Who else remembers the novelty sunglasses your parents bought you as a kid which had this cool feature where you could switch between sunglasses and regular lenses (whether you needed them) at the flick of a wrist? While these may have felt a little childish, probably because they were bright boy colors of fiery orange, cool blue, or dynamic red, flip up sunglasses for men offer something a little closer to your newfound maturity. The best flip up sunglasses are quick, convenient, stylish, and versatile.
If you spend most of your free time enjoying the great outdoors, flip up sunglasses are an excellent way to save money on buying a spare pair, while also ensuring they are always accessible when the sun washes across your face. If you enjoy hunting, fishing, cycling, or just want to look good without carrying 2 pairs of glasses around, flip up sunglasses could be the answer.
A great pair of the best sunglasses can help transform your look along with being a practical solution to a more enjoyable, successful day out on adventures, watching the big game live at the stadium, or just hanging with friends in the sweet summer sun.
The Best Flip Up Sunglasses
1Franklin Sports MLB Deluxe Flip Up Sunglasses
If you like to go to the park and play ball when summer rolls around, the Franklin Sports MLB Deluxe Flip Up Sunglasses are the best flip up sunglasses you can buy. The impact resistant frames ensure durability, while the provided carry case and headband keep them secure both on and off your head.
The mirrored lens flip up and down easily, giving you a simple, straightforward switch between depending on the brightness. Worn by players in the MLB, they’re a popular choice for sportsmen, but will also be suitable for a variety of other outdoor activities so you can use them as cycling and fishing sunglasses, too.
- BrandFranklin Sports
- Model19180
- Weight2.08 ounces
2COASION Vintage Round Flip Up Sunglasses
The COASION Vintage Round Flip Up Sunglasses call back to the 60s and 70s and boast a style made famous by John Lennon. The metal frame is sturdy, while the double-layer lens design gives you an all-round eyewear option, and you can replace them with your standard prescription lenses.
With 100% UV protection, you’ll get a pair of flip up glasses that are as safe as they are timeless. The design is suitable for keeping your eyes protected on the way to the office, hanging with your friends on a bar patio, or enjoying some happy family time with a BBQ in the summer. One of the best sunglasses out there.
- BrandCOASION
- ModelCA2004D
- Weight5.6 ounces
3NEWON Clip On Flip UP Sunglasses 3 Pack
Our best value pick is the NEWON Clip On Flip UP Sunglasses 3 Pack, which offers different options to select the style and design that best suits you. The clip on design allows you to attach them easily to your existing pair of spectacles, and the different lens colors (blue, gray, yellow) offers variety for alternating levels of brightness and types of situations.
The anti-reflective and anti-scratch construction means they’re durable, and they’re also simple to use, even if you’ve never tried flip ups before. They are comfortable lightweight, weighing just 0.2 ounces per pair, and the UV protective treatment adds an extra layer of safety for when you’re in the sun all day. Make sure you also check our guide to the best sunglasses for skiing.
- BrandNEWON
- ModelB07FGFSRXH
- Weight1.4 ounces
4Splaks Clip On Sunglasses 2 Pack
Similarly, the Splaks Clip On Sunglasses 2 Pack offers much the same as the NEWON option, just with one less lens. Despite this, they’re still a decent value choice, and will fit most rectangular prescription sunglasses without over or under-lapping the lower lens.
The lenses are also polarized, but they only come in one color (black), which means you won’t have as much visibility in different conditions. This takes nothing away from the quality of construction, though, and lightweight, non-shrinking clip is secure, while the soft rubber tips prevents them scratching your reading glasses to keep everything in great condition. Should you lose these tips, there’s a backup pair included, which is a nice bonus. If you love classic sunglasses, check out our guide to the best Gucci sunglasses.
- BrandSplaks
- ModelB071GQW55H
- Weight0.32 ounces
5Wangly Polarized Clip On Flip Up Sunglasses
The Wangly Polarized Clip On Flip Up Sunglasses use a sleek metal frame around the nose bridge to deliver superb quality if you’re looking for a flip up sunglasses solution. The TAC polarized lenses protect your eyes from glare and make them a great option for driving, fishing, and other outdoor activities.
The lenses are plastic, which ensures better durability, but this means they might not be ideal for everyday wear, at least not style-wise, so you may want to keep another pair of sunglasses handy. For easy visibility when the sun’s just a little too low for your liking, though, they are a superb easy to use and easy fitting option when on the move. Our guide to the best aviator sunglasses offers more great products like this so check it out.
- BrandWangly
- ModelA003BLK
- Weight1.6 ounces
6SunglassUp Circular Django Flip Up Sunglasses
Our premium choice is the SunglassUp Circular Django Flip Up Sunglasses available in a variety of colors to suit your style and add a nice vintage touch to your outfit. The UVA and UVB protection ensures safety in the sun, while the metal frames with reinforced hinges provide better durability compared to plastic options.
While technically plastic, the polycarbonate lens is also robust and is essentially unbreakable. You’ll also get a microfiber carry pouch to keep your glasses safe and clean from smudges when you’re not using them. At just over $12, we consider them a great option at a great price for a pair of effortlessly cool flip up shades. Don’t forget to also check our guide to the best Ray Ban sunglasses for more great eyewear.
- BrandSunglassUp
- ModelB073W26BH2
- Weight1.6 ounces
7Barricade Polarized Flip Up Fit Over Sunglasses
Our final pick for today are the dynamic Barricade Polarized Flip Up Fit Over Sunglasses which look like some evil alien spacecraft, but will do much more to protect your eyes than pesky invaders would. Much like the Franklin Sports MLB Deluxe, they are ideal for fast, rigorous outdoor sports to keep your visibility high without the risk of them falling as you run to make that game-winning catch.
The included pouch keeps them safe when clouds fill the sky, but the lenses (which are available in a variety of colors) will reduce glare to ensure clarity wherever you look. They offer more than just great performance, though, and the secure plastic frame is comfortable and lightweight for easy all day wear. Even if you’re not much of a sportsman, you’ll still find a lot to love about these. You may also be interested in some of these cool solar eclipse glasses from our list. Check them out.
- BrandBarricade
- ModelB0141DMTZA
- Weight1.6 ounces
Flip Up Sunglasses Buying Guide
How We Chose Our Selection Of The Best Flip Up Sunglasses
As always, we want to ensure we find only the very best products for our selection, and that means wading through hundreds, sometimes thousands, of potential options. To narrow these options down to what we think are the best in all areas, we use this crucial criterion.
Brand - While not as prominent as your classic standard sunglasses brands, we know it’s still important to consider who’s making these flip up sunglasses. We like brands that show a dedication to their craft, and we believe the brands we’ve selected exceed these expectations by quite a way.
Reviews - Flip up sunglasses reviews were crucial in figuring out exactly what we and you need to think about when making your purchase. They helped us understand the importance of the fit, the ease of use, and any additional features like polarization that might be useful.
Price - It’s always nice to find a range of products that aren’t expensive, and while there’s still a slight difference between prices, it’s not too large of a range to price anyone out of purchasing. That being said, we considered the value of the products to make sure selected options that are worth the money you will pay.
Features To Look For In Flip Up Sunglasses
Along with flip up sunglasses reviews, the brand, and the price, consider these features to ensure you find the right ones to suit you.
Style - Not everybody has the same preferences when it comes to style, which is why we selected a wide range of different looks to ensure everyone can find something for them. Because sunglasses are an excellent way to add some flair to your outfit, think about how you typically dress and which style of flip up sunglasses suit your general outfit.
Design - The variety of designs for your flip up sunglasses gives you options to choose from depending on what you’ll use them for. Some readers may only need a simple clip on pair to keep in the car to keep their vision clear while driving, however, others may prefer fully fledged sunglasses to wear when playing baseball, golf, or cricket.
If you typically wear glasses anyway, you can also invest in flip up sunglasses that provide both tinted and clear lenses. The clear under lens can usually be replaced with your prescription lens, so if you like the style of these, it’s certainly something to think about.
Value - While some flip up sunglasses may cost more than others, this may be because they come in a 2 or 3 pack of similar styles with different colors. This could work out to be better value for money than buying a single pair, and will give you extras in case your first set breaks or gets lost.
Polarization - The best flip up sunglasses will come with polarized lenses to reduce glare and improve visibility. Eliminating this glare can help prevent temporary blindness, color distortion, ease issues with your depth perception. If you use your flip up sunglasses for activities where you need crisp, clear vision at all times (such as cycling, snowboarding, or hunting, among others), polarized lenses are your best bet.
If you will only need your flip ups as standard sunglasses options, polarization isn’t as important, but it also doesn’t hurt to have it.
Lens - The lens is arguably the most important part of the sunglasses and different lens materials and colors can impact how you see the world through them. A gray lense helps to reduce light intensity without distorting the colors, while brown lenses help block blue light.
Amber and yellow lenses are useful for hunters and fishermen, but not for driving, as they hinder color recognition. Likewise, an orange lens is good for snow sports, but only on cloudy days. Lenses that are blue or green are useful for tennis, but with the amount of movement, you’ll need sunglasses with a head strap to keep them in place.
Material - Your sunglass frames will be constructed using either metal or plastic, and if they are just clip ons, there won’t be any frames at all. Metal is often heavier, but only slightly, and it is also less prone to snapping when under pressure. However, there is the chance of it bending if sat on accidentally.
Plastic, typically polycarbonate, is more lightweight and surprisingly durable, but the material you want may be down to the style you’re looking for and your design preference. For activity-wear, plastic is perhaps better, but worn casually, metal is your best bet.
Quality - High quality is always important regardless of what you purchase, but with the potential delicacy of flip up sunglasses, it’s arguably even more essential. While you won’t spend too much on your flip up sunglasses, you still want a pair that’s durable, so picking the best quality option for you is vital.
Weight - The weight of your sunglasses is an understated feature to consider. Ones that are too heavy will lead to discomfort when worn all day, however, sunglasses that are too light could end with you losing them, or forgetting where you’ve put them.
Fit - If ill-fitting sunglasses are bad news, ill-fitting flip up sunglasses may be even worse. Nobody wants to look like they’re wearing novelty New Year’s sunglasses in July, so finding the proper fit for your flip up sunglasses is essential.
Like any decent pair of sunglasses, they should frame the face, but with flip up sunglasses, they should also suit the frames of your prescription glasses. Around the temples, they should also not be too tight they cause headaches, but also not too loose they fall off.
Sources:
- The Best Way to Pick Sunglasses - WikiHow
- How To Select the Correct Size Of Flip Up Sunglasses - Clip On Sunglasses
- A Guide to Purchasing Clip On Flip Up Sunglasses - VS Eyewear
- How Important Are Polarized Sunglasses? - Shadesdaddy Blog
