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Polarised vs Non-Polarised Sunglasses
Polarised or not? It's the question we get asked more than any other. Here's what polarisation actually does, where it earns its keep, and when a non-polarised lens is all you need.
What are polarised sunglasses?
Sunlight scatters in every direction. When it hits a flat surface like the sea, a wet road or a car bonnet, a lot of it bounces back flat and horizontal, and that's the hard, bright glare that makes you squint. A polarised lens has a filter built into it that blocks that horizontal light while letting the rest through. The glare drops away and you see the detail that was hiding underneath it.
What are non-polarised sunglasses?
A non-polarised lens is tinted to bring the overall brightness down, but it treats all light the same way. It still darkens the day and, with UV400, it still protects your eyes fully. It just doesn't single out glare.
The difference, side by side
| Polarised | Non-polarised | |
|---|---|---|
| Glare off water and wet roads | Cut right down | Only softened by the tint |
| Colour and contrast | Richer and crisper | Natural, shaded by the tint |
| Squinting on bright days | Much less | More on glary days |
| UV protection | UV400 on every Havaners pair | UV400 on every Havaners pair |
| Phone and dashboard screens | Some can look dark or patchy at an angle | No effect |
| Best for | Beach, water, driving, low winter sun | City days, everyday wear, classic aviator style |
Does polarised mean UV protection?
No, and this is the bit that trips most people up. Polarisation deals with glare. UV protection is a separate filter that blocks ultraviolet rays. A lens can be polarised without decent UV protection, and a lens can block UV completely without being polarised. Every Havaners pair is rated UV400, which means it blocks UVA and UVB rays up to 400 nanometres, polarised or not. We go deeper in our guide to what UV400 means on sunglasses.
When polarised lenses make the biggest difference
- Beach, boats and paddleboards. Water is the biggest glare source there is. With polarised lenses you can see into the shallows instead of a sheet of white light.
- Driving. Wet roads, low sun and shiny bonnets all throw glare straight at you. Have a look at our driving sunglasses and our UK guide to sunglasses for driving.
- Golf, running and cycling. Less glare means less squinting, which makes a long day outside a lot more comfortable.
- Low winter sun and snow. Bright, low light bouncing off frost, snow and wet pavements is exactly what a polarised lens is built for. More in our winter sunglasses guide.
When non-polarised is the better shout
- City streets and everyday wear. Away from water and wet roads there's less glare to deal with, so a good tinted UV400 lens does the job.
- Reading screens. Some phone, dashboard and cash machine screens can look darker through polarised lenses, depending on the angle.
- Specialist jobs. Pilots and people reading certain digital displays are often advised to use non-polarised lenses for the same reason.
- Classic aviator style. Gradient aviators are all about that warm, timeless look, and they wear beautifully around town.
How to tell if your sunglasses are polarised
Look at a phone or laptop screen through one lens and slowly tilt the sunglasses round by 90 degrees. If the screen darkens or goes black at some point, the lens is polarised. Got two polarised pairs? Hold one lens in front of the other at right angles and the overlap goes almost black.
Which Havaners are polarised?
Every Wayfarer-style and round frame we make has polarised lenses, from the all-black Phantom to the mirrored Silverback and the round tortoiseshell Sahara. Our aviators, Miami, Malibu and Shadow, have non-polarised UV400 lenses, which keeps the classic aviator look and makes them easy to wear every day.
Want the best we make? Aura8™ is our top polarised lens, and you'll find it in the lens options on the product page.
Shop polarised sunglasses, see the aviators or browse all our sunglasses guides.
Are polarised sunglasses better for your eyes?
Polarisation doesn't add UV protection, but it cuts glare, which means less squinting and less eye strain on bright days. UV protection comes from the UV400 rating, which every Havaners pair has.
Can you drive in polarised sunglasses?
Yes. Lots of drivers prefer them for wet roads and low sun. Some dashboard and phone screens can look darker at certain angles. Don't wear any sunglasses for driving at night.
Are Havaners aviators polarised?
No. Miami, Malibu and Shadow have non-polarised UV400 lenses. Every Havaners Wayfarer-style and round pair is polarised.
Are polarised sunglasses worth it?
If you spend time near water, drive a lot or deal with low winter sun, yes. For city days a good non-polarised UV400 lens is perfectly fine.
How can I tell if my sunglasses are polarised?
Look at a phone screen through one lens and rotate the sunglasses by 90 degrees. If the screen goes dark at some angle, the lens is polarised.
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