Sometimes you pick a pair of sunglasses because you need it for a singular purpose, like a lightweight shield for cycling or a polarized lens for fishing. But most of the time, you choose a sunglass style for versatility—to wear while driving, walking the dog, or playing frisbee on the beach. We’re talking about the one pair of sunglasses you live in whenever the sun is shining, the essential shades you stash in your car or backpack. (And if these sunglasses go missing, panic ensues, and the glove box is torn apart until they’re found.) Meet our new favorite version of that multi-purpose, must-have shade: The Smith Mono Lake, which hit shelves in January 2024 but is modeled after a pair of classic Smith sunglasses from the 1990s.

　　Smith Mono Lake Sunglasses Bottom line: If you want a timeless, retro pair of sunglasses you can do almost anything in, this is it.

　　Pros and Cons

　　⊕ Durable, smudge-resistant lenses

　　⊕ Excellent glare protection on bright days

　　⊕ Surprisingly light for their size

　　⊗ Too large for small faces

　　Lens: Comes in four lens tint options

　　Frame shape: Classically oversized

　　Fit: Large

　　Weight: 29 g

　　$195 at Smith

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　　To pick the Best Sunglasses, we tested more than two dozen new sunglasses over several weeks around Lake Tahoe, California this past year. A team of 12 sporty testers wore the shades on a range of activities, from trail running to backcountry skiing. Among those tested, the Smith Mono Lake stood out from the rest for its sleek style, stay-put feel on a wide array of face sizes and shapes, and superior, glare-busting optics. It wasn’t the most athletically inclined of the frames we tested—you’ll find others that are lighter and hug the face better during heavy movement—but the Mono Lake handled low-impact activities like ski touring, hiking, and paddleboarding with ease. Mostly, though, it won accolades for being the pair of sunglasses nobody wanted to give back.

　　“They fit great, they stayed on my face and on top of my head, the earpieces were a good length, and they didn’t slip down. They were also very lightweight,” said tester Kirstin Guinn, who wore the Mono Lake sunglasses on a road trip from Tahoe to Mammoth Lakes, where she drove California’s scenic Highway 395 along the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada—right past the glasses’ namesake Mono Lake.

　　Because of the oversized look, the Mono Lake may be best suited for those with larger or wider faces, but they stayed snug on our testers with small mugs, too. “I liked the way these fit over my ears. I wore them with a hat, and that combo can give me a headache sometimes, but these did not,” said tester Amelia Stoj, who wore them while coaching her kid’s soccer team. “They stayed on tight and were comfortable while I was sprinting around the field with the kids. They were so light, and the lenses were so clear I forgot they were on.”

　　Other testers praised the Mono Lake for the comfy no-slip rubber nose pads, the thin and slick temples that adjust to your head for a custom fit, and a long-lasting, smudge-free lens that looked light and amber-colored but offered plenty of protection from harsh sun. “After a weekend in full sun, I did not find myself squinting. They protected my eyes plenty,” Guinn said.

　　The frames come in a variety of colorways—from classic black or tortoise to a party-ready pink. You also have a choice of lenses. We tested the non-polarized ChromaPop, Smith’s signature lens that helps reduce contrast and enhance natural colors. For an additional $30, you can get a polarized lens that reduces glare. Splurge for the upgrade if you plan to spend time on water.

　　Smith Optics is a heritage brand—launched in 1965 by an American skier and orthodontist named Bob Smith, who built goggles by hand at his kitchen table, with help from his dental students, then traded them for lift tickets on ski trips to Alta and Jackson Hole. Back in 1991, Smith launched a pair of sunglasses then called the Cornice with glass lenses that were 40 percent lighter than traditional glass lenses. In 1993, the Cornice was renamed Mono Lake as part of a collection of models named after iconic peaks and landmarks in the Sierra Nevada range (other models included the Mt. Whitney and the Tioga). Back then, the Mono Lake was made from a lightweight carbon fiber frame and surprisingly durable glass lenses. Styles eventually changed and the model was discontinued more than a decade ago.

　　When designers at Smith decided to bring back the Mono Lake in 2024, they made an exact replica of the style and shape of those vintage shades but built it with modern-day lens and frame technology, including bio-based Evolve frame material and unbreakable polycarbonate lenses.