Personal Data:

Name: Gail Staisil
Age: 53
Gender: Female
Height: 5'9" (1.75 m)
Weight: 132 lbs (60 kg)
Email: woodswoman2001@yahoo.com
Location: Marquette, Michigan USA
Photo Album Website: http://community.webshots.com/user/isleroyalegirl 

Backpacking Background:

For the last 15 years, backpacking has become a passion. I am a four season backpacker and an off-trail navigator. Although I do take yearly trips to the American West or Southwest, the majority of my trips are in Michigan and Canada. My pack weight varies considerably, but my base weight is under 20 lbs (9.1 kg). I am primarily a tarp camper, that averages over 50 nights a year backpacking in a huge variety of weather conditions, including relentless rain, wet snow and sub zero temps.

Product Information:

Manufacturer: Smith Optics

Website: http.//www.smithoptics.com

Model Year: 2005

Frame Color: Crystal Fuel

Manufacturer:Smith Optics

MSRP: $109 US (frame and two lenses}

$20-70 each additional lens

 

Design/Features:

Testing Thoughts:

 

Through the process of extensive testing of the Smith Theory lenses, I have come to the conclusion that they are an outstanding product.

I have addressed every initial concern that might occur with these glasses and I have found none to be significant (see cons below). They are highly comfortable. The lenses have been easy to change once I figured out how to do it efficiently and they have been highly indestructible even when stored in the soft-shell case that was provided. I have put them through the constant grind of bushwhacking and they are still scratch-less and stay put through the extent of my activities.

After utilizing all of the lenses,  I have developed my preferences for favorites. Overall, the Platinum Mirror lens has been at the top of my list. It is the most versatile to me for a variety of activities including driving. The silver mirror finish reflects glare away from the eye especially important in long distance vision.

I also love the RC36 lens when I am traveling deep in the forest. It makes everything doable. I can readily see all the rocks and brush that I might clumsily miss with darker lenses on my face. The depth perception experienced was especially keen when the light faded in the evening.

I thought I would be more enamored with the Polarized lenses while walking along or canyoneering in the water, but it may be due to the fact that most of my back country days were spent in semi-cloudy conditions and not in full sun.

Two of the lenses that I tested were the Max version--that is, they had longer lenses for more eye protection. One of those options was in the Yellow Max version and the other was in the Sienna Brown Max version. I found the later to be useful, but the former to have little use for me. It had to be raining with dark gray skies for me to use the Yellow version, as soon as the sky lightened up even a shade over dark gray, they were too bright for my sensitive light blue eyes. Ideally I like the concept of the longer lenses, as I do a lot of extreme bushwhacking so my "perfect" lens would have been a RC36 Max lens for this purpose. I checked the Smith Optics website and found that the Max lenses could be ordered in 16 different versions including the RC36 Max.

I will continue to use all of these lenses over the long haul. It will be interesting to see if these lenses perform equally as well in the deep cold of winter. As indicated in my field report for this product, I was able to utilize them for late winter snow activities but most of the overall testing in the last six months was done at above freezing temperatures.

Pros:

• Highly indestructible
• Versatile
• Curb appeal
• Great fit for a small face
• Comfortable nose and ear pieces
• Complete eye coverage
• No slippage when sweaty
• Easy to clean
• Changeable lenses stayed in place during exertion
• Impact resistant
• No signs of wear after extended use
• Complete glare coverage around eye area

Cons:

• Long learning process to efficiently change lenses
• Soft shell case (it always made me a little nervous)

 

 

This is my first pair of Smith Optics glasses and it won't be the last. I look forward to investigating other options that they market. I am highly pleased with their outstanding function and performance capabilities. Thanks to Smith Optics and BGT for this great opportunity to test such an outstanding product.