Summer sports are coming up! And if you have baseball players in the house, it’s time to think about sunglasses. Because the last thing young players need is the sun glaring in their eyes in the outfield.
But kids also need eye protection, both from flying balls and bats, and UV rays. Practicing and playing on a sunny field means you need the right sunglasses that decrease UV exposure. And we all know that a baseball to the eye is no laughing matter.
Keep reading as we explain exactly what to look for in baseball sunglasses for your kids. Plus we’ll give you our choices for the best youth baseball sunglasses, and answer the most popular questions about buying sunglasses for your young athlete.
Table of Contents
What to Look for in Kids’ Baseball Sunglasses
Fit and Comfort
The first thing to look for in a pair of baseball sunglasses is that they fit your child’s face! You’ll want to look for a comfortable pair that doesn’t slip off when they move.
Many companies carry Small, Extra-Small, or Youth fit frames. These are a great starting point but you’ll want to get some measurements, too. We recommend visiting a store that carries children’s glasses and sunglasses for help. They’ll take the proper measurements so you know how wide a frame should be, the ideal temple arm length, and the best bridge width for your child.
Use those recommendations to choose baseball sunglasses you buy (especially online) to ensure a great, secure fit. One extra feature that we recommend to improve fit and decrease slipping is rubber temple tips and nose pads. These help keep sunglasses stay on the face and off the ground!
Frame Material and Durability
When you’re buying anything for kids, you want it to be durable. And that means a pair of baseball sunglasses needs to be able to last through the wear and tear of a slide. Look for frames with a good reputation for being tough like Oakley O Matter or Under Armour TR90.
Many companies make high-quality, durable frames that are also lightweight. And this helps sunglasses be comfortable enough for a full practice or a game with extra innings. Plus, frames should last for several baseball seasons. We know that kids outgrow things, but they aren’t as likely to outgrow their sunglasses in a year as they are other clothing and accessories.
It’s tempting to buy the least expensive option, but balance the cost with the quality of protection they afford your child and the likelihood that they will fit for more than one year.
Lenses
Tough, durable frames need to be paired with high-quality lenses. Baseball sunglasses should protect your child’s eyes from dirt and impact, and offer UVA, UVC, and UVB protection. And it’s especially important to protect their eyes from harmful UV rays at an early age.
We recommend impact-resistant lenses for baseball players since getting hit by a ball or an elbow can be common in the sport. These lenses are designed to not shatter when hit by a ball, bat, or anything else. And this could make or break whether your little one needs a trip to the doctor!
Your choice of lens can dramatically improve the comfort of your child’s eyes on the field. And today you have more options than ever. Polarized lenses reduce annoying and painful glare, while contrast-enhancing lenses help your child keep their eyes on the ball. For more check out our guide comparing Polarized and Prizm Contrast-Enhancing Lenses!
Best Kids’ Baseball Sunglasses
7. Rawlings Youth Baseball Sunglasses
Rawlings is a company devoted to all things baseball (and softball). From bats, balls, and helmets to baseball stitch dog leashes, they have all the bases covered!
And they also make one of the most affordable pairs of youth baseball sunglasses on the market. The semi-rimless design and wraparound style looks great and it’s available in an assortment of colors (Product Link).
Plus, Rawlings Youth Baseball Sunglasses are lightweight and flexible, with rubber temple ends and nose pads for a secure fit.
The most affordable pair of sunglasses on the list, Rawlings baseball sunglasses are great to start if you’re worried about losing or breaking frames often!
Rawlings Youth Highlights
- Polycarbonate lenses have a mirrored, scratch-resistant coating that provides UVA, UVB, and UVC protection
- Semi-rimless wrap design offers a wide field of distortion-free vision
- Stylish frame for on and off the field with multiple color options
6. Nike Skylon ACE Jr
Nike knows sports, and their Skylon ACE Jr (Product Link) design is a nice option for your young baseball player. Designed to be versatile, multi-sport sunglasses, Nike offers a Field Tint for their lenses that’s optimized for activities like baseball.
This small-fit, lightweight nylon frame is designed to be durable. And Nike’s Field Tint lenses cut glare and increase contrast so it’s easier to follow the ball.
Skylon ACE Jr Highlights
- Rubber temple tips and nose pad inlay increase comfort, fit, and reduce slipping
- Big 8 base wrap and deep lenses offer great protection and coverage
- The Skylon is available with prescription lenses
5. Kids’ UA Gametime Jr. Mirror Sunglasses
Under Armour makes this semi-rimless, single shield style in an XS/S size for kids. Plus the Gametime Jr’s (Product Link) translucent grey/green mirror lens has a nice wrap for increased coverage and protection.
And this frame features Under Armour’s TR90 frame material that’s designed to be flexible, impact-resistant, and durable. This frame is also hypoallergenic so it won’t attract dirt, dust, or other particles.
UA Gametime Jr. Highlights
- Adjustable nose pads to improve fit and comfort
- Special Under Armour lens coating resists smudges and water for easy cleaning
- Rubber ear stem tips and injected rubber front keep glasses from slipping
4. Oakley Quarter Jacket
The Oakley Quarter Jacket is a catchy name for the youth version of the popular Half Jacket. This style is designed to fit smaller faces while maintaining the fit and function of the larger Half Jacket.
This semi-rimless design has a sturdy, lightweight O Matter™ frame and a nice big 8.75 base lens wrap. And the lenses are deep, giving the Quarter Jacket excellent coverage and protection.
The standard Quarter Jacket (Product Link) is available on the Oakley site with grey lenses or grey polarized lenses and a black frame. But you can also customize this style through Oakley’s Custom Program which offers options including contrast-enhancing Prizm™ technology, and baseball-specific Prizm Field lenses. Plus polarized, iridium, and Prizm polarized options are available!
This is one of our favorite frames for its durable design and interchangeable lenses. Plus, this classic sports look means it can be worn on or off the field!
Quarter Jacket Highlights
- Interchangeable lenses allow kids who play multiple sports to use optimized lenses with one frame
- Unobtainium® at the nose pads and ear stem ends provide a stable, comfortable fit without slipping
- Available with Oakley’s prescription lenses
3. Oakley Radar EV XS Path
Oakley sunglasses are famous for their innovation. But they should also be famous for the variety of sizes they offer. The Oakley Radar EV Path XS is one of a variety of styles adjusted to fit smaller faces.
The Radar EV Path XS (Product Link) is a single shield, semi-rimless design with a durable, lightweight O Matter™ frame. Like the Quarter Jacket, you can customize the EV Path XS with a variety of lens technologies (including Prizm™ Field) and frame, icon, and ear sock colors.
Oakley offers the EV Path XS with a prescription shield, something few companies do for single-lens designs. We love this frame for its maximum coverage and sleek design. And your little one will love looking like a big-league ball player!
Radar EV Path XS Highlights
- Interchangeable lens allows optimization for multiple sports
- Three-point fit and Unobtainium® nose bombs and ear socks keep optics aligned and glasses in place
- Oakley’s Polaric Ellipsoid™ lens geometry offers great peripheral view and protection
2. UA TUNED Playmaker Jr. Sunglasses
Under Armour makes our number two choice with the UA TUNED Playmaker Jr. Specifically designed for baseball, this semi-rimless design has a TR90 frame that’s durable, flexible, impact-resistant, and hypoallergenic.
The Playmaker Jr. (Product Link) comes in two frame and lens color combinations—orange and blue. Both choices have a white frame with colored lenses and rubber ear socks.
And Under Armour offers this style with TUNED lens technology. These lenses provide contrast enhancement so your child can spot and track the ball on the field.
UA TUNED Playmaker Jr. Highlights
- Smudge-resistant hydrophobic lens coating for easy cleaning
- ArmourGrip nose pads are adjustable to provide stability, fit, and comfort
- Rubber injected at the front and on the stems to reduce slipping
1. Oakley Flak XS and XXS
Once again, Oakley comes through with its most popular and functional styles in two small sizes. One of the most popular frames in Major League Baseball, the Oakley Flak Jacket, is also available in an XS size for little leaguers.
The Flak XS (Product Link) is scaled down for smaller faces, while the XXS (Product Link) is specifically sized for the faces of children between the ages of 6 and 10. But both sizes offer the same features including a semi-rimless O Matter™ frame that’s lightweight, durable, and comfortable. And this frame has an interchangeable lens design for versatility, plus it comes in a variety of frame colors. To top it off, Oakley offers the Flak XS and XXS with its impact-resistant Plutonite lenses including polarized and contrast-enhancing Prizm options.
Flak XS/XXS Highlights
- Unobtainium™ socks and nose pads combine with a three-point fit for optical alignment, stability, and no-slip comfort
- Available with Prizm™ (including Prizm Field), polarization, and Iridium coating
- Prescription lenses available for both XS and XXS
Frequently Asked Questions
Should Kids Wear Sunglasses While Playing Baseball?
Yes, kids should wear sunglasses when they play or practice baseball to protect their eyes. Quality sunglasses not only protect your eyes from debris but also reduce exposure to UV rays and harmful blue light.
The right baseball lenses also help reduce glare on sunny days, while contrast-enhancing lenses help kids keep track of the ball even on cloudy days! Good baseball sunglasses make practicing and playing on the field more comfortable and safer, and allow for improved visual clarity in all weather conditions.
Are Polarized Sunglasses Better for Baseball?
Yes, polarized sunglasses are great for baseball since they help stop uncomfortable and distracting glare.
Some people don’t like polarized sunglasses and feel like they interfere with depth perception, but new polarization techniques are making this less of an issue. We’d also recommend checking out contrast-enhancing lenses like Oakley Prizm Polarized, which are also available with polarization.
What are the Best Lens Colors for Baseball?
The best baseball lens colors are amber and orange lenses, like Oakley Prizm™ Field, since they do the best job enhancing the contrast of sky, field, and ball on sunny days. Blue and red lenses are also a great choice depending on the lighting conditions, or if your child has sensitive eyes.
Clear lenses or yellow hues work well for low light conditions. And Clear lenses offer impact protection during batting practice or hazy conditions when sunglasses aren’t needed. Yellow lenses do a great job cutting glare from indoor lighting.
Read more in our complete guide to the Best Lens Colors for Baseball.
Have a Question?
Want to know more about kids’ baseball sunglasses? Or have a question about your sunglasses? Let us know in the comments below!
