Best Polarised Sunglasses: 5 Picks for Glare-Free Style

Short answer: the Ray-Ban Wayfarer RB2140 in its polarised form is the pair most people should try first. It has a familiar shape, works with casual and smart-casual clothes and is easy to compare in an eyewear shop. The Persol 649 Original is the dressier choice; the Oakley Holbrook is the sportier one; the Maui Jim Peahi is the specialist for water and hard glare; and the Moscot Lemtosh is for anyone who wants a more individual, vintage-inspired frame.

Polarised lenses are not a single product category. The lens filter cuts reflected glare, but the frame shape, lens tint and fit decide whether a pair is pleasant to wear for an hour or all day. The five below cover those different jobs rather than repeating the same city frame in five colours.

Polarisation is most useful when light bounces off a flat surface: water, snow, wet tarmac, a car bonnet or a glass-fronted building. It reduces the horizontal glare that makes you squint, but it does not replace UV protection. Check the lens label for a UV400 claim or equivalent, and buy from a retailer that can explain the lens category.

• Lens category: for driving in the UK, choose category 2 or 3 and avoid category 4, which is not legal for driving because it lets in too little light.
• UV protection: polarised lenses can be made without full UV protection, so check the label rather than assuming.
• Frame fit: the frame should sit close enough to block light at the sides without pressing on your temples or sliding down your nose.
• Lens colour: grey and green tints keep colours relatively natural; brown and rose tints warm the view; mirror coatings cut more light but need careful handling.
• Prescription: if you need prescription lenses, ask an optician to fit polarised lenses to a frame that suits your prescription and face shape.

There is no reliable face-shape rule that works for everyone, despite what many buying guides say. A frame that fits well will sit comfortably on the bridge of your nose, clear your eyelashes and stay put when you look down. If sunglasses tend to slide, a frame with a closer bridge or adjustable nose pads is usually a better fix than a different lens colour. If they press at the temples, go wider rather than forcing the fit.

Wrap frames such as the Maui Jim Peahi suit people who want maximum coverage, but they can feel tight on broader faces and can clash with a formal wardrobe. Classic acetate frames such as the Wayfarer and the Persol 649 are easier to dress up, but they let more light in at the sides. The Moscot Lemtosh sits between the two: distinctive, but still neat enough for city wear.

Driving. Polarised lenses are genuinely useful on wet roads and bright days, but the tint matters as much as the polarisation. A category 4 lens is too dark for driving and is not legal in the UK. Category 2 or 3 is the sensible range for daytime driving; take the glasses off at dusk.

Screens. Some LCD dashboards, phone screens and ticket machines look dark or patterned through polarised lenses. This is normal and not a fault. If you use a head-up display, check that you can still read it before you buy.

Prescriptions. Many opticians can supply polarised prescription lenses, including single-vision and some varifocal designs. The frame needs to be robust enough for the lens and your prescription, so it is worth choosing the frame with the optician rather than buying online and hoping.

Polarised lenses are usually coated or laminated, and the edges are more vulnerable than the centre. Clean them with a microfibre cloth and a lens spray or lukewarm water; avoid kitchen roll, shirttails and hot water, which can damage coatings. Rinse off sand and salt before wiping, especially after a beach day.

Acetate frames can stretch if they are left on a hot dashboard or pushed onto the top of your head repeatedly. Store them in a case, and have the hinges checked if the arms start to splay. Metal frames need less adjustment but can bend at the bridge. For a long-lived pair, choose a frame with readily serviceable hinges and a lens supplier who can replace the lenses without changing the frame.