Smith Nomad Sunglasses, a Review
AMGA-Certified Guide Rob Coppolillo reviews the Smith Nomad sunglasses with “ChromaPop” lens.
Smith Nomad sunglasses. Photo: Rob Coppolillo
At first, I was skeptical of the Smith Nomad sunglasses ($269) when I took them out of the box. They seemed too light, with a wire frame that would seemingly go destructo in less than a week. Turns out they’re titanium, so you can flex them a bit—I didn’t push it, though, because I liked them so much I didn’t want to bust them! I ended up wearing the Nomads driving, mellow hiking, and traveling—they’re perfect for all this, but lack the side coverage and tint necessary for using them while skiing or climbing.
Recreationally, the Nomad proved to be awesome, but I’d worry a bit about them while guiding—they’re light, but they are also titanium, so…
“You’re under arrest…for being stylish!” The Smith Nomad glasses, in action on AMGA tester Rob Coppolillo. Photo: Rob Coppolillo
I found the Nomad to be ideal as a non-mountain sunglass because it’s crazy light (60 g; 2.1 oz!) and the lens clarity is great. Apparently, the “ChromaPop” lenses utilize some sort of optical voodoo (Smith’s “Anti-Reflective (A/R)” mirror coating, which eliminates back glare), managing specific wavelengths of light, etc. to deliver good clarity. All mumbo-jumbo aside, I really liked the lenses, which offered great clarity/optics. While driving and walking in town, everything seemed clear and defined. I used the little cloth bag included, but didn’t overly “baby” the things—and nary a scratch. So far, so good. The lenses, too, are great when traveling—the glass isn’t so dark that you’re sketching out in tunnels and whatnot. It was really nice to take off a heavier “performance” sunglass and have these on instead, with all of the same benefits.
Meanwhile, the sizing worked for a melon-head like me; they fit happily, and I’m generally “tight” in casual glasses. And the frames were comfortable as well, thanks to their light weight. Comfortable nose pieces and temples, too. The glasses are relatively compact and come with a hard-shell case, which is nice for stowing in a backpack. Overall, I’d call these a casual sunglass, so while I might not wear them skiing or climbing, they are definitely a great option to/from the crag, and while driving and traveling. So far, they’ve proven durable, too. The Nomad is a great product.
