9 Best Aviator Sunglasses in 2024 – Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

Last Updated on Jan 03 2024

No other eyewear can give you the iconic appearance as aviator sunglasses do. While many people opt for these glasses to look sporty and stylish, others prefer them for their functionality.

Aviator sunglasses have evolved a lot in terms of style and purpose. Previously, they had large, teardrop-shaped lenses that helped pilots maintain the optimal sunlight coverage in their planes.

Over time, civilians started to adopt these sunglasses and made them an outfit staple in the fashion industry. Nowadays, you can find numerous lens and frame materials, colors, and styles. 

This guide will give you quick reviews of the 10 best aviator sunglasses for this year, along with detailed buying guidelines. So, hopefully, you will get the perfect aviator sunglasses for yourself to flaunt this summer.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites

The 9 Best Aviator Sunglasses

1. Ray-Ban RB3025 Aviator Sunglasses – Best Overall

Ray-Ban is the trendsetter of aviator sunglasses. The brand manufactured the first aviator sunglasses in 1937 for the safety and convenience of US fighter pilots. Little did they know that these sunglasses would become a fashion statement in the upcoming years.

The Ray-Ban RB3025 Aviator Sunglasses portrays a similar structure with a perfect touch of modern style.

They are our pick for the best overall aviator sunglasses, as no other brand has come even close to this masterpiece in terms of quality.

These sunglasses are constructed with a metal frame, which is durable enough to last all seasons. In addition, they are neither too large nor too small, so they sit comfortably on your nose bridge.

The best part about this Ray-Ban product is that they are ideal eyewear in the daytime as well as the night. So, whether you have to spend a day out in the sun or hit a party at night, these sunglasses will make you look prepared in both cases.

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2. STNGR Aviators Lifestyle Sunglasses – Best Value

STNGR is a name known to almost all aviator lovers who usually have a tight budget. The brand manufactures affordable yet quality aviator sunglasses that stand the test of time without breaking the bank. The STNGR Aviators Lifestyle Sunglasses are definitely the best value for the money.

These aviator sunglasses have an innovative nose pad, something that most glasses don’t come with. This feature provides comfort to your nose while absorbing the impact more efficiently than traditional aviators.

These sunglasses don’t slip easily. They come with a rubber material that becomes stickier with sweat moisture on your nose pad and temples.

If you’re an avid rider and don’t want to compromise on your style, these STNGR Aviators Lifestyle Sunglasses feature minimal temple tips that sit easily underneath your helmets and hats. This ensures style and functionality side by side.

While being almost half the price of the previously mentioned Ray-Ban glasses, these Lifestyle Aviators are no less in functionality and quality. So, if you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on aviator sunglasses, STNGR Lifestyle Aviators can be ideal for you.

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3. Serengeti Carrara Sunglasses – Premium Choice

Serengeti Carrara fuses the classic pilot shape of aviators into modern fashion trends. These Serengeti Carrara Sunglasses are the same stylish shape aviators you know and love with high-standard eye protection and comfort.

To offer you more comfort, these sunglasses come with adjustable temple tips and nose pads. These features also help them fit your face easily, so you can wear them all day long.

The unique thing about these Serengeti Carrara sunglasses is the integration of multiple modern technologies. They have Spectral Control technology that reduces blue light transmissions to help you see things with enhanced colors and details. Not only that, but you also get a clear and crisp image view.

In addition, the Polarization technology helps the sunglasses offer exceptional clarity in all types of environments.

Price-wise, these glasses are quite expensive and stand close to the Ray-Bans. So, if you don’t want to compromise on the quality of your aviators, even if it costs more, Serengeti Carrara is the best premium choice for this year.

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4. Rothco Folding Aviator Sunglasses

Rothco has something different for aviator sunglasses lovers. Unlike traditional sunglasses, you can fold these glasses from the ridge, put them in your pocket, and travel anywhere you want. Don’t worry—the lens is scratch-proof, so there are fewer chances of damage to the lens.

If you’re still reluctant, these aviator sunglasses come in a black carrying case with a closure. The folding feature offers convenience to the wearer and makes these sunglasses attractive, portable eyewear.

To uplift your appearance, these sunglasses come with a nickel frame and temple with a gold finish. Their sleek design makes them complement formal, semi-formal, and casual outfits similarly. So, if you have to hit a restaurant for dinner after a long day on the field, you don’t have to carry two types of eyewear for each event.

What’s more, these Rothco folding sunglasses provide the wearers with UV 400 protection. The best part is that these sunglasses meet ANSI Z80.3-2001 standards. So, if you travel a lot, you can easily slip these glasses into smaller spaces with minimal chances of damage.

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5. Suncloud Aviator Sunglasses

Suncloud Aviator Sunglasses come with wireframes crafted with optical grade metal alloys for enhanced durability and the best fit. Suncloud is known for manufacturing classic aviator sunglasses with improved functionality and design. These aviator sunglasses are lightweight and have full coverage, so you won’t be bothered by them sitting on your nose all day long.

Moreover, these sunglasses have polarized lenses with spring hinges on the frames that ensure a custom fit. Not only that, but they also provide 100% protection to your eyes from harmful UV rays.

These Suncloud Aviator Sunglasses’ effective polarization minimizes annoying glare. In addition, the lenses are shatter-resistant, so your eyes will be protected no matter what life throws at you.

If you particularly consider the style of your aviator sunglasses, these Suncloud sunglasses come with minimal lens curvature. Plus, the material used to construct these aviators is 53% biobased.

Lastly, this product is, so far, the most affordable on this list. So, it may not be close to the Ray-Bans and Serengeti Carrara in terms of quality, but there is nothing wrong with trying them once, no?

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6. OTIS Templin Sunglasses

OTIS is popular for picking up the ordinary and making it remarkable. Their aviator sunglasses are the perfect portrayal of their motto. These OTIS Templin Sunglasses come with a bit of a twist in their design.

You’ll find a double nose bridge made of metal on these sunglasses. This feature connects two frames coated with handmade acetate. Not only that, but they also have lightweight temples, which make this product super comfortable and stylish.

The cutting edge of the OTIS Templin Sunglasses is their mineral glass lenses made of sand and soda ash. Due to this, these sunglasses have a remarkable resistance to scratches and are distortion-free.

What’s more, the lens of these aviator sunglasses can block 100% UVB, UVA, and HEV light to protect your eyes from harmful sun rays. When it comes to the base curve of the lens, you’ll get a four base lens curve that is usually flatter at the front area.

Another distinctive feature of OTIS Templin Sunglasses is the barrel hinges present on their frame. These are high-quality Visottica brand hinges that are super-durable and corrosion-resistant. All these things make the OTIS Templin Sunglasses a great choice.

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7. Zeal Optics Easterly Aviator Sunglasses

These Zeal Optics Aviator Sunglasses give the wearer the taste of the classic 60s with a touch of the perfect modern style.

These aviator sunglasses are constructed with stainless steel, making this piece lightweight and robust at the same time. They also have adjustable ceramic nose pads for the perfect customized fit.

Zeal Optics also ensures resistance against impacts and shocks like the top-tier sunglasses brands. Not only that, but these sunglasses also provide 95% HEV protection to your eyes for safe and clear optics.

What makes these sunglasses unique is their plant-based polarized lenses. These lenses not only offer you a clear view but also the perfect colors and contrast.

If you’re looking for aviator sunglasses because of their stylish cuts and designs, these Easterly Steel Aviator Sunglasses from Zeal Optics can be the perfect fit for you. The gorgeous sky-blue lenses look super attractive with the silver steel frame.

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8. Ray-Ban Bill RB2198 Sunglasses

To remind you of the classic 80s era, the Ray-Ban Bill RB2198 sunglasses are back again. The company relaunched its iconic aviator sunglasses in a bold, acetate style that catches every eye that falls on them.

These popular sunglasses come in classic and bi-layered options with attractive color combinations. Of course, you can never go wrong with Ray-Bans; they are classy, durable, and boost your appearance to new heights.

These are undoubtedly your true calling if you’re a vintage lover. However, this piece is also ideal for people wanting to instill a modern look in their appearance. In addition, the classic square-shaped lens is made of crystal, so you’ll get high-quality as well.

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9. Rothco G.I. Type Aviator Sunglasses

The Rothco G.I. Type Aviator has the classic military-like design that you see in the iconic movies of the 80s. In fact, these aviator sunglasses are designed to meet military standards. If you’re already thinking about Maverick from Top Gun, these glasses are more or less similar to his pair of aviators.

These sunglasses are designed to be used for years. They are made of impact-resistant lenses and metal frames, which add to their durability. In addition, these glasses also have bayonet temples, ensuring long-term use.

The best part is that you can find a range of colors and sizes in these Rothco G.I. Type Aviator Sunglasses. So, whatever you’re in the mood for, they would complement your outfit anyway.

Lastly, this product comes with a black carrying case. Therefore, you can safely carry them anywhere you go. What’s better than having all-time access to your classic aviator glasses? Nothing, right!

Buyer’s Guide: Buying the Best Aviator Sunglasses

If you think selecting a pair of sunglasses from the above list is enough, you may need to pause before making your decision. Many factors play a significant role in making a pair of aviator sunglasses suitable for you.

As we mentioned before, these sunglasses also come in various styles, materials, and lens colors. So, what should be your pick?

This buying guide will answer all your questions related to aviator sunglasses to help you make the most out of your eyewear investment.

Aviator Styles

The classic aviator sunglasses have come a long way since their first arrival. Here are the most common styles of aviator sunglasses that depict the evolution of this iconic eyewear:

Classic Teardrop

It is the original and standard style of aviator sunglasses. The classic teardrop gives the perfect military look, reminding the wearer of the rich heritage. Functionality-wise, the teardrop aviators cover almost most of your eye area to guard it against the sunlight.

The classic teardrop shape usually suits all types of face structures, but those with longer faces have an edge here.

Navigator

This is a slightly squared version of the standard teardrop shape. For people who want to stay connected to the rich, classic essence of aviators and need something unique, the navigator-style glasses are the perfect pick. This style is bound to make them stand out from the crowd.

Sporty

Sporty-style aviators are the best choice for fitness or sports enthusiasts who want to perform their activities in style. Design-wise, these aviators are square from the bottom with wider lenses. This cut enables sporty sunglasses to fit perfectly on your face and block harmful sun rays.

Since the bottom of these sunglasses is squared off, you won’t find them as front-heavy as the standard teardrop aviators.

Aviator Materials

Once you make up your mind about an aviator style, the next step is to choose a suitable material. Here are some common materials that aviators come in:

Metal

Although the original aviator frames used in WWII were made of real gold, metal is still the most-used material for aviator frames. The standard metal frames have a brass or silver finish, making them heavy.

Plastic

If you want to go for something more unique and modern, look for aviator sunglasses with plastic frames. They are usually like classic metal frame aviators but with thicker frames. This construction makes the wearer look sporty and bold.

Mixed Materials

Some aviators are made of a combination of metal and plastic. The metal adds that traditional aviator vibe, while the plastic makes you look sporty. Considering the fashion-forward approach, these sunglasses are becoming a hit nowadays.

Lens Color

The lens color of an aviator is more than just about appearance. They also play a significant role in enhancing the color and blocking the light. Some common lens colors are:

Brown Lenses

Brown lenses enhance brightness and create optimal color saturation for a more detailed image view. So, you can wear an aviator with brown lenses in the morning as well as in the evening. In addition, such lenses are ideal for riders because of their incredible sight-enhancing characteristics.

Mirrored Lenses

Such lenses absorb and reflect the right amount of glare. This gives the wearer maximum glare protection. On the other hand, aviator sunglasses with mirrored lenses may look quite intense.

Dark Gray Lenses

These lenses are perfect for the daytime as they effectively knock out the brightest lights. One major downside is that dark gray lenses cool down colors, so you may not get as crisp detailing as brown lenses.

Gradated Lenses

Gradated lenses are a mix of both brown and dark gray lenses. They have a darker top that provides sun protection when driving in the sun. Meanwhile, they are lighter on the bottom to help you see optimal details with the perfect sun protection.

Green Lenses

Green lenses are the classic color for aviator sunglasses. It is more like a neutral shade that neither saturates nor darkens colors. So, if you want to achieve an optimal shade level, green lenses are the best pick.

What to Consider When Shopping for Aviator Sunglasses

Whether you have a low budget or a stretched one, you are more likely to find a pair of aviator sunglasses according to your preferences. Here are some things to consider:

Conclusion

Aviator sunglasses are never going to get out of style. Industry giants, including Ray-Ban and Versace, now manufacture aviators in various styles, shapes, colors, and materials to suit modern fashion trends.

People looking for a functional pair of aviators with a heavy budget should consider the Ray-Ban RB3025 Aviator Sunglasses. On the other hand, those with a tight budget can go for the STNGR Aviators Lifestyle Sunglasses.

Our product reviews showed you the pros and cons of the best aviator sunglasses currently available. No matter which you choose, make sure that the glasses sit nicely on your face.

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Featured Image Credit: TheHilaryClark, Pixabay