Updated June 28th, 2023
Harmful UV rays and the intense glare of the sun can damage your eyes while you’re paddle boarding or kayaking. That’s why it’s important to choose a pair of sunglasses that are specifically designed for these activities. Sunglasses for paddle boarding need to be polarized, have full UV protection, and need to stay on your head while you’re on your board. Let’s take a look at the best paddling sunglasses available today.
Below are our top 3 picks for the best SUP sunglasses. Keep reading below for more detailed reviews and sunglasses guide.
☆ Top Pick
☆ Top Pick
☆ Best Value
Smith Guide’s Choice
Redfin Hatteras
Outdoor Master Hawk
- The 10 best paddling sunglasses
- 1 – Smith Guides Choice
- 2 – Redfin Hatteras
- 3 – Outdoor Master Hawk Sport Sunglasses
- 4 – Smith Lowdown 2
- 5 – Oakley Split Shot Sunglasses
- 6 – Cressi Ninja Floating Sunglasses
- 7 – SeaSpecs Stealth Extreme Sports Floating Sunglasses
- 8 – Costa Del Mar Fantail
- 9 – Revo Sunglasses Harness
- 10 – RIVBOS Polarized Sports Sunglasses
- Paddle Boarding Sunglasses Guide
- You might also like:
The 10 best paddling sunglasses
Here are the 10 best paddle boarding sunglasses to help you find the very best glasses to add to your paddling gear this summer. We considered features, price, performance, and user feedback in making our recommendations.
1 – 
Smith Guides Choice
☆ OVERALL BEST ☆
Specifications
- Frame Material – Plastic
- Lens Material – Glass or Plastic
- Polarized – Yes
- Floating – No
- Size – 141 x 42 mm
Highlight Features
- ChromaPop™ polarized lenses cut glare and enhance color and contrast
- Available glass lenses for more scratch resistance and visual clarity
- Anti-reflective coating improves clarity and reduces eye strain
- Lightweight, flexible and durable frame
Where to buy
Up to 50% Off Bike Gear at Smith Optics End of Season Sale
Summary
The Smith Guide’s Choice Sunglasses offer high clarity polarized protection for your eyes. Smith Optics has been one of the leaders in Sunglasses and Goggles for good reason. Their ChromaPop lenses are some of the best performing lenses available today. The Guides Choice is available with standard polycarbonate plastic lenses or enhanced techlite glass lenses. The Longfin glasses have a wrap around look with side shields for extra protection from fishing hooks or anything else. They have a removable strap so you won’t lose them overboard. If you want great sunglasses, you can’t go wrong with Smith Optics Guide’s Choice.
Review
Coming soon
What we liked:
- High clarity ChromaPop lenses
- Stylish appearance
- High quality scratch resistant glass lenses
- Good secure feeling fit
- Excellent view of the water without glare
- Polarized lenses
- Removable strap
What we didn’t like:
- High cost
- They don’t float
2 – Redfin Hatteras
☆ TOP PICK ☆
Specifications
- Frame Material – Plastic
- Lens Material – Nylon
- Polarized – Yes
- Floating – No
- Size – 143 x 42 mm
Highlight Features
- LENSES BY ZEISS – We only use Lenses Manufactured by Carl Zeiss Vision
- CLASSIC STYLE FRAME – The Hatteras is a modern take on a classic casual style. It is extremely lightweight with flexible spring hinges and easy under ball cap stems.
Where to buy
Get 15% Off with code Rush15 at Redfin Polarized.
Summary
Redfin Hatteras Polarized Sunglasses are some of the best paddle boarding sunglasses available. They were designed for fishing but they work great for any water activity including paddling, kayaking, and sailing. Their polarized lenses by Zeiss Optics give great clarity and protection on the water. They feel lightweight and look great too. Redfin makes a variety of different frame shapes and lens color options to suit any size face and style.
Review
See our review of the Redfin Hatteras Sunglasses to learn more.
What we liked:
- Clear high definition view of the water
- Lightweight feeling while wearing
- Secure feeling frame. Doesn’t feel like it will fall off
- No lens fogging on hot sweaty days
- Polarized lenses
- Protection from UV rays
- Available in many colors and styles
What we didn’t like:
- They don’t float
- High cost
3 – Outdoor Master Hawk Sport Sunglasses
☆ Best Value ☆
Specifications
- Frame Material – TR90 Memory Plastic
- Lens Material – Plastic
- Polarized – Some models
- Floating – No
- Size – 142 x 60 mm
Highlight Features
- Polarized lens – protects you from the glare and greatly improves your visual experience, especially for fishing and kayaking in the harsh sunlight.
- HD Visual Experience – By studying the structure of the human eye and calculating optical refraction accurately, we developed the first HD lens that offers a clearer view and reduces visual fatigue caused by distortion.
Where to buy
Use the Coupon Code ERO2022 for up to 20% off at OutdoorMaster.com
Summary
The Outdoor Master Hawk Sport Sunglasses are high performance sunglasses at a cheap price. They are available with several lens options including polarized and photochromic. They also have an HD Color Enhanced option as well. They are impact resistant and have memory plastic frames that can be crushed and pop back to shape. They have a frameless wrap around design that offers a giant field of view. If you are looking for high performance sunglasses but don’t want to spend Oakley or Smith prices, these are a great option.
Review
See our review of the Outdoor Master Hawk Sunglasses to learn more.
What we liked:
- Great bang for the buck
- Comfortable fit
- UV400 protection from UV rays
- Available in several different lens types including polarized, photochromic and color enhanced
- Several mirror lens colors to choose from with the revo lenses
- Easy to swap lenses
- Impact resistant certified to ANSI Z87.1
- Most glasses include 2 lenses
What we didn’t like:
- Rubber nose pads come off when swapping lenses. Can get lost.
- They don’t float
- Polarized lens only available in black
- Photochromic lens not dark enough for really bright sunny days
4 – Smith Lowdown 2
Specifications
- Frame Material – Plastic
- Lens Material – Glass
- Polarized – Yes
- Floating – No
- Size – 126 x 45 mm
Highlight Features
- ChromaPop™ polarized lenses cut glare and enhance color and contrast
- Stylish look ready for the beach or any outdoor activity
- Anti-reflective coating improves clarity and reduces eye strain
- Lightweight, flexible and durable frame
Where to buy
Summary
The Smith Lowdown 2 sunglasses are a perfect choice for any day on the lake or at the beach. They have ChromaPop polarized lenses for enhanced visual clairity. The frames are made from flexible and durable evolve bio-based plastic with carbonic plastic lenses. They have a very lightweight feel and are sized for smaller faces. They are also available in non-ChromaPop and non-polarized lenses for people looking for a good value sunglass that don’t need the extra visual clarity from ChromaPop polarized lens.
Review
Coming soon
What we liked:
- High clarity ChromaPop lenses
- Stylish appearance
- Scratch resistant carbonic lens
- Light feeling
- High claritity low distortion view of the water
- Polarized lenses
- Good fit for small faces
What we didn’t like:
- High cost
- They don’t float
5 – Oakley Split Shot Sunglasses
Specifications
- Frame Material – Plastic
- Lens Material – Plastic
- Polarized – Yes
- Floating – No
- Size – 132 x 43.5 mm
Highlight Features
- PRIZM™ POLARIZED – Reduces glare and reveals details. Oakley’s exclusive Prizm™ Lens Technology with the glare-free filtering benefits of Oakley HDPolarized.
- IMPACT PROTECTION – Oakley lenses are designed and tested under extreme high mass and high velocity circumstances to ensure uncompromising protection
Where to buy
Summary
Oakley Split Shot sunglasses are designed to maximize your performance on the water. They have a strap that holds them securely to your head during any activity. Their wrap around design offers a wide field of view and complete eye protection. They have PRIZM Polarized lenses which have some of the best clarity and definition out there. These are a great choice for any serious paddler.
What we liked:
- Strap that holds the sunglasses securely to your face
- Excellent clarity Oakley PRIZM lenses
- Polarized lenses that reduce water glare
- Stylish Oakley appearance
- Available in many colors and sizes
What we didn’t like:
- They do not float
- High cost
6 – Cressi Ninja Floating Sunglasses
Specifications
- Frame Material – Polycarbonate
- Lens Material – TAC (Tri Acetate Cellulose)
- Polarized – Yes
- Floating – Yes
- Size – 140 mm
Highlight Features
- Lightweight floatable frame – made light for all-day comfort and durable for your most challenging activities.
- Tac Polarized WRH hydrophobic lenses – allow you to see better both above water and below the surface. New technology tac (Tri Acetate cellulose) polarized lenses offer superior visual and polarization clarity.
Where to buy
Summary
Cressi Ninja Floating sunglasses are great for those who have a habit of donating sunglasses to the lake. They are designed by an Italian diving company that has been making gear since 1946. The Ninja glasses float so they are hard to lose. If conditions are wavy or choppy you might have a hard time seeing them so a strap is still a good idea. They have polarized shatterproof lenses to keep your eyes protected.
What we liked:
- Polarized lenses
- Good optical clarity
- Lightweight feeling for all day comfort
- Include a hard case and lens bag
- Floating glasses that won’t sink to the bottom
- Comfortable to wear for a long day
What we didn’t like:
- It’s easy to order Ninja Flex instead of Ninja Float by accident which do not float
- Reflective coating scratches easily
7 – SeaSpecs Stealth Extreme Sports Floating Sunglasses
Specifications
- Frame Material – Plastic
- Lens Material – Plastic
- Polarized – Yes
- Floating – Yes
Highlight Features
- SeaSpecs are extreme sports sunglasses for kiteboarding, Surfing, Jetskiing, Windsurfing, Snowboarding and other extreme sports
- Adjustable non-removable strap that is comfortable, secure and easily adjustable with one hand
- High quality impact resistant grey lenses are polarized providing 100% UVA & UVB Protection
Where to buy
Summary
The SeaSpecs Steath Extreme Sunglasses are a great choice for SUP surfing or river rapids. They have a tight fitting permanently attached band that keeps them snug on your face. They feel more like a cross between goggles and sunglasses than sunglasses. They have a rubber seal across the top to keep water from going down over your eyes. The frames have vents to get the moisture out so they stay fog free. They float too. These are a great choice for water activities such as SUP surfing where you stand a good chance of going in the water a lot.
What we liked:
- Attached strap keeps them on your face
- Vented frame helps keep them moisture and fog free
- Polarized lenses give you a good view of the water without glare
- Good for SUP surfing and river rapids without fear of losing glasses
- They float
What we didn’t like:
- Strap is a bit too short for hanging glasses around your neck
- Some people may not like the tight fit feeling
8 – Costa Del Mar Fantail
Specifications
- Frame Material – Plastic
- Lens Material – Polycarbonate or Glass
- Polarized – Yes
- Floating – No
- Size – 131 x 38 mm
Highlight Features
- Premium Polarized 580 Lenses – Filtering reflective glare is essential for anyone on the water or outdoors. We sell only polarized sunglasses.
- 100% UV Protection – Your Costas absorb 100% of UV light, providing you the best in light management and protection.
Where to buy
Summary
The Costa Del Mar Fantail sunglasses are stylish glasses made for water use. They are a lower profile wrap around design for those who don’t like big looking sunglass lenses. They are available with either glass or polycarbnate lenses. Glass if you are using them somewhere with no danger of shattering the lens. Polycarbonate lenses for more active uses where you need more eye protection. Check to make sure your buying from a seller that sells authentic Costa Del Mar glasses. There are some fakes out there on Amazon.
What we liked:
- Available with glass or polycarbonate lenses
- High performance polarized lenses
- Stylish Costa Del Mar look
- Secure fit and snug feel
- Available in a variety of lens and frame colors with mirror and non-mirror lenses
What we didn’t like:
- High cost
- Check to make sure the glasses you get are authentic. Some Amazon sellers sell counterfeit versions.
9 – Revo Sunglasses Harness
Specifications
- Frame Material – TR90 plastic
- Lens Material – Serilium+ nylon
- Polarized – Yes
- Floating – No
- Size – 135 x 40 mm
Highlight Features
- LENS – Revo high-contrast polarized Serilium+ lenses (lightweight, impact-resistant, glare-reducing nylon) | 8-base lens technology (a more curved profile, temple to temple) | Revo Light Management System (filters harmful UV, HEV, and Blue Light)
- FRAME – Elastomeric nose pad (slip-reducing rubber keeps the frame in place) | Revo retainer cord ready (to keep frames secure and on-hand, not included)
Where to buy
Summary
The Revo Harness sunglasses use NASA technology to produce some of the best lenses available. Revo was founded by a NASA engineer who decided to put the same coatings satellites use for sun protection onto a pair of sunglasses. With that Revo was born. The Harness uses that same technology today to protect your eyes from the sun while out on the water. The Harness was designed for water use with a wrap around style and firm fit.
What we liked:
- Revo advanaced lens technology
- One of the best polarized lenses available today
- Lenses that protect your eyes from the sun and impacts
- Stylish wrap around look
- Firm and snug feeling fit
- Available in many frame and lens color options
What we didn’t like:
- Higher cost
- They don’t float
10 – RIVBOS Polarized Sports Sunglasses
Specifications
- Frame Material – Plastic
- Lens Material – Polycarbonate
- Polarized – Yes
- Floating – No
- Size – 140 x 40 mm
Highlight Features
- High Grade SWITZERLAND TR90 Material Frame: Super Lightweight, Stylish and Durable
- TAC Polarized and Mirror Coating Lens- Offer 100% UVA&UVB Protection against the sunlight filtering 100% of all UVA/UVB/UVC and Harmful Blue Light Up to 400nm
Where to buy
Summary
The RIBVOS Polarized Sport Sunglasses are the most popular sports sunglasses on Amazon. They are a good cheap sunglass option for those who want great eye protection at a great price. They come in a variety of lens and frame colors. They have several low light yellow lens options which are good for cloudy drab flat light days. They have darker mirrored options that are good for sunny days.
What we liked:
- Very low price
- Great value
- Polarized lenses
- Available flat light lens options
- Good lens performance for the cost
- Snug wrap around fit
What we didn’t like:
- They could be a little darker on bright days
- Lenses scratch easily
- They don’t float
Paddle Boarding Sunglasses Guide
Let’s take a look at some of the most important things to look at when you are shopping for a set of SUP sunglasses. Polarized lenses and UV protection are the 2 most critical things to look for.
Polarized Lenses
Polarized lenses are beneficial to paddle boarding because they reduce the glare from the water. This allows you to see more clearly and makes it easier to navigate. Many sunglasses on the market claim to be polarized, but not all of them actually are. To make sure you’re getting a pair of truly polarized sunglasses, look for the polarization test card that comes with most pairs. If you don’t see one, ask the salesperson before you buy.
UV Protection
UV radiation can cause a number of eye problems, such as cataracts, macular degeneration, and photokeratitis (sunburn of the eye). That’s why it’s important to choose sunglasses that offer full UV protection. This will help protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays.
There are two types of UV radiation: UVA and UVB. UVA radiation is the more penetrating type and can damage the eye’s collagen fibers. UVB radiation is the type that causes sunburns. Both types of radiation are harmful to the eyes, so it’s important to choose sunglasses that offer full protection against both UVA and UVB radiation.
Most sunglasses on the market today offer full UV protection, but there are a few exceptions. So, be sure to check the label or ask the salesperson before you buy.
Floating sunglasses and retention straps
Paddle boarding and kayaking can be rough on your sunglasses. That’s why it’s important to choose a pair that will stay on your head, even when you’re in the water.
Floating sunglasses are great because they won’t sink. Your odds of finding them in any kind of chop or surf are near zero. It’s still a good idea to use some kind of strap to keep them attached.
Some sunglasses come with either a floating strap or a retention strap. A floating strap is made of buoyant material and goes around your neck. This type of strap is best for paddle boarding, as it will keep your sunglasses from sinking if they fall off. A retention strap is made of non-slip material and goes over the top of your head. This type of strap is best for kayaking, as it will keep your sunglasses from bouncing around or falling off.
If your sunglasses don’t come with a strap don’t worry. There are many cheap options available on Amazon that will keep your expensive sunglasses from sinking.
- Floating Sunglass Strap – Keep your sunglasses from ending up at the bottom of the lake.
Color optimized lenses such as PRIZM or ChromaPop
If you want the best possible visibility while paddle boarding, look for sunglasses with color optimized lenses. These lenses enhance contrast and make it easier to see in both bright light and low light conditions. The two most popular brands are PRIZM and ChromaPop. These work by filtering out shades of blue giving your sunglasses a light yellow or orange tint from the inside. This makes it easier to see especially in flat light conditions.
PRIZM is a lens technology that’s exclusive to Oakley. It fine-tunes vision for specific activities and environments. For example, there’s a PRIZM lens for road cycling, snow skiing, golf and fishing.
ChromaPop is a lens technology that’s exclusive to Smith Optics. It also fine-tunes vision for specific activities and environments. Some of the activities include road cycling, mountain biking, skiing, and golf.
Both PRIZM and ChromaPop lenses are available in a variety of different tints. They are available in polarized versions as well. You can choose the one that best suits your needs.
Wraparound frames
Wraparound frames offer several benefits over traditional sunglasses. First, they provide better coverage and protection from the sun. Second, they offer better peripheral vision. And third, they stay on your head better than traditional sunglasses.
Lens Material
Sports sunglasses are available in both glass and plastic lenses. We recommend plastic lenses as they are safer for activities such as paddling where you could hit something and potentially brake the lens. Many sunglasses are also certified as safety glasses under ANSI Z80.3. Plastic or polycarbonate lenses will act as safety glasses and protect your eyes. Glass lenses will break and could cause damage.
You might also like:
- The Best Inflatable Paddle Board Accessories Complete Guide
- Best Electric Paddle Board Pumps Reviews Tests and Ratings
Kate Ryan
Co-Founder & Editor
Kate is from Taiwan and came to the US after meeting her husband Doug. She has degrees in Fashion Design, Sales, and Marketing. The first thing we did her first winter here was go straight to the mountains and start ski lessons. These days she is an expert black diamond skier and waits for no one at the bottom. She also loves hiking and biking. She comes from Taiwan where people ride scooters way more than cars. She would rather bike or scooter and only drives when she absolutely has to.
kate@adventuregearinsider.com
