Search Results

Smith has a superb lineup of glass sunglasses, and the Glass Green Mirror is one of their best. A dark and comfortable rose tint with a striking green mirror, this lens works in bright conditions year-round. Check out the ChromaPop Glass Green Mirror from Smith's website . Smith Riptide If you want to know more about how rose lenses work, click here . If you want to know more about how green mirror lenses work, click here . This review is for the Glass Green Lens, not the poly version. I have not tried that lens yet to compare. In This Review Lens Specs How does the lens look? What does the view look like? Sunny Condition Cloudy Conditions Optimal and Suboptimal Viewing Conditions Sports Comparison to the same brand lenses - Smith Optics Comparison to Green Mirror Lenses of Different Brands Conclusion: Smith ChromaPop Glass Green Mirror Lens Review - Should you buy it? Lens Specs Smith ChromaPop Glass Green Mirror Technology ChromaPop Lens Color Rose Mirror Color Green VLT 11% ABBE 58 Coatings Anti-reflective, Scratch-resistant, Oleophobic, Hydrophobic Material Glass Weight Moderate Scratch Resistance High Prescription Available Yes, in poly Sunglass Science Lens Tier 2 The clarity of the Glass Green Mirror lens is top-notch, thanks to Smith's high-quality glass lenses. The lens is equipped with every coating you’d want: anti-reflective, oleophobic (oil-repellent), hydrophobic (water-repellent), and UV protection (there may be more, but they are not stated; I will update when I ask Smith). Each of these coatings works together to provide a clean, clear, and durable visual experience. Unlike other brands like Serengeti, Maui Jim, and Costa, Smith doesn’t advertise the use of thinner-than-average glass to reduce weight. While the lenses aren’t especially light, they’re not unusually heavy either. This middle-ground approach keeps the glasses feeling solid but not burdensome during extended wear. The lens includes ChromaPop technology for color enhancement, which we will discuss in detail in the next sections. With a visible light transmission (VLT) of 11%, the Glass Green Mirror is a darker lens. For context, the classic Ray-Ban G15 has a VLT of 15%, which is 36% brighter than the 11% Smith (though the difference is not as massive as that would seem, but it is noticeable). The mirror is not encapsulated in the glass and is prone to scratching more than non-mirrored options from Smith (though still much more scratch resistant than any non-glass option). The mirror is highly reflective and maintains a mirror effect through almost all lighting and angles. I do not know if the base tint is rose or grey and how much the green mirror affects the tint. I think the base tint is actually grey, and the mirror has a huge effect . Is it eligible for prescription? Yes, in polycarbonate. Smith sells it directly with ChromaPop lenses. SportRx sells it with their own lenses, of which there are many choices. Use code SCIENCE10 for $10 off your purchase at SportRx. Also check out: Best Sunglasses Cases, Storage, and Travel Cases How does the lens look? The front has a solid green mirror, which is highly reflective at all angles. The back has a green/yellow shine from the anti-reflective coating. Th e tint is a dark rose. What does the view look like? I highly recommend reading about how rose lenses work  to understand  why such a strong tint doesn't make the view overwhelmingly red but rather resembles an enhanced grey lens. As discussed in that post, the view will initially have a strong red cast for approximately two minutes until our eyes and brains acclimate. Simply wear them for a few minutes, and you'll experience the magic of a rose lens. I often find that it takes me longer to adjust to this lens compared to other rose lenses. That means the view will be strange and unpleasant for a few moments, but just keep them on, and it will be worth it. Rose lenses amplify red hues and deepen blues. They block more green light, but since our eyes are especially sensitive to green, this creates a balanced brightness of colors. The overall view becomes warmer with a redder tint, enhancing colors. Blues appear darker, and greens are highlighted with greater contrast. This rose tint leans blue, meaning it is almost purple, and not as red saturated as other rose lenses. This helps for performance in summer conditions when too much red can be an issue. The visible light transmission (VLT) of the lens is 11%, which is a dark category 3 lens. This is a lens designed for full sun. The tint is uniform across the lens and does not change color towards the edges, as some other mirrored lenses can do. Many rose-tinted lenses can feel too “hot” in bright summer conditions. The heavy emphasis on red tones can amplify the warmth of already intense sunlight, making everything appear overly saturated and, at times, visually fatiguing. That “heat” isn’t just a metaphor; it’s a real effect of how your eyes perceive light. But the Glass Green Mirror lens avoids this problem. It's a more balanced mix of red and blue (greens being a bit cooler), and that keeps the view vivid without overwhelming your eyes. The blues stay cool and clean, with just a hint of purple, the greens are crisp, and the result is a comfortable, color-rich experience even under the harshest summer sun. Another strength is how quickly your eyes adjust. Most rose lenses require a brief adaptation period, where your brain recalibrates to the tint. But the color profile here is so well-balanced that adjustment is nearly instant. Any initial red cast fades within seconds. The lens has Chromapop technology in it. That means they have used filters or dyes to manipulate the light spectrum to separate and enhance colors. I actually had the privilege (with another brand) of testing some Smith lenses with a visible light spectrometer. What we found is that Smith has heavily reduced the light that between blues and greens, and yellow light that is between greens and reds. This creates a sharper contrast between colors. That said, this lens does not have a "wacky" effect like lenses that over-manipulate the spectrum can have. The colors lean natural and easy on the eyes, with the rose tint doing most of the heavy lifting. Sunny Conditions These photos are what I have used to show the view. Keep in mind that photos will never look as good as the real view  looking through the sunglasses with your own eyes. Interested in experiencing the lens for yourself? Check it out from Smith's website . Here is my simulation of how the lens looks: No Lens On a bright, sunny day when you're squinting no matter what, the Glass Green Mirror is right at home. Glass Green Mirror A grey lens will also work in these conditions, but will not have as heightened, boosted, and vibrant colors. Grey Lens No Lens Glass Green Mirror Grey Lens The rose tint means this lens also works perfectly on sunny winter days. No Lens Glass Green Mirror Cloudy Conditions The Glass Green Mirror performs somewhat in overcast and cloudy situations, where it adds more contrast and color than a standard grey lens, but the lens is fairly dark and not ideal for anything less than bright conditions. No Lens Glass Green Mirror Brown Lens Optimal and Suboptimal Viewing Conditions The Glass Green Mirror lens is a year-round, sunny conditions lens. It works great in the summer and in the winter, but only for bright and sunny conditions. In that sense, it is a versatile lens, as most full sun lenses (grey, green) are not ideal for winter, and many rose lenses are too "hot" and saturated for summer. Once the conditions get more variable, the lens loses its magic somewhat. The rose lens still helps, and is much better than a dark grey lens, but it will feel dark, and the colors will not be tuned the same way they are in full sun. If you want a bright conditions lens that has wonderful color and contrast, especially to complement a higher VLT contrast lens, this is an excellent choice. For rose lenses specifically, this is arguably the best glass rose lens for summer. My other choice for a rose lens that excels in summer, the Dita Lancier Land lens, is nylon. This lens is close to a Tier 1 lens; the only drawback is how it performs in overcast conditions. I am still on the fence about it. Sports For functional use, rose lenses may be the best anytime because of the high contrast, especially for sports. In those situations, the goal isn't to have a more beautiful view but to help you perceive your surroundings and activities as accurately as possible. I almost always wear rose lenses when I play sports. Avoid the glass lens if the activity has any chance of significant impacts to the face. Avoid this lens entirely if polarized lenses would not work for your sport . For long exposure to bright conditions, rose lenses may be fatiguing, but this lens is dark and balanced enough to avoid that. Comparison to the same brand - Smith Optics Smith ChromaPop Glass Brown Polarized The Glass Polar Brown lens is a bit more versatile than the Glass Green Mirror. It has a 12% VLT, which is nearly the same, but because of how brown lenses work, it will perform better in (relatively bright) overcast conditions, though not as well in the winter. Smith ChromaPop Glass Polarchromic Rose Blue Mirror The Polarchromic Rose Blue Mirror has nearly an identical lens tint to the Glass Green Mirror, but with a VLT of 12-24%, this lens brightens up in darker conditions in a way that the Glass Green Mirror does not. I wear this lens a lot and find it to be one of the most versatile and pleasant lenses in my collection. The picture below has the left side activated and the right side still unactivated. Smith ChromaPop Glass Polarized Opal Mirror The Smith Glass Opal Mirror has a peach/brown tint and is an absolute pleasure to wear in way similar to top brown lenses. To me, it performs better than the regular Brown Polar lens. It has a VLT of 12% and is comfortable in full sun, while performing adequately in overcast, though that, and winter, is where the Opal lags. Comparison to Green Mirror Lenses of Different Brands Maui Jim MauiGreen The Maui Jim MauiGreen lens is a green lens on a grey base, which creates a purple effect. Compared to the Glass Polar Green from Smith, it is "cooler" and a bit odd, with a strange mix of warmth and cool. Some people love it, but it is not one of Maui Jim's more popular lenses. The specs of these lenses are very similar, but I think more people would enjoy the Smith lens. Check out the full MauiGreen review . Otis Lit Green Mirror The Otis LIT Green Mirror is remarkably close to the Glass Green Mirror in nearly all respects. The tints are only slightly different, with the Otis being a bit redder, but most people wouldn't notice that. Island Optics Green Mirror Island Optics Green Mirror is a fully coated poly lens and is a good affordable alternative. It feels even darker and is noticeably more red and saturated. Oakley Prizm Jade The Oakley Jade is an uncoated poly with a green mirror on a grey base that is one of Oakley's least vibrant lenses. What is notable is that, unlike the other options listed here, it is a green mirror lens that comes in non-polarized. Costa Del Mar 580 Green Mirror Unlike the other lenses here, the Costa Green Mirror is a copper-based lens, but I wanted to include it because it is another well-known green lens. It is a very dark, red, and saturated brown that works best in full sun. Check out the full 580 Green Mirror lens review . Conclusion - Smith ChromaPop Glass Green Mirror Lens Review -  Should you buy it? The Smith ChromaPop Glass Green Mirror is an excellent full-sun lens. It delivers sharp clarity, strong contrast, and a well-balanced rose tint that avoids feeling too warm or overwhelming. It performs best in bright conditions, where the color enhancement and depth really stand out. In lower light, it can feel too dark, so it’s not the most versatile option. It is a top-tier glass lens for sunny conditions, but best paired with something lighter for overcast days.

Hi All, Randolph has responded to the enthusiasm and dedication from our community by offering a $25 discount code on their entire catalog. For a limited time, use code "sunglassscience$25off26 "  for $25 off your purchase. This code is exclusive to Sunglass Science readers. Please don’t share the code publicly or on coupon platforms like Honey, Rakuten, or Capital One. It’s a private community discount, and keeping it that way ensures Randolph can continue offering this coupon.

Randolph Engineering makes great lenses, and the AGX lens is arguably their best, a calming green lens that works perfectly in bright sunlight. Check out the AGX lens from Randolph's website . For a limited time, use code " sunglassscience$25off26" for $25 off your order. Randolph Engineering AGX If you would like to know how green lenses work in general, click here . In This Review Lens Specs How does the lens look? What does the view look like? Sunny Condition Cloudy Conditions Optimal and Suboptimal Viewing Conditions Comparison to the same brand lenses - Randolph Comparison to Green Lenses of Different Brands Conclusion: Randolph AGX Lens Review - Should you buy it? Lens Specs Randolph AGX Technology SkyTec™ Glass Lens Color Green Mirror Color NA VLT Polarized 10%, Non-Polarized 13% Category 3 ABBE 58 Coatings Anti-reflective, Scratch-resistant, Oleophobic, Hydrophobic, UV, Infrared, and Blue-light blocking Material Glass Weight High (relatively) Scratch Resistance High Prescription Available No Sunglass Science Lens Tier 3 The clarity of the AGX lens is top-notch, thanks to Randolph's high-quality glass lenses. The lens is equipped with every coating you’d want and then some: anti-reflective, scratch-resistant, oleophobic (oil-repellent), hydrophobic (water-repellent), UV protection, and blue-light blocking. Each of these coatings works together to provide a clean, clear, and durable visual experience. An interesting feature of Randolph lenses is the infrared (IR) blocking coating, which is not typically found in most premium brands. While most sunglass lenses naturally filter some IR radiation (especially glass lenses), the additional blocking here is worth noting. Unlike UV rays, IR radiation doesn’t cause sunburns or cataracts, as the eye’s natural lens and cornea already filter out much of it. The main potential benefit is reduced heat sensation on your face and around your eyes, which could provide extra comfort in extreme heat environments like deserts, snowfields, or high elevations. For most users, however, the difference is minimal or subtle. Still, it’s one of those "nice-to-have" features with no downside to its inclusion. Unlike other brands like Serengeti, Maui Jim, and Costa, Randolph doesn’t advertise the use of thinner-than-average glass to reduce weight. While the lenses aren’t especially light, they’re not unusually heavy either. This middle-ground approach keeps the glasses feeling solid but not burdensome during extended wear. The AGX (which stands for American Green, not sure why there's an X there) lens does not include color-enhancing technology like some other green lenses. However, for a classic green tint, this isn't a big deal. We will discuss this further in the next sections. With a visible light transmission (VLT) of 10% polarized and 13% non-polarized, the AGX is a darker lens. For context, the classic Ray-Ban G15 has a VLT of 15%, which is 50% brighter than the 10% AGX. I typically avoid discussing frames, since brands often have a wide range of styles, materials, and build quality. That said, Randolph's frames might be made with even more attention to detail than the lenses, which is saying something. While Randolph is not a cheap brand, it's arguably the better choice for those prioritizing both frame and lens quality without compromise. Is it eligible for prescription? Yes, go to Randolph themselves  or SportRx  for all your prescription (and non-prescription) needs. SportRx has a better return policy for Randolph prescriptions than Randolph does. Use code SCIENCE10 at SportRx for $10 off your order. Also check out: Best Sunglasses Cases, Storage, and Travel Cases . How does the lens look? The front has a deep green tint, with no mirror. The green is classy, sharp, and subtle. The back has a blue shine from the anti-reflective coating. The tint is grey/green, relatively closer to the blue side of the spectrum than some other green lenses on the market, which we will discuss more below. What does the view look like? Green lenses are generally not considered contrast-enhancing lenses, which are needed for activities like sports. They are used more for relaxing the view, cooling the bright light, and facilitating a more or less neutral view. They are mostly used as an alternative to gray lenses. Green lenses are great at being a "relaxing" or "soothing" lens, as they can use a high tint to darken the lens more than other tints, but still elicit a feeling of brightness since the green colors are more boosted for our eyes. The AGX is a standard-bearer of that kind of lens, for two reasons. Firstly, as mentioned above, the VLT is a very dark 10%, much darker than most standard lenses. Secondly, green tints can either be pure green, lean more yellow (which warms up and makes the view more lively), or lean more blue, which the AGX does. A bluer green will calm the view down even more, making the sky and water a richer color while taking the edge off of most other objects. It is a relaxing and soothing tint, while still providing some color-enhancing effects over what a grey lens would have, mostly by boosting greens. For that reason, the AGX thrives in full sunlight, where contrast is already strong, and the low VLT can make the view more comfortable without darkening too much. This lens doesn’t add much contrast or color, but does a good job managing high color and contrast environments. The blue light blocking isn't that noticeable, but it doesn't remove some haze. Since it’s best in very bright light, I would recommend you get these in polarized. Sunny Conditions These photos are what Randolph has used to show the view. No Lens With Randolph AGX Polarized Split These illustrations are accurate to me, but they are essentially the best-case scenario for this lens. The water is very green, and there are no significant red highlights other than the mountains. Green very much makes this view, and as you can judge from the shadows, we are facing the sun and dealing with heavy direct glare. This photo is even better. The sun is behind the camera, and it's mixed conditions. Where the sun is bright and the view is green, the lens does an excellent job of highlighting the greens and yellows. However, the area where the shadows are in the distance is darkened to the point of obscurity. Of course, the picture is not perfect and your eyes would have a much easier time adjusting the shadows than the camera, but the point remains that the AGX does no favors where the sun isn't strong. Here is my simulation of how the lens looks: No Lens On a bright day when the sun is directly overhead, the intense light can dull colors and reduce contrast, making it difficult to see clearly without squinting. Randolph AGX The view is colorful, comfortable, and still bright. The sky is a lively soft blue, and the greens are glowing. Though it may seem similar to a grey lens, when judging the greens, it becomes apparent that green lenses do alter colors, just not as profoundly as contrast lenses like brown or rose, etc. A standard gray lens will be similarly comfortable, but with colors neutrally balanced: Randolph American Gray For a limited time, use code " sunglassscience$25off26" for $25 off your order. Cloudy Conditions For the reasons listed above, this lens isn’t great in cloudy or mixed conditions. The low VLT, combined with the dulling impact of the bluer green tint, makes the view dark and dull. A gloomy day can become downright depressing. No Lens Randolph AGX Optimal and Suboptimal Viewing Conditions   The AGX is best for colorful, bright environments when keeping the greens boosted is desired, or for red environments like dry or desert conditions when the reds are too much. Think hot and clear summer. I enjoy this lens driving in the northeast summer in full sun, or in Arizona when I go for work. I rarely wear this lens in the winter, since there is little green to boost and I want to increase contrast and color, something this lens doesn’t do much of. It works well at the beach, driving, and in any other sunny environment. If you live in an area that gets lots of clear sunlight year-round, this will work well for you as a daily sunglass, but if much of the year is winter or mixed conditions, you may want to choose another lens in addition to AGX. Sports I wouldn't recommend this lens for sports unless you live in an area with a lot of sunlight. Even then, a brown or rose lens will provide more color and contrast, which helps with acuity, comfort, vibrancy, and perception. This lens is better for relaxing in beautiful views. If your sport has any risk of impact to the face, avoid glass lenses entirely. Comparison to the same brand - Randolph Randolph American Gray The American Gray is almost as pure a gray lens as you can find. It is brighter than the AGX at 15% VLT, and no colors are boosted. In general, in pure sunlight conditions, I prefer the more comfortable AGX, and in mixed conditions, I do not like wearing either green or gray lenses. I choose the Gray when I want a brighter neutral tint in sunny conditions. See the full American Gray review here . Randolph American Tan American Tan is a reddish-brown lens that has a low VLT (11%) while still adding significant contrast. In full sun, it works, though it feels much too hot in comparison to the AGX. The Tan performs only average in overcast conditions, thriving in bright haze or mostly sunny with passing clouds. It is a dark lens, often too intense for sunny conditions, and a contrast lens too dark for mixed conditions or overcast. See the full American Tan review here . Comparison to Green lenses of different brands Ray Ban G15   Very similar to AGX with slightly higher VLT, so slightly less comfortable in full sun. Randolph has better coatings and a slightly bluer tint. See here for the full G15 review . Check it out on Ray-Ban.com here. Serengeti 555nm    Compared to Serengeti 555, the AGX is a lot more grey/blue and "calm"; putting Serengeti 555 lenses on after wearing the AGX feels like someone turned the contrast and color saturation right up. More colorful but less relaxing and comfortable. See here for the full Serengeti 555nm review . Check it out from Serengeti here . Dita Lancier Air Similar to the Serengeti in that it boosts colors more than the AGX, the Air lens is still a dark 11% VLT, even though it is not polarized. It comes with all coatings in a nylon lens. See the full Lancier Air review here . Check it out from Dita here . Persol Green   A slightly more grey lens than the AGX. If you do not like grey, but green is too much, it is a good in-between choice. Under the same conditions the Persol excels in, the AGX performs just as well, if not better. Check it out from Persol here . Conclusion - Randolph AGX Lens Review - Should you buy it? The AGX doesn’t rely on color-enhancing tech or flashy features. It’s a classic green glass lens done extremely well. With high optical clarity, a dark and comfortable 10% VLT, excellent coatings, and durable SkyTec™ glass, Randolph has essentially maxed out what a traditional green lens can be. It’s calm, controlled, and exceptionally comfortable in bright sun. If you want a premium, no-nonsense green glass lens for strong sunlight, this is about as good as it gets. For a limited time, use code " sunglassscience$25off26" for $25 off your order.