Engearment

Kate Agathon

The lightweight Smith Resolve sunglasses are the best fitting sports eyewear I’ve had in years. They stay securely put on my face (even when I take some pretty sketchy mountain bike rides) and have crazy good clarity.

Let’s jump into the details.

 

My history with sports eyewear is spotty at best.

Due to my Asian heritage, I have historically had a difficult time finding sports eyewear. Because I have a low nose bridge, most eyewear slides down my face, or does not rest properly on my cheekbones.

And because styles have changed and larger frames have replaced less fashionable smaller frames, it is even more difficult to find sports eyewear that not only fits my face, but doesn’t compete with my bike helmet for space.

Throughout the years, I have had the opportunity to try out new sports eyewear, but always seem to revert to an older pair with smaller frames.

Up until recently, I had been wearing a pair of eleven-year old Oakleys as replacements for my favorite discontinued Smith Pivlock Asanas that had gotten lost. I was overdue for an upgrade.

Therefore, when the Smith Resolves were recommended to me, I was eager to try them out.

Perfect Fit

I wore the Smith Resolves in the Black frame with Photochromic Clear to Gray Lens option. They arrived with a hard case, microfiber pouch, and interchangeable clear lenses.

Except for the lenses, they looked very similar to my beloved Smith Pivlock Asanas in shape and size. After admiring them out of the box, I was a bit skeptical to try them on. Just last week, I had tried on a different brand in a similar style and size, and to my surprise they did not even touch my cheek bones! Would I experience the same with the Smith Resolves?

Fortunately, no. Quite the opposite experience, in fact.

The medium-fit Smith Resolves were so comfortable, that I kind of forgot that I was wearing any sports eyewear at all. This allowed me to focus (pun not intended) on my ride and not ill-fitting sports eyewear.

Thanks to the adjustable Megol nose pads and non-slip temples, I could wear the Smith Resolves by themselves, under a bike helmet, or paired with a cap, the Smith Resolves fit well and stay put.

Although I prefer the look of shield lenses, the Smith Resolves fit my face so well, I was more than willing to make the style exception. They still felt like shield lenses though, with a wrap around feel.

After long days on the trail, I was pleased to notice that the Smith Resolves never slid, nor did I experience any of the typical discomfort spots (i.e. uncomfortable around the ears or temples) that sometimes occur after wearing sunglasses after long periods of time. They also allowed for maximum airflow to prevent fogging.

Clarity and Lens Tech

I favor photochromic lenses because the conditions change so quickly in the mountains.

Whether I’m riding through sections of a trail that are covered by trees, or if the sun disappears, I like the fact that I have the appropriate sports eyewear that transition with varied lighting conditions and I don’t have to carry another pair of sunglasses with me.

The ChromaPop™ lens technology brings amazingly stark clarity. I could see every natural obstacle (i.e. rocks and tree roots) in front of me, even in shaded areas.

I have worn photochromic lenses for several years, and the Smith Resolves are clearly (pun intended) the superior technology for clearness and sharpness. That clear vision technology is vital when mountain biking and negotiating obstacles ahead.

The Final Word

Smith Resolve sports eyewear look good, but perform even better thanks to their secure fit and ChromaPop™ bright light lens technology.

I am so stoked to finally have some sports eyewear that not only fit my face, but perform amazingly well in all conditions. I am excited to wear these nordic skiing this winter season and know I’ll always reach for these for all my outdoor recreation activities.

If you have a small face or require Asian fit sports eyewear, I definitely recommend the Smith Resolves.

Smith Resolve is available in seven different lens and color options.

Kate Agathon

Dr. Of Stoke

Freelance writer, bicyclist, outdoor recreation enthusiast, social justice advocate, and mom to her furbaby, Sansa.

A Colorado native, Kate considers the outdoors her mother ship. She brings her passion for bicycling, the environment, and issues of diversity to her writing. Her primary outdoor recreation activities are mountain biking, road biking, nordic skiing, alpine skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, and peak bagging Colorado’s 14ers.

 

Kate earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Colorado State University and later an MSEd and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University. In addition to her education, Kate’s background serving on the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and experience working for non-profits and bicycle sales well position her to bring depth and understanding to the complex changes currently taking place in the outdoor recreation industry.

 

 

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