Best solar viewing gear 2025: Get prepared for the partial solar eclipse on March 29

If you’re planning to observe the eclipse in a group of four, and need a kit that’s simple and safe to use, this multi-pack of EclipSmart Solar Shades from one of our favorite brands, Celestron, might be up your street. They not only boast solar-safe filter technology by conforming to the international safety standard for solar filters (ISO 12312-2:2015(E)) — but they also come complete with a 32-page book on eclipses, which (while tied to the eclipses of 2023 and 2024) still contains some handy tips and tricks for observing this year’s spectacle.

These solar eclipse glasses from Baader are not only budget-friendly, but they’re built to enhance your observing experience thanks to the craftsmanship of an eye-sided reflex-free material, with an optical density of 5.0. A personal favorite of our during the eclipse of August 2017, the AstroSolar Sun Solar Eclipse Sunglasses feature AstroSolar silver/gold film that’s CE- and ISO-certified and complies with the requirements for eye safety when observing our nearest star (EN ISO 12312-2:2015). Eclipse watchers also have the added safety of 100% UV-protection and 100% IR-protection, so we felt completely safe in the hands of Baader when using these.

If you’re looking for something that’s much more “permanent”, then we recommend these surprisingly stylish solar eclipse glasses from Rainbow Symphony. Perhaps a brand that not many have heard of before, we made use of these during June 2021’s solar eclipse and found them a delight to wear. They’re comfortable, fit over regular spectacles and we didn’t feel that we had to hold them to our face while observing. They’re also ISO- and CE-compliant — so no UV and IR getting to your eyes — and we had crisp, clear views of the eclipse. The scratch-resistant polymer material also gave us confidence when caring for the safety of our eyes.

We’ve made use of this filter from DayStar, and wholeheartedly recommend it. You will need to have an instrument with an “outside objective” that’s between 65 and 80 mm in order for it to fit, but once slotted on with the spring-folded fins it’s a fairly inexpensive piece of kit that adds versatility to your observing arsenal.

We trusted the Thousand Oaks density 5 SolarLite Film, and — with the combined magnification of our telescope — we achieved a very pleasant, clear and crisp view of our nearest star during the June 2021 solar eclipse. We have used this simple but well-made filter for many observing sessions of the sun since then.

The widely trusted Baader brand is an excellent choice for solar observing, and this filter is no exception. The quality is truly outstanding and the foil has been CE-tested, ensuring that only 1% of the sun’s light safely reaches your eyes for those breathtaking views. You’ll see the solar disc in a neutral white, once you have fixed it securely to your instrument.

However, we do recommend adding some extra filters to truly get the best from your observations — capturing many a solar eclipse, with the added detailing of sunspots, using this filter has been a huge highlight for us. What’s more, if the 70mm is a bit too small or too big for your “outer” objective lens, Baader offers this filter in several sizes. We've used all of them for our observations of the sun, so recommend getting several for that added versatility.

If you’re looking to instantly transform your faithful telescope, spotting scope or DSLR camera into a solar observer before the March 2025 eclipse, then Celestron is always a great brand to turn to. Some solar astronomers swear by simplicity in terms of kit for seeing the solar surface in its glory, and for less than $20, you can’t really go wrong with this super-safe (ISO 12312-2:2015(E)-compliant) filter — especially if your instrument boasts an outside objective diameter of 75mm and 100mm. In our experience, it fits pretty snuggly to a telescope thanks to the supplied elastic band, and the orange-tinted view of the solar disc added some truly beautiful warmth during our observations. Highly recommended — but do take care when folding it away in between sessions, so that you don’t run the risk of damaging the film.

It’s always risky viewing the solar surface at high magnification, but we didn’t feel that our safety was compromised when using this kit. Thanks to the 42mm objective lenses, we could take in a good field of view, while the 10x magnification provided enough detail for the cost and with pleasing contrast.

The binoculars are quite lightweight, comfortable and offer a non-slip grip, making them easy to handle during long observation sessions, while the durable, rubber-coated design adds to their sturdiness. Sunspots are within easy reach of the Celestron EclipSmart 10x42’s optical system if you’re inspired to observe the sun after or before the eclipse.

Read our full Celestron EclipSmart 10x42 solar binocular review

Lunt is a firm favorite for solar observers, and continues to deliver with these lightweight, compact and vibrantly colored binoculars. They get our stamp of approval on safety as they block out pretty much all light from the sun — and most importantly 100% of the harmful ultraviolet and infrared components — leaving a small 0.00001% to take in the views through the modest 32mm objective. They’re so compact that we were able to slip them into our pockets as we waited for the January 2019 eclipse to reach its annular phase. Focusing was a bit of a challenge, but once focus is achieved, clarity and contrast are very good given the cost. The eye relief is also very good for spectacle wearers.

Ideal for specifically viewing sunsets, sunspots and solar eclipses, the EclipSmart Solar Telescope has a permanent solar filter attached to the lens, which conforms to the ISO 12312-2:2015(E) standards, making it a permanently safe solar filter. It's a fantastic way of getting a close view of the eclipse if you don't want to buy a regular telescope with a separate filter.

If you want to view the eclipse safely with a telescope but want the versatility to also use it during the night for stargazing, the iOptron White Light Solar Scope has a detachable solar filter. The 80mm objective lens and 400mm focal length are perfect for capturing wide views of the sky, but if you already own a telescope, we'd recommend getting a solar filter for it instead.