The PNW is famous for its loam, and if you’ve ever ridden trails in western Washington, BC or even the Idaho Panhandle you know the soft yet grippy magic surface that make our trails special. The loam almost always comes with deep dark fur and cedar forests, which means one thing: eyewear is challenging. When you’re in and out of shadows but want a full protection lens, something like the Smith Optics Truss is hard to beat. The Chromapop Photochromic lens adapts to changing light conditions, making it easier to choose them for every condition.
Smith Optics Truss Sunglasses Features:
- ChromaPop™ lens technology for enhanced contrast and true color
- Medium fit with 4-Base lens curvature for everyday wear
- Evolve bio-based frame material is lightweight and durable
- Megol nose pads and temples provide non-slip grip
- 100% UV protection with smudge and moisture resistant coating
- QuickFit temples for a customized fit
- AutoLock hinges hold frames open for easy one-hand on and off
- Removable TPU bridge piece for added comfort and style
- Lens vents for moisture mitigation (non-polarized only)
- Rx lens compatibility with lightweight, snap-in prescription adapter
- MSRP: $227 (as tested)
Big style and big protection:
Smith Optics continues to pump out some of the very coolest helmets and eyewear in the MTB game, and the Truss is no exception. When they came out this spring I loved the retro style and high coverage design. Smith’s ChromaPop lenses are my daily drivers, and so I was stoked to test a pair with photochromic technology.
The Truss are a high-coverage, medium fit frame. They’re not quite as big and bulky as today’s shield-style lenses, but they definitely grab your attention. The non-polarized ones that I’m testing have generous vents along the edge of the lens, but the polarized ones extend fully to the frame. Muggier spring days didn’t bother me in the Truss, and I didn’t have issues with fogging despite some really heavy exertion and warmer, more humid mornings. Smith Optics ships all their glasses with smudge-resisting, oil-shedding coatings which help to reduce fogging. For me, all of the extra airflow around the Truss frames really helped keep my vision clear.
The frames are made from Smith’s ‘Evolve‘ bio-based material. This is indistinguishable from a conventional full-plastic frame and has excellent performance characteristics. They’re strong, light and tough and I’ve had several pairs with this material over the years and they last just as well as dinosaur/petroleum formulations. The temples and nose pads feature proprietary Megol hydrophilic grippy rubber. For long climbs on hot sunny days, I was really impressed with how well the Truss frames stayed locked in on my face.
I really love ChromaPop optics, and the addition of photochromic, light-sensitivity technology really adds a lot to these glasses. The PNW is such a fun and sometimes challenging place to ride because the light conditions are always changing. On really long rides, I will sometimes bring both a clear lens and my tinted lens if I’m using my Smith Optics Split Shift Mag glasses, but the Truss’s light sensitive lenses obviate the need for that. When the lenses are inside, at dusk or other low-light conditions, they are nearly clear. There’s actually a hilarious review on the Smith website of a customer complaining that the sunglasses aren’t actually tinted: when the light is low, there’s truly almost no tint.
When the sun comes out, the glasses darken up really quickly, within just a minute or two. I felt that full sun days were totally tolerable with the Truss, although obviously these aren’t meant for glacier travel. In a dream world, these glasses might adapt quickly enough that the lenses can adapt to the minute-by-minute changes of a forest ride. In reality, it takes a good 3 minutes of consistent lower light conditions for the tint to fade. I’ve used a lot of photochromic lenses in my prescription glasses over the years, and these are just as good as any others: but none are truly perfect or all that rapid.
Technology aside, actually using the Truss sunglasses is a real treat. For my big noggin, these things really really comfy and they stay planted on my face well. The TPU bridge (which is removable) keeps the glasses just off my face so that they can ventilate well. I really like the vents that trace the periphery of the lens. The grippy Megol tips keep them planted even when I’m dripping sweat, and the sprung hinges make it easy to toss the glasses on or off with a single hand.
The last thing I should mention is the fun and high quality storage bag that was included. It’s a roll-top design with a durable fabric. There’s a built-in microfiber cloth. I dig it.
Buy Now: Visit SmithOptics.com
The Bottom Line
The Smith Optics Truss excels as a versatile mountain biking sunglass for variable forest light conditions. I'm a fan of the ChromaPop photochromic lens, which transitions efficiently between shade and sunlight while maintaining excellent contrast and clarity. Comfort, ventilation, grip, and coverage are all major strengths, especially during sweaty rides in humid PNW conditions. The only real limitation is that lens transitions are not instantaneous, but maybe that tech will be here in 5 years or so. Overall, the Truss is stylish, high-performance eyewear worth its premium price.
The Good:
- Excellent adaptation to constantly changing PNW light conditions
- ChromaPop optics provide outstanding contrast and trail definition
- Ventilation works well even during humid, sweaty climbs
- Megol nose and temple pads keep the glasses planted securely
- High coverage without feeling as oversized as full shield glasses
- Thoughtful details like the removable TPU bridge and quality storage pouch
The Bad:
- Even the best photochromic lenses won't change as quickly as forest sunlight
- Medium fit may still feel large or attention-grabbing for some riders
- Expensive at nearly $240 MSRP
- Optical quality
- Versatility
- Durability
- Field of vision
- Extras/features
