The Smith Boomtown sunglasses not only have one of our favorite product names, how can you go wrong with “boomtown”, but they are also designed to be a do-it-all pair of sunglasses. Whether you are on the beach, boat, running errands or cycling on or off the road, the Boomtown is designed to be stylish and provide protection from the sun. The sunglasses retail for $159 with Smith’s ChromaPop lenses or $179 with the polarized lenses that we have for this review. With either lens option, the Boomtown features an Evolve Bio Based Frame that incorporates 53% bio-based materials in the injected-polymer frame. Megol temples and nose pads provide adjustability and a non-slip fit to keep the sunglasses securely in place during high-intensity activities.
The Smith Boomtown sunglasses combine an sleek shield style lens with a variety of available frame color schemes.
| Retail Price | $159 / $179 (polarized lens) |
| Rating | Design: A Optics: A Comfort: A Value: A |
| Measured weight (in g) | 30 |
| Likes | + Unique product name + Sleek yet restrained full frame design + Clear and crisp optics from ChromaPop lens |
| Dislikes | – Hard case is not included |
| Where to Buy (US) | Smith Optics |
UNBOXING
The Smith Boomtown comes in a sleek black / white cardboard box with simple branding printed onto it. Inside the box you’ll find:
- Boomtown sunglasses
- Fabric carrying bag
- Smith sticker
- Lens information pamphlet
Although Smith does not include a zippered hard case with the Boomtown, they can be purchased separately for $20 – $25 depending on the case style.
FIT & FINISH
Despite the unusual brand name, the Boomtown has a restrained shield-like style that looks good on or off the bike. The sunglasses have a full frame design with a nose bridge that is constructed from Smith’s Evolve Bio material. Designwise it’s similar to POC with smooth curves and minimalist styling. Smith offers the sunglasses in various color schemes from the retro-inspired black marble shown in this review to more traditional colors such as gray, black and tortoise. The black marble is an attractive finish that pairs well with other bold accessories such as the get-wild Smith Trace helmet. Branding is limited to subtle Smith badges on the temple arms.
While the Boomtown does not have replaceable lense design, they are offered in a variety of ChromaPop variations including the polarized lens we have here. The mirrored ChromaPop lenses offer excellent optics and also hide the center nose bridge for a sleeker look. Smith categorizes the sunglasses as medium to large fit with large coverage. While they are obviously oversized, they are large yet restrained which makes them look natural even around town. The non-slip Megol temples and nose pads are soft and flexible which keeps the sunglasses in place during high intensity activities such as cycling.
COMFORT
As with the other Smith sunglasses we’ve reviewed, the Boomtowns have crisp and clear optics. The ChromaPop polarized violet mirror lenses shown in this review have 16% VLT which works well in bright conditions. While the polarized finish is well executed, we personally prefer non-polarized lenses for cycling as polarized finishes can cause visual artifacts. Off the bike, the Boomtowns were great with a comfortable fit and lightweight design. The restrained styling means the Boomtowns can be worn around town without looking out of place. We found the oversized lens provides a wide field of view and barely noticed the center nose bridge.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Smith Boomtown sunglasses to be fun and well styled sunglasses. Aside from the creative name, the Boomtowns offer a great blend of oversized but minimalist styling. That means the sunglasses can be worn on the bike, around town or on the beach without worrying about looking out of place. The ChromaPop lenses offer crisp optics and an attractive mirror finish that hides the center nose bridge. We particularly are fans of the black marble finish, note Smith offers the color scheme in other models as well, as it has a unique and retro vibe. While the sunglasses may not offer replaceable lenses or include a hard case, they are well priced and have an attractive visual design.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Smith Optics. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.