ABOUT THE SMITH DEFY SUNGLASSES
At just 29 grams, Smith’s claims of “lightweight” sunglasses with the Defy is certainly on point. Undoubtedly, the rimless design of the Defy helps the frames shed a few grams over other popular Smith frames, such as the Wildcats.
The frames themselves have a medium/large fit but boast lenses with full coverage. Smith uses a durable TR90 nylon in the frame’s construction with a non-slip MEGOL compound at the nose pads and temples to keep the Defy glasses in place. Auto-locking hinges keep the frames open, making taking them off and on with one hand easy, and they help with helmet storage during a ride. The nose pad is also adjustable, helping to provide a secure and comfortable fit.
Smith uses their ChromaPop™ lens design for clarity, with several tint options from full sunlight to partial. The lenses also have smudge-resistant coatings, making them easy to wipe clean when sweat or other moisture gets on them. As is common with all Smith cycling glasses, the Defy’s lens is interchangeable, with Smith including a spare clear lens. Six frame/lens options are offered by Smith, with replacement/additional lenses available for $40–$80. The standard retail price on the Smith Defy Glasses comes in at $175.
THE DIRT
I’ll be the first to admit that the Defy sunglasses are probably not an option I naturally gravitate toward based on style and look. I tend to lean more on the bulky, big-square-frame glasses — such as the Wildcat or Bobcat from Smith — rather than the XC–stylings of the Defy. However, I was pleasantly surprised with their fit and performance.
I hate wind and dust in my eyes (who doesn’t), which is why I tend to wear larger-frame sunglasses. The more coverage, the better. Plus, I have a reasonably round — and big — head, and feel larger frames fit and look better. But the medium to large fit of the Defy frames, paired with large-coverage lenses, worked well for my dome. I didn’t feel like more wind or dust got behind the lenses, despite their slimmer appearance. Plus, the frames stayed put, never sliding down my nose or bouncing off, and were comfortable for the majority of my rides, though not all — more on that in a moment.
Smith’s ChromaPop™ lenses offer outstanding clarity and contrast, even when going in and out of shadows quickly. Swapping to the clear lenses is relatively quick and easy with the Defy’s rimless design. However, I found the rimless design meant more fingerprints on the lenses themselves. This equalled smudged lenses, especially with having to remove the nose piece from the lens if I was swapping mid–ride. Maybe I have particularly oily fingers, but Smith’s smudge-resistant coating wasn’t able to keep the lenses totally clear. The rimless design also had the lenses sitting closer to my forehead, allowing sweat onto the lenses a bit easier than other Smith glasses.
The only other issue I had with the Smith Defy sunglasses was comfort on the longer rides. For a two or three-hour ride, the Defy glasses were excellent. However, if a ride pushed to four or five hours, the frames would begin to irritate where they rested on my ears. That said, this could be just an issue with how the glasses fit my head shape.
The Wolf’s Last Word
Despite a slimmer profile, the Smith Defy sunglasses did an incredible job keeping air and dirt out of my eyes. But some comfort and style preferences will likely have me reaching for my Smith Wildcats over the Defy, personally. 
Price: $175
Website: Smithoptics.com
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ABOUT THE WOLF
The local boy — Travis was born and raised in Bend, OR. Skateboarding consumed his life until his high school years (yes, he can still kickflip), but was replaced by mountain biking…then rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and finally back to mountain biking. After a stint in the big city, Travis returned home, trading a teaching career to be an okay mountain biker and above-average journalist. He is an outspoken 90s grunge fan, cornering poor souls in conversations about the meaning behind the lyrics of Alice In Chains’ “Would.” Most days, Travis hopes to be outside, whether that is on an early morning ride or a hike with his family (the best days include both).
Rank: Contributing Writer
Size: 5’8” / 172cm | 195lbs / 88kg
Social: @travis_reill_writes
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