Fresh Produce | Smith Vert PivLock Sunglasses

As far as go-fast sunnies go, Smith Optic’s Vert PivLock are pretty darn speedy. Using a frameless, vented lens and a version of the American outfits PivLock lens change system — or arm change rather — the Vert are a high-zoot pair of riding glasses.

The classic blade sunnies have been around for far longer than I’ve been riding bikes, and despite full coverage wrap-around sunnies only getting larger over the years, the idea is the same. Protect your eyeballs from the wind and flying debris without putting anything in your field of view.

ChromaPop is Smith’s light-filtering technology. While the description reads like marketing speak, the enhanced contrast is noticeable on the trail especially in varied and darker light conditions.

The Lenses | Big, bold and high-tech

These sunnies really are a lens, with some arms attached, and that lens is based around Smith’s ChromaPop colour filtering tech. According to Smith, the technology is tuned to filter specific wavelengths of coloured light — namely, where the green, red and blue wavelengths cross over to enhance contrast and to help your eyes pick out details across a broader range of light conditions. Oakley, 100%, POC, Shimano and others all have similar colour-filtering tech in their high-end sunnies, and while it reads like a marketing feature, there is definitely something there.

With Smith’s system in particular, it’s impressive how well you can see across changeable light and darker conditions despite these being a relatively dark 15% VTL lens.

Of the high-end riding sunnies I’ve used over the years, I firmly believe Smith has the best optical clarity of the bunch, and if there is any distortion out along the edge of the lens, it’s well beyond the limits of my peripheral vision — both on the tinted and clear lens. Extra points for also applying the hydrophobic coating to both the inside and outside of the lens.

Of course, one of the main features of these glasses is the easy lens swaps using the brand’s PivLock system. This system utilises a ball joint to help you get leverage over the arm and lens to snap everything into place, preventing that horrible I-feel-like-I’m-going-to-snap-this feeling you get with changing the lenses on a lot of other sunnies.

Previous iterations of this system saw the arm rotated directly on the lens, which often scratched some of the tint off. Smith has solved this by adding a frame of the same nylon used on the arms around the edge of the lens to create a buffer.

Of course, this does not solve the inherent problem with lens swap systems that rely on the ‘pop’ to secure everything in place. Over time, with repeated lens changes, they loosen up. In the six or so months I’ve been using the Vert PivLock, the pop is not quite as crisp as it was on day one. If you are a serial lens changer, Smith’s sunnies that use the MAG system solve this problem and it feels like quite a missed opportunity that it has not been employed on these glasses.

The ball joint gives you a bit of extra leverage to snap everything into place without putting undue force on the arm or lens.

Fit and finish

Smith says the Vert PivLock has a medium to large fit. Side by side with a pair of Oakley Sutro Lite sunnies, the lens is a hair taller and more cylindrical. Even still, they aren’t bordering on goggle size like the Oakley Airbrake or 100% S3.

The arms are straight and seem to play nice with all of the retention systems and rear cradles of the helmets we have on hand. Smith has also put the right amount of tension on the arms to grip your head — in combination with the Megol rubber tips — without causing a headache.

Smith has long used a nose piece that offers two positions, and I’m not sure I can actually perceive the difference.

The nose piece is made from the same rubber and sees a slight amount of adjustability — though I can’t say I could perceive any difference. Perhaps someone with a more petite schnoz may.

While the weight of sunglasses doesn’t really matter, the Vert PivLock are very light — 28g in fact — they really do disappear on your face. You have to strain your eyes to see the edge of the lens, and it wraps far enough to mostly combat dazzling light leaking in from the sides when the sun is low and light speckled.

While the Pivlock system for lens changes is one of the best that relies on the ‘pop’ to secure the lens, I can’t figure out why Smith hasn’t employed its own MAG system which is without question better.

Flow Verdict

Smith’s Vert PivLock are undoubtedly high-end sunglasses at $295 AUD, but they fall into the company of similar offerings from Oakley, 100%, Bollé, POC—you get the idea.

When it comes to fit, optical clarity, and the Chromapop lens, there really isn’t much to critique. It’s all very nice, well-finished, and high-performing. Smith also includes a spare clear lens, microfiber bag, and pretty schmick hard case.

However, the downfall of the Vert PivLock is the PivLock aspect. There is nothing wrong with this system, and in fact it’s one of the better options out there. Still, it’s not as good as Smith’s own MAG system, and why these aren’t Vert MAGs boggles my mind.

For those looking for high-end riding sunnies with the option to change the lenses — but are not serial lens changer — you won’t be disappointed with the Vert PivLock.