Smith Salty Crew Lowdown Sunglasses

One of Smith’s most popular lifestyle models for a reason, the Lowdown sets an industry standard for style. The matte black Salty Crew collaboration we tested, complete with ChromaPop Polarized Blue Mirror lenses, is ideal for surf trips for a couple reasons: namely, the style and the lens clarity.

On the style front, the nose bridge possesses a slight indent across the top that adds swagger off the bat. The wide frames are embellished by a small slash across each arm, as well as almost imperceptible Salty Crew logos at the tips, adding another couple dashes of spice to the stewpot.

The blue ChromaPop lenses are the paramount piece of the puzzle: they help reduce glare when the sun reflects off the ocean and are ideal for reading waves from far-off cliffs. That said, the Smith shades are far from impervious to scratches; the model we tested non-stop for three months is nearly ready to be retired after the outer coating started to peel. Of course, if you’re careful, or you always rock croakies, this isn’t a problem—however, if you’re like our gear tester and are merciless/clumsy when it comes to handling sunglasses, this inevitability is worth noting.

Tester Comment: “Style? Undeniable. And the lenses are among my favorites I’ve tested in terms of clarity and color—especially if you’re fishing, surfing, etc. I was only bummed about how the lenses started to peel—but if you’re more careful than I am, I’d heartily suggest these Salty Crew Smiths.”

Bottom Line: Stylish travel shades that any surfer will appreciate. Treat them well and they’ll treat you right.

Best For: Living in a blue world—surfing, fishing, and general beach life