In 1965, an orthodontist and ski racer named Bob Smith was tired of goggles fogging over on powder days, so he built the first goggle with a sealed thermal lens and breathable vent foam, prototyping in his garage and selling from the back of his van at ski areas. Smith’s anti-fog goggle changed skiing’s field of view, and the company still builds around the same idea: clear sight in hard conditions.
The short version: Smith (Smith Optics), founded 1965 in Idaho and owned by Safilo Group, makes premium goggles, sunglasses, and helmets for skiing, biking, and mountain sports. Buy it for ski goggles above all, plus performance sunglasses and helmets with genuine optical and safety engineering. It shares the premium eyewear space with Oakley, competing on optics and fit.
Where Smith came from
Bob Smith’s sealed-lens, vented goggle solved the fog problem that plagued skiers, and the brand built decades of optical innovation on top of it, from ChromaPop lens technology to MIPS-equipped helmets. Now owned by Italian eyewear group Safilo, Smith keeps its mountain-sports focus and its Idaho roots.
What they actually make well
Ski and snowboard goggles (the heartland), performance sunglasses with strong lens technology, and helmets for snow and bike. It anchors the “eyes and head” corner of a kit that includes traction from Kahtoola and layers from Smartwool, and competes directly with Oakley on optics.
Built to last?
Optical and protective gear built to a high standard, with replaceable lenses that extend a goggle’s life and a solid warranty. Smith has pushed sustainability through recycled and bio-based materials in some frames and packaging, meaningful in an industry not known for it.
The causes they actually fund
Smith supports mountain and outdoor communities and has moved on sustainable materials in its products; as part of a large eyewear conglomerate, its cause work is less activist and more product-and-community focused than the apparel leaders in this series.
Where this gear comes from, and where it earns its place
Born in Idaho’s ski country, at home on snow and on sunlit trails: the winter high country and bright desert light across the Trail Atlas, including the exposed miles in our Sonoran Desert guide.
The honest take
Premium pricing, and in sunglasses especially the Oakley rivalry comes down to fit and taste more than clear superiority. But in ski goggles, Smith’s optics and anti-fog heritage put it at the very top, right where Bob Smith’s garage prototype started it. Buy the goggles first.
An orthodontist’s garage fix for foggy goggles, still clearing the view. More makers in Brands We Love. Last verified July 2026.