Smith Motive sunglasses review

Smith Optics has come a long way since the brand’s humble beginnings. In the early days, the focus was ski goggles. But after around 14 years of trading, the company moved into sunglasses.

As it approaches its 60th birthday, the brand now has an impressive range of ski goggles, helmets and sunglasses, and it’s the Smith Motive performance eyewear that we have on test here.

Design and lens performance

I’m a big fan of these sunglasses visually (though my partner informs me I looked more like Antman than a high-performance athlete) and think they easily transcend between performance and casual wear. 

The Smith Motive utilises a dual-lens style, but the 55mm height and 74mm width of each lens ensures that field of view is clear and unhindered. 

The ChromaPop Opal Mirror lenses boost clarity and colour brilliantly, while a VLT of 12% ensures they deal with bright conditions very well. 

With that, it can be hard to spot details when looking ahead into shaded areas, but that’s the same with other sunglasses with this level of tint, too. 

I had no issues with wind getting past the lenses and coverage was fantastic in this regard.

Similarly, at no point was my vision impeded by the top frame when tucking into an aero position on the bike.

Buy now from Smith Optics

Comfort and fit

While the Smith Motive glasses were both comfortable and secure for me, the nose piece won’t suit everyone. 

While I didn’t experience any movement while cycling or running, the nose piece seemed to pull the glasses too close to my face.

The result was that my eyebrows would press into the top of the lenses, leaving sweaty smears. I’d then need to thoroughly clean the sunglasses afterwards.

A bit of adjustment so the nose piece sits further down remedies this, but then offers less security and protection from the wind. 

The bottom line

A price of £178/$219 sets this at the upper end of the price scale, but you’ll still find other models and brands offering options for more.

Happily, here you get a hard case and spare clear lenses included, which is great for longevity and versatility, allowing you to wear these glasses year-round.

If they fit you well, these are exceptional sunglasses for triathlon.

What to find some other top options? Look at our list of the best sunglasses for triathlon for more.

Smith Motive specs

Price	£179.99 / $219
Lens	ChromaPop, interchangeable
Style	Aviator, wraparound
Treatment	Stain and moisture resistant
Case	Hard and soft case included

Buy now from Smith Optics