How to Travel With Sunglasses Without Scratching Them
The short answer is keep your sunglasses in a lined case whenever they're not on your face, store that case away from keys, coins and grit, and never set the frames down lens-first. Easier said than done, as today’s hectic lifestyle often means that we can not be ready for anything other than simply throwing our sunglasses into our bag and heading out. This is before we even get to cleaning them, which is often forgotten amidst the rush of life. But if you do remember, rinse off sand or dust before you wipe them, and clean only with a microfibre cloth never a shirt hem or ahem…a paper napkin. If you're carrying two pairs, give each its own compartment so they can't scratch each other (while I stand in the tube on the morning commute longing for my own compartment!). That's the whole method; the detail below explains why each step matters and how you can simplify the whole process!
Why sunglasses scratch in transit (and it's almost never the lens's fault)
Lenses don't scratch themselves, although I like to think so when I review my sunglasses after a day at the beach. The damage that ruins a pair on holiday is mechanical and entirely preventable: the frames rattle loose in a bag against a zip or a set of keys, get set face-down on a café table, or are "cleaned" with whatever fabric is nearest while a fleck of beach sand is still sitting on the lens. That last one is the real villain, wiping a dry, gritty lens drags the grit across the coating like sandpaper. Even the best lens coatings can’t help you here, so it’s best to always check the lens first before you wipe.
Travel just multiplies the opportunities. More bags, more hard surfaces, more reaching blindly into a tote. So the fix isn't a special lens; it's a few small habits and somewhere proper to put them. We’ve provided an easy step by step to help prevent lens’ scratching below:
The method, step by step
1. A case is not optional, a pouch is the minimum. Loose in a bag is how most frames die. A soft microfibre pouch is the bare minimum and stops casual rubbing. For actual travel such as flights, trains, a bag that's going to get thrown around you want a structured case with a soft lining, which protects against pressure and impact as well as scuffing. Luckily we provide cases with all of our eyewear, so step 1 is checked off already!
2. Never rest them lens-down, and never on your head. Setting sunglasses face-down puts the full weight of the frame on the lenses against whatever surface you've chosen. Perching them on top of your head although easy to do and adding flair to your hair, meanwhile, stretches the arms over time and invites the drop that ends in a cracked lens. Fold them and lay them arms-down, or better, put them away in one of the lovely cases we provide.
3. Keep them away from keys, coins and grit. The inside of a handbag or rucksack is a demolition derby of hard, sharp objects. Sunglasses need their own protected space, a dedicated compartment or a closed case, so nothing metal ever touches the lens. This single habit prevents the majority of travel scratches. Luckily the move to a cashless society has also gone some way to reducing some of the threats posed by loose shrapnel!
4. Rinse before you wipe. If there's sand, salt or dust on the lens, do not reach for a cloth yet. Rinse the frames under clean water first (a little lens spray or even a drop of washing-up liquid is fine), then dry with a microfibre cloth (we also provide one of these with every order, make sure you keep it safe). Wiping grit while it's dry is the single most common way people scratch their own sunglasses as it’s like using sandpaper on your lenses.
5. Clean with microfibre, nothing else. Your shirt, a tissue, a paper napkin, the corner of a towel: all of them are abrasive enough to leave fine swirls on a lens coating over time. A microfibre cloth (the kind good frames ship with) is the only thing that should touch the lens. Keep one in your case so it's always to hand.
6. Two pairs? Keep them apart. If you travel with sunglasses and opticals or a spare pair, never let them share a single pocket as they can rub against each other causing damage. Frame against frame, or arm against lens, and they'll scratch each other before anything else gets the chance. Separate compartments solve this entirely. Luckily we’ve got a solution to this below.
Where the Everywhere Case comes in
This is the problem our Everywhere Case was built to solve. It's hand sewn from vegan croc-print leather with a velvet-lined interior, soft against the lens by design and, crucially, it has two dedicated eyewear compartments, so your sunglasses and your opticals (or two pairs of sunnies) travel together without ever touching. Switching from your reading frames to your shades on the plane becomes a one-second job rather than a rummage with potential damage to your lenses.
There are two soft velvet pouches and four extendable hooks inside as well, so rings, a watch or a pair of earrings ride along in the same protected space rather than loose in your wash bag. At 17.8 × 19 × 6.8 cm it's sized to slip into a carry-on or a larger handbag, and you can add your initials in silver foil if you'd like it to be unmistakably yours. It comes in Mushroom White, Bordeaux and Emerald for £99.
It won't make you immune to setting your sunglasses face-down on a table. But it removes most of the other ways a good pair comes to grief on the move.
How to choose a travel case for sunglasses
Four things actually matter:
Lining. This is what touches your lens, so it's the part that prevents scratches. Look for velvet, microfibre or a similarly soft interior. A stiff, unlined case can be worse than a pouch.
Structure. A case with some rigidity protects against pressure and impact, a bag being sat on, an overhead locker or a dropped rucksack. Soft-but-structured is the sweet spot for most travel; fully rigid hard cases are worth it for checked luggage specifically.
Separate compartments. If you ever carry more than one pair, this is non-negotiable. Two frames loose in one space will scratch each other and our Everywhere Case is cheaper than buying two new pairs of sunglasses!
Size and fit. The case should hold your frames without forcing the arms or pressing the lenses. Too tight is as bad as too loose. Check the dimensions against your largest pair before buying.
Once you have somewhere proper to put them, the rest is just habit. Frames built to last, like our women's and men's sunglasses, cut from deadstock acetate, deserve at least that much looking after 🙂
Frequently asked questions
How do you keep sunglasses from getting scratched when travelling? Keep them in a lined case whenever they're not being worn, store that case away from keys, coins and other hard objects, never set the frames down lens-first, and clean them only with a microfibre cloth after rinsing off any grit. If you carry two pairs, keep each in its own compartment. Our Everywhere Case has you covered if you want to keep two pairs safe when on the move!
Can you travel with sunglasses in checked luggage? Yes, but they need real protection, because checked bags get compressed and thrown. Use a rigid or well-structured lined case and pack it in the centre of the case, cushioned by clothing on all sides. For anything valuable or irreplaceable, carry them in your hand luggage instead.
Do microfibre pouches prevent scratches? A microfibre pouch prevents surface scuffing from rubbing and is far better than nothing, but it offers no protection against pressure or impact. For travel, a structured case with a soft lining is the safer choice; keep the pouch for everyday use in a bag.
How do you carry two pairs of glasses when travelling? Use a case with two separate compartments so the frames never touch. Two pairs sharing a single pocket will scratch each other: arm against lens is the usual culprit. A dual-compartment case like the Everywhere Case is designed for exactly this.
What's the best way to clean sunglasses while travelling? Rinse the lenses under clean water first to remove sand, salt or dust, add a drop of lens spray or mild soap if needed, then dry with a microfibre cloth. Never wipe a dry, gritty lens, and never use a shirt, tissue or napkin: all of them are abrasive enough to scratch the coating.
Are hard cases or soft cases better for travel? Both work if they're lined. A structured soft case is more practical for everyday carry and hand luggage, while a fully rigid hard case gives the most protection for checked luggage. The lining matters more than the shell as an unlined hard case can still scratch a lens.