9 Best Aviator Sunglasses of 2026

Randolph Engineering is the most complete answer for a buyer who wants a classic teardrop aviator built to last. The company describes its frames as military spec and handcrafted in 200 steps, and says it has been a family business for more than 50 years. The Aviator in Gunmetal with AGX lenses starts at $265, and Randolph lists AGX as a polarized glass lens, so the starting pair already has glass and polarization. Its Aviator II product page offers four widths, 52mm, 55mm, 58mm and 61mm, which matters for aviators because the large lens can overwhelm a narrow face or sit tight on a wide one. Randolph covers non-prescription eyewear for 3 years on just about everything, covers solder joints for the lifetime of the frame and gives one free Tune-Up in the first year. The trade-offs are price, since gold-plated versions run to $345 and more, and a warranty that needs proof of purchase from an authorized seller. We compared documented features and published prices; Randolph ranks first for its glass lenses, size range and warranty.

American Optical's Original Pilot is the pick for buyers who want an aviator with real military history and documented specs. The company says the design was first developed in 1958 for American military pilots, was formerly called the FG-58 and went to the moon in Apollo astronaut survival kits. Today it is still made in the USA from premium global components, with bayonet temples that slide under helmets or headgear. Prices run from $250 to $345 depending on lens choice: SkyMaster glass, which AO says has superior scratch resistance, or lighter AOLite nylon, each with or without 99% polarized lenses. Both lens types list anti-reflective and smudge-resistant coatings and an ANSI Z80.3 impact rating. Three sizes cover 52mm to 57mm, and lens colors include Calobar Green and two SunFlash mirrors. Free US shipping and 30-day free returns lower the risk of ordering online. The straight bayonet temples will not suit everyone, and the top configurations cost almost as much as Randolph's gold pairs.

The Ray-Ban RB3025 Aviator Classic is the answer to the question of which Ray-Ban aviator to buy: it is the brand's metal pilot frame, and FramesDirect, a Ray-Ban Certified Store, describes it as originally crafted for US pilots. It has a lightweight full-rim metal frame, adjustable silicone nose pads and 100% UVA/UVB protection. The main draw is choice. FramesDirect lists more than 30 frame and lens combinations, including Gold with Crystal Green Polarized lenses, Black with Black Polarized lenses and mirrored polarized versions such as Matte Gold with Blue Mirror and Matte Silver with Silver Mirror, plus 55mm, 58mm and 62mm widths. The default color was $244 at our check, and FramesDirect lists a 2-year manufacturer frame warranty. Ray-Ban's own US site blocked our checks, so we could not confirm its direct price or lens details there. Plain and polarized lenses share the same page, so read the lens name before checkout. Buyers who want glass lenses or a longer warranty should look at Randolph or American Optical.

Smith's Langley 2 is a teardrop aviator for buyers who spend time outdoors and want polarization without paying for glass. Smith describes it as pairing timeless teardrop frames with ChromaPop polarized lenses, which it says cut glare and enhance color and contrast. The lenses are Carbonic polycarbonate for impact resistance, with a smudge and moisture resistant coating, and they sit in a stainless steel frame with acetate temple tips and adjustable silicone nose pads. Every version is polarized at $227, and mirror finishes include Rose Gold, Blue and Opal. Smith backs it with a Limited Lifetime Warranty, free shipping over $50 and 30-day returns. The size is fixed at a 61mm lens with a 13mm bridge, which Smith calls a medium fit, so buyers with narrow faces may prefer Randolph's 52mm or American Optical's 52mm sizes. At our check, most color options were marked sold out or unavailable, so stock is the main risk. We compared documented features and published prices; the Langley 2 is the best polarized metal aviator under $250 here.

Knockaround's Mile Highs is the budget answer for buyers who want the aviator shape and polarized lenses without spending $200 or more. It costs $35, has a metal frame, polarized lenses and 100% UVA/UVB protection, and comes in Small/Medium and Large/XL sizes, which is more sizing choice than many budget frames offer. Knockaround advertises a lifetime warranty and 45-day hassle-free returns, the longest return window on this list, and ships free on orders of $50 or more. The colorway we checked was Gold with Aviator Green lenses. What you give up is documentation: the page we checked does not list lens material, coatings or millimeter measurements, so it is hard to compare optics with Randolph's AGX glass or American Optical's SkyMaster glass. At this price it suits a spare pair for the car, the beach or travel where loss is likely. We compared documented features and published prices; the Mile Highs scores highest on value and lowest on documented quality.

Persol's 649 is the choice for buyers who like the aviator outline but want a thicker acetate frame instead of thin metal. Persol describes it as a fully constructed acetate aviator frame with a keyhole bridge, the brand's arrow and its Meflecto system, and it is handmade in Italy. Most of its ten color options cost $363, including Havana with Green lenses and Black with Green lenses, while some lens colors cost $427, among them Black with a Light Blue Gradient Dark Blue Polar lens. The frame comes in one size, 54-20, with 140mm temples and a 27mm lens height, which Persol marks as best for most faces. Persol offers free delivery and returns, interest-free installments and a $15 monogram on the temple arrow, though monogrammed frames cannot be returned unless the engraving is defective. The 649 costs more than Randolph and American Optical and does not offer a size range, so it ranks below them on value. We compared documented features and published prices.

Maui Jim's Mavericks is a modern take on the aviator for buyers who spend time around water and want every version polarized. FramesDirect, an authorized Maui Jim dealer, describes titanium rims that are strong, lightweight and hypoallergenic, and double wire cores that keep the fit stable during activities like surfing or snorkeling. All four versions it lists use PolarizedPlus2 lenses, and the retailer notes that Maui Jim lenses are polarized with an anti-reflective coating. The price at our check was $339, with a 61mm lens width and a 2-year manufacturer frame warranty. Maui Jim's own US site blocked our checks, so we could not confirm the direct price, lens colors or warranty terms there. At $339 the Mavericks costs more than Randolph's polarized glass Aviator and offers fewer sizes and colors than the Ray-Ban RB3025. It suits buyers who already trust Maui Jim lenses or need a hypoallergenic frame. We compared documented features and published prices.

Oliver Peoples' Benedict is the luxury option for buyers who want a classic double-bridge aviator with a quieter look than the big-name brands. Oliver Peoples calls it a classic, sophisticated double-bridge aviator designed to flatter most faces, and it is handmade in Italy under model code OV1002S. Both versions we checked cost $537: Silver metal with Clear Gradient Blue Crystal lenses, and Silver with Sandstone Gradient Polarized Crystal lenses, so polarization does not add to the price. The frame comes in one size, 59-16, with 130mm temples, standard face coverage and adjustable nose pads, and the product page lets buyers add prescription lenses. The downsides are price and choice: at $537 it costs about twice Randolph's starting Aviator, there is only one size, and some colors were no longer available at our check. It suits buyers who want Italian manufacturing and a refined finish over a size range or a long published warranty. We compared documented features and published prices.

Carrera's 1001/S is for buyers who want an aviator that reads as a fashion piece rather than a pilot frame. Carrera describes an injection-molded aviator silhouette with a multilayered finish, gradient lenses, a front center C monogram, its stripe detailing along the top bar and logo-stamped temples, and calls it one of the brand's all-time best-sellers. It costs $180 on Carrera's US store, in Matte Black Red, Blue Red and Black White, with free shipping over $50 and 30-day returns. The limits are clear from the page: the lens type is listed as UV Protect with no polarized option, there are no size measurements, and the oversized plastic shape is further from the thin metal teardrop that most aviator buyers want. Carrera's own copy also describes the frame as oversized and square. It ranks last here because the metal picks document more about lenses and fit, but it costs less than every metal pick except Knockaround. We compared documented features and published prices.