Smith Ultralite Sunglasses

Review by Will Trail

Initial Impressions

Smith, a brand renowned for high-quality eyewear designed for activities like hiking, running, snow sports, fishing, and biking, provided their Ultralite biking sunglasses for review. These sunglasses feature ChromaPop™ lenses in the striking “80’s Night” colorway and include a fleece storage pouch to complete the retro look.

Detailed Review

The Ultralite sunglasses utilize ChromaPop™ lenses with a violet mirrored tint and a light filter rating of 3 (on Smith’s 0-4 scale). These lenses offer 100% UV protection and feature a significant wraparound design, effectively shielding the eyes from wind and dust. Smith states that these frames are designed for medium to large face sizes.

Despite their larger frame size, these sunglasses did not interfere with my helmet, a common issue with other eyewear. The temple tips positioned themselves naturally around my ears and integrated seamlessly with my helmet straps. The Megol nose pads are malleable, allowing for a customized fit and preventing slippage during rides. These glasses are best for larger sized faces, as they did not fit well on my wife’s smaller face.

Upon initial wear, the enhanced contrast and clarity characteristic of ChromaPop™ lenses were immediately apparent. Trail irregularities and rocks became distinctly visible, crucial for navigating mountain bike trails.  

Testing was conducted under overcast, partly cloudy, and full sun conditions, and in all cases, trail features ‘popped,’ which increased safety. The frames remained stable during rides, avoiding helmet contact. The full-coverage lenses effectively blocked wind, and integrated top vents, combined with natural side airflow, prevented fogging.

Closing Thoughts

The Smith Ultralite ChromaPop™ lenses’ clarity and contrast are a significant advantage for mountain biking, allowing riders to clearly see and avoid obstacles, contributing to increased speed and safety. The UV and wind protection are excellent, and fogging is effectively prevented.  These sunglasses are designed for larger faces, which may not suit everyone. However, Smith provides alternative frame sizes for those with smaller faces. Additionally, for those seeking different aesthetics, the Ultralite model is available in other “less rad” color options.

Will Trail

Will grew up in Idaho (fifth generation!) where he enjoyed the outdoors, riding his bike, participated in multiple sports, and working on the family ranch from time to time.

During college at Montana Tech, he played football for a few years and worked as a wildland firefighter during the summers.  He met his future wife, Erin Trail, there and after graduating with a degree in Geophysical Engineering, they moved to Texas where he was involved with racing his Subaru WRX, camping and powerlifting.

The call of living closer to home resulted in a move to Colorado in 2011.  He now lives in the Denver metro area with Erin and their three cats. He works as a Data Analyst in the telecommunications world during the day and enjoys mountain biking, camping, snowboarding, automotive repair and is president of a local homebrewing club.  He has been known to enter an XC or enduro mountain bike race from time to time as well.