Smith Optics
The History
You don't often think your idea from a kitchen table will take off. Your kitchen table idea taking off and becoming one of the world's leading ski and sports brands in the world. Unimaginable.
Yet, it wasn't for Dr Bob Smith. An orthodontist by trade. A skier by passion. An inventor from frustration. It was his reality and the birth place for his first pair of Ski Goggles that kickstarted Smith Optics.
Fogged-up ski goggles frustrated Bob. Instead of sitting and dwelling on that frustration, he took action. Wielding his dental tools, glue and foam, the world's first anti-fog, double-lens ski goggle was born. A legacy of innovation was about to errup. A brand was brewing.
In 1966 the first patent was filed. Ever since, it has been constant innovative enhancements to eyewear. Bringing technological advancements to the slopes for skiers, by a skier. The issues that plague each ski bum solved by Dr Bob Smith, a ski bum himself.
Smith have over 50 Patents now and counting. All with the aim to solve the actual problems that plague skiers. This ranges from incredible anti-fog goggles, to the first interchangeable lens for sunglasses.
Yet it doesn't stop with eyewear. Smith has the whole head covered, offering some of the world's best helmets, for adults and for children.
The combination of Smith Helmets and Smith Goggles has unrivalled compatibility. No matter which Smith Helmet or Smith Goggle, they place nice together, everytime.
60s - 70s
Smith Snow Goggles are Born
Dr Bob Smith creates the first-ever thermo-sealed, anti-fog snow goggle. Throughout the decade, Smith goggles gain more renown, loyalty and popularity on the slopes.
70s - 80s
Smith goes Turbo
In another leap forward in technological advancement, Smith takes ventilation to new heights with the Turbofan. A battery-powered exhaust fan that prevents fogging. The Turbofan silently and efficiently evacuates moist air from the goggle chamber.
80 - 90s
Let the good times roll
Venturing away from the slopes and into moto goggles, Smith took on the struggles of dusty and mud covered lenses head on. The Roll Off film patent was filed. A two canister system that decants the dirty film into one canister, whilst pulling clean film from the other canister for clear vision.
90s - 00s
Changing the game
A world's first is born. An interchangeable lens system within sunglasses. A true game changer for the eyewear industry and for sports.
00s - 10s
All Change
The iconic I/O Ski Goggles bring another interchangeable lens system. This time for Ski Goggles. Allowing riders to change to the conditions without having to change their goggles.
10s - 20s
Vision that Pops
This decade was filled with technological advances that bring SMITH to the forefront of visual clairty and colour thanks to ChromaPop and Birdseye technolgy.
Not to mention expanding in to Helmets!
The Lenses
SMITH boast a range of lens technologies that enhace your vision in specific environments and for specific sports. These could easily be split into three categories: Polarised, Photochromic and ChromaPop.
The first two are widely known and used technologies. Polarised lenses help reduce the glare caused when the sun reflects off flat and shiny surfaces, like the road or open water. Whereas photochromic lenses are those lenses that darken in light and lighten in the dark, triggered by the amount of UV passing through the lens at the time.
ChomaPop however is a piece of technology only found in SMITH eyewear, both in SMITH Goggles and Sunglasses. This is a colour and contrast enhancing feature that creates clarity and definition far beyond a standard lens. This is achieved by splitting Blue and Green light as well as Green and Red light through a filter in the lens. Something our eyes struggle to do naturally.
BirdsEye Lens Technology
SMITH continue to push the boundaries of innovation. When it comes to Ski Goggles they're truly at the forefront of development. BirdsEye lens technology tipifies this.
BirdsEye lenses enhance the field of view by 25% vs regular SMITH Spherical lenses. On lenses that already give a huge field of view! The slopes have never been seen like this before.
Lenses towards the bottom curve inwards more than usual. This curvature increases vision. But, this isn't the most natural sensation to start with. The increased curvature is slightly alien on first wear, and takes a little getting used to. Best to get use to these lenses before you hit the slopes.