Smith Sliders Review: Aura Farming Its Own ’90s Nostalgia

Slide Away

As a ‘90s kid, I’m perpetually nostalgic for all things analog, those halcyon days spent looking at the world through a different lens that seemed to unite us, not divide us. 

One of those lenses we looked through was the Smith Slider, a wraparound sunglass style that offered a unique approach to customization: switching out the lenses based on activity and preference. 

That iconic model has just received new life with the all-new Slider series, paying homage to that three-decade old original. Things evolve, of course, so Smith added a few new elements, including ChromaPop lens technology, bio-based frame material (both lightweight and durable), as well as three sets of lenses, including the standard sun lens, low-light amber, and clear. 

They even threw in some Archive Collection packaging elements with a soft carrying case sporting a Navajo-rug pattern that screams peak ‘90s design. Two little pockets within the case offer storage for the spare lenses. The attention to detail does not go unnoticed– it’s one of my favorite cases in recent memory.

I received these sunglasses last week, just before heading up to the New York City Marathon. I’ve been a huge fan of the Smith Westward over the past few months, and they’ve quickly become one of my go-to running and lifestyle sunglasses. That said, I thought the Sliders offered more of a race day look, so I figured there’s no better testing ground than running through 26.2 miles of New York City in early November.

The first thing I noticed is that, well– I love them. I received the Matte Olive with ChromaPop Brown standard lenses and that ChromaPop does indeed pop, with full vibrant colors across the whole field of vision. These are not polarized, which is a good thing for road or trail running, especially in the ever-changing light conditions of New York City. (You don’t want polarized lenses for variable light, FYI.) The lenses adjusted seamlessly from the bright streets to the shadows of tall buildings.

The staying power on the Sliders is impressive, utilizing Megol nose pad and temple grips. Straight-armed sunglasses always sit weird when I wear a hat (since the don’t wrap behind the ear), so I had to position the arms over my hat to stay in place. While there was some movement, the grip on the nose was exceptional. Without a hat, the sunglasses feel like they’re molded to your face.

Altogether, these sunglasses are exceptionally well done and offer more customization (and honestly a better design) than their competitor in the Oakley Eyejacket. If you want something that brings back the past while looking ahead to the future, then it’s hard to find something better than the Smith Sliders.

Available in four color options, the Slider is available now for $197. You can pick it up at smithoptics.com or by using the shop link below.