“Glasses seem really great. Super comfortable fit for my large head compared to others. Haven’t gotten to put them to the test yet, but I have high hopes”
“As someone with very light sensitive eyes I've spent 50 years looking for the perfect sunglasses. For the last 8 years I've had a pair of Smith Dragstrips that I thought were the best sunglasses I had ever worn. When they broke I found out they were no longer available and decided to get the Guide's Choice XL as a replacement. These are even better. They shield out almost all light from the edges, sit comfortably on my head and their lightweight makes them almost unnoticeable when they're on. My eyes are happy.
Why then only 4 stars? My dragstrips broke in half at the nose bridge when they were dropped on the ground. The plastic frames were visibly aging after 8 years, the surface was showing classic signs of plastic embrittlement. But I have plastic framed reading glasses that are decades old and show no sign of plastic aging. I have Ray-Ban sunglasses that are 10+ years old that show no sign of plastic aging. I even have a pair of Bolle sunglasses that I pad about $50 for that are 10+ years old that show no sign of aging and were recently dropped on the ground with no ill effects, so materials that age well are available. But these XLs seem to be made of the same plastic as the Dragstrips so I have no confidence that they will age any better. A $300 pair of sunglasses should last forever with proper care, Smith needs to do better when it comes to frame longevity.”
What features did you like?
Fit, Functionality, Quality
How was the fit?
Too Small
Perfect
Too Big
“I have the Guides Choice XL with the Blue Polarchromic lenses. I also have the Hookset with the same Blue Polarchromic lenses. Both are excellent glasses for fishing. The Guides Choice XL are a little better for me on the water because the frames eliminate every possible bit of the glare and nothing even comes in from the sides. With the Hookset’s you still get just a bit of light and glare from the sides. Nothing unbearable, but you do see it. I spend around 8 hours on the water in a kayak fishing, and at the end of the day my eyes are not tired at all. If you are buying these for fishing I would go with the Guides Choice because of the extra blockage, but if you are just looking for daily glasses I think the Hookset is a better choice. They are noticeably smaller on your face and lighter.”
What features did you like?
Color, Fit, Functionality, Quality, Style
How was the fit?
Too Small
Perfect
Too Big
“Hands down the best glass lenses I’ve used in sports focused eyewear to this point. These sunglasses are surprisingly lightweight, clarity is awesome, and they come with an integral lanyard to keep them from hitting the deck! Really hoping I don’t manage to lose these like so many other pair of glasses but if I do, I’ll be back.”
