Summer is slowly coming to Germany. This also marks the start of the sunglasses season. We present an overview of popular models from 12 euros.
The sun is finally shining again – but if you don’t have sunglasses at hand, summer fun will become a real pain when you’re driving. If you want to protect yourself from the dazzling summer sun, you should pay attention to a few factors when buying sunglasses. In fact, cheap sunglasses can be really dangerous.
In the following, we present popular sunglasses that not only provide good protection, but also start at around 12 euros. We also explain what you should definitely pay attention to when buying sunglasses.
Comparison instead of test: What’s the difference?
For this comparison, a CHIP specialist editor examined test reports from other publications as well as the most popular offers (“best sellers”) and customer opinions from online retailers. Based on this we made the product selection. When selecting the top devices, we focus on models with more than four stars and a reasonably high number of reviews. We have read a selection of customer reviews and selected devices that, based on our professional assessment, meet the needs of the users. The products have not been tested in the CHIP test center.
All products that the CHIP test center had in the laboratory can be found in this list of the best. Products that have also been tested by our cooperation partners can be found in our test & purchase advice and in our consumer portal.
UV protection & Co.: You should pay attention to this when buying sunglasses
Basically, the focus of your new glasses should be on protection against harmful UV-A and UV-B radiation. This ultraviolet radiation from the sun penetrates almost unhindered to the earth. By the sea with reflective water or in the mountains with snow-white peaks, the risk of damage to your eyes is even greater. Inflammations of the cornea or conjunctiva are the more harmless effects. Cataracts or even cancer can also be promoted by UV radiation. You should therefore make sure that you have sufficient guaranteed UV protection.
So-called “UV400” or “100 percent UV protection” sunglasses are particularly recommended. These models have lenses that are guaranteed to block UV rays with a wavelength of up to 400 nanometers from your eyes. The corresponding labels are missing, especially with cheap models from the nearest kiosk or on the beach on vacation.
After all, within the EU, the CE mark is mandatory for all sunglasses, which is awarded if the lenses filter UV rays of up to 380 nanometers. The problem: the information is not really checked and this labeling is not used outside the EU. In order to get at least a quick impression of the quality, you should take a close look at the built-in glasses. Deformations, bubbles or uneven coloring quickly indicate inferior models. In this case, it is better to use different sunglasses.
Glare protection: You should pay attention to this number
The color of the lenses is a matter of taste – it has no effect on the UV filter. As a rule of thumb, the brighter the ambient light, the darker the lenses should be tinted. Otherwise your eyes tire quickly. Also make sure that you perceive the surroundings in an undistorted way. In road traffic in particular, it can be dangerous if, for example, you no longer perceive warning lights as such. The popular sports sunglasses with orange lenses ensure a good look during sports. However, they should not be worn when driving.
A number from 0 to 4, which is usually printed on the temples of the glasses, offers a first orientation. It indicates the glare protection and thus the light transmission of the glasses. Here is the meaning of the digits:
- 0: Glasses in this category transmit 80 to 100 percent of the light. This means that they offer only slight glare protection and are ideal in cloudy weather or in the evening.
- 1: If the sunglasses are marked 1, they let 43 to 80 percent of the light through. These also rather lighter filters do the best job in changeable weather.
- 2: Glasses with a 2 on the arm are the all-rounders among sunglasses. They filter 57 to 82 percent of the light, so they only let 18 to 43 percent through. This makes them ideal for sunny days in this country.
- 3: These sunglasses already fall into the special purpose category. 82 to 92 percent of the light is filtered here – too much in everyday life. They are suitable if you are vacationing far south, doing sports in the mountains or spending a long time on the water.
- 4: You don’t need glasses with the highest classification in our latitudes. This extremely dark filter lets only 3 to 8 percent of the light through to your eye – much too dark and even really dangerous in traffic. You should only consider these glasses if you are traveling in high mountains or on glaciers. This is where category 4 glare protection shows its strengths and protects your eyes most effectively.
Danger: Again, this information is not independently verified and, like brand logos, can be fake in the worst case.
Safety before style
In addition to the lenses, the shape of your new sunglasses plays a major role in protecting your eyes. Even the best glasses are of no help if the harmful radiation can freely bypass them and hit your eyes. So the sunglasses should shield your entire eye. With sufficiently large glasses, you also ensure that the sun cannot shine in from the side. The closer the lenses are to your eyes, the better. It is also important to keep stray light away from the eye as much as possible. This works best with wide temples that also protect your eyes from the radiation from the side.