Most path runners and ultrarunners expertise wildly contrasting situations throughout any lengthy outing on the path, and would love sun shades that may adapt to all these situations. Enter the Smith Bobcat ($229) and Smith Shift Magazine ($289) sun shades with Smith’s photochromic lenses, which may change from virtually utterly clear in darkish situations to completely glare protecting sunnies in shiny daylight.
You understand how it’s: Runs begin at daybreak and proceed by means of clear blue skies, cloudy situations, storms with excessive winds, and again once more. That is significantly true for the 100-plus-mile distances the place having eye safety from mud, branches, and different detritus might be moreover useful, however altering out sun shades lenses 60 miles right into a race is probably going not within the guide dexterity playing cards for the day. That is the place sun shades with photochromic lenses can serve an essential want.
Over the previous few years, I’ve tried quite a few photochromic lenses with the Rudy Undertaking Propulse being my earlier favourite — you’ll be able to learn my Rudy Undertaking Propulse overview. In fact, applied sciences progress and Smith has discovered a technique to squeeze much more distinction vary into their lenses. This allows these photochromic lenses to be worn in much more variable situations with out the necessity to take away them in any respect at some point of your coaching or race.
On this overview, we’ll take a look at two standard Smith sun shades fashions which have the model’s photochromic lenses. Whereas it’s not the main target of this overview, each the Smith Bobcat and Smith Shift Magazine sun shades fashions provide non-photochromic lenses too. Together with your buy of one among these sun shades fashions, you additionally get a pair of bonus clear lenses.
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The creator sporting Smith Bobcat sun shades with the Black body and Photochromic Clear to Grey lens. Picture: iRunFar/Tom Caughlan
Smith Photochromic Lenses
First, let’s take a look at Smith’s photochromic lenses, which we examined in each the Smith Bobcat and Smith Shift Magazine sun shades.
The distinction vary for the photochromic lenses which include these sun shades fashions is a whopping 20% to 85%, which means that in full mild these lenses carry out way more like a typical sun shades lens, they usually can transition to virtually totally clear at the hours of darkness. In actual fact, I believed they had been totally clear till I learn the 85% statistic, they usually do look totally clear after I put on them at the hours of darkness.
I used to be capable of check these lenses in all kinds of situations, none more difficult for a photochromic lens than snowboarding uphill, out and in of closely forested areas on a bluebird day. To my shock, the lenses’ distinction shifted imperceptibly after I entered the closely shaded glades, after which again to virtually totally black when in full daylight. This capacity to alter distinction shortly is way and away higher than different photochromic lenses I’ve examined previously.
Smith Bobcat Sun shades Assessment
The Smith Bobcat sun shades are marketed as having a small to medium match with massive lens protection, and are available geared up with the photochromic lenses described above, in addition to interchangeable clear lenses.
A entrance view of the Smith Bobcat sun shades, with the Black body and Photochromic Clear to Grey lens. Picture: Smith
Smith Bobcat Sun shades Body and Match
The Smith Bobcat sun shades appeared to initially be marketed to feminine audiences for mountain biking and snowboarding, and this would possibly partially be because of the full defend design and small to medium match. Nonetheless, I discovered them equally efficient for working, snowboarding, and biking in quite a lot of situations for anybody with a small- to medium-sized face.
I discovered myself selecting the Bobcats over some other pair of shades this previous winter and spring resulting from their lightness, sturdiness, full vary of view and protection, and the quantity of safety I felt from them in excessive wind situations. An added bonus is that they actually appear to stay on my face with none motion.
A aspect view of the Smith Bobcat sun shades, with the Black body and Photochromic Clear to Grey lens. Picture: Smith
Smith Shift Magazine Sun shades Assessment
The Smith Shift Magazine sun shades function the identical photochromic lenses because the Smith Bobcat reviewed above, in addition to the interchangeable clear lenses. Lens adjustments are very fast and simple utilizing a magnetic expertise to pop the lens out earlier than locking a brand new lens in. In any other case, the principle distinction between the 2 fashions is within the measurement and match of the frames.
A entrance view of the Smith Shift Magazine sun shades, with the Black body and Photochromic Clear to Grey lens. Picture: Smith
Smith Shift Magazine Sun shades Body and Match
The Smith Shift Magazine sun shades function the same full defend design because the Smith Bobcat reviewed above, however it’s made to accommodate bigger faces and heads. Additionally that includes a excessive influence TR90 Nylon body that’s extremely light-weight for the scale of those sun shades, the body has no-slip temples and a two-position nosepiece. Extra venting on the highest of the lens additionally offers elevated airflow, which was particularly appreciated throughout scorching and humid runs.
Once more, Smith manages to make these quite massive sun shades featherweight, and a two-position nostril piece means that you can dial within the match.
As somebody with a smaller head and narrower face, I discovered that the Smith Shift Magazine was a contact extra loose-fitting, one thing I observed extra whereas working on tough downhill trails. In case you are somebody with a medium- to large-sized head, then this mannequin will fit your needs nicely.
A aspect view of the Smith Shift Magazine sun shades, with the Black body and Photochromic Clear to Grey lens. Picture: Smith
Smith Smith Bobcat and Smith Shift Magazine Sun shades General Impressions
For runners on the lookout for sun shades with a photochromic lens that you could possibly go away on for twenty-four hours, comparable to throughout a 100 miler, the Smith Bobcat and Smith Shift Magazine fashions provide the perfect functioning lenses in the marketplace.
My longest run up to now within the Smith Bobcat was a punishingly scorching 11-hour slog that began with overcast skies and shortly turned extremely popular and cloudless. Regardless of sweating profusely, the Smith Bobcat stayed locked on my face your entire time and the lenses adjusted all through the occasion as we went out and in of tree protection. One other profit to those massive and flatter base curved lenses is that they’re very straightforward to wash up with water and a microfiber material at an assist station. By the top of the occasion, the sun shades had been lined in mud that will have in any other case discovered its manner into my eyes had I been sporting a lens with much less protection.
Some runners might not recognize this kind of full protection if they’re heavy sweaters, particularly within the forehead space, as this could result in smudging and streaking with each of those Smith fashions. I discovered that on the most well liked days this summer season I used to be eradicating the glasses to wipe sweat off my face typically as the big lenses undoubtedly stop sufficient airflow. I additionally skilled some lens fogging when climbing uphill in scorching and humid situations, however this happens with virtually each kind of sun shades I personal.
One other potential draw back I hear runners voice typically is the price of high-end sun shades. Sure, they’re costly. Nonetheless, as soon as they’ve begin taking part in exterior with good lenses, I’ve by no means hear of any runner going again to finances fashions. Cheaper lenses, even these which might be polarized, typically undergo from glare and again reflection in shiny daylight. Moreover, poor engineering on the curvature of the lens typically results in distortion, which isn’t one thing I need to try to account for after I’m working or mountain biking quick downhill.
Moreover, Smith covers their sun shades with a restricted lifetime guarantee, which I lately tried out when my spouse developed a scuff on her Smith sun shades. I filed the guarantee on-line and Smith despatched out a substitute pair inside per week.
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Name for Feedback
- Have you ever tried both of those sun shades? How did you discover them?
- Have you ever discovered photochromic lenses helpful for coaching in combined situations?
[Editor’s Note: If you’re affiliated (i.e., an employee, ambassador, etc.) with a brand, please share your relation in each of your comments on this article. Thanks!]
The creator testing the Smith Shift Magazine sun shades, within the Black body and with Photochromic Clear to Grey lens. Picture: iRunFar/Tom Caughlan
