10 Best Aviator Sunglasses for Men in 2022 (Ray-Ban, Versace, and More)

For the most coverage, go with the classic teardrop style. This style has a broader top and narrow bottom that curves along the cheekbone. The shape keeps the sunglasses heavier at the top and lighter at the bottom. Teardrop-style sunglasses go well with heart, oval, and square face shapes.

But if you have a longer face, the teardrop style can make it appear longer than it is. Men with a long face might look better with navigator-type aviator glasses that are more squared at the bottom. This will make the glasses appear square or rectangular.

 
And if you want a more sporty look, go for sport-style aviator glasses featuring wider lenses with a squared bottom. These glasses will wrap around your eyes and keep most of the sun out of your eyes. With the squared-off bottom, these sunglasses will be less top-heavy.

For casual use, go for aviator sunglasses that fit well on your face. This means you should choose glasses that aren’t too large or too small on your face. Larger sunglasses can make a great style statement, but if they aren’t comfortable on you, there’s no point buying them.

For a more purpose-driven setting, when you need the glasses to function great more than to look cool, go for navigator-type or the classic teardrop sunglasses. They're simple and elegant but exude power and style at the same time. If likely to wear them for hours, it’s best to go with a lightweight design that doesn’t slip or slide down.

Also available are flip-up and clip-on glasses. They can be attached on top of prescription glasses. The flip-up styles can be flipped when not needed. Clip-on style sunglasses need to be taken off to use your prescription glasses for a better view. Magnetic clip-on glasses are very easy to use.

Some brands also offer frames that can be fitted with prescription lenses. They're called Rx-able sunglasses and the replacement is carried out by skilled opticians. They simply insert prescription lenses with sun protection properties into the frames. These will eliminate the need to wear contact lenses while wearing sunglasses.

The classic aviators have a metal frame, usually steel, with a silver or brass finish to them.

 
Brands like Ray-Ban uses laser-cut steel and titanium for their aviator sunglasses. Titanium is lightweight, hypoallergenic, and durable. Plastic aviator sunglasses are lightweight and quite fashionable. With their thick frames, they appear bolder than the classic metal aviators.

Sporty-style aviator sunglasses mostly use plastic for their frames. Mixed-style aviators are also trending. They have a partly metallic and partly plastic frame to display a blend of classic and sporty appearance. For the lenses, either triacetate cellulose (TAC) or glass is used. TAC lenses are lighter than glass-based lenses.  

One size fits all doesn't work in the case of sunglasses. Aviator sunglasses are available in small, medium, large, and oversized frame and lens sizes. Small frames will have an overall width of around 134 millimeters, with one lens measuring 53 millimeters wide.

Medium frames will be around 140 millimeters wide, with one lens measuring 58 millimeters wide. Larger frames will be between 145 and 150 millimeters wide. One lens's width can range between 60 millimeters and 66 millimeters.

Regardless of the overall frame size, the lens's height will be around 50 millimeters. The temple length, from your ears to the lenses, will be about five inches, or 127 to 140 millimeters, for most frames.

The bridge width, or the width of the piece that goes over your nose, will be between 14 and 17 millimeters for most frame sizes.

Regardless of the style and shape, you should go for a well-fitting pair of sunglasses that fit snugly around your eyes and ears. They are less likely to move around or slide down when you move your head up and down or sideways.

Consider the bridge measurements of the sunglasses before buying. The bridge shouldn’t be too wide or narrow. Too narrow a bridge fit will make the sunglasses sit high on your nose and create a gap at the bottom. This can let in some light and make it uncomfortable for you.

If the bridge is wide, the sunglasses will slide down and rest low on your nose. Even a small difference in bridge fit can have a significant impact on how the sunglasses fit. However, if the bridge is too wide, you can also buy small pads that stick on and provide grip and comfort.

Green lenses stay neutral and don’t darken things that you see through them. They have medium light-blocking capabilities and are suitable for both casual and formal styles. Due to their visual sharpness and high contrast, aviator sunglasses with green lenses are ideal for precision sports like golf and tennis.

When you use brown lenses, they tend to brighten the view of things you’re looking at. This sight-enhancement capability makes them ideal for use during the early morning and late afternoon hours. Brown lenses are also ideal in sunny and cloudy conditions and are suitable when you’re indulging in sports like cycling.

To completely knock out the sunlight, go for aviator sunglasses with gray lenses. These lenses will darken the view around you and make it easier for you to see outside even on the brightest of days. Due to their crisp contrast, they reduce eyestrain, are suitable for driving, and great for use at noon and in the early afternoon.

Blue lenses are also popular among fashionistas who want to appear stylish, and for use in snow and water sports. The lenses filter out the white light and reduce glare, thereby making it comfortable for the wearer. 

Rose or pink-tinted glasses are also ideal for driving as they increase visibility and provide great depth perception. They block blue light, reduce eyestrain, and are suitable for use over long hours.

Aviators with mirrored lenses absorb light and reflect it, thereby giving you maximum protection from glare. They make objects darker than they really are and are ideal for people with high light sensitivity. They are also ideal to use when the sun’s rays are at their peak or if you’re at the beach.

You can also consider sunglasses with gradient lenses. They are darker at the top to keep the sun out and lighter at the bottom to give you visibility. They are great when you’re driving or lounging at the poolside or beach reading a book.

Polarized sunglasses appear very much like blue lenses. They have a special filter to block the light reflected from flat surfaces. Such reflected light can cause a lot of glare and appear very intense to the viewer. Polarized lenses are suitable for doing outdoor sports and activities on a sunny day.

 
However, if your car’s dashboard has an LED display, polarized glasses might not give enough visibility. They’re also not advised while downhill skiing as they tend to block light that reflects on hazardous icy patches.

 
Photochromic lenses are great choices for both bright and cloudy days. They are designed to adjust their viewing capabilities with the changing light intensities. The lenses will get darker in a brighter setting. Under low light conditions, the lenses will get lighter.  

When you wear sunglasses for a long time, they can become uncomfortable near the ears and the bridge of the nose. Rubber coatings on the temple arms will help the frame from scraping the ears. Likewise, look for silicone nose pads that can be adjusted to make the best bridge fit. 

UV protection is another essential factor to look for. Of course, sunglasses are meant to be used for protection from the sun's rays. Hence all sunglasses come with some level of sun protection.

The safest choice is to go with sunglasses that offer 100 percent protection against UVA and UVB rays. Sunglasses with UV400 protection can block 99 percent of the harmful sun’s rays.