The Guide’s Choice XL is the quintessential Smith frame. While Smith markets them heavily toward the fishing community, these glasses have found their way much further afield. Hayden took them trekking and splitboarding through the Coast Mountains and across Japan while Matt took them for a different adventure, fishing for steelhead in Northern BC and bright Chinook in the ocean. Their combination of world-class optics and a deep base curve makes them ideal for protecting your vision in high-glare, high-consequence environments.
The Smith Guide’s Choice XL at a Glance
- Frame Material: Evolve™ bio-based frame
- Lens: ChromaPop Glass PolarChromic Yellow Blue Mirror
- Lens Material: Glass
- Frame Color: Matte Black
- Weight: 47 grams with leash
- Accessories: Hard Case, Soft Case, Leash
- Country of Origin: unknown
Why the Guide?
Life for the Guide’s Choice began on rivers, lakes, and oceans. They are heavily marketed toward fishing guides for good reason: they feature an 8-base curve, which is quite aggressive. This wrap-around fit sits so close to the face that they perform almost as well as dedicated glacier glasses at blocking stray UV rays—all while looking like a standard pair of sunglasses.
I suspected this design would fare well on sunny days on the snow, and I was right. Their deep curvature negates the need for side shields, as they hug the contours of the face to seal out light leak.
What is an Evolve bio-based frame?
The Smith Guide’s CHoice XL glasses are made with a bio-based frame material that Smith has dubbed Evolve. Evolve is made by using renewable, non-GMO plant-based material derived from castor oil.
The Guide’s Choice XL has a base curvature of 8. This is a very tight curve and ensures the glasses stay very close to the wearer’s face. This effectively blocks light leaks from above or below the glasses.
The arms are also chonky. Chonky enough that they act as glacier shields do on glacier glasses. The arms are lightly sprung which makes for a very comfortable fit. Unfortunately, it does mean the arms can flex outwards which removes a little of their gripping power to keep the glasses from sliding down the wearer’s nose.
The nose piece is made of Smith’s Megol. This is a specialized, hydrophilic rubber compound used specifically for its non-slip properties. When it comes into contact with moisture—like sweat or water—it actually increases its grip, ensuring your frames stay securely in place during your most intense activities. I don’t have a particularly sweaty nose so I cannot vouch nor deny this claim.
A True “Glass” Act
I don’t believe I’ve worn a pair of spectacles made with actual glass since 1994. When given the chance to test the Guide’s Choice XL with glass lenses, I jumped at it, though I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect.
The clarity of these lenses is unlike anything I’ve tried. My vision honestly feels upgraded the moment I put them on. While some of that is likely the latest version of ChromaPop tech, I’m convinced the glass material plays a major role. After months of use, they show zero signs of wear or scratching.
ChromaPop Glass PolarChromic Yellow Blue Mirror
That lens name is a mouthful, but it’s a good one. The Guide’s Choice XL comes with a staggering 13 lens options. Some are highly specialized, like the ChromaPop Glass PolarChromic Yellow Blue Mirror I tested, while others, like the ChromaPop Glass Polarized Black, are better suited for general use.
Chromapop
According to Smith, ChromaPop™ is a proprietary technology that enhances natural color, boosts contrast, and improves clarity by filtering specific light wavelengths. By blocking “color-wave intersections” where blue/green and red/green light overlap, it eliminates color confusion, allowing the brain to perceive truer, more vibrant colors faster.
PolarChromic
This is a portmanteaux of polarized and Photochromic. Polarization blocks reflections off surfaces such as the water, snow, or glass. Photochromic lenses automatically change tint based on light conditions. On this specific lens, the Visible Light Transmission (VLT) ranges from 11% to 23%.
Yellow Blue Mirror
The blue mirror looks like the Aegean Sea. Beyond the aesthetics, the blue mirror is functional: it reflects harsh glare from sea, snow, or sand, making it perfect for both fishing and high-altitude skiing.
However, I hadn’t accounted for how aggressive the yellow base tint would be. While yellow is beneficial for cutting glare and boosting contrast, it makes everything look like a “dusty sunset” when worn away from the snow or water. My eyes never quite adjusted to this tint in casual settings, essentially relegating these sunglasses to sunny alpine days only.
Overview
On sunny days on the snow, these compete with the best sunglasses on the market. With a low-end VLT of 11%, they may even fare well on a glacier for a short stint. I’ve no doubt they do fantastically on sunny fishing boats as well.
When the clouds rolled in, the Guide’s Choice XL continued to perform. Despite the 23% VLT ceiling, I didn’t feel the need to take them off until the sky was truly overcast. The photochromic transition worked exceptionally well in both cold and warm temperatures. Notably, I never experienced the “dark line” effect sometimes seen on photochromic lenses where the sun hits the side of the lens more directly than the center.
The primary trade-off is the weight of the glass. With the leash attached, the Guide’s Choice XL weighs 47 grams which is 15 grams heavier than my next favorite pair of shades. That might not sound like much, but it’s enough to make the glasses slide down my nose during anything faster than a brisk walk. For me, the leash is a mandatory accessory.
I would be interested to know how heavy the non-glass lenses weigh. If they could shave even ten grams off the weight I’ve no doubt they would excel on speed pursuits.
On the Water and in the Mountains
By Matt Casson
I tested the same ChromaPop Glass PolarChromic Yellow Blue Mirror lens as Hayden. Is it the fit, the solar protection, the glare reduction on rivers and ocean, or the clarity of a glass lens? For me, it’s all of the above, and these have become my go-to glasses for most of my outdoor pursuits.
Fit and Sizing
I have a medium-large head and love the XL. I usually wear a hat in the wilderness, which helps snug the fit. With regular-fit sunglasses, my ears start to hurt after a while. However, the Smith Guide’s Choice XL stay comfortable after a full day on the water or in the mountains. I forget they’re on my face. The leash that comes with the glasses helps in case the waters get a little too rough and the rare occasion they slip.
Shape and Coverage
The Guide’s Choice XL sits well on my nose and stays put. The curved frame, wide arms tapering behind the ears, tall nose pads, and tall lens with a slightly wider bridge cover the gaps where UV can sneak in behind the frame. My eyes feel protected all day. Another plus is that they haven’t fogged up while I’ve been walking river miles or ski touring uphill.
Hayden noted that the Smith Guide’s Choice XL can slip for him a biut but I have not found this to happen to me. Perhaps it is nose shape or because he is a snowboarder. Regardless, the Guide’s Choice XL sit well for me.
The Yellow Lens on the Water, Frozen and Liquid
I think yellow lenses don’t get the love they deserve. On the water, whether I’m fishing for steelhead in Northern BC or Chinook in the ocean, they cut surface glare and lets me read the subtle textures of the water. That helps me control my spey swing, and it helps me spot deadheads while cruising on the ocean. The PolarChromic tint blocks harmful UV while letting in as much light as possible.
It’s also my go-to on sunny days, and on cloudy days when only UV is penetrating the cloud. Compared to the brown and black lenses I’ve used, I feel I lose less definition in the light conditions I fish in.
In the mountains, the lens gives me good definition of the terrain in flat light. Keep in mind that this lens tops out at 23% VLT, so in heavy overcast or a whiteout you may still want a lighter lens. This is a sunny-to-partly-cloudy tool, not a replacement for good terrain judgment. Hayden found the yellow base tint too aggressive for casual wear, giving everything a “dusty sunset” look away from snow and water and that matches my experience. It’s a tool for the water and the snow, not for around town. If you are looking for an around town lens, the yellow base is too aggressive. Head for the ChromaPop Glass Polarized Black.
The glass lenses give me excellent clarity and crispness. They’re easy to clean and scratch resistant, and I expect them to last multiple seasons without showing wear. Plastic resin and nylon lenses tend to show every scratch and scuff, which can interfere with your view, especially at the edges. Of the Smith lenses I’ve used, these are the clearest.
Who are the Smith Guide’s Choice XL for?
The takeaway from our testing is to choose the version that matches your activity level. If you are in high-glare environments with casual movement (like a fishing boat or a steady skin track), go with the glass version, the clarity is unbelievable. If you need shades for more active pursuits where every gram counts, look toward the polycarbonate (plastic) lenses.
Either way, you will be stoked with the performance. Their large curved frame does an incredible job blocking light leaks and their lenses are the benchmark for all glass sports lenses. If you are looking for the Ferrari of outdoor glasses, these just may be it.
Looking to pick up a pair, head on over here: Smith Guide’s Choice XL
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BlackSheep was provided with a free sample of the Smith Guide’s Choice XL for this review. This in no way affected our editorial stance. This post also contains affiliate links; if you choose to purchase gear through these links, we may earn a small commission which supports our independent testing at no extra cost to you.
