Review by Mira Brody
This weekend, I was visiting family in North Carolina, the perfect getaway to distract from the low snow back home in Montana, and I took the opportunity to try my new Smith Embark sunglasses out for a hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
First off, the color. There’s a handful of options to choose from and I went with the matte purple, which feature a nice pop of orange and yellow on each side. They stand out enough to feel bold (and match my ski pants for the inevitable backcountry trip I’ll take them on once it snows) but not so loud that they look ridiculous on the trail.
Functionally, the Smith Embarks are a step up from your regular sunglasses. While I usually grab from my pile of scratched and well-loved Goodrs, as I am used to losing and damaging sunglasses on runs, the Smiths were a welcome quality upgrade form the norm, providing a sturdy frame, and the Embark’s infamous side shields that helped with sun glare and the gusts of fall wind you always get on exposed ridgelines. I didn’t find myself squinting or getting watery eyes nearly as much as I usually do. They feel like they’re built to handle actual use, not just look good in photos.
Overall, if you’re active and spend a lot of time outdoors, the Embarks are a great mix of style and real performance. As soon as it snows, I’m planning to use them on my next backcountry skin to try the side shields out on some real terrain.
