Smith Attack Max sunglasses

I’ve sung the praise of the Smith Attack and Attack Max glasses before, and while reviewing the newest iteration, my praise remains the same: The Attack Max glasses offer everything I want for riding, including light weight (only 32 grams), a comfortable and adjustable nose piece, and a big lens that doesn’t interfere with my helmet while providing ample coverage and excellent contrast. But Smith upped the game with its Mag interchangeable lens system. If you’re a frequent lens-swapper, you won’t find an easier system.

The Mag system relies on (surprise!) magnets to secure the sunglass arms to the lens. Removing the arms is simply a matter of turning them slightly inward and pressing on the connection point. The arms then pop off easily. Replacing the arms is similarly simple: Just slide them into place and let the magnet secure in its slot. Best part: No fingerprint smudges on the lens from prying, twisting, or tugging.

The process of removing and installing the nosepiece remains the same, just give it a tug and it pops out. Then push in, lining up the slot on the nosepiece to the lens itself. Even though that nosepiece isn’t new, it’s worth a mention because it’s perhaps the most stable and easily adjustable nosepiece out there. It’s a two-position system, just push on either pad and move it in for narrow noses or out for larger noses. Those pads click into place so you know you’re adjusting each side consistently with the other.

The ChromaPop lenses help enhance clarity and detail, according to Smith’s website. On the road, that means you should be able to pick up road features more easily, and see more consistently in both light and shadows. While it’s hard to say whether ChromaPop is definitively better than, say, Oakley’s Prizm lenses, I can say that the two lens systems are very similar. There’s a noticeable improvement distinguishing road features, especially in changing light conditions (i.e., zipping through the shadows cast by a tree on a sunny day).

Smith says the hydroleophobic coating on the lenses will repel dirt, grease, and water. Unfortunately, sweat seems to stick to the lenses pretty efficiently. To be fair, I haven’t found a pair of glasses that doesn’t suffer from this problem, particularly on the inside of the lenses.

The slant of the lens is a point in Smith’s favor, though, since it rarely, if ever, made contact with my eyebrows or forehead. While that’s not a panacea for keeping sweat off the lens, it certainly helps.

The glasses come with two chromapop lenses and a rugged custom case you’ll feel comfortable tossing in your gear bag.

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