The aviator was designed in the 1930s for pilots who needed wide, teardrop lenses that shaded the eye from almost every angle. Close to a century later the shape still works on the ground, and a polarized lens makes it far more useful on the road, on the water and anywhere bright light bounces off a flat surface.
Choosing a pair comes down to three decisions: the lens, the size and the frame. This guide walks through each one using the measurements printed on SUNGAIT product pages, so you can compare real numbers instead of guessing from photos. If you would rather browse first, the full aviator sunglasses collection shows every shape side by side.
What a Polarized Lens Does on an Aviator
Sunlight that reflects off a road, a car hood or a lake comes back largely as horizontal glare. A polarized lens carries a filter that blocks that horizontal light, so the white sheen drops away and you see the surface underneath. It is not simply a darker tint. It removes one specific kind of light, which is why the view through a polarized lens looks clearer rather than just dimmer.
Polarization and UV protection are two separate features. UV400 describes how the lens filters ultraviolet light up to 400 nanometers; polarization describes glare. A lens can have one without the other, so check that a listing states both. Our UV400 checklist explains how to read the UV rating, and our polarized vs non-polarized comparison goes deeper on glare.
One thing to check before you buy: not every aviator is polarized, and that includes some in our own range. The Real Glass Lens Aviator and the Titanium Square Aviator use non-polarized lenses. On any product page, check the feature list and the Lens Type line in the Specifications section. Every pair recommended in this guide is listed with polarized lenses and UV400 protection.
When a Polarized Lens Is Not the Right Call
- Screens. Polarized lenses can make some phone, GPS and dashboard displays look dark or patchy at certain angles. Tilting the screen or your head usually clears it.
- Flying. Many pilots prefer non-polarized lenses in the cockpit for the same reason, since instrument displays matter more than glare up there.
- After dark. No sunglasses lens belongs on your face at night. Our guide to night driving explains why.
Step 1: Choose a Lens Color for Where You Wear Them
The polarizing filter handles glare; the lens color decides how everything else looks. These are the options you will find on the polarized aviators in this guide:
- Gray lowers brightness evenly and keeps colors close to natural. It is a safe default for bright, open conditions. Offered on the Carbon Fiber, Durable Metal and Military Aviator.
- Brown and amber warm the view and add contrast, which helps when light keeps changing. Offered on the Polygon and Military Aviator.
- Green sits between gray and brown, with natural color and mild contrast. Offered on the Durable Metal, Military and Polygon Aviator.
- Gradient lenses are darker at the top and lighter at the bottom, so the sky is cut back while a dashboard or phone below stays easier to read. Offered on the Polygon, Flat Square and Carbon Fiber Aviator.
- Mirrored lenses add a reflective outer coating that bounces back extra light, useful at the beach or on the water. Offered on the Military and Durable Metal Aviator, and in several colors on the women's Oversized Aviator.
For a longer look at how each tint changes what you see, read our sunglasses lens color guide.
Step 2: Get the Size Right
Aviators are usually sold by lens width, and that single number tells you less than you might expect. Here are the measurements listed on six SUNGAIT aviator product pages, all in millimeters:
| Aviator | Lens width | Lens height | Bridge | Temple | Frame front |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Military Aviator | 55 | 47 | 19 | 150 | 141 |
| Flat Square Aviator | 55 | 46 | 19 | 142 | 143 |
| Polygon Aviator | 60 | 53 | 17 | 142 | 143 |
| Carbon Fiber Aviator | 60 | 52 | 17 | 145 | 143 |
| Durable Metal Aviator | 61 | 47 | 18 | 140 | 144 |
| Oversized Aviator (women's) | 60 | 53 | 18 | 144 | 144 |
Look at the last column first. The full front of every pair falls between 141mm and 144mm, a spread of only 3mm. Moving from a 55mm lens to a 60mm lens does not make the frame noticeably wider on your face. What changes is the lens itself: how far it reaches toward your temples and, more visibly, how tall it is.
Lens height runs from 46mm to 53mm. A 52 to 53mm lens, like the Polygon, Carbon Fiber or women's Oversized Aviator, covers more of the area above and below the eye, cutting light from overhead and from the ground. A 46 to 47mm lens sits higher on the cheek and gives the slimmer, classic military look.
A Quick Way to Choose
- If you own a pair that fits well, compare its frame width with the table above before anything else.
- For a narrower face or a classic profile, start with the 55mm Military or Flat Square Aviator.
- For more coverage or a bolder look, choose a 60 to 61mm lens, and a 52 to 53mm lens height for the most coverage.
- The bridge is the gap between the lenses. A 17mm bridge sits the lenses closer together than a 19mm bridge, and the Polygon, Flat Square, Durable Metal and Oversized Aviator all have adjustable nose pads for fine tuning.
Face shape plays a part too. Our face shape guide matches frame styles to round, oval, square and heart-shaped faces.
Step 3: Pick the Frame and Temple Style
Most aviators are built around a thin metal front, a double bridge and nose pads you can adjust. Within that template, the SUNGAIT aviators differ in ways that affect how they wear day to day.
- Classic metal. The Durable Metal Aviator has a reinforced metal frame in gunmetal, gold and silver. The Flat Square Aviator swaps the curved top for a straight bar in gold or gunmetal.
- Bayonet temples. The Military Aviator uses straight, slim bayonet temples shaped to sit comfortably under helmets and headphones.
- Mixed construction. The Polygon Aviator pairs a thin metal front with TR90, a flexible, lightweight material, and adds elastic temples that resist bending out of shape.
- Carbon fiber. The Carbon Fiber Aviator uses carbon fiber temples, which are light and stiff, finished in gunmetal. See the carbon fiber sunglasses page for other frames in this material.
- Titanium. The Titanium Square Aviator has a lightweight titanium frame with a non-polarized lens, so choose it when frame material matters more to you than glare reduction.
Every pair in the size table comes with a cleaning cloth, a pouch and a mini screwdriver for keeping the hinge screws snug. For a side-by-side look at every frame material we use, read our frame material guide.
Five Polarized Aviators, Matched to How You Wear Them
Polygon Aviator: The Most Coverage
With a 60mm by 53mm lens, the Polygon Aviator has the tallest lens of the men's and unisex pairs in this guide. The geometric outline gives the aviator a more modern edge, and it is cut to suit both men and women. Lens options include brown, pink, dark green and gradient gray.
Best for: long days outdoors, boating and anyone who wants the most shade from one frame.
Durable Metal Aviator: The Everyday Workhorse
The Durable Metal Aviator has the widest lens in this guide at 61mm, with a 47mm height that keeps the classic teardrop proportions. It comes in single, 2-pack and 3-pack options, handy if you want one pair for the car and one for the bag.
Best for: daily wear and keeping a spare pair within reach.
Carbon Fiber Aviator: The Premium Lightweight Pick
The Carbon Fiber Aviator combines a 60mm by 52mm polarized lens with carbon fiber temples and a gunmetal finish. Choose gray for true color or gray gradient for driving with a dashboard in view.
Best for: commuting, travel and anyone who notices weight behind the ears.
Military Aviator: The Classic Profile
The Military Aviator keeps the 55mm lens and straight bayonet temples of the original pilot style, with HD polarized lenses in green, gray, brown or blue mirrored. The slim temples are the reason to pick it if you wear a helmet or headphones.
Best for: riding, active days and a narrower face.
Flat Square Aviator: The Modern Take
The Flat Square Aviator keeps the 55mm size but trades the curved brow for a flat top, which reads sharper and more current. Choose brown gradient on gold or gray on gunmetal.
Best for: casual and smart-casual outfits where you want an aviator that looks a little different.
Shopping for Women?
The Oversized Aviator is cut for women, with a 60mm by 53mm polarized lens in rose gold or silver and mirrored lens options in green, purple and silver. For more large frames, browse our oversized sunglasses and large aviators.
Quick Checklist Before You Buy
- The product page states polarized lenses, in the feature list or on the Lens Type line in the Specifications.
- The UV Protection line reads UV400.
- The lens color suits where you will wear them most.
- The lens width, lens height and frame front compare well with a pair that already fits you.
- The temple style works with what you wear on your head: helmets, headphones or hats.
- The nose pads are adjustable if you have a low or narrow bridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are polarized aviator sunglasses good for driving?
During the day, yes. A polarized lens cuts the horizontal glare that comes off the road, wet asphalt and other cars. A gradient lens helps keep the dashboard readable, though some screens can look dark at certain angles. Do not wear any sunglasses for driving at night.
Do aviator sunglasses suit women and smaller faces?
Yes. The 55mm Flat Square and Military Aviator are the most compact pairs in this guide, and the Polygon, Flat Square and Carbon Fiber Aviator are all unisex. For a bolder look, the women's Oversized Aviator has a 60mm by 53mm lens.
Is a polarized lens the same as UV protection?
No. Polarization reduces glare, while UV protection is a separate rating. Look for both Polarized and UV400 in the product specifications.
What is the real difference between a 55mm and a 60mm aviator?
Less than the numbers suggest. Across our aviators the full frame front only varies from 141mm to 144mm. The larger lens mainly adds height and coverage, so a 60mm pair looks bolder without sitting much wider on your face.
Find Your Pair
Every pair recommended in this guide has polarized lenses with UV400 protection, comes with free shipping and is backed by a lifetime warranty. Browse the full aviator sunglasses collection to compare every shape, or shop by fit in men's sunglasses and women's sunglasses.
