Smith Optics Embark ChromaPop Glacier Photochromic Sunglasses

Review by Paul Gallaher

This is the second Embark model of Smith frames that I’ve reviewed, albeit with a different color and lens this time. I really like the first pair of Embarks (with polarized lenses) I tested a couple of years ago and was intrigued to see that they were offering this option with photochromic lenses.

This lens option broadens the number of practical uses for these glasses, especially for those that spend time in bright sunlight alternating with being in the shade or on partly cloudy days.

I do a lot of high altitude Nordic skiing and mountain biking. At these altitudes, the sunlight is very intense and on blue sky days, where I’m in the sunlight for the majority of the days, the photochromic mirrored lenses with Smith’s ChromaPop technology do a great job of blocking bright blue-sky light and all of the light reflecting off winter snow.

Fit

• The Embark is made to fit the “average” size face.
• Several features are adjustable on these glasses. First, the side-shields are easily removed or installed, depending upon the needs of the wearer. Secondly, the temple arms are adjustable to tailor your fit. I wear a medium-size bike and alpine ski helmet and these fit me well. The retention strap is nice if you’re doing activities on the water or in deep snow where the glasses falling off your face could mean loss of the glasses.

Lens

• This particular version of the Embark glasses come with polycarbonate polarized lenses. They have Smith’s Chromapop Glacier Photochromic lenses which enhance color, clarity and definition. They block 100% of UV rays.
• The lenses are impact resistant, as well as smudge and water resistant. They have what I’d describe as a purple-blue mirror coating on the lens, which by the way, looks great! They have visible light transmission of 4-25% depending upon the ambient light conditions. Four percent is a really nice, dark lens which, coupled with the side shields, really does an effective job of blocking harmful light from reaching or even damaging eyes.

Frame

• This frame is made of Smith’s proprietary Evolve material. It has a bio-based material into the injected polymer frames.
• These glasses arrived with a microfiber bag, a hard case, an adjustable retention strap that clips onto the end of the temples and removable ventilated side-shields.
  Smith Optics Embark ChromaPop Glacier Photochromic Sunglasses

Performance

• These sunglasses fit me well. I’ve worn them with and without the side-shields and do have comments on the side shields. While the side shields do very well at blocking peripheral glare from coming into my eyes, they also are not well-suited to driving. They block peripheral vision which driving really requires. It’s a quick and easy fix to remove the side-shields though and I’ve found that these are great driving glasses, especially on bright, blue-sky days. On the snow above the treeline, the side-shields are honestly essential to eye safety. They truly provide comprehensive protection.
• These new photochromic lenses have worked great for me during outdoor activities like Nordic skiing and mountain biking where I frequently transition from bright sunlight to darkly shaded trails under tall trees. My eyes are very light sensitive and these photochromic lenses work very well for me in nearly all conditions.
• These glasses are an excellent choice for outdoor sports especially in sunny areas. If you want a different color or type of lens or frame, Smith Optics gives you many choices to fit your preferences. They currently list many different combinations of these on their website.

Paul Gallaher

Paul grew up in Minnesota where he learned to love the outdoors, riding his bike, fishing and canoeing in the summers and skiing in the winters on Minnesota’s 300 foot-tall “mountains”.

After finishing college, he was commissioned as an officer in the USAF eventually becoming a special operations and reconnaissance instructor navigator flying and serving around the world for twenty-two years.

Living and traveling around the world has given Paul opportunities to explore outdoor passions. He is an advanced scuba diver, a pilot, a sailor and has skied in the United States, Canada, France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland.