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Unlike long-standing rival Oakley, Smith Optics has generally steered clear of wild, overly futuristic-looking designs for its cycling glasses.
However, a focus on high optical quality has stood the brand in good stead, and that continues to be the case with the new Synclines.
They offer great coverage, are comfortable to wear and perform well with no fogging. However, the £189 price tag is hard to swallow.
- Read more: Best mountain bike sunglasses in 2026
Making it pop
These things may not be wackily shaped, but they are big. At 148mm wide and 65mm deep, the lens dwarfs that of Smith’s previous-largest Wildcat model (140x62mm).
The shape is reminiscent of MTB goggles, with a shallow curve across the brow and to either side of the nose, and flat edges elsewhere. It also wraps around the sides of your face slightly.
Smith describes the lens as providing “extra-large coverage” and the fit as “large” (as opposed to “medium” for the Wildcats). I wear a medium or M/L helmet and found the glasses fitted fine.
There are five designs, each with a different ChromaPop lens. This is Smith’s proprietary lens technology, which is designed to enhance contrast, like Oakley’s Prizm tech, yet keep colours natural.
You can choose between a Black, Slate or Rose Gold Mirror lens for bright conditions, a Photochromic Clear to Gray one for changeable days (unusually, with no upcharge) and the Low Light Rose Blue Mirror option I picked for typical British conditions.
Each has its own corresponding frame colour – this one is called Matte Meteorite Crystal – and comes with a spare clear lens, which is a useful touch for UK riders.
I found the Low Light lens worked well even on sunny days – I never struggled to see out in the open, yet the contrast when I headed into the woods was excellent, making it easy to pick out trail details.
Keeping the air flowing
The large, curved shape of the lens provided excellent coverage, vision is distortion-free and I didn’t have any issues with misting – even after the kind of climb that leaves you slumped over the bar, panting.
This may be because, unusually, the lens doesn’t sit in a groove within the frame. Instead, it’s held in front of it, by four tabs, allowing hot air to flow out at the sides.
Because of this, if you look deliberately towards the top, bottom or far sides of the lens, you can see unfiltered daylight, but this never caused problems with peripheral glare while riding.
There’s no fancy lens-swapping mechanism here, as on Smith’s MAG models. It’s just a case of clipping them in and out, which saves weight and works well enough.
Unsurprisingly, the glasses fitted well with my Smith Payroll helmet, with the 125mm-long arms not fouling the shell. I tried them with lids from 100%, ABUS, Fox, Scott and Troy Lee Designs too, and had zero issues.
Neat touches include an integrated (but removable) bumper on the brow so it doesn’t knock against your helmet, a nose pad that can be adjusted between two positions and grippy ‘Megol’ sections on the arms, which helped keep the glasses securely in place on my head, even through some pretty vicious rock sections.
In a nod to sustainability, the frame is made from polymer-injected bio-based (53%) material.
How I tested the Smith Optics Syncline glasses
I wore the Smith Syncline glasses for multiple rides during the UK spring and summer, pairing them with various helmets to test compatibility.
The terrain varied from wide-open hillsides to dark, dank woodland, exposing the glasses to a variety of light conditions, while long, sweaty climbs put their airflow to the test. Off-road rides encompassing roots, rocks and jumps were a good test of their stability and security.
Smith Optics Syncline glasses bottom line
I have no complaints about these glasses, other than the price. While they’re no more expensive than equivalents from other top brands such as Oakley, Sungod or 100%, it’s harder to justify spending nearly £200 now that there are so many good, more affordable eyewear options.
That said, at least you get a second lens and semi-rigid case, neither of which is included with similarly priced Oakleys.
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