Smith
Smith sunglasses with ChromaPop lens technology, built for fishing, sport and everyday wear. Shop polarized fishing frames such as the Guides Choice, Backcast, Venture, Embark and Riptide, sports frames such as the Wildcat, and lifestyle frames including the Lowdown 2, Lowdown XL 2, Lineup, Monroe Peak and Sliders, plus Smith cases.
Explore more sunglasses for fishing, sport and everyday wear.
Compare ChromaPop lens colours at our Grey Lynn concept store at 36 Pollen Street, or order online for fast, tracked delivery across New Zealand.
Smith Lifestyle Eyewear
About Smith
Smith started in 1965 in Sun Valley, Idaho, when Dr Bob Smith, an orthodontist and keen skier, built a ski goggle with a sealed double lens and breathable vents to stop it fogging. That problem solving approach has stayed with the brand, and Smith now makes sunglasses and goggles for skiers, cyclists, anglers and everyday wearers around the world.
Smith is particularly well known among fly anglers and fishing guides, who rely on its polarized lenses to see into the water and spot fish. In New Zealand, where so much trout fishing is done by sight, polarized sunglasses are as essential as the rod and reel, and Smith frames are a common sight on rivers across the country.
ChromaPop lenses
ChromaPop is Smith's lens technology. It filters two specific wavelengths of light that cause colour confusion, which makes colours look more vivid and details sharper. On the water, that helps you pick out the shape of a trout against the riverbed or the edge of a drop-off. Most of the Smith sunglasses we stock combine ChromaPop with polarization to cut glare.
For fishing, Smith offers ChromaPop glass lenses for maximum clarity and scratch resistance, and Polarchromic lenses, which are polarized and also adjust their tint to changing light, a big help when you fish from dawn to dusk or move between shade and sun.
Frames and Smith at Land & Sea
The Guides Choice is a favourite with fly anglers, with wide coverage that blocks side light, and the Backcast, Venture, Embark and Riptide are dedicated fishing frames in a range of fits. The Wildcat is a shield style sports frame for cycling and running. For everyday wear, the Lowdown 2, Lowdown XL 2, Lineup, Monroe Peak and Sliders offer classic shapes.
At Land & Sea we stock a wide range of Smith sunglasses, and our team can help you choose the right lens colour for where you fish or ride.
Frequently asked questions about Smith
What is Smith ChromaPop?
ChromaPop is Smith's lens technology. It filters two specific wavelengths of light where the colours blue and green, and green and red, overlap and cause colour confusion for the eye. By removing that overlap, colours appear more vivid and details look sharper and clearer. Combined with polarization, ChromaPop helps anglers see fish, weed beds and structure under the surface, and helps cyclists and runners read the terrain.
What is a Polarchromic lens?
A Smith Polarchromic lens is both polarized and photochromic. Polarization removes the glare reflecting off water and other surfaces, while the photochromic element darkens in bright sun and lightens in lower light. That means one pair of sunglasses works across a long day, from the low light of dawn and dusk to bright midday sun, which is especially useful for fly anglers who move between shaded rivers and open water.
Which Smith sunglasses are best for fly fishing?
The Smith Guides Choice is one of the most popular fly fishing sunglasses, with a wide frame that blocks light from the sides and top so you can see clearly into the water. The Backcast, Venture, Embark and Riptide are also designed for fishing, in different fits. For lens colour, brown or bronze lenses suit rivers and changing light, and blue mirror lenses suit bright open water.
Which lens colour is best for trout fishing?
Brown, bronze and copper based polarized lenses are generally the best choice for trout fishing in New Zealand rivers, as they boost contrast and help you pick out fish against the riverbed in a wide range of light. Lighter or yellow tinted lenses suit low light, overcast days and shaded water. A Polarchromic lens, which adjusts to the light, is a good option if you only want one pair.
Are glass sunglass lenses better for fishing?
Glass lenses offer the clearest optics and the best resistance to scratches, which matters on the water where salt, sand and frequent cleaning can wear lenses. Smith's ChromaPop glass lenses combine that clarity with polarization. Polycarbonate lenses are lighter and more impact resistant, which some anglers prefer for comfort over a long day. Store either type in a case when not in use.
How should fishing sunglasses fit?
Fishing sunglasses should sit close to your face with good coverage, so light does not leak in from the sides or top and reduce the polarization effect. They should be comfortable on your nose and ears without pinching, and stay in place when you look down at the water. Wraparound frames like the Smith Guides Choice block the most side light. Try a few on to compare the fit before buying.