Sunglasses are one of the most important festival items that should never be left at home. Not only are they a stylish festival accessory and help you to avoid awkward eye contact, but they protect your eyes and overall health!

However, not all sunglasses are made the same. Not only should they reduce overall brightness, it’s important to block out harmful UVA and UVB rays which cause permanent damage to your eyes.

Popular sunglasses for music festivals

When it comes to purchasing a pair of sunglasses, make sure you go with a reputable brand that can be backed up. Cheap sunglasses can have a variety of issues – as listed above.

MessyWeekend

If there was 1 sunglasses brand that is gaining tons of traction, it has to be MessyWeekend. Just founded 2 years ago, they are now available in over 70 countries and rising in popularity due to their brilliant design at affordable prices.

MessyWeekend sunglasses particularly appeal to those who enjoy music festivals, outdoor culture, adventurers or those who live in the city and want to look in style.

Even better? MessyWeekend donates a portion of every sale to help clean out trash in the Pacific Ocean. So they’re hitting all the marks of a good new company – and it’s showing!

Shop MessyWeekend on Amazon

Ray-Ban

Without a doubt the most popular sunglasses brand on the market, picking out a pair of Ray-Ban’s might be the best investment you will make. Not only will you be fashionable, your eyes will have the correct protection.

Ray-Ban was founded in 1937 and bought by Luxottica in 1999. Their most popular styles include The Wayfarer, Clubmaster and Aviater.

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Persol

Persol is an Italian maker of eyewear, owned by Luxottica. It was founded in 1917, making one of the oldest eyewear companies in the world.

Their glasses are stylish and durable enough to last many years. While not on the cheap side (averaging at over $100 for a pair), it’s worth the investment.

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Oliver Peoples

Oliver Peoples is yet another brand owned by Luxottica. Founded in the good old USA in 1987, they are known for their distrinct sunglasses frames. They are great quality, however expect to fork out $300 or more for some of their awesome designs.

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Mykita

This award-winning German eyewear manufacturer hand-assembles all their sunglasses and aren’t mass-produced. As a result, expect to pay a premium as some of their sunglasses go for as much as $900.

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Randolph Engineering

If you need a tough pair of sunglasses, Randolph Engineering make some of the best on the planet. In fact, they have produced thousands of sunglasses for the US Army, US Air Force and the US Navy over the years. They’ve literally been tested on the battleground and endorsed by the US government.

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Maui Jim

This sunglasses was founded in Hawaii, USA. It took almost a decade before Jim Richards brand even reached the mainland and today it’s considered one of the highest-quality in the world.

Maui Jim offer both sports and fashion sunglasses, depending on what you’re looking for. If you’re someone who hits the beach, or enjoys going to festivals, these might suit your style

Shop Maui Jim on Amazon

Tips on purchasing sunglasses

UVA and UVB protection

Sunlight is made up of two types of harmful rays: long wave ultraviolet A (UVA) and short wave ultraviolet B (UVB). UVA rays penetrate deep into the dermis, the skin’s thickest layer. Printed on the lens of tag, your sunglasses should mention UVA and UVB protection.

Pick a pair that fits

While trends may change, generally, the bigger the sunglasses the better, as they will protect more of your eyes. Close-fitting sunglasses with wide lenses will protect your eye from every angle.

Dark lenses

A darker lens does not offer more protection, in fact, there’s no correlation at all. You can’t judge a pair of sunglasses this way, at least not for eye protection purposes. Tints and shades of sunglasses do not reflect UV (ultraviolet) blocking ability.

Coloured lenses

Different lens colors can achieve various effects. Tints filter light in different ways, and some tints do a better job at blocking light than others. Some tints actually enhance colors, while others distort them. Tints have the ability to enhance vision in certain situations. For a music festival, it might be fun to try out something a bit distorting!

Polarized lenses

Polarized sunglasses will reduce the glare from surfaces. A high-quality pair of sunglasses usually includes polarized lenses. It’s benefit include visual comfort, better contrast, reduced eye strain, true perception of colour and reduces reflections.

Price doesn’t matter

While you should skip the cheapest glasses you can find, for a festival it might not be practical to purchase a premium pair. Find a budget pair of sunglasses that offer UVA and UVB protection, and you’ll be good to go.

Buy a sunglasses strap

Sunglasses straps are become a fashion accessory but they serve a useful purpose too. Don’t forget your sunglasses behind with a suitable strap with a comfortable length and head size. Some might include a fastening system to easily adjust.