Keeping your eyes protected when riding is in my opinion, essential. Trail debris being flicked up, insects smashing into your eyes and the UV of harsh bright sunlight all can at the very least ruin a favourite descent and at the maximum cause irreparable damage to your eyesight. Wearing eye protection is something I don’t even think about when I get dressed for a ride, it’s now so automatic.
So while wearing something to protect your eyes is needed it doesn’t have to be a pair of ugly safety glasses. Why not be safe and look good at the same time? Smith Optics sent me a pair pf their Leadout Pivlock sunglasses to try out.
The Leadout Pivlock shades are a pretty classic design that is more aviator/rayban than the currently fashionable 80s throwback wrap arounds popular today (Smith also do arrange of these too). I love the look of them as they work well on the bike but also in any environment. I actually wore them all day at work as an experiment on their comfort levels. You may wonder how I got away with wearing sunglasses indoors all day and this is because the Leadouts come with a photochromic lens which goes completely clear helpfully making me not look like a sad wannabe rock star at work!
The photochromic lenses work so well and the transition is quick. Quick enough to change from one to the other so going from bright sunlight to shaded forest is easy. I’ve also worn them at night on rides without compromising my vision.
The sunglasses also come with a “chroma pop” low light amber lens for flat light and early morning use. These do enhance the flat light conditions but the photochromic lenses work so well I’ve stuck to those after trying the Pop lens. Swapping the lenses is easy though with Smith’s pivlock system. Just grip the frame and gently pull down the arm and the lens can be removed and swapped.
The frames play well with the Smith helmet I’ve had on test, as you’d expect, but they also sit well with two other brands of helmet I tried. They passed the all day comfort test and the nose and ear rubbers stop the glasses from moving on your face even in sweaty conditions. The non wrap around design means airflow is good so there have been no issues of steaming up. The one thing I’d change is that the right hand lens has the word “photochromic” printed on it and I can just see it out of the corner of my eye when riding and I keep thinking its an insect or dirt and want to wipe it off. In use though it doesn’t affect your vision at all.
Smith Optics Leadout Pivlock sunglasses are a wear all day classic style of eye protection with the versatility of lens that means you only need one pair of sunglasses for all your sport and real life. Now if only they did a prescription version!
More details on these sunglasses can be found on the Smith Optics website here
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