminated, and I wore the remaining sunglasses in a steady rotation for the next three weeks—sizing up their looks, comfort, and sun-blocking abilities.

The 14 most promising pairs were then moved forward to the final round: testing by a panel of 27 people—a mix of staffers and paid testers—of different ages and races, style and budget preferences, face shapes, and head sizes. The panelists provided detailed (and often brutal and/or hilarious) feedback on the sunglasses’ fit, aesthetics, and comfort.

Quality prescription sunglasses often don’t come cheap. Depending on any upgrades you might want or need, single-vision lenses can add tens to hundreds of dollars to the cost of your frames.

The lens design and material that are best for you will depend on your prescription, priorities, and lifestyle, according to Rose Mandel, OD, an optometrist and clinical instructor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

The good news: Prescription sunglasses are covered by most vision insurance plans. Check to see whether you have an unused prescription glasses benefit. If so, it can be applied toward sunglasses that you purchase in-store or online.

This is not a comprehensive list of everything we tested in previous iterations of this guide, just what’s still available.

Aviators

The metal frames of the angular I-Sea Brooks aviators were flimsy-feeling and noticeably lopsided.

The oversize lenses of the I-Sea River aviators were so massive that when we wore them in bright sunlight, distracting reflections were visible around their interior edges.

The extra-large, metal-framed J+S Classic Aviator Sunglasses are a former pick. They have a classic aviator shape and are well priced, currently around $20. But despite their adjustable nose pads, they sit unevenly on the face and slide down the nose; also, their lenses create distracting interior reflections. They’re the widest frames we tested, and though they’re too large for most faces, if you have an especially broad head, they might be worth a try.

A former pick, the wire-framed Kent Wang Sunglasses Aviator pair is modern, angular, and large (though not as large as the J+S Classic Aviator). Unfortunately, less than a month into our retesting, one of the lenses popped out; for a pair costing nearly $60, we expected better.

Testers didn’t find the big, metal-framed Knockaround Mile Highs flattering: The aviators’ long, drooping lenses gave faces of all shapes and sizes a hangdog look.

The large Luenx Aviator Sunglasses felt especially cheap, and there are numerous comments about them online from customers who complain about their warped or otherwise defective lenses.

The inexpensive plastic Sojos Retro Polarized Aviators fit smaller faces better than most other aviators we tried. Sadly, they felt stiff and cheap, and they were too basic for our taste.

The large, plastic-framed ZeroUV Retro 1980s Fashion Plastic Aviator sunglasses look similar to the Goodr Mach Gs we recommend in our other good styles section. However, this pair is not as light and comfortable—the frames are chunkier, the temples (arms) are bulkier, and they don’t have non-slip nose pads.

Cat-eye sunglasses

We tried three different cat-eye models from EyeBuyDirect; prescription lenses can be added to any of them (starting at $20), and polarized lenses cost an extra $40. The EyeBuyDirect Cartel sunglasses, a pair of small plastic cat-eyes, are a former pick. One of the temples (arms) on our two-year-old pair snapped off; we were willing to forgive that, given their age, but the new ones we retested had visibly warped lens coatings. The medium-size, acetate EyeBuyDirect Calypso sunglasses cost around $15 more than the Cartel pair, but they felt especially delicate; also, we wished their cat-eye shape had been more pronounced. Finally, the medium-size EyeBuyDirect Fern sunglasses had ultra-light plastic frames that slipped down on low nose bridges, and they come only in (not-so-versatile) red and purple.

The small Sunski Miho sunglasses have chunky plastic frames with a subtle cat-eye shape. While testers praised their style and quality, almost everyone said that they were uncomfortably tight around the temples. But if you have a narrow face, these could be a nice option.

In addition to being too big, the Sungait Oversized Vintage Polarized Cat Eye Sunglasses had a peculiar shape.

Round sunglasses

We tried two round styles from EyeBuyDirect. Both pairs can be filled with prescription lenses (starting at $20); polarized lenses are an additional $40. The medium-size acetate EyeBuyDirect Safari sunglasses are attractive, but the hinges felt creaky and stiff. The EyeBuyDirect Taylor sunglasses have large, close-set round lenses and thick, matte plastic frames, giving them an unappealing goggle-like appearance.

The narrow, metal-framed Hawkers Moma sunglasses have small, perfectly round lenses and big John Lennon energy. Alas, everyone who wore them looked like a beetle (of the insect variety).

At around $35, the medium-size Knockaround Mai Tais round sunglasses don’t offer the knockout value of our far cheaper Sungait Vintage Round pick, nor do they have the luxe feel of our pricier Kent Wang Keyhole pick.

The slim, round Nooz Optics Cruz sunglasses have ultra-light (0.4-ounce) TR90 plastic frames that fold flat; they used to be our pick as a compact option for travel. But the small, close-set lenses look absurd on all but the tiniest faces. And, at nearly $70, they’re also the priciest pair we tested.

The Sojos Small Round Polarized Sunglasses are cheap (around $15), and it showed. The small plastic frames felt flimsy, with stiff, tough-to-open hinges.

The smallish Sunski Yuba sunglasses are nearly identical to the Sunski Dipsea sunglasses we recommend in our other good sunnies section (though the Yuba’s lenses aren’t quite as large or round). Both were promising, but we decided to have our panel test the Dipsea pair over the Yuba, because the Dipsea sunglasses come in more colors and have slightly higher customer ratings.

The medium-size Tifosi Svago sunglasses—made from durable TR90—are sporty and lightweight. It’s too bad these sunnies have hinges that open and close abruptly, and there’s unattractive branding on both the temples and the left lens.

Square and Wayfarer-style sunglasses

The medium-size, square plastic Blenders Sydney sunglasses used to be a pick. However, when we retested them in 2024, panelists complained that they sat lopsided, and nearly everyone preferred the shape of our I-Sea Cove square pick, which costs about $10 less.

We tried one square and one Wayfarer-style pair from EyeBuyDirect; both can be purchased with prescription lenses (starting at $20); polarized lenses add an extra $40. With their oversize plastic frames, the square EyeBuyDirect Kauri sunglasses didn’t seem especially sturdy, and the hinges were stiff and difficult to open and close. Meanwhile, the large, Wayfarer-style EyeBuyDirect Frasier sunglasses come in just one color—bright teal—which is fairly limiting.

Readers told us they were interested in wraparound sunglasses, and we listened. The I-Sea Greyson 2.0 sunglasses are a large, square-lensed pair made from tough TR90 plastic. Multiple testers from our panel seemed somewhat pleasantly surprised by these, noting that, as wraparounds go, these are pretty much as good as it gets. But ultimately, we just couldn’t get past their aggressive, goggle-like styling. As one panelist put it: “I look like Robocop in them. Negative two out of 10.”

The acetate Kent Wang Sunglasses Knox frames are more rectangular in shape than they are square: Their skinny horizontal lenses weren’t very flattering, and they let in more sunlight than other pairs.

Though the Foster Grant Hugo plastic frames are wider than most Wayfarer-style shades, they didn’t offer enough vertical coverage.

The large, Wayfarer-style Knockaround Premiums sunglasses are sturdy and come in lots of colorways (you can even build your own). That said, the similarly shaped Goodr OG sunnies are comfier and less expensive, and they feel just as solid.

The PolarSpex Polarized Classic Sunglasses—a large, plastic Wayfarer-style pair—are inexpensive, and the quality reflects that. The hinges were stiff and creaky, and the lenses scratched easily.

The Shady Rays Classic Original sunglasses are a well-built, medium- to large-size pair of plastic Wayfarer-style sunnies, with a limited lifetime warranty. But the branding, on the temples (arms) and right lens, was just too prominent for our taste.

The TR90 plastic Tifosi Swank sunglasses—a sporty-looking, medium-size square pair—had lenses that scratched easily in our stress tests. And the branding, on the temples and left lens, is conspicuous.

We looked silly in the large, plastic ZeroUV Classic Large Polarized Lens Horned Rim Sunglasses: They sat too high on the face, covering the eyebrows. We also had difficulty opening and closing the temples.

This article was edited by Ingela Ratledge Amundson and Jennifer Hunter. Justin Krajeski contributed reporting and wrote an earlier version of this article.