Some things are sacred, like my walks with Willow. The kind of sacred that doesn’t need a schedule, where the sun filters through the trees and my little goblin trots ahead. Those moments are a pocket of peace in a busy day, a reset no app can offer.
For a long time, I treated those walks like an escape from tech. No distractions. No buzzing phones or tangled earbuds. Just me, Willow, and the sound of leaves crunching underfoot. But then the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses entered the chat – and I haven’t walked the same since.
These glasses weren’t something I thought I needed, but now I can’t go without them. With my prescription lenses, I can wear them all day without compromising clarity. Whether I’m out in the woods, gardening, mowing the lawn, or travelling, they’re with me. They’ve become a part of how I navigate my day.
Not getting in the way. Just… enhancing the everyday.
Let’s talk looks: the Skyler frame
If I’m wearing something on my face, it’s got to work. Not just in the functionality sense. I need it to suit my style, feel comfortable for hours, and blend into my life without making me feel like a walking gadget.
The Skyler frame checks every box. They’ve got this clean, rounded shape that’s modern without being overly “techy.” Mine have transition lenses, which means they adapt to the light. Perfect for going from shady woodland paths to open grassy fields without squinting like I’ve been living under a rock.
The shiny black frame gives them a sleek, polished look without feeling heavy. They’re the kind of glasses that make people say, “Oh, I love your sunglasses,” not, “What on earth are those?” And that matters, especially when I’m travelling or out and about in town. It means I don’t feel self-conscious wearing them in public. I just feel like me.
They sit well on my face, even when I’m doing something chaotic like planting herbs, bending over to weed, or chasing Willow after she’s spotted a pigeon. I love wearing them, and for the most part, they stay put. But after a while, just like with my other glasses, they do tend to come off.
Usually, it’s not because they’re slipping or uncomfortable, but because I want to give my eyes a rest. Sometimes I just need that little break from wearing lenses all day, and that’s okay too. It’s part of listening to what my body needs.
Capturing life without breaking the flow
We’ve all had those moments. You’re mid-walk, the light is gorgeous, and Willow is doing that perfectly absurd thing where she balances on a fallen log like she’s some kind of forest spirit. And you think, I should get a photo of this.
By the time you fumble for your phone, unlock it, open the camera app – poof. Moment gone.
Now, with the Ray-Ban Metas, all I have to do is tap the side of my glasses and the photo’s captured. Or I can say, “Hey Meta, take a video,” and it just happens. No phone, no fuss, no pulling myself out of the moment. I’m not stuck behind a screen. I’m there, fully, and I still get to keep it. That, to me, is what makes these glasses special.
I’ve taken so many lovely, unplanned photos. Willow nosing through leaves, bees hovering over the garden beds, the light just catching the corner of the greenhouse. Little snapshots of life as it really is. They’re the kind of images that might not win awards, but they win over my memory. They anchor me to the softness of daily life.
Are the photos professional-grade? Hell no. But that’s not the point. They feel intimate, like little visual journal entries. They’re enough to remember, to share, to smile at later. And sometimes, that’s precisely what I need. They’re not for show. They’re for me.
A personal soundtrack for every task
One of the quiet joys of these glasses is the open-ear audio. I can listen to music or podcasts while still hearing the real world around me. That means I can enjoy a gardening playlist while listening for Willow’s pitter-patter of toes, or keep up with my favourite podcast while mowing the lawn. Without completely tuning out birdsong, neighbour chats, or the breeze moving through the trees.
It’s become part of how I manage time outside. Whether I’m tending to the garden, pottering around with tools, or sitting with a cup of tea while Willow rolls around in the grass, I can create a little soundtrack for it all. It turns routine moments into something cinematic.
And because I don’t need a separate pair of earbuds or headphones, I can move freely. No cords, no earbuds falling out, no sweaty earpieces when the sun’s out and the garden gloves are on. The sound is surprisingly crisp, and since it’s not pumped directly into my ears, I stay grounded in my environment. It’s subtle, but powerful.
Sometimes I’ll even take calls while I’m walking. No need to pause what I’m doing. I just speak, listen, carry on – like a hands-free homebody with a dash of Bluetooth. And let’s be honest, there’s something deeply satisfying about being able to say, “I’m on a walk,” while genuinely enjoying it and staying connected.
Garden time, mower missions, and travel magic
This isn’t just a dog-walking gadget. These glasses are my go-to for everything outdoors.
In the garden, they’re brilliant. I can document my progress. From first sprouts, blooming flowers, chaotic compost situations, with just a tap. I don’t have to pause and grab my phone with dirty hands or risk dropping it into the mulch. They’re splash-proof, dust-resistant, and they feel sturdy enough to handle whatever project I throw at them.
Even better? I can ask Meta to snap a picture while both my hands are full. Something I never thought I’d find useful until I needed it. And when I’m working through a full afternoon of planting or pruning, I can listen, speak, or record my thoughts without skipping a beat. It’s a game-changer for those long solo garden days.
Mowing the lawn with them is oddly satisfying. I line up the edge of the grass, tap into a good playlist, and just go. No tangled wires, no lost signal because I left my phone on the patio table. I get into a rhythm, and suddenly a chore becomes a little ritual. It’s like giving my mind a tidy-up while my hands do the same for the garden.
And then there’s travel. Airports, city walks, day trips. I love how light and compact they are. I don’t need to fumble around for my phone in busy places or feel like I’m missing something because I was too slow. I can take quick photos on the fly, record voice notes to send on WhatsApp, or just enjoy a personal soundtrack while watching the world pass by from a train window.
They make me feel equipped. Prepared. Like the version of me I always want to be, tuned in, grounded, and just a little bit magical. When I travel, I want things to feel smooth and familiar, and these glasses help create that. One feature I’m especially excited about is the live translation. It’s still in its early days, but once more languages are supported, it’s going to be a total game-changer for being abroad. Navigating, reading signs, even understanding conversations without constantly pulling out my phone.
Are they perfect? Not quite. But they’ll do for now.
There are a few things I’d tweak. I wouldn’t say no to more battery life (especially on travel days), and syncing content to the app can be a little laggy when I’ve got a lot of media saved up. The Meta AI could also do with some improvements. It would also be great to set reminders. But those are small things in the grand scheme.
What matters most is that I feel more present in my life with these on. I capture more, notice more, and stress less about missing things. They don’t drag me into a screen. They help me stay connected to the real stuff. The things I’d otherwise overlook.
To Willow’s ridiculous expressions.
To the slow growth of a tomato vine.
To that perfect angle of light on a quiet morning.
To the beauty in the ordinary.
These aren’t just smart glasses, they’re a quiet tool for reflection, connection, and presence.
Final thoughts: quiet tech, real joy
If you’d told me a year ago I’d be praising smart glasses as part of my daily life, I’d have laughed. But the Ray-Ban Meta Skyler glasses aren’t loud or showy. They’re just useful. Stylish. Subtle. And surprisingly grounding.
They let me enjoy the world without interrupting it. And for someone who finds calm in nature, in routines, in the softness of small things. That’s priceless.
So if you ever see me out with Willow, or elbow-deep in compost, or heading off on a train, chances are, I’m wearing these. Not because I’m trying to be futuristic, but because they let me be fully here.
And that? That’s joy. That’s presence. That’s me.
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