Not goggles and not glasses either the new eyewear from Smith is somewhere in between, taking the brilliant Chromapop goggle lenses and creating glasses that leap across the boundary and provide something we have all been looking for – the perfect hybrid that give great coverage, copes with all sorts of conditions and is easy to pack.
The Smith Pursuit sunglasses blend goggle-like coverage with the airflow and easy-to-wear feel of sunglasses that perform while you’re climbing and descending. Equiped with the very smart ChromaPop™ Glacier Photochromic lens which adapts to changing light conditions and delivers colour and contrast-boosting performance throughout the full range of the lens.
They have removable magnetic side shields, which add peripheral light coverage, and adjustable temple arms let you customise the fit. A pack-friendly, screwless hinge creates a fail-safe backcountry design, and a low-profile case ensures minimal storage in your pack.
They even come with a removable nose shield and a goggle strap for when you bumping you way back down the hill.
The Smith Pursuit glasses are probably the perfect compromise, they give you everything you need in high end goggles but also deliver the airflow you get from wearing sunglasses, so what is the downside? Well they are not cheap unfortunately – expect them to come in at about the same price as high end Smith go