As an outdoor enthusiast, investing in a reliable pair of sunglasses is paramount, and frankly, it’s something I often hesitate to quantify in terms of ownership duration, for fear of tempting fate and losing them! However, to properly convey my long-term experience, let’s just say my Smith Guide’s Choice sunglasses have been extensively tested across various conditions. Smith Optics has consistently demonstrated its prowess in crafting top-tier eyewear, and the Guide’s Choice sunglasses are no exception, establishing themselves as a benchmark, particularly within the fly fishing community.
As the name suggests, the Smith Guide’s Choice sunglasses are meticulously engineered with insights from professional fishing guides—Smith’s “most demanding customers.” While my personal experiences readily vouch for their exceptional performance during fly fishing expeditions, I’ve discovered their versatility extends far beyond the water. They’ve seamlessly transitioned into my everyday sunglasses, proving their merit in diverse mountain environments and activities. The very attributes that make them exceptional for fly fishing translate remarkably well to a wide spectrum of outdoor pursuits.
Product Deep Dive
Initially, the Guide’s Choice sunglasses might appear as a standard, casual eyewear option. However, a closer inspection reveals a sophisticated suite of lens technologies designed to optimize the wearer’s visual field. The most prominent of these is ChromaPop lens technology.
Introduced by Smith in 2013, ChromaPop has become a staple across their product lines, from cycling sunglasses to ski goggles. Its core advantage lies in enhancing color differentiation, particularly where wavelengths overlap—specifically between green and blue, and red and green. By selectively filtering these specific wavelengths, ChromaPop lenses effectively sharpen color perception, making colors more vibrant and distinct.
The second key technology integrated into the Guide’s Choice is Tapered Lens Technology (TLT). To understand TLT, consider the visual distortion often experienced with inexpensive gas station sunglasses. These inferior lenses can warp the field of view, making objects appear distorted or at an incorrect distance. This distortion arises from inconsistencies in lens thickness, causing light to bend unevenly as it passes through. TLT addresses this by tapering the lens thickness from the optical center towards the edges. This precise tapering corrects light refraction, ensuring an accurate and distortion-free field of view.
Beyond ChromaPop and TLT, these sunglasses feature polarization and an anti-reflective coating. Polarized lenses are crucial for anglers, significantly reducing glare from the water’s surface, allowing for clearer visibility of fish and underwater structures. Moreover, their UV protection capabilities make polarized sunglasses indispensable for water activities, akin to sunscreen and hats in protecting against harmful rays.
Beyond the advanced lens technologies, the Guide’s Choice sunglasses are designed with a medium-large fit, an 8-base lens curvature, and a detachable integrated leash. The 8-base curvature provides superior coverage, while the wider temples offer enhanced protection against sunlight, debris, and even stray fishing hooks.
First-Hand Experience
I must admit, I approach eyewear marketing claims with a degree of skepticism. It often feels like every brand boasts proprietary technology that essentially achieves the same outcome. Typically, my initial attraction to sunglasses is primarily aesthetic—they are, after all, a fashion accessory as much as a functional item. The Guide’s Choice sunglasses appealed to my style preferences and featured quality polarized lenses, prompting me to try them. While ChromaPop intrigued me, I wasn’t entirely convinced of its transformative impact.
However, the Guide’s Choice sunglasses quickly converted me into a believer. From the moment I put them on, I was struck by their comfort and the extensive coverage offered by the frame and lenses. Surprisingly, ChromaPop technology was among the first features to genuinely impress me. Even during routine activities like driving, I immediately noticed enhanced color contrast. This initial positive experience fueled my anticipation to test them in demanding mountain environments.
Real-World Performance
My primary purpose for acquiring the Guide’s Choice sunglasses was fly fishing, and in this domain, they have proven exceptional. My inaugural fishing experience with them involved sight-fishing for trout in a sizable beaver pond on a partly sunny day in late April. The intermittent cloud cover encouraged surface feeding, yet strategic casting was essential due to the heightened awareness of the fish.
Wearing the Guide’s Choice sunglasses, I not only spotted numerous trout but also distinctly identified a large cutthroat trout. This clarity allowed for a precise and swift cast, resulting in a successful catch before other fish were alerted. This single experience cemented my confidence in the Guide’s Choice sunglasses as indispensable for fly fishing.
Their superior coverage and darker lens tint have also made them my preferred eyewear for backcountry skiing, especially during spring conditions. The wider temples act similarly to glacier glasses, effectively shielding my eyes from intense snow reflection. The Polarized Gray Green lens tint I opted for performs equally well on snow as it does during summer fly fishing expeditions.
Areas for Improvement
Identifying shortcomings in the Guide’s Choice sunglasses is challenging. The lens quality is outstanding, and the frame’s long-term durability has been impressive. However, if I were to suggest an area for refinement, it would be ventilation. The protective frame and close-fitting lenses excel at shielding the eyes from sun and hazards but can occasionally lead to fogging. While minimal and generally unnoticeable during paddling or fishing, fogging can occur during hikes, prompting me to temporarily remove them for lens clearing before resuming wear.
Final Verdict
The Smith Guide’s Choice sunglasses, with their versatile design and premium optics, are an excellent all-around eyewear solution for the mountain lifestyle. They are exceptional for fly fishing, well-suited for spring ski touring, and function admirably as everyday sunglasses. For anyone who spends significant time in mountain environments year-round, I wholeheartedly recommend considering the Guide’s Choice sunglasses. You’ll undoubtedly appreciate their performance.
By: Jeff Sorenson, Senior Editor & Content Manager
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