Smith Wildcat Review

Likes

Excellent, understated comfort tops the list of what we love about the Smith Wildcat. They're light enough, at around 30 grams, to rest easily on the ears and nose. Contact points on the temples and nose pieces are rubberized and soft, and maleable enough to fit your unique dimensions without creating pressure points.

The 6-base curve of the frames gently follows the natural curvature of your face, placing the temples in a more relaxed starting position and eliminating pinch points at the end.

The optics on the Wildcat are industry-leading. The Cat 1-4 photochromic lens works in a wide range of conditions, from just after dusk down at the trailhead to a cloudless sunny noon on a glacier. When darkened, the mirrored exterior finish takes on a gorgeous deep blue hue, conjuring an iridescent effect.

Unlike many other photocrhomic lenses that transition from somewhat clear to a dark grey, the base tint of the Wildcat is a rosy red, which gives a little more contrast, especially at lower light intensities.

These lenses also come with hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings that help keep the glasses free of precipitation and facial oils, meaning you have a clearer view for longer. Like most Polycarbonate-based lenses, the Wildcats offer 100% UV protection, even at their lightest tint.

And the goggle-like design means this lens has coverage to spare. From the inside temple to inside temple, we measured the Wildcat's width at 130mm and a total height of approximately 62mm. These will fit a medium to large head the best.

Dislikes

There is little we dislike about the Wildcat and our gripes are less than middling. One small weakness of the goggle-like design is that at high speeds, coverage and protection from wind and potentially dust may make their way between the inside of the lenses and your eyes, causing some irritation.

This is most noticeable on long, straight downhills where we could really pick up some speed. Light leaking from the sides is pretty minimal, given the width of the lens and the absolute coverage all over, but it doesn't have as full a wrap as some other models.

As is the case for most mirrored lenses, the Wildcat's own suffer from collecting fingerprints if you're not careful - which we seem not to be! No alternative-sized pair of nose pieces comes with the handsome kit, although aftermarket replacements are available if you somehow lose or damage them.

The Cat 1-4 photochromic lens gets darker than most sunglasses with this stated range, and you may find them a little darker than you're used to. However, they are perfect for very sunny conditions where snow may be present, making them great multisport glasses. This problem is also somewhat offset by the rosy red base tint, which adds more contrast than other neutral grey-only photochromic lenses.

Finally, if you have a smaller head, the Wildcat may not be a great fit. Smith does have a smaller version called the Smith Bobcat that we would suggest you try out instead.

Should You Buy the Smith Wildcat?

If the size fits your face, the Wildcat is an absolutely excellent purchase if you are lucky enough to live in a climate where you get mostly bright, sunny days throughout the year. It will keep your eyes protected while enjoying all the outdoor activities you love. Quality is exceptional, and performance is at the front of the pack. If we could only have one pair of sunglasses to take with us on a trip around the world, the Smith Wildcat would be the ones.

What Other Cycling Sunglasses Should You Consider?

Smith's own Pursuit has an even more extreme goggle experience, and side shields to handle wind and dust creeping in from the sides. They are a bit heavier, so comfort may be slightly impacted. The Julbo Edge REACTIV has a slightly narrower fit, but roughly the same coverage, along with photochromic lenses ranging from Cat 1 to 3. The Tifosi Moab is a more budget-minded option, also with photochromic options.