Travel has a way of making reading glasses suddenly essential. Airport forms, restaurant menus, hotel information, maps and your phone all become considerably easier when your readers are actually where you need them.
The best reading glasses for travel don't need to fold into the size of a credit card or come with complicated travel features. They need to fit comfortably, suit your usual reading needs, travel well and be easy to find.
And there is one travel rule we strongly recommend: never pack just one pair.
What Makes Good Reading Glasses for Travel?
For most travellers, the same qualities that make a great everyday pair of readers also make a great travel pair.
Look for:
- A comfortable, well-fitting frame
- Lightweight acetate that's easy to wear
- Clear lenses with scratch-resistant coating
- A strength that works comfortably for your usual close-up tasks
- A protective way to carry them
- A frame you genuinely like wearing
Style matters too. If you're wearing your readers in cafés, restaurants, museums and hotels, there is no reason they should look like something bought purely for practicality.
Pack at Least Two Pairs
This may be the most useful reading-glasses travel advice we can give.
Take a spare pair.
Readers are small, frequently taken on and off and remarkably easy to leave behind. A pair can disappear into an aircraft seat pocket, remain on a restaurant table or get buried somewhere in your luggage.
Pack your second pair separately from your first. Keep one in your handbag or carry-on and another in your suitcase or hotel room.
If one disappears, your holiday doesn't suddenly involve trying to find replacement readers in an unfamiliar city.
If you're already wondering whether you need more than one pair at home, read our guide to how many pairs of reading glasses you really need.
Choose a Frame You'll Actually Wear
Travel isn't the time to take the pair of readers you don't particularly like.
Your glasses will appear at restaurant tables, on trains, in cafés and probably in more than a few holiday photos.
Choose a frame that feels like part of your wardrobe.
A classic tortoiseshell is particularly easy to travel with because it works across different outfits. A neutral frame can be equally versatile, while a bold frame can become an accessory in its own right.
If you're choosing a new pair before travelling, our Reading Glasses Fit Guide can help you find a comfortable frame.
Don't Guess Your Reading Strength for a Holiday
You don't need special "travel strength" reading glasses.
If your existing reading strength gives you clear, comfortable magnification for the close-up tasks you normally use readers for, that's generally the strength you'll want to take with you.
Don't automatically buy stronger readers because you'll be reading maps or menus overseas. Higher plus simply means more magnification; it isn't automatically better.
If you're unsure which strength suits you, use our Reading Glasses Lens Power Guide.
Think About Sun Readers Too
For warm-weather holidays, ordinary readers may only solve half the problem.
Reading outside can mean dealing with both close-up print and bright sunlight.
Polarised Sun Readers combine reading magnification with polarised sunglass lenses, making them particularly useful for outdoor cafés, poolside reading, beach holidays and sunny sightseeing days.
They're also one less swap between sunglasses and readers when you're outside.
Keep Your Readers Protected
Reading glasses tend to have a rougher life when travelling.
They're constantly moving between your face, handbag, carry-on, hotel room and restaurant table. Avoid throwing them loose into a bag alongside keys, chargers and everything else you're carrying.
When you're not wearing them, give them a protected place to live.
And avoid placing them lens-down on tables or other hard surfaces.
For more, see our guide to caring for and storing reading glasses.
A Glasses Chain Is Surprisingly Good for Travel
If you're constantly taking your readers on and off, a glasses chain can be one of the most useful things to pack.
You can read a menu, take your glasses off and simply let them hang rather than putting them on the table and wondering where they went ten minutes later.
They also add something to an outfit rather than looking purely practical.
Read how to style reading glasses chains or browse our glasses chains and accessories.
Keep One Pair in Your Carry-On
Never put every pair of readers in checked luggage.
Keep at least one pair somewhere easy to reach during the flight.
You'll potentially need them for:
- Your phone
- Reading
- Menus
- Arrival information
- Customs or immigration forms
- Finding details in travel documents
Your spare pair can then travel separately.
Our Travel Reading Glasses Packing List
Before you leave, pack:
1. Your main reading glasses
The pair you know fits well and suits your usual reading strength.
2. A spare pair
Stored separately in case your main pair goes missing.
3. Polarised Sun Readers
Particularly useful for sunny destinations and outdoor reading.
4. Protective storage
So your readers aren't loose in your luggage.
5. A microfibre cloth
Because fingerprints, sunscreen and travel go together.
6. A glasses chain
Optional, but extremely handy when you're constantly taking your readers on and off.
Best Reading Glasses for Travel: Our Verdict
The best travel readers aren't necessarily "travel glasses".
They're good reading glasses that fit properly, look good and work for the way you actually use them.
Rather than buying a novelty foldable pair purely because you're travelling, take readers you'd happily wear at home.
Then pack a spare.
Add Polarised Sun Readers if you're heading somewhere sunny, protect your frames when they're not being worn and consider a glasses chain if you're prone to putting your readers down.
Simple. Stylish. Much harder to lose.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pairs of reading glasses should I take travelling?
We recommend taking at least two pairs and keeping them in separate places. If one pair is lost or damaged, you'll still have another available.
Do I need special reading glasses for travel?
Usually, no. A comfortable pair of everyday reading glasses in your usual strength can work perfectly well for travel.
Should I take reading sunglasses on holiday?
If you'll be reading outdoors, Polarised Sun Readers can be particularly convenient because they combine reading magnification with polarised sunglass lenses.
Should I pack reading glasses in my carry-on?
Yes. Keep at least one pair in your carry-on rather than putting all your readers into checked luggage.
How can I stop losing my reading glasses while travelling?
Keep them in a consistent place when you're not wearing them, take a spare pair and consider using a glasses chain when you're sightseeing or moving between locations.
