My favorite part of Smith goggles has always been the feel and fit on the face. They really wrap my face perfectly and the slightly flexible material helps maintain a good fit. Because of the design I never find myself having to readjust the goggles lower as I have with some of my other goggles. The other aspect of the fit that is excellent is the interaction with helmets. The I/Os offer a perfect helmet-compatible fit when combined with Smith helmets. The combination of a smooth top of the goggles and well designed outriggers allow them to work with a helmet without the dreaded “gaper gap”.

Smith’s long history of optical design is evident in the clarity of the lenses. The lenses also take advantage of tapered lens design which reduces distortion and maximizes the field of view. The goggles also have Smith’s Porex filter which does an excellent job of minimizing fogging. I have yet to experience fogged goggles and that is a good sign.

With the I/O, Smith wanted to address the issue of the traditional difficulty associated with switching out lenses in snow goggles. Many goggles have interchangeable lenses but few people take advantage of this feature because of the hassle the process can be. The I/O institutes an innovative system that makes the process quick and painless. Instead of the usual multitude of snap ins that most goggle lenses use, the I/O lens has 2 quick release latches that allow the lens to be easily swapped out. Smith includes two lenses with the I/O so that you can have a low light option for those flat light days. As extra lenses can be pretty expensive, the inclusion of an extra pair is a great value.

There isn’t much else to say about the Smith I/Os other than you should go check them out at your local dealer. They are the obvious option for anyone with a Smith helmet and great for anyone else.

At $165, they are pretty pricey but the performance and inclusion of two lenses makes them a great value in my eyes.

For starters, I tested out the I/OS with Red Sol X mirror lenses that are geared towards blue bird days with a VLT of 18%. These lenses were great for high glare days because they are polarized and also feature Smith’s Tapered Lens Technology (TLT): TLT works to straighten light rays that have undergone refraction, in order to allow the wearer to have crystal clear images without distortion of terrain or any additional eye fatigue. When wearing the I/OS I sometimes forgot I had goggles on at all. As a contact lens wearer, I know how important it is to have a clear image and found that these goggles were comparable to some of my top end sunglasses.

When the skies are darker, or when the flurries are flying, you can easily swap out your lenses and place the Sensor mirror lens that comes included with your I/OS. The Sensor mirror lens carries a VLT rating of 70% and is perfect for hard to see days. I used these lenses in the back bowls at Vail resorts where finding definition is often difficult amongst the wide open terrain. The Sensor mirror lenses have a rose hue to them and can be snapped in and out thanks to two quick releases levers at the top of the goggles. Once you flip the lever in the up position, you can easily pop out the lens. I found it more difficult to place the new set of lenses in the I/OS than the I/O goggles. The I/OS feature a small circular cut out on the outer aspect of each lens, where the goggle back strap attaches. In order to get these lenses into place, I had to apply some significant pressure to snap them in before closing the top levers. I almost felt like I was going to destroy the lens or the swivel portion of the goggle strap. On the I/O goggles, the side attachment point is much larger and therefore there is no need to put a small circle cut out around the swivel goggle strap post. I am hopeful that the more I swap them in and out the easier it will become.

The Smith I/OS are truly helmet compatible and integrate seamlessly, i.e. no gap, with the Salomon, Giro, and Smith helmets that we have on hand. The goggles are comfortable thanks to dual layer foam that insulates and protects from the elements, while also featuring an easy to adjust strap. I have experienced no fogging up with or without a helmet. The Smith I/OS seem pretty durable as well, despite snapping the lenses in and out for a few weeks I have yet to notice a scratch. Each lens tested has also featured a hydrophobic coating, which I like to call Rain-X for your goggles. This coating has almost eliminated the need for wiping my goggles, even on a relatively wet snow ski day. Overall, I have been extremely impressed with the Smith I/OS and feel that you get a great product for your money. These goggles are also available in 14 different frame colors and allows for some individuality as well. For more information on these goggles and the I/O goggles, please visit SmithOptics.com

MSRP $165

Features

Small / Medium Fit

Quick Release Lens System

Spherical, Carbonic-X Lens with TLT Optics

Patented Vaporator Lens Technology with Porex™ Filter

Includes Two Performance Mirror Lenses

Ultra-Wide, Silicone Backed Strap

Quickfit Strap Adjustment System with Clip Buckle

Dual Layer, DriWix Face Foam

Helmet Compatible

Oakley Elevate Polarized goggles tested out at Vail - Picture taken by GoPro Helmet Cam

As most of us advanced skiers and boarders are finding that if we can’t improve our skills as much as we used to, we can still improve our look.  To cater to this crowd, Oakley has offered 32 different color combinations in the Elevate goggle.  I don’t know about you, but I think that is plenty!  I have been testing out a the mint color and I find the color adds some nice flair to my outfits, no matter what color combination I am wearing.  The mint green colored goggles helps me look a little more bad A$$, so I can’t complain.

Oakley Elevate Goggle being tested at Breckenridge

The elevate goggles come in a 3-layer moisture wicking foam structure that helps keep your face ventilated, yet keeps in enough warmth and helps block out wind.  The layer closest to the goggle is a little thicker than the mid layer to reduce airflow.  The layer that lays against your face is a fleece foam material that is soft on the face.   To get a good fit with your face and helmet, Oakley has added O MATTER strap outriggers that have some flex that keeps you from getting a gap between the goggle and your face.  For ventilation, the Elevate goggles have 4 ventilation areas on the actual lens that help keep your face from over heating and your goggles from fogging up.  There is also a mixture of plastic and foam around the rest of the goggles that allow for maximum ventilation. The major technology to keep your goggles from fogging up is the dual vented lens with F3 anti-fog technology.  To keep your eyes from damaging light rays, the Plutonite lens filters out 100% of UV rays which in the long run will make you thankful.  For those of you that enjoy a polarized lens, the Oakley Elevate goggles also come in a polarized version with similar features mentioned in this review.

The Elevate goggles by Oakley retail for between $105-$145 and the polarized version retails for between $185-$215. For more information, please visit Oakley.com

Features

• Optimized to fit small to medium faces
• Internal skeletal support system to minimize nasal pressure and maximize airflow
• Flexible O MATTER® chassis that conforms to your face
• Balanced fit (with or without helmet) via fixed O MATTER® strap outriggers
• All-day comfort of moisture wicking triple-layer polar fleece foam
• Fog elimination of dual vented lens with F3 anti-fog technology
• Protection of PLUTONITE® lens material that filters out 100% of all UV
• Tuned light transmission of IRIDIUM® lens coating (optional)
• Metal icon accent

The Simmer’s do not feature Bolle’s latest and greatest Modulator lens technology that features transition lenses, however I was not disappointed with what the Simmer’s pack into their more reasonable starting price point of $79.95. The Simmer goggles did not fog up on any of my half dozen ski days despite some serious heat production on an epic powder at Vail. The goggles feature a breathable vent at the top of the goggles which helps to dissipate any extra heat produced. The Simmer’s are also helmet compatible; just be sure you cinch down the goggles a bit tighter if wearing a wider helmet. On one occasion I got some raging wind burn due to a small gap near my temples.

I tested out the Simmer goggles with the pink flower frame, as shown above. The flowers may be a tad girly, but I didn’t mind because sometimes it is nice to look a little more unique. These goggles fit a small to medium sized face and were a nice change from the larger goggles that look like they take up half of your face. The goggles feature super soft fleece that rests against your cheeks and forehead, and an additional 2 layers of foam to get a perfect seal. Overall, the Simmer’s were a great performer for flat light to partly sunny days and starts at a great price point.

For more information, go to Bolle.com

If y0u aren’t a hardcore skier or boarder, you can at least look like one with the Smith I/O goggles. The I/O goggles are a part of the Smith Evolve line which touts that the frames are made from reground or recycled materials, therefore creating less waste for future generations to deal with. These goggles feature Smith Optics TLT technology; the goggle lens adjusts to incoming rays and reduces strain placed on your eye, which may allow you to relax and enjoy an epic powder day. We wore these goggles in a variety of conditions and found that they were versatile and met our needs because if conditions change all you have to do is quickly swap out the lens for a lower light option.  We liked the rimless style as well, because we felt that we gained a slightly larger viewing field. These lenses are also mirrored, allowing you to secretly spy on others around you.  One of the problems we did find with these goggles was that there seal was not perfect and they had to be cinched down tight, sometimes leaving goggle marks after an hour of removing.  Also, when worn with a Smith helmet we were at the tail end of the adjustment strap, individuals with larger heads/faces may find they are too tight.  Overall, the Smith I/O goggles are great for medium faces and for individuals seeking a versatile pair of goggles.  For more information, please visit SmithOptics.com

Features

• Carbonic-X lens with TLT Optics
• Dual Layer Driwix Face Foam
• Evolve models do not include protective goggle hard case
• Helmet Compatible
• Ignitor mirror lens installed
• Includes Microfiber Goggle Bag with Replacement Lens Sleeve
• Medium fit
• Patented Vaporator Lens Technology with Porex™ Filter
• Quick release lens system
• QuickFit strap adjustment system
• See How The Quick Release Lens System Works
• Sensor mirror lens included
• Ultra-Wide Silicone Backed Strap
• SRP $180.00

Native’s Mission Goggles were an immediate hit with our female testers. Despite being a unisex goggle, the Mission fits small to medium faces quite well and can easily be snapped onto a helmet, as they are helmet compatible. The Mission’s feature a double spherical polarized lens that comes in either an Amber or Chrome Reflex tint. We tested the Chrome Reflex lens and found that it was a great all-purpose lens for sunny to partly cloudy days, or on the last runs in the afternoon: the Chrome Reflex has a 35% visual light transmittance rating. For white out conditions, or other low light situations, Native throws in their SportFlex lens free of charge. We loved the Lock Jaw lens changing system. We were able to easily interchange lenses without feeling like we were destroying the frame in the process. If you are a novice when it comes to swapping lenses, the Native website has a handy video demo to help you out. The Mission also has three layers of face foam, which we found extremely cozy on frigid morning runs and made wearing these goggles all day a comfortable venture. Testers reported some fogging and a small gap between their goggles and helmet when worn with older helmets (more than 3 years old). Overall, Native brings you a great deal (retailing $130) in the Mission goggles; polarized lenses, a low-light option, and a great carry bag to protect your goggles and increase their life. For more information, please visit Nativeyewear.com

The Zeal PPX goggles were a joy to test out. We tested these goggles over 15 different times in sunny to white-out conditions. As some of you may know, having a lense that adapts to varying conditions is extremely nice to have when deciding what goggles to wear. The PPX has a polarized and photochromatic lense that reduces glare and adjust to different weather conditions. Another feature we enjoyed in the PPX was the anti-fog lense and it is also helmet compatible. We find the price tag to be a little steep on this product, but if you can splurge for these goggles, they are a great piece that you will keep around for years. You can find out more about these goggles and other Zeal Optics products at ZealOptics.com