River & Trail Talk

Whether you are looking for an everyday pair of durable, high quality sunglasses or some eyewear to enhance your visibility on a run or ride - SMITH Optics sunglasses are an excellent choice! They originally kicked things off with handmade innovative ski goggles in 1965, and are still based in Idaho, USA. Since then, they’ve expanded to eyewear, helmets and more.

If you’ve shopped at River & Trail during the winter, you know we’ve been carrying their ski helmets for awhile and we added their sunglasses to our inventory in 2024. Here’s why:

Their Running sunglasses offer peak performance

As with many of their glasses, their ChromaPop™ technology is key to enhanced visibility as it boosts colours and contrast. Whether or not you choose a polarized lens comes down to preference as there are benefits to both, depending on where you are running. An example of a great pair of Running sunglasses from SMITH are their Wildcat glasses.

They make really, really good cycling sunglasses!

With a variety of lens colours, their biking eyewear is ready for any terrain in any lighting conditions. They are durable and designed to stay on as you twist and turn down windy single tracks or navigate rocky terrain. A little fun fact is that it is preferable to not have polarized glasses when cycling. A Non-Polarized lens helps spot any hazards on the road or trail. (This is true for skiing too!) An example of a solid pair of Cycling sunglasses from SMITH are their Bobcat glasses.

They continue to innovate

We've already mentioned their ChromaPop technology but they do much more. A few things worth mentioning:

They have a wide variety of lens colours designed for different lighting conditions. Many of their performance sunglasses come with interchangeable lenses so you customize your eyewear based on the day. Additionally, their sunglasses are lightweight and durable. They truly are designed for living life outside! 

When do you need polarized glasses?

We mentioned above a couple instances when non-polarized glasses are preferred. So when do you want polarized glasses? If you are fishing or spending the day paddleboarding, your eyes will thank you for wearing a Polarized lens. They are designed to reduce glare and allow you to see more clearly through the water’s surface. An awesome pair of polarized SMITH sunglasses for fishing or hanging out on the water is the Guide’s Choice.

In summary

Choosing a pair of sunglasses is, of course, subjective. It depends on how and where you intend to wear them. We love SMITH sunglasses and we think you will too! Browse all options from SMITH Optics here. If you have any questions, send us a message or visit us in store to chat with us and try some on for yourself.

References

https://blog.smithoptics.com/b/do-you-need-polarized-lenses/

https://blog.smithoptics.com/b/the-best-type-of-sunglass-lenses-for-every-environment/

https://blog.smithoptics.com/b/the-guide-to-our-best-sunglasses-for-running/

https://blog.smithoptics.com/b/the-guide-to-our-best-cycling-sunglasses/