The Only Aviators You Should Ever Buy

The sunglasses that flew to the moon. Now built for you.

Since 1958, American Optical has manufactured the Original Pilot to U.S. military specifications — the same sunglasses worn by NASA Apollo astronauts and issued to generations of U.S. Air Force pilots.Made in the USA. Built to last forever.

A photograph of Gordon and Cooper upon returning to earth after a space flight wearing AO Original Piot sunglasses.

Why Choose the AO Original Pilot Sunglasses?

• 100% UVA/UVB Protection — Full-spectrum UV blocking for long hours in the cockpit, on the water, or in the field.
• Anti-Reflective Backside Coating — Eliminates distracting glare from behind, so your vision stays sharp in any light.
• Smudge-Resistant Oleophobic Coating — Fingerprints wipe off cleanly. No streaks, no hassle.
• Impact & Scratch Resistant — Built to ANSI Z80.3 standards. Engineered to take a beating and keep performing.
• Timeless 23K Gold Finish — A classic that never goes out of style. Worn by pilots. Loved by everyone else.

Choosing Your Lenses: Glass vs. Nylon

Not sure which lens material to pick? Here's the short version:

Most pilots and everyday wearers prefer Glass for its unmatched optical clarity. Choose Nylon if you're active outdoors or want a lighter feel.

Polarized or Non-Polarized?

• Non-Polarized — Recommended for pilots. Polarized lenses can interfere with reading LCD cockpit instruments and make it harder to see other aircraft. If you fly, go non-polarized.
• Polarized — Ideal for driving, boating, fishing, or any activity where glare off water or roads is a factor.

On January 21st, 2026, Esquire wrote an article about AO Eyewear sunglasses, and particularly about American Optical's Original Pilot sunglasses. What follows is Esquire thought about AO Eyewear Original Pilot Sunglasses:

"The Only Aviators You Should Ever Buy

American Optical's Original Pilot is one of the greatest sunglasses frames of all time.

Every time I advise guys on aviators, my first words are cautionary. Please, know your limits. Wire-frame teardrop aviators, like the ones Joe Biden wears, should be avoided at all costs. They're like the runway Armani suits of the 1980s and '90s.

But, if you just really love the pilot look, you want wire-frame aviators. I get that. In that case, there is only one brand, one style I can wholeheartedly endorse. It's American Optical's Original Pilot. Nothing else is worth buying.

But this is why I love American Optical's pilot frames. It makes that whole thing a non-issue. They're squared off ever so slightly, especially up on the crown in the top corners of the frame, and on the bottom half of the lens. It makes the overall shape a bit more horizontal, which I find far more flattering than the droopy teardrop shape. Then, you have the bayonet temples, the fat part on the back of the wings that situate them on your head. For fashion purposes, I do think this situates the glasses on your face in a more flattering way, but it's a practical invention. The bayonet temple makes them more compatible with pilots' helmets and headphones, but for the average person it makes them great a après-ski or cold-weather sunglasses where you're wearing something on your head.

They Have a Legendary History

The majority of aviators out there don't look quite right because they were made specifically for fashion. American Optical's pilot sunglasses were made for function. As a matter of national security, the U.S. military requires issued gear, uniforms, and rations to made domestically. (If you're interested in military clothing history, Avery Trufelman's podcast series Articles of Interest just did a great telling of it.) During the middle of the 20th century, this aviator shape, not the ugly teardrop one from Top Gun, was the dominant style issued by the military, so it's the style that actually put the shape in the American conscious.

Beyond standard military issue, the Original Pilot's most legendary claim is as the sunglasses worn by astronauts on the Apollo. American Optical worked with NASA on more serious glass tech around the missions, but in every astronauts survival kit was a pair of American Optical pilot sunglasses for the return to Earth. The brand has, literally, been to the moon. Very few can claim that."

I hope you enjoyed this blog post about Sunglasses for Pilots and Aviation Enthusiasts. If you enjoyed this trip, and if you are new to this blog, sign up to receive your own weekly blog post here: Subscribe here!

Until next time, keep your eyes safe and focused on what's ahead of you, Hersch!