Smith Venture Glacier Sunglasses Review

Kate Agathon

The first model of true glacier sunglasses was acknowledged in 1950 and has undergone different variations since then by different manufacturers. Throughout the years, one distinct feature has remained: the side shields.

Intended to block wind and debris, side shields also provide an extra layer of protection from the sun.

As a history buff who lives in a mountain town that sits at over 9,000 feet above sea level, I wanted to give the Venture glacier sunglasses a try.

Smith Venture Glacier Sunglasses – Look

I’m a creature of habit, so to try an entirely different look took me way outside of my comfort zone.

Truth be told, I was a little apprehensive to try such a unique-looking pair of sunglasses. But, if the main features (i.e. side shields) have remained relatively the same for decades, I told myself, there must be a reason.

Upon the initial trying on, my first thought was ok, I don’t look too weird (I was half expecting to look like I had raided someone’s Steampunk cosplay closet). The TPU sun shields took up a bit more of my face than I think they’re intended to, but I have a small face.

The simplicity of the round shape is more of a nod to its glacier glasses heritage than it is to style (round glasses are not a shape that look universally good on all faces). Thankfully, from an appearance standpoint (worn with and without the TPU side shields), they looked fine and did not make me resemble some throwback mountaineering caricature.

Without the TPU side shields, I can wear them to brunch or pair them with a dress to festivals and concerts without looking overly sporty.

Smith Venture Glacier Sunglasses -Function

I first wore the medium fit Ventures on a bluebird day with plenty of sun. I chose to wear the matte black pair with ChromaPop™ Glass Polarized Black because of their minimalist appearance.

I wore them in town, driving with the windows down, and on some local hiking trails.

Worn with TPU side shields: They definitely cut down on wind and debris while driving with the windows down. While walking on trails, the side shield ventilation prevented overheating. Although I didn’t get high enough to try them in any snowfields, they were effective in blocking the piercing alpine sun.

Worn without TPU side shields: I personally liked to wear them around town without the TPU side shields because I didn’t need the extra protection since I wasn’t outside for prolonged amounts of time. I also felt less self-conscious wearing TPU side shields for casual wear.

The Ventures are available in a variety of frame colors and glass and polycarbonate lenses. As mentioned above, the ones I wore featured the ChromaPop™ Glass Polarized Black lenses (ideal for medium to bright exposure). They offered 100 percent protection from harmful UVA/B/C rays and unparalleled clarity without distorting colors. I found their features especially useful when the sunlight bounced off the water of Lake Dillon.

Smith Venture Glacier Sunglasses -Fit

Featuring Smith’s patented ChromaPop™ technology, the Ventures are designed to be versatile and offer a customizable fit. Additional modern features include removable ventilated TPU side shields, auto lock hinges for easy on and off, and adjustable nose piece.

The first thing I noticed is that they were a little heavier (both with and without the TPU side shields and temple arms) than I expected.

I have a small face, and I’m also Asian, so I have a low nose bridge. While the Ventures fit on my face, they never quite felt secure (I suspect because of the nose bridge), even after I removed the temple arms.

There is, however, an adjustable goggle strap that can be affixed to the Ventures to make them stay securely on your head or around your neck that are helpful for outdoor activities, like fly fishing or backcountry skiing.

I chose not to wear it while doing some easy hikes in the neighborhood or around town because wearing the goggle strap with a baseball hat would have felt like overkill.

Final Word?

Like all Smith lifestyle and performance eyewear, the Ventures are packed with the latest in technology and offer superior clarity.

You don’t have to be navigating a snow field to appreciate how the Ventures protect your eyes from harsh sunlight. If you’re looking for a pair of lifestyle sunglasses with an outdoor recreation heritage, the Venture sunglasses are what you want this season.

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.