From Classic to Cutting-Edge: The Best Ray-Bans for Men Across Decades

Ray-Ban is the OG. It has dominated the optics industry for over a century now, amassing a slew of iconic styles along the way. Wayfarer, Aviator, and Clubmaster, to name a few.

The breadth of the range is dizzying since each style contains within it a bounty of offshoots. And this presents a problem: How on earth do you know which are the best Ray-Bans for men? If you’re tired of squinting from the sun, online shopping, or settling for just an average pair of glasses, we’ve got the solution for you.

Hint: It’s this article. A 2013 survey found that every man will own Ray-Bans at one point in his life. And so, with that absolute lie of a fact, let’s dig into why this brand is so successful.

First off, the product is exceptional. It’s built well, comes at a fair price point, is always relevant in style, and has a brilliant range of lens customization. The options for prescription are phenomenal, but so are the choices for standard lenses, which are detailed further below.

The brand has had influential fans throughout its history. Imagine, every celebrity Hollywood A-lister in history, ever, then throw in the political titans of JFK, Malcolm X, and Barack Obama. This is the Western cultural ubiquity of Ray-Ban.

The vintage styles worn throughout still retain their cool today. That’s not to say Ray-Ban copied and pasted. They understand the vital importance of continual innovation. We see this in the intelligent Wayfarer Reverse and the technology-infused Ray Ban Meta release. The brand rarely, if ever, produces duds.

After scanning Ray-Ban’s men’s range, we found the most stylish, UV-blocking, and confidence-inspiring styles. Read below for the best Ray-Bans for men.

Key Takeaways 

To write this article, I embarked on a few odysseys. First, I got up off the couch and gathered 10–12 pairs of Ray-Ban sunglasses for men from my “sunglasses drawer”.

Odyssey no. 2: I traveled through time and space to the Ray-Ban website.

Odyssey no. 3 involved journeying through reviews online to judge overall sentiment towards each pair of sunglasses (Ray-Ban, Amazon, and Reddit). I was left with the 8 best Ray-Bans for men below.

The top overall of the best Ray-Bans for men is the original Wayfarer because of its versatility, ageless style, comfort, and durability. For this piece, I also considered an item’s novelty, innovation, price, and lens capability.

The runner-up is also a pair of Wayfarers, but this time the smart “Meta” version. I put it there because of how it marries technical capability with style.

Why they’re great: It is the undisputed champion of the best Ray-Bans for men (maybe of all time, ever?). This, of course, because of its timeless appeal. If you had to imagine a pair of sunglasses, this is probably the shape you’d imagine. They have become synonymous with the word “sunglasses” itself.

It would be silly to try to list the amount of famous people who have worn Wayfarers through the years, not to mention the millions of pairs sold. They are robust, thick, of high quality, comfortable, and lightweight. They hold a brilliant balance of all attributes. Wayfarers are the GOAT.

Who is this for: A man of taste and style. The comfort and durability of the frame, coupled with the proficiency of its UV-blocking skills, mean it is a highly versatile pair of sunglasses.

If you’re the sort of bloke who wakes up in the morning not knowing where he’ll end up and needs to be prepared for any eventuality (I wish I was as cool as you), then these are the sunnies for you.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: That everyone has them. In that sense, their flaw is that they’re too good.

Size: 50mm & 54mm | Lenses: Polarized, Non-polarized, Prescription | Colors Available: 13 | Style: Wayfarer

Why they’re great: These Polarized Wayfarers are luxurious sunnies but in conventional ways. They have a most luxurious facet: exceptional build quality. But, also, the minimal styling suggests “quiet luxury” too – averting the public gaze rather than transfixing it.

Also, Polarized lenses are ideal sports companions for affluent activities. Think skiing holidays, extreme water sports, open sea fishing, and sailing/yachting.

These Ray-Ban sunglasses for men are some of the most secure shades I have had the privilege of putting on my head. They fit to my temples, curl around the ears, and are unlikely to budge. I’d say keeping your sunnies on your head is a luxury too, but maybe that’s just for me and my small noggin’.

Who is this for: Best for environments with strong reflected UV light. The application of a special UV-blocking chemical in a vertical pattern blocks horizontally traveling light waves. We call this a Polarized lens, and it saves a lot of pain and squinting.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: From an aesthetic point of view, the polarization can give off cheesy ski-instructor/lame-dad energy. It can’t help it. It’s not its fault. The conciliation is that these Ray-Bans are some of the most discreet in the game.

Size: 50 & 54mm | Lenses: Polarized | Colors Available: 4 | Style: Wayfarers

Why they’re great: One must have a more lightweight, thin-templed pair of summer sunglasses. It helps minimize sweat and maximize utility by reducing volume and weight. Sunglasses inevitably end up hooked to your T-shirt or shoved into the dangerous depths of your shirt pocket.

One thing that puts these in the running for the best Ray-Bans for men is the brute iron strength of the hinges. They can handle being accidentally sat on, for example. Plus, the scratch-resistant, fully UV-blocking lenses will battle off even the hardiest of rays.

Who is this for: The style-savvy among you who want a very high-quality, UV-blocking, lightweight pair of sunnies that are going to stand the test of time. So long as you don’t lose them, that is. And that’s always a threat.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: It’s worth using the AR technology on the Ray-Ban website to check that it suits your face structure.

Size: 51mm, 54mm, 48mm (lens widths) | Lenses: Polarized/Mirrored/Gradient | Colors Available: 16 | Style: Hexagonal

Why they’re great: This is one of the best Ray-Bans for men and if it isn’t in your sunglasses drawer (or equivalent) it should be.

Buying a pair of Clubmasters is a symbol of transcending boyhood. You are now to be trusted with a stylish, high-quality pair of sunglasses which you will do your utmost not to smash, drop in the ocean, or leave in a club.

A real sell is that it’s almost impossible to look bad in them. They can be worn by girlfriends, mums, aunties, dads, and fish; they have universal appeal. There’s a good range of colors, frames, and metal choices to suit your individual preference, plus lens choices ranging from Polarized to clear prescription to regular shades.

Who is this for: This 50s intellectual, vintage design, at its core, looks good. They should be one of the first pairs of “decent” sunglasses you buy, and your wardrobe should never be without them. Capiche?

Flaws but not deal-breakers: It’s a very minor thing, but going from wayfarers to these, I find the nose clips are a little less natural and comfortable. They are adjustable, though, so it might just take a bit of playing around to set them right. They’re still among the best Ray-Bans for men.

Size: 49, 51, and 55mm | Lenses: Mirrored, Polarized, Mirrored, Gradient or Tinted | Colors Available: 34 | Style: Clubmaster

Why they’re great: Taking on the Wayfarer shape, Justin opts for a slightly larger lens volume and a rectangular shape. Again, these are by no means negatives as these Ray-Ban sunglasses for men afford a greater vision span.

Who is this for: This is for those who love nailing down a good deal when they see one. They’re also our top-rated sunnies for bald men, thanks to their flattering shape.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: It’s not a classic Ray-Ban shape, but still Ray-Ban.

Size: XS | Lenses: Dark brown | Colors Available: 1 | Style: Justin (Square frame)

Why they’re great: I have a pair of the 2021-launched Ray-Ban Stories. It’s the predecessor to the most recent Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer, launched in November 2023. I’ve been impressed by the voice control. By speech only, you can capture photos and videos, play music, change the volume, call people, and send messages. It’s the future.

Another useful feature of these Ray-Ban sunglasses for men is being able to listen to music and still hear everything around you. That’s a huge improvement in urban safety. The Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer’s upgrades include camera improvements from 5MP to an impressive 12MP, 50% louder speakers, and upgraded battery life from 3 to now 4 hours long.

Who is this for: According to Wired, “Plans are in the works to be able to ask questions about your surroundings, or scan objects and ask for more details on it (an idea that could have use in retail, for instance), or even just to suggest caption ideas on your photos.” These are the tech-futurists’ dream sunglasses.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: The chunkiness of the frame is off-putting, but it seems to have slimmed for the “Meta” version. Also, the general use of the glasses through button clicks and temple finger swipes does take a little getting used to. Framing of the pictures still needs work.

Size: L | Lenses: Polarized, Normal, Transition (automatically adjust to sunlight), Blue light filter| Colors Available: 7 | Style: Wayfarers

Why they’re great: The thing I love about these glasses is their lightweight feel. They don’t feel like you’re wearing anything when they’re perched on your nose. The large surface area of the lens compounds this. They’re large enough that the border of the glasses is out of sight.

Lastly, but importantly, they suited my head shape (which is eggy and thin). Finally, they come with a brilliant hard case for optimum protection.

Who is this for: These glasses are an excellent choice as your first pair of quality prescription reading glasses, for those just starting to wear glasses. The subtle, smart, and modern aesthetic doesn’t make “wearing glasses” their personality. In this way, they’re great for bald men too.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: Don’t be put off by the name: this is a sexy pair of glasses. They suit my head shape, but try them on in a shop first to check they suit yours. Slightly thin temples feel weak, though I’ve never encountered a problem here. The flexibility might add to their ability to avoid getting broken, as it can absorb impact more easily.

Size: XS–S  | Lenses: Prescription/Blue-light-blocking | Colors Available: 4 | Style: Wayfarer-esq./Square

Why they’re great: It’s no secret that screen time is way up. Blue-light-blocking glasses can’t fix our screen time problem. Yet, they can help mitigate some of the negative effects. These include headaches, eye strain/disease, a changed circadian rhythm, lethargy, and poor sleep quality.

Blue-light-blocking glasses allow you to be behind your screen for longer if there’s a project due.

Who is this for: The frame of these Ray-Ban sunglasses for men is minimalist and intellectual. Just the sort of style a laptop tapper needs.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: There’s a little visible blue tint to the otherwise clear glasses.

Size: S-M (49mm–51mm) | Lenses: Blue-light blocker | Colors Available: 3 | Style: Round

Buying Considerations for the Best Ray-Bans for Men

Lens

Ray-Ban has a superlative range of lenses. Better than that, they make the usually complex purchasing process much easier.

Prescription lenses come with options in style, be it clear, blue-tinted, or transitional (they seamlessly adapt to the environment you’re in); vision correction using single (dealing with just one vision correction) or progressive lenses (multiple vision correction); a choice of thickness; and finally, a choice of finishes including scratch-resistant, smudge-resistant, UV-blocking, and anti-reflective coating.

Depending on the model, Ray-Ban offers Polarized, Chromance (marrying Polarization with contrast enhancement for a crisp view); Evolve (which shifts depending on the weather/light conditions), mirrored, or gradient.

Size 

This needn’t be as complicated as you might think it’ll be. Plus, it’s really worth putting in that extra bit of effort to make sure your beloved sunnies are going to fit.

So, the first job is to find a pair of sunglasses that fit well. Then measure the distance from hinge to hinge. This will then translate to a size. For example, a 126mm distance equates to a size “S”.

There’s also temple length, bridge width, and lens size to consider – as well as how it sits on your nose. For example, if eyewear tends to slide down your nose, you’ll want a “low bridge fit”.

Face Shape

This is so crucial to getting the right pair of sunglasses. With innovative AR (Augmented Reality) technology Ray-Ban can scan your face to suggest the best sunglasses for your face shape, size, and features. Try it out. This can save a lot of time and effort, especially when shopping solely online.

How We Chose

Buyers need to remember to factor in face shape, correct size, and lens application. After that, my curation becomes helpful. Throughout this article, I used the following aspects to guide me in finding the best Ray-Ban sunglasses for men:

Style: Because of Ray-Ban’s solidity and reliability, style has become a high priority. I opted for classic styles. But I made sure there was a variety of shapes, thicknesses, and materials to appeal to different face shapes.

Lens: If a certain frame had only clear lens options, then I would suggest only for blue-light-blocking, reading, or indoor usage. The lens dictates the recommendation.

History/Innovation: History is not bestowed equally on all styles. The Wayfarer is a storied frame, and the three separate Wayfarer choices point to snapshots in its development.

Price: A pair of Ray-Bans tends to hover in the low to mid $100s. However, there are deals to be had in the sale. And you’ll need to spend extra for groundbreaking frames such as the Ray-Ban Meta. I tried to find a good range here, too.

Why Trust Us?

When it comes to grooming and fashion advice, few voices are as trusted or as experienced as Harvey’s. With a rich history of contributions to FashionBeans, Harvey has cemented his expertise across a wide array of topics, from timeless style advice to the latest trends in men’s grooming.

In terms of the best Ray-Bans for men, Harvey has done the hard yards so you don’t have to, in the same way that he has in examining travel blazers and in helping bald men safely care for their heads.

Final Verdict 

The pinnacle of the best Ray-Bans for men is the classic Wayfarer. With its timeless appeal, affordable price, comfortable feel, solid construction, and span of available lenses, it is a brilliant investment piece.