Smith Embark Backcountry Sunglasses Review by James and Davey

An Honest In Depth Review of the Smith Embark Backcountry Sunglasses Review by The Good Ride

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Smith Embark Backcountry and Casual Sunglasses Review

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How This Review Happened:

Precious Good Ride dollars were spent buying and reviewing this but I ended up keeping them as my uphill friends.

Days: Many
Conditions: Everything from Sunny and Warm to Dry snow to Wet snow and Rain
Tested With:
Skyline Fuse 3L Jacket
Skyline Faze 3 L Pant

How It Was Tested

I have often compared these to the Venture, Pursuit, and my Lowdowns. These are my personal backcountry and around-town sunglasses, and I use them all the time.

About the Photochromic Lens

The Smith Embark I got has ChromaPop Glacier Photochromic Copper Blue Mirror Lenses, which have a very creamy orange look in low light and a blue but more neutral look in bright light.

Smith Photochromic Blue Mirror In Low Light

Smith Photochromic Blue Mirror In Bright Light

In comparison to Photochromic Copper Red Mirror, you get a very neutral bluish-grey look in low light and a very blue look in bright light.

Fit

I have a pretty medium oval face and they fit me pretty well. Davey is more on the med-large oval side, and they fit him pretty well, too. I thought they might be too big but they work really well.

TPU Side Shields

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The Smith Embark TPU Shields do a great job keeping wind, sun and snow out on an uphill ascent. I wish they had the magnetic TPU shields that the Persuit had but it’s livable. The reason is that the little rubber dongle that attaches is not as easy to get on/off as the magnets are. It makes it hard to fold up the sunglasses. In the cold, any complication can be magnified, and I’ve felt that sometimes, after a long ascent with cold hands.

Embark vs. Venture vs. Pursuit

The Pursuit has the most backcountry features but is the least friendly around town. So, if you are committed to the backcountry, go with those.

Anti Fogging

Very excellent anti-fogging happening here. There isn’t a goggle or sunglasses that I haven’t fogged up on a medium to long uphill ascent, but these hold out longer than any other sunglasses or goggles I’ve tried.

Snow Shielding/Forehead Seal

Its pretty hard for snow to land in between my forehead/eyebrows and the Smith Embarks. With the Pursuit’s, I couldn’t keep snow out but the Venture and Embark’s do a great job.

Conclusion

I’m very impressed with my Smith Embarks. They are a great fit for my face. They worked very well for me traveling uphill, but they also worked just wearing them casually about town.