Sure, you’ve got sunglasses for flying but do you have the right kind of sunglasses? Of course, the choice is pretty individual, but there are features to look for in aviation sunglasses for pilots.
When flying an aircraft, you’ll want to choose sunglasses that optimize your vision, protect your eye health, and that are practical for the conditions of the cockpit.
The US Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) brochure on sunglasses for pilots and the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) guidance on the use of sunglasses for pilots discuss the unique requirements of pilots and makes recommendations on what to look for in sunglasses which back up our experience of features that work well in the air.
You want sunglasses that:
1. Screen light while allowing the best visibility;
2. Offer 100% UV protection; and
3. Are comfortable, stay in place, and can withstand the rigors of jarring flights while being used with headgear.
Choose sunglasses that optimize your vision with the right sunglasses for flying
The best sunglasses for flying will help you to see more clearly by reducing glare, easing eye fatigue, helping your eyes adapt to low light conditions after prolonged bright sun exposure, and won’t interfere with reading instruments or detecting colours.
While useful on-the-ground, both the FAA and the CAA recommend AGAINST polarized lenses. Why not use polarized sunglasses for flying? Problem is, in the cockpit polarized lenses can make it difficult, if not impossible, to read instruments with LCD or anti-glare screens and can also reduce visibility through aircraft windshields due to distortion
In addition, wearing polarized lenses can reduce the “helpful” glare of objects such as neighboring planes, ground reflections in the case of operating under visual flight rules (VFR), and can alter the appearance of clouds.
You should also avoid photochromic lenses because the transitioning process isn’t completely controllable, photochromic lenses can be a detriment under certain settings. For example, under warm temperatures, the transition process to darker tint is reduced, and more so if there is low UV light in the cockpit. In addition, the transition from dark to clear can take minutes, which may not be quick enough for pilots to react.
The FAA recommends choosing a lens tint that screens out no more than 70-85% of light; any darker and you may have trouble seeing instruments and other material in the cockpit.
The lens tint color doesn’t matter, but make sure it doesn’t distort colors too much or you’ll risk misreading color-coded instruments or navigation lights. Grey-tinted lenses are particularly recommended since they distort colors the least, and it, along with brown tints, are acceptable according to the CAA, which also suggests a graduated tint.
Sun protection for pilots at high altitudes
By operating above the earth’s surface, pilots are exposed to stronger ultraviolet radiation (UV) than at sea level. In fact, exposure to UV rays increases by 5% for each 1,000 feet of altitude. Since UV exposure can cause or accelerate the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration and other eye diseases there’s no question that pilots need to safeguard their eyesight.
The FAA recommends that pilots wear sunglasses with 100% UVA and UVB protection (or those labelled “UV 400”), and that the lenses be large enough to both block out UV radiation and to be practical in blocking out sunlight. And don’t go by tint darkness, price, or brand; the only way to tell how much UV protection the lenses offer is by checking the manufacturer’s labelling. Sunglasses that fit relatively closely, or that wrap around slightly, protect your eyes from the light entering the sides of your face.
Practical aviation sunglasses for pilots
In terms of a frame’s physical design there are endless options that might work.
The frames should fit comfortably under your headset and they should stay put during mid-flight where jarring or other motion might dislodge them. Well-fitting, sturdy, yet lightweight sunglasses with big enough lenses to block out some peripheral light work well for flying.
You might want bayonet temples (straight “arms” that sits atop your ears) to preserve the soundproof seal of your noise-cancelling headset, as well as to easily slide your sunglasses on or off with your headset on. But the downside is that some pilots find they slip off too easily during motion or when looking down. On the other hand, skull temples (“arms” that wrap around the back of your ear) stay on better during turbulence but can uncomfortably press against the back of your ear with headgear on.
The best non polarized sunglasses for pilots: Ray Ban, Randolph Engineering, and Oakley
We have selected our top choices for non polarized sunglasses for pilots based on their suitability to pilots’ needs, price, and general accessibility. We chose, in no particular order: Ray Ban, Oakley and Randolph Engineering, and highlight our favourite models. All models are unisex and prescription-ready.
Here’s our 6 top sunglasses compared
1. Ray Ban Aviator Sunglasses
Although Ray Ban aviator sunglasses are a pop culture and fashion phenomena, they’ve got bona-fide roots in aviation history. The design – a convex “teardrop”-shaped lens intended to cover a wide field of vision, green tinted lenses, a brow bar that stops sweat from getting into pilots’ eyes, and thin metal frames that fit with pilot headgear – became known as aviators, and were initially marketed as sportswear to the civilian public.
This teardrop-shaped, original Ray Ban Aviator sunglasses remain a practical design for pilots as the lens shape, dipping down and curving around the cheekbone, allows pilots to glance down through their lenses at their instruments while blocking some light from the sides of the face. The addition of varying types of arms (eg. Bayonet temples, skull temples), lens colours and materials for example, creates countless options in aviator sunglasses for pilots.
Ray Ban offers its hallmark aviator sunglasses in varying configurations of size, shape and lens colour. If you want to invest in a pair or Ray Bans, we suggest the classics. The Aviator RB3025 Classic and the Wayfarer Original RB2140 are both timeless styles.
Nearly a century on, the original features of these aviator sunglasses for pilots -with lightweight wire rims, its hallmark teardrop-shaped lens, and double nose bridge – endure in this design.
Pros:
Classic aviator design have good eye coverage
“Crystal” lenses are a 50/50 mix of glass and polycarbonate
Lightweight (31 grams) titanium frames
Silicone nose pads and clear rubber tips on arms[vii] for good fit and comfort
Thin skull temples fit well under headgear, yet stay in place with turbulence
Mid-range price
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Cons:
For some, the style can be slightly dated
If the Aviator Classic doesn’t suit you, a Ray Ban alternative is the slightly more angular Wayfarer Original. Its trapezoid-shaped frame is molded of plastic and has a characteristic flare at the top outside corners[viii]. Its wider arms may be an issue for headsets, however, so better to try them out before a big flight.
Pros:
Trapezoid-shaped lenses with corner flares offer an alternative shape
“Crystal” lenses are a 50/50 mix of glass and polycarbonate
Frames tilt/angle into the face which helps shield UV light
Higher bridge fit may be better for some faces
Mid-range price
Cons:
Plastic (acetate) frame is slightly heavier (at 45 grams) than the Ray Ban Aviator
Thicker temples may be uncomfortable after long periods
Tilt into the face may not be suitable for all
Less sun protection from the sides of the face
Randolph Engineering
Randolph Aviator sunglasses became standard-issue for military pilots and the brand remains known for their quality craftsmanship. Randolph sunglasses are a bit pricier than the average Ray Ban however, likely because of the build quality. With origins in artisan handcrafting, each of Randolph’s sunglasses are handmade in the US, in the family-owned and operated company. Their sunglasses boast a “jewelry quality and luxury features” such as 23-carat gold and other premium finishes, a lifetime warranty on the frame’s solder joints, as well as a repair program.
Randolph has many styles and shapes of sunglasses but considers them all aviator sunglasses as they were designed for pilots.
Their flagship model, the Randolph Aviator sunglasses, aren’t teardrop shaped, but are square aviator sunglasses referred to as the “navigator” style, designed in response to the US military’s need for sunglasses to fit under fighter pilots’ visors and helmets.
These square aviator sunglasses, are designed with the same original military specifications dating from 1982, and are used by the US military and other air forces worldwide. It’s a top-notch choice and with options for lens color and premium frame finishes, you can create a handsome, yet functional accessory for flying.
Pros:
Square aviator sunglasses for an alternative aviator style
Closer fit to face may offer Better eye coverage from sun on top and sides compared to Concorde and larger eye coverage than Ray Ban Aviator
Nickel steel alloy frame resists corrosion
Bayonet temples permit soundproof seal with headsets and ease wear and removal
23K gold and other premium finishes available
Rubber temple tips for comfort under headgear[viii] and built larger than Ray Ban Aviator for more comfort
Reputation for quality materials and excellent build quality
Cons:
Higher price point than Ray Ban aviators
The Concorde has the same exacting craftsmanship as the Aviator, but with a few tweaks to boost its performance, which benefits the pilot experience. This model, which has the original teardrop-shaped aviator lens, has more substantial temples for added strength and durability, and only comes with glass lenses, presumably for superior optical clarity. Correspondingly, however, the Concorde comes at a higher price.
Pros:
Classic teardrop-shaped aviator style
Large lenses with good eye coverage
Glass lenses only available
Frames in nickel steel alloy frame for corrosion resistance, is heavier than Ray Ban Aviator, at 37 grams
23K gold and other premium finishes available
Thicker more substantial arms at temples (compared to Ray Ban) make it more durable
Rubber temple tips specially designed for comfort under headgear
Reputation for quality materials and excellent build quality
Higher price point; pricier than Ray Ban Aviator or Randolph Aviator
Cons
Pricey
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