Smith Lowdown 2 Core
The most eco-friendly eyewear of 2021.
If we have one problem with these shades, it’s keeping them away from pilfering hands. The Lowdown 2 Core drew the envy of our hiking buddies thanks to polarized lenses that gave us crystal-clear views and classic-looking frames that work with a wide range of face shapes. They’re also durable: Our pair endured drops onto gravel and the castor-oil based lenses never suffered a scratch. The gray lenses we tested (the Lowdown 2 Core is also available in brown) were especially impressive in variable light conditions: “On a 4-mile trail run through the woods above Idaho’s Lake Coeur d’Alene, the trail went from shady to sun-exposed in the middle of the day, but I never took these off because they removed glare in the sun but didn’t feel too dark in the trees,” one tester says. Better yet: The frame and microfiber storage pouch are made from recycled plastic bottles.