| Date: | 9/14/16 |
| Product type: | Sunglasses |
| Manufacturer: | Smith Optics |
| Reviewer: | Jamie Wilson |
I remember the first time that I looked into the water through a pair of polarized sunglasses. I couldn’t believe just how much I was seeing and more importantly, what I wasn’t seeing until that day. I went through countless pairs of cheap shades thinking I had it all figured out, until I finally made the leap to a high-end quality pair of lenses/frames. This game changer came in the form of Smith Optics “Dover” Rx with the industry leading polarized lens technology, ChromaPop. These lenses make me feel as if I am an eagle in the sky spotting fish and their hiding spots while protecting my eyes and looking super stylish to boot.
| (Smith Optics Dover Rx) Specifications | |
| Type | Polarized prescription sunglasses |
| Colors | Black, Havana (tortoise shell) |
| Origin | USA |
| MSRP | $499 CDN |
Quality is so important. I mean really, would you want 10 pairs of shades in as many years? I know I want a product to stand the test of time and continue to hold up to the rigors of the outdoors for as long as I take care of them. Spending the money on quality will never backfire on anyone, which I say with obvious confidence when I speak of my Smith Optics Dover Rx polarized sunglasses.
| Finish(1-5) | Hardware(1-5) | Craftsmanship(1-5) | Total | Possible | Rating (10 being highest ) |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 15 | 9.5 |
The first thing that I noticed was how ultra-lightweight Smith Optics truly are. When I picked up the protective case I thought that the lenses weren’t even in there. I then opened the case and proceeded to placed them on and I was beyond impressed just how feather light they felt. Honestly, I don’t notice that I’m even wearing them at all aside from the fact that my vision is so greatly enhanced on and off the water. ChromaPop makes colors more vivid while clarity, sharpness and contrast become heightened with little to no eye fatigue. Another great feature is unparalleled anti-fog, even on the hottest days on the water. Wearing this technology creates an experience that can be compared to the highest HD quality, which keeps me going all day long.
| Performance Ratings (Smith Optics Dover Rx) | |||||||
| Comfort(1-5) | Anti-fog(1-5) | Clarity(1-5) | Vibrancy and contrast (1-5) | Durability (1-5) | Total | Possible | Rating (10 being highest ) |
| 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 24 | 25 | 9.5 |
The things I’ve seen while chasing trophy fish have been just astounding. Weedlines, openings and pockets on weed flats, changes in water clarity, rocky outcroppings and schools of minnows and so on seem closer, bigger and easier to spot. I can find targets to pitch at with ease which simply adds confidence and purpose and thus, efficiency to my outings. I still can’t believe what I’ve been missing all these years. My next move will be to add a couple different color lenses to my repertoire. The green ChromaPop polarized lenses have been a great overall color but I feel I should utilize an amber lens to brighten up darker days and dusk periods and a blue mirror for very bright, blue bird conditions. I digress, all in due time.
| (Smith Optics Dover Rx) Collective Final Rating | ||
| Construction/Quality | 10 | |
| Performance | 10 | |
| Price | 9 | |
| Features | 9 | |
| Design (Ergonomics) | 10 | |
| Application | 10 | |
| Total Score | 58 | |
| Ratings Key: 1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = MUST HAVE | ||
What can I say? Picking up a pair of Smith Optics shades upped my game. In a sport such as sportfishing where any small to large advantage is of the utmost importance, I’d say eyesight is at the top of the list. I mean really? Would you want to play darts with a bag over your head? No, you’d want to put a spotlight on that dart board and hit that bullseye. That’s how I view the difference between $20 knock offs and my trusty Smith Optics polarized ChromaPop shades. No more low-end, low-definition vision for this guy, I’ve got fish to chase and they can no longer hide in plain sight. Quality rules the day and that’s that. #SmithIsFishing
Jamie Wilson- Lead Writer Editor Exist To Fish Canada
