Smith Optics is one of the few brands in cycling that occasionally launches new products with no real announcement or fanfare. It’s an interesting approach in an industry that’s otherwise somewhat obsessed with secrecy and embargo dates, but I find it to be kinda refreshing. Every once in a while, I’ll be surfing the Smith website, and I feel like I’ve stumbled across a hidden gem. Such was the case when I spied the new Syncline cycling sunglasses a couple of weeks ago.
The Syncline is a brand-new model in the lineup. It looks somewhat similar to Smith’s longstanding, ever-popular Wildcat, but is significantly larger and has a somewhat bolder look. The copy on the brand’s website certainly makes them sound geared toward off-road riders, so you can “keep your eyes on the trail and your stoke high with the wide coverage of the Smith Syncline sunglasses.”
As a contact lens wearer and self-proclaimed sunglasses connoisseur, I just had to get my hands on these new XL coverage shades. I’ve got a couple of rides in them so far, so here are the details and my first impressions.
Smith Syncline Details
The new Syncline sunglasses are said to provide “goggle-like coverage” and are in the running for the largest shades in the Smith lineup. They are nearly identical in lens dimensions to the snow-oriented Pursuit glasses, which also provide extra-large coverage. The Syncline’s cylindrical lens measures 148mm wide x 65mm tall, with a base 5 curve providing a slight wraparound fit. They have a full-frame design with the lens attached at the top and bottom only.
The Syncline has what Smith refers to as a “large fit” and a temple length of 125mm. The temples feature textured Megol rubber for grip, as do the two-position adjustable nose pads. Autolock hinges hold the arms open for one-handed use while on the bike. The frame is made from Smith’s Evolve bio-based frame material, which is claimed to be both lightweight and durable. Across the top of the frame, Smith added a rubber bumper to reduce chatter if it comes in contact with your bike helmet.
Smith currently offers the Syncline in five different frame and lens combinations. They are:
- Matte Black / Chromapop Black: 10% VLT
- Matte Black / Photochromic clear to grey: 20 – 85% VLT
- Matte Meteorite Crystal / Chromapop Low Light Rose Blue Mirror: 51% VLT
- Matte Flint / Chromapop Slate: 35% VLT
- Matte Salt Haze / Chromapop Rose Gold Mirror: 22% VLT
The Syncline glasses come with a spare clear lens, a “performance hard case”, and a microfiber cleaning/storage bag. Replacement lenses are also available: clear – $44, Chromapop – $88, and Photochomic – $110.
Smith Syncline First Impressions
I’ve been wearing contact lenses for nearly my entire life, and my eyes are quite sensitive to wind and dust. While riding, quality eye protection is very important to me, and I’m a very big fan of modern, large-coverage cycling sunglasses. And other than POC’s massive Devour sunglasses, the Syncline is about as big as it gets.
I’ve worn and tested dozens of different cycling sunglasses in the past few years, including various Smith models like the Wildcat. Those glasses were fairly large, but the Syncline dwarfs them in the coverage department. They’re wider, wrap a bit closer to the face, and extend significantly farther down to the lower corners. The field of view is huge, and the only way I can see the frame is by straining my eyes looking for it.
I’ve only got a couple of rides in them so far, but the XL coverage of the lens has proven to be very effective at keeping the wind out of my eyes. The lens also wraps around just enough to keep the sun from shining in behind, but not so close that there’s no ventilation. I’ve been a fan of Smith’s optics for years, and the Chromapop Slate lens I’ve got is super crisp, distortion-free, and boosts contrast a bit. I think the 35% VLT is very versatile and great for trail riding, going in and out of shadows, and all but the brightest of conditions.
At 34 grams, they aren’t the lightest sunglasses around, but so far, they’ve been impressively stable on my face. The rubber on the temples and adjustable nose pads has proven effective at keeping them in place, even when wet with sweat. I have noticed that the nose pads on my test pair are almost too easy to adjust, however, and will shift if I push the glasses down too hard on my nose. That said, they seem to stay in place just fine unless I happen to push down on them with too much force.
The storage case is also a refreshing departure from the oversized cases that Smith has been including with its sunglasses for years. This one is packable, with a rigid, curved front and a softer back, and includes a sleeve for the spare clear lens. It’s a good size that you can actually pack into a backpack, whether you’re going riding or doing something else, like backcountry skiing.
Pricing and Availability
Smith’s new Syncline glasses retail for $197 with Chromapop lenses or $237 with the Photochromic lens. They are available now through the Smith website and select Smith retailers.
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