As part of its archive collection, Smith Optics’ Ultralite sunglasses throw back to the ‘80s by slamming together modern features and retro vibes. With its excellent lens, extensive coverage, and serious comfort, the Ultralite has a lot to offer, but for its somewhat high asking price, it’s a shame not to see an interchangeable lens, which would open it up for year-round use.
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Smith Optics Ultralite - Technical details
The Ultralite draws upon Smith’s sunglasses of old, bringing retro ski goggle styling to a performance pair of shades. To get that performance, the glasses feature a cylindrical shield-type lens that’s said to provide extra-large coverage. That lens features a six-base curvature for a slight wraparound fit.
Smith’s chosen lens features the brand’s ChromaPop technology, which achieves similar results to other high-tech lens designs, providing increased clarity. It does so by filtering any crossover between red, blue and green wavelengths of light to which boosts contrast and colour saturation.
There’s an adjustable nose piece, which is made up of Megol rubber wrapped around a flexible component. The frame then benefits from AutoLock hinges that keep it open for easy on and off, says Smith. The temple tips are compatible with a goggle-inspired strap from the brand.
As for measurements, the Ultralite’s lens comes in at 52mm in height, 145mm in width, and the arms are 130mm in length. The glasses then tip the scale at 35g. Included in the pack is a cool 80s-inspired fleece bag that’s lined with a microfibre fabric, so it shouldn’t wreck the lens.
Smith Optics Ultralite - Performance
The Ultralite is available in five colourways, with each lens providing a specific VLT, or Visible Light Transmission. For this test, I chose the more quietly styled Matte Tortoise + ChromaPop Grey Green lens, which provides a VLT of 15%. Smith says that this should work in overcast/sun through to beautiful blue skies.
With that, I’ve found these glasses to work excellently through their intended purpose, and the environments so common in my own mountain biking, so a variety of forests, open fireroads and exposed environments. While riding through tree cover, the lens isn’t so tinted that it diminishes vision.
While riding through tree cover, the lens isn’t so tinted that it diminishes vision. However, blasting out of the forest into open and exposed areas, the lighter tint of the lens still provides plenty of eye comfort. If I were only ever to ride sunny exposed sections, I would want a darker tint, and if I were only riding during overcast days, I would want something lighter, but that’s catered for with other colourways. That said, the colourway I have chosen provides a very solid middle ground where I’ve not found myself wanting for anything else… Unless it’s dark.
As a pair of specs from Smith, the Ultralite gets the brand’s ChromaPop lens tech, and it’s something I’ve found myself liking quite a lot. Not only does it make life look a little better, but it provides serious definition between the trail and foliage by literally making the colours pop. However, there’s a real boost in clarity through that separation in colour.
The lens’s coverage is plentiful, also. When in a head-down riding position, all corners are covered by the slightly cylindrical lens, and thanks to the range of vents littered around the shades, particularly at the top, the glasses fend off fog well. The lens does sit very close to the face, so fog does occur, but as long as there’s airflow, be it through wind or a breeze while riding, any mist is quickly cleared.
Where the Ultralite does so well in many aspects, there are a few in which it’s not so great, which is where it begins to straddle the line between performance and fashion. Perhaps the most important is stability and security. During mountain bike rides that typically go over chunkier terrain, the Megol nose piece isn’t quite enough to keep the glasses from slipping. It would be good to see extra rubber around the arms just to help keep them in place. Though during gravel rides where the terrain isn’t quite so harsh, the glasses do manage to stay put.
It would be great to see an interchangeable lens, too. Being able to swap the lens around to a clear option at least would open the Ultralite’s performance to winter use, making for a potentially more versatile product.
Smith Optics Ultralite - Verdict
At £160, the Ultralite isn’t by any means bad value for money, thanks to its excellent lens, coverage and comfort, but there’s real competition at this price point. Oakley’s Sutro went down well with Jimmer as he rates the glasses for their style and good quality lens. Replacement lenses are available for the Sutro, but they’re not cheap, with a clear option costing £78, which is nuts, if you ask me.
Melon Optics’ Alleycat perhaps aren’t as old school in the looks department, but they’re great shades. For £155, you get a mirrored photochromic lens, and they boast cool colour customisation included in that price. They’re good specs too, as they provide good airflow and coverage, although the coverage isn’t quite as comprehensive as the Ultralite’s.
However, if it is classic styling you’re after, 100%’s Glendale sunglasses are a good choice. For £140, you get the brand’s HiPER tech, which does similar things to ChromaPop, but as a whole package, it’s not as well refined. Coverage isn’t as good, and the top of the glasses can knock against the brow of a helmet.
Smith Optics’ Ultralite glasses do a commendable job of combining a retro/modern aesthetic with good trail performance. The excellent lens provides good coverage while battling fog well, however, the glasses can get slippery when rattling down lumpy terrain. Also, it would be great to see an interchangeable lens to boost versatility and better justify spending the cash.
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