Everyone has a different goal when buying a new pair of sunglasses. For some, sunglasses are a fashion statement, and the sole purpose of their shades is style. For others, performance is paramount, and they’re seeking something secure and comfortable for athletics. Others may be searching for a pair of sunglasses that will offer the best possible protection and shield their eyes from the sun’s harmful glare. 

When I’m searching for a new pair of shades, I’m looking for all of the above. After testing the Smith Wander on the water, in the mountains, and around town for months, I’ve finally found a pair that can do it all. Read on to learn why the Smith Optics Wander Sunglasses ($205-215) tick all my boxes. 

In short: Smith Optics has successfully bridged the gap between style and performance with the Wander sunglasses. These polarized shades are not only stylish, but they are also lightweight, durable, stable, and provide a stellar view of the world around you.

Smith Optics Wander Sunglasses Review

In my experience, it can be challenging to find a pair of women’s sunglasses that look good and perform well. After testing lots of different sunglasses, I can confidently say that the Smith Optics Wander successfully bridge that gap and have become one of my absolute favorites. These sunglasses can transition from a morning hike to an afternoon out on the town without skipping a beat or looking out of place.

When I’m out on a hike or paddling, I don’t always want to wear a pair of sporty sunglasses, but I do want quality optics and good coverage. Sure, some sports sunglasses look pretty cool, but they don’t necessarily look very stylish and often don’t really fit in when you’ve finished your outdoor activity.

That’s where the Wander Sunglasses come into play. By combining a classy and somewhat feminine aesthetic, a lightweight frame, and Smith’s quality ChromaPop polarized lenses, the Wander is an excellent all-arounder.

The Wander sunglasses sport thin, stainless-steel temple arms coupled with a slim plastic frame. The frames have a “classic round keyhole shape” for a timeless look, while the steel arms add a bit of contrast. The Wander glasses currently come in six different frame and lens color combinations — I opted for the tortoise frames with polarized brown lenses — all of which have minimal branding in the form of a small Smith logo etched in the temple near the hinge. 

Although the frames look fairly run-of-the-mill, they are made from Smith’s Evolve bio-based material. Smith claims that the Evolve frame material uses 53% bio-based material with the goal of making its product more eco-friendly. If you’re not sure what bio-based is, don’t worry — I had to Google it myself.

Essentially, bio-based products are partially or entirely made from materials from living and/or once-living organisms (e.g., plants). While it’s hard to quantify how much this reduces the carbon footprint of these sunglasses, it is refreshing to see major brands taking steps to be more sustainable.

In terms of fit, I’d say my face is on the medium to small side, and the Wander’s medium fit and coverage fit the shape of my face nicely and felt secure without being too tight. That said, they might fit a bit small for those with larger faces or wider heads.

Thanks to the slim frame and temples of the Wander sunglasses, they have a lightweight feel, and the grippy Megol rubber nose pads keep them stable and secure for most activities. Through my testing, I have worn them on numerous hikes, runs, and paddles, and they never moved around excessively.

Still, they aren’t quite as secure as a slim pair of wraparound sports glasses, and I found they were better suited to walks, hikes, standup paddling, and beach days as opposed to high-intensity or higher-impact activities like running.

One of the Wander’s biggest selling points is the quality lenses. The lenses are polarized and use Smith Optics’ signature ChromaPop technology, which enhances color and contrast while simultaneously cutting glare. I felt that they delivered, and the Wanders provided a crisp view both on and off the water.

Polarized lenses are typically the best choice for fishing, and I appreciated hem while out on the water near my home in Hawaii, where they handled the harsh reflection of the mid-summer sun off the ocean. Not only did I find the optical clarity to be excellent, but the brown lens tint provided a cheery warmth that made the world around me look even more pleasant.

Smith sells the Wander sunglasses with both mirrored and non-mirrored lenses. The standard non-mirrored lens models retail for $205, while the mirrored options cost a bit more at $215. I tested the ChromaPop Polarized Brown lens, which has minimal reflectivity for a slightly more subtle look compared to the flashier mirrored options.

Most of the lenses fall between 14% and 18% VLT (Visible Light Transmission), making them well-suited for full sun to mixed light conditions. I found them to work just as well on bright but cloudy days and when hiking through shady forests as they did when there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

The Wander sunglasses come with a microfiber cleaning and storage bag. At the $200+ price point, it’s a little disappointing that they don’t come with a hard case for protection like high-end shades from some other brands.

If you’re prone to breaking your sunglasses or you’ll be stuffing them into a backpack or suitcase for travel, we’d definitely recommend purchasing a more robust case to protect your investment. While they feel well-made and durable, I can’t imagine they’d fare well being accidentally sat on or tossed around by a baggage handler in the storage bag alone.

Conclusion

As an avid outdoorsperson living in Hawaii, my lifestyle demands that I wear sunglasses pretty much all of the time. Until recently, I’ve struggled to find the perfect pair of shades that perform well and look good no matter what I’m doing.

After testing a number of the best women’s sunglasses on the market, the Smith Optics Wander sunglasses sit at the top of my list thanks to their lightweight feel, excellent optics, and stylish aesthetic. At $205-215, the Wander sunglasses aren’t cheap, but they are comfortable, impressively versatile, and transition seamlessly from the trail or water to life on the town. If you value both style and performance, the Smith Optics Wander is definitely worth a look.

The Wander Sunglasses are sold on the Smith Optics website and major online retailers like evo.com.