Outdoorsy types know the benefits of wearing polarized sunglasses: they knock down the haze and glare of reflected sunlight, thanks to a special filter on the lens. They're pretty much a necessity for water and snow sports. They're also just a plain-old good idea for anyone who spends a lot of time outside in the sun.
The biggest downside to polarized sunglasses is the price. If you're in the market for a pair, that usually means kicking down a third of your paycheck for some high-end face candy, or spending $10 on a pair that'll either blind you or fall apart when you look at them funny.
Neither proposition is exciting, so here are a few pairs of shades that are tough, effective, and well under $100.
Ryders Eyewear Uzi
Sporting a hard-edged version of the classic aviator style done up in a nickel-alloy frame, the Uzis make you look like a badass even if you're not waving the namesake weapon around while hanging from a helicopter.
The weightiest of the three glasses tested, the Uzis feel sturdy enough to survive a few drops (which they did, admirably), while lounging around outside of Starbucks or commuting to work on the roadie. But their weight, combined with hard plastic nose pieces, gives them a tendency to slide down your face during shakier pursuits. In a bike or a car, however, these work great. Any glare reflected from other cars or puddles was cut down by the polarized lenses, while spring-loaded hinges and fully rubber earpieces made them plenty comfortable and sturdy enough for a casual bike ride.
WIRED Great styling. Glare reduction is effective.
TIRED Heavier frames can lead to sore spots. Have a tendency to slip.
$70, ryderseyewear.com
__Rating: 8 out of 10__Suncloud Optics Profile
A subsidiary of Smith Optics, Suncloud knows a thing or two about sports sunglasses. The Profile's polarized lenses did a great job of cutting down glare reflected off of cars during cycling sessions, and their frameless design allows for a wide range of peripheral vision, which comes in handy when you're cycling and you feel a car sneaking up on you. The open design also means a lot of air motion, which makes lens fogging nearly nonexistent.
During some bouncy trail runs, the super-lightweight design prevented any sore spots on the ears, and the grippy rubber on the nose and earpieces kept them on my face despite the copious amounts of sweat I was oozing. The Grilamid plastic construction is tough yet flexible, allowing the frames to bend (and not break) when you take a dive over your handlebars or faceplant on a downhill.
