Smith Optics is one of the great powerhouses of performance eyewear, and with the Shift XL MAG, the brand is flexing its prowess. This pair of riding specs has a crystal-clear lens with loads of coverage. Fog resistance is excellent, but the pricing places it among the most expensive options in the best mountain bike glasses segment.
- Best mountain bike sunglasses 2024
- SCOTT Pro Shield Sunglasses Review
- 10 pieces of essential mountain bike clothing for beginners
Smith Optics Shift XL MAG sunglasses - Technical details
The Shift XL MAG from Smith has an ‘oversized shield’ made to provide as much coverage as possible. It’s also rammed full of cool technologies, including the brand’s famed ChromaPop built within a photochromic lens.
ChromaPop is proprietary to Smith but is similar to 100%’s HiPER tech. It’s designed to enhance contrast and clarity by filtering out the colours that occur when green, blue, and red light blend, as, according to the brand, the eye struggles to distinguish colours in these crossovers.
Additionally, the photochromic aspect of the lens helps cover a range of light conditions through one single lens. Smith says the Shift XL MAG will protect against a range from 12 to 67 per cent visible light transmission. Of course, that’s self-adjusting, so the lens will darken or lighten depending on how bright it is where you’re riding.
Although this means that you can rely on one lens for most light conditions, Smith has awarded the glasses with fancy magnets, denoted by the MAG in the name. These secure the lens in the TR90 nylon frame and aim to make lens swaps simple.
Continuing the lengthy feature list, the 142 by 60mm lens has a cylindrical curvature to avoid distortion and a slight wraparound fit. The Megol nose piece is adjustable in two positions, and the temples also use the Megol material for grip. Finally, the lens gets a smudge — and moisture-resistant coating, and there’s a pair of AutoLock hinges that lock the frame and its arms in the open position. This has been added to allow riders to slip the glasses on with only a single hand.
Included in the box is a hard case, a soft storage bag, instructions on how to remove and replace the lens, and a spare clear lens. The latter is rather impressive given that the glasses are photochromic.
Smith Optics Shift XL MAG sunglasses - Performance
I’m a fan of large framed glasses for mountain biking as they maximise coverage, but, understandably, they’re not without their foibles. They can knock against a helmet or simply be too big for the face they sit on. If you fall into the latter camp, there’s the regular-sized Shift MAG on offer.
The Shift MAG XL lives up to its name in more than one way, but first off, it is a large pair of glasses. It’s not quite as large as the much cheaper Madison Crypto, but it’s vast enough to keep its bold black frame from impeding vision. The frame is there but is far from obtrusive, although a lighter frame colour or clear tint would help the glasses feel lighter.
With an unobstructed view also comes a superb lens. It combines Smith’s ChromaPop technology and the auto-tinting convenience of photochromic goodness. ChromaPop is a category-leading bit of tech that works incredibly well. On this model, it adds a cool tone to the environment while boosting greens and purples, which subtly enhances the contrast between the trail and any foliage that lines it. Better still, the lens doesn’t rely on coloured tints or gradients, so colour is consistent throughout its breadth.
As for the photochromic part, it’s useful, and it works effectively. When it’s relatively dark out, the glasses are almost untinted. During brighter days, it darkens down but not to the point of a specific bright-conditions lens. It’s a trade-off and common with photochromic lenses, but the protection it provides is well-balanced. There have been areas where the tint has been too dark, but it’s not a problem.
But one thing is for certain: these glasses are comfortable. They don’t feel heavy on the face, and the arms hug the sides of the head lightly but with enough strength to keep them rattling loose. Aiding the cause here is the two-way adjustable nosepiece. With it, I’ve been able to flare the nose piece outwards to have the glasses sit closer on my face and more comfortably. More adjustments would be appreciated (a bendy nose-piece or a selection included in the box), but what’s provided does a perfect job for me.
Smith’s MAG tech is pretty clever, although it’s rendered a little redundant with the photochromic lens. It allows for easy lens swaps at the press of two buttons. Simply press one of the buttons located at the outer of the glasses’ hinge and pull. Do the same for the other, and you’re done.
Smith Optics Shift XL MAG sunglasses - Verdict
With an asking price of £320, you’ve got to be pretty committed to justify dropping the cash, and that’s where the Smith XL MAG falls short. Unfortunately, there are loads of very competitive alternatives for significantly less money. And for that, regardless of how good these glasses are, it’s incredibly tough to justify the cost.
After all, the frame is made from the very same stuff as the £40 Madison Crypto. The lens uses similar technology to 100%’s Glendale sunglasses which cost nearly half the price at £150. Granted, neither of those glasses is photochromic.
However, Melon Optics’ Alleycat can be for £140. With these glasses, you get a photochromic lens and a bunch of customisation options included in the price.
Oakley’s trend-setting Kato comes close in price at £271 but this pair of specs is rammed full of interesting tech that helps make them what they are. That is if you can stomach the aesthetic.
The Smith Shift MAG XL is a great pair of sunglasses. The excellently clear lens performs well in the photochromic department and only adds to what the glasses can offer. But, at £320, they require a monumental level of justification before purchasing.
Add comment