A review and comparison of Smith Optics latest lens technology
By Sammy Chang
Anglers frequently encounter challenges with variable light conditions. Early morning light creates a reflective glare on the water’s surface, while remaining too dim for standard polarized sunglasses. Midday sun often overwhelms low-light glasses, and this cycle repeats at sunset. This forces anglers to choose between poor visibility or no polarization, or the inconvenience of carrying multiple pairs or interchangeable lenses.
While sunglass manufacturers offer both light-adapting and polarized lenses, these features were historically separate, leaving anglers to compromise between options. Smith Optics presents a potential solution: Chromapop Glass Polarchromic lenses. These lenses automatically adjust light transmission based on ambient conditions, while polarized glass provides superior glare-cutting clarity both above and below the water’s surface. Chromapop technology enhances color perception adding significant vibrance to what you see. By combining these features, Smith Optics allows anglers to benefit from variable light adaptability, polarization, and stunning clarity in a single pair of sunglasses.
After eight months of daily use both on and off the water, I can attest to the fact that these lenses are a true game changer for anglers both salt and fresh, and are definitely worth the spend.
Two lens options are available: Brown Green Mirror for lower light conditions and Yellow Blue Mirror for brighter conditions. As a quick reference, VLT, or visible light transmission, is the maximum amount of light transmitted through a lens. 11% VLT means a maximum of 11% of light is transmitted. The Brown Green Mirror lenses allow slightly more light transmission (VLT 11-23%), and are optimized for dimmer or cloudy days. They have a warming effect on what you see. The Yellow Blue Mirror lenses allow slightly less light transmission (VLT 11-20%), work great for brighter days, and provide a cooling effect on what you see. Both lense types will work well as your daily and angling glasses, depending on what effect (warm vs cool) you prefer. I used the Brown Green Mirror on blue bird bright days and it never felt too bright. Likewise, I used the Yellow Blue lenses on overcast days, and didn’t feel the need to take the shades off.
Below are side-by-side comparisons of the two lens options. I recommend testing and purchasing at your local shop, but if you are unable to do so I hope these images help “shed some light” on what you’re getting in to (see what I did there?). There is no way to capture what you actually see through these glasses using a camera, but these images will hopefully at least give you a sense. At $305 dollars, these glasses aren’t cheap. But they will be the only pair of glasses you’ll likely ever need.
Chromapop Glass Polarchromic lenses are currently available in their angling line of glasses, including the Guides Choice, Guides Choice XL, Redding 2, and Hookset. The type reviewed in this post is the Hookset, which I found to be perfect for my rather round and medium-sized face. I will post a full review on the Hookset’s in a later post. In summary, they provide great coverage and no light leakage, are very comfortable, but due to the glass lenses have a propensity to slide down some if your nose is on the smaller side.
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