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| Ignitor Mirror lens |
I had the chance to take a pair of
Smith I/O goggles out for a test run a few times recently. These
goggles come in a variety of looks. The ones I was testing our were
the Charcoal Batik - black and white band with mainly black
detailing. These are a frameless goggle that have a quick release
lens system to allow for efficient changing of lenses. They even
come with two pairs of lenses, so you can buy a lenses for different
sun conditions. You can always buy a few more pairs if you want
really specific lenses for different light, or if you sadly scratch a
lens.
Smith considers the I/O to be a medium
fit goggle. I found them a bit big on my face. They sat nicely
against my helmet, they are advertised as being helmet compatible.
But I found that they sat low on my checks and over my nose. They
weren't so low that it made breathing annoying, just low enough to
notice the fit. I did adjust to the fit and was less bothered by it
as time went by, but they were big. But there is a bonus to the
large size, they have an amazing field of view. With the frameless
design and the large size, I could see everything. There was no
interference from the goggle in my field of view. I really enjoyed
this aspect of the I/O.
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| Red Sensor Mirror lens |
One thing I did note about this goggle
was how cold my face got at one point. We were riding the chair with
a strong wind blowing into our faces. With the frameless design
there is a lot more venting and this meant that the wind was blowing
right into and through the goggle. Not much fun. While I can say I
didn't enjoy the goggle at this moment, it's also not an issue I had
when skiing. I never left that they were windy or cold when I was
moving. Like I said, the only time I had this issue was when we had
a strong head wind. But it is something to note and consider.
During my test days with the I/O I had
the opportunity to give two lenses a preview. I was lucky enough to
test out the Red Sensor Mirror lens and the Ignitor Mirror lens.
Both were great lenses.
The Red Sensor Mirror is a lens for all
light conditions that has a strength in falter lights. As the name
implies there is a rose tint to the goggle. As with all rose tints,
you notice it a lot when you first put them on, but adjust to the
colour tint in no time. I was wearing these lenses just the other
day when we ran the range of sun. Bright sun, to overcast, to
snowing. In all situations I found that I had fairly good
definition. And I can tell you that the light was quite flat when
the sun left and the snow started. I really enjoyed this lens and
the definition it gave me. A good option to have in your pocket.
The other lens I tested was the Ignitor
Mirror. This lens is meant to be a bit more of a broad spectrum
lens. Smith states that it enhances contrast and depth perception.
I tested this lens when there was variable lighting, but nothing too
flat. Overall, I really enjoyed this lens and the visibility that it
gave me. I felt that I had good definition and was able to easily
visualize the terrain I was skiing.
My final take on the Smith I/O is that
it's a great goggle option. If you have a larger face or enjoy larger
goggles give this one a thought. There are a number of goggles in the
I/O line so if you have a smaller face, but like what I've been
mentioning, give the Smith I/OS a glance. Or if you want something
even bigger than the I/O, take a look at the I/OX. Smith really has
you covered with the I/O series. If you want to go for all the bells
and whistles, take a look at the I/O Recon – I think I would find
this one overwhelming...
The Goods:
-medium size
-great field of view
-helmet compatible
-come with two lenses
-quick release to make lens switches
easy
-lifetime warranty
The Not-So-Goods:
-a bit big for my face size
-frameless set-up allowed for lots of
air flow and a cold face in certain situations
