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review

Smith Trackstand Glasses

8
£139.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Pricier than some, but certainly deliver on an excellent fit and sharp optics
Weight: 
29g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Smith Trackstand Glasses are light, comfortable to wear and offer an uninterrupted field of vision thanks to their svelte frame. They are at the pricier end of the scale, though.

  • Pros: Great coverage and visibility from the single lens
  • Cons: Pricey against some of the opposition

With the Trackstand glasses Smith have developed a decent all-round package. First of all, I really like the minimalist frame. It's made from Grilamid TR90, a thermoplastic that the majority of sunglasses makers use as it'll stand up to a heap of abuse and is also flexible enough that, if you sit on it, is unlikely to break.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy these online here

The 120mm-long arms are slender enough to fit between the top of your ears and even the most bulkiest of helmets, and never get in your field of vision when looking around. They also have a decent amount of tension in them to hold them to your head for even the roughest of gravel rides, without placing any undue pressure on it.

The nose-piece is adjustable, and being made from a hydrophilic material it won't slip down your face when you've got a bit of a sweat on.

Fashion is dictating that lenses are getting bigger again, and these measure 135mm in width, with a depth of 50mm. It gives great coverage without making you look like a welder, and airflow around the eyes is kept to a minimum – ideal for hayfever sufferers – with ventilation taken care of by a small opening just below the frame.

Smith Trackstand Glasses.jpg

With such a curved lens, Smith has done a good job of avoiding any distortion to the optics: visibility is very clear, even when you are looking back over your shoulder.

The ChromaPop Green Mirror lens we have here (others are available, depending on what colour frame you go for) is a good compromise for all but the brightest of sunshine. It's ideal for days when conditions are changeable between sun and cloud cover, plus they deal well with changes in light if you are in and out of the trees.

They are priced at £139, which isn't as extreme as some that we have seen on road.cc but is still quite an outlay, even taking into consideration the quality and performance.

The Tifosi Amok glasses didn't quite have optics as sharp as the Smiths, but are still pretty decent all-rounders. Plus for their £69.99 price tag they are also photochromic; if you want that from the Smiths the price increases to £200.

> Buyer's Guide: 22 of the best cycling sunglasses

If you want a prescriptive lens model, that'll set you back £170.

Saying that, they do have the edge over the Bolle Shifter glasses that I've been wearing alongside. They'll cost you an extra tenner. (Look out for online discounts, though: the Smiths are currently £100 over at Wiggle, which makes them almost a bargain.)

> Buyer's Guide: 9 of the best cheap sunglasses

Overall, if you are happy to pay this sort of money for a quality pair of sunglasses then the Trackstands offer plenty of performance and comfort.

Verdict

Pricier than some, but certainly deliver on an excellent fit and sharp optics

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Smith Trackstand Glasses

Size tested: Medium fit

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

The Trackstands are a versatile cycling pair of sunglasses that offer plenty of coverage and comfort.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Smith lists:

Hydroleophobic lens coating

Hydrophilic megol nose pads for a secure fit

Medium fit / medium coverage

Two-position adjustable nose pads

Auto-lock hinges

7x4 toric lens curvature

TR90 frame material

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
4/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

They offer a clean field of vision, protect your eyes and are comfortable.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Great optics and an excellent fit.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Pricier than some competitors, but that's it really.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

The sunglasses market is a fickle place so while you can get models with similar specs for a lot less, there are also plenty that'll cost you more.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes, although I'd shop around a bit for a better price.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

Although a little more expensive than some, they do deliver everywhere a pair of decent sunglasses should.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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