Smith: I/O Interchangeable Optics Spherical Series Goggles - Mirror Lens (Goggles)

[tgr pro]

<h3>IO Interchangeable Optics Spherical Series Goggles - Mirror Lens (http://www.tetongravity.com/proshop/iointerchangeableopticssphericalseriesgogglesmirro rlens_SMI0405.html)</h3><p><em>Smith's sleek, rimless design matches up nicely with the ease of their interchangeable technology when you wear the I/O Interchangeable Optics Spherical Series Goggle.</em></p><p>Sage Cattabriga-Alosa Review:<br />
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I love the I/O goggle, the evolve edition is made from mostly recycled plastic, and the super quick interchangeable lens option is sick. I can change a lens in seconds, on the lift, at the top of a line, where ever; it’s fast and sweet.&nbsp; They have great peripheral vision, and fit perfectly with smith helmets. <br />
</p><p><img src='http://akamai.backcountrystore.com.edgesuite.net/images/items/medium/SMI/SMI0405/BKIIWSX.jpg' ></p><br />Gear Pro Shop (http://www.tetongravity.com/proshop/iointerchangeableopticssphericalseriesgogglesmirro rlens_SMI0405.html) All Smith Gear (http://www.tetongravity.com/proshop/brand-smith.html)

[MiCol]

Ok, so here's how they perform on the mountain. Interchangeable (sp) lens is really nice. Easy to perform operation pretty quickly.

Lens tints are nice like most other Smiths. I have used Phenom , and Phenom turbo fans.

Here is the weird/bad The sensor mirror lens is especially prone to getting a glaze on the lens section closest to your face. You can not see through it on a powder day. I carried two extra lenses and constantly was switching out to be able to see. Not much of a problem on a bluebird day. but I need them in the powder storm conditions or they are useless to me.

I have vents in my clothing and am not acting as a pressure cooker. I know that the air has to flow or else goggles will fog. This was not what was happening.

My FIX I drilled (yes drilled!) four holes through the sensor mirror lens, two in middle up high and one on each side. This seems to fix the issue. After, trying out my fix by bootpacking and skiing I will now operate on the other two sets of lenses I have for the I/O.

Cost $180

drilling makes you nervous and sad ...but it seems to work...

[MiCol]

Well, I ended up putting probably 50-60 days on these the last half of the year in all types of conditions. I feel like I know their tendencies pretty well. I have started with these again this year.

Back Country, resort, slack country, side country - blue bird will stay clear and not fog - make sure your clothes are properly vented.


Back Country, resort, slack country, side country - overcast with lots of wind , snowing, and very cold they will fog unless you have holes drilled in lenses. (see my above post) And, when you switch out lenses the fogged ones will ice over in your pocket/pack and be useless for switching to again for that day. If you are resort skiing the only fix is to use a hand drier in the bathroom to melt of iced fog. If back country, you are SOL unless you have drilled them. Drilling does cause some plastic flakes to fall in between lenses. But its better than the fog.

Heavy touring - prone to fog as your body heats up. Better have properly venting clothing and holes drilled.

** Maybe Smith will start die cutting some holes in the lenses (doesn't take many - I am using four, two little, two larger) and the difference is quite clear - pun intended. If Smith does start adding holes I hope they will provide an amnesty exchange for current I/O owners like me.

Overall the style is sweet, the design is excellent with ease of switching lens on the fly, only change would be design needs to remedy airflow (add holes). I like carrying extra lens instead of extra pairs of goggles. But , I have to consider maybe the target market for these goggles is a 14 day a year resort skier and not 150+ day all conditions skier.

[FartBag Commando]

I thought the purpose of the double lense was to create a thermal barrier? Wouldn't drilling holes though them cause them to fog easier since you're puncturing the barrier?

[MiCol]

hell, I don't know I'm not an engineer. All, I do know is on storm days. All of my I/O lenses would fog till I drilled them with holes. I wore breathable clothing and it was the same stuff I wore with Smith Turbo Fans and Phenoms. This is mostly in the range of 11,000-13,000 elevation and temps in teens and low 20's range. I wear helmet , HOLT with a OR or similar face mask. Even if I started the day without the facemask, still fogging. So, I don't think that was the issue.

[pales]

I had similar issues with them fogging as my body heat rose, but last year I was in Squaw where the bootpacks are really short so it wasn't an issue. This year will be interesting in Jackson though.....

My only real problem I had with the lenses was if I forgot to air it out after a storm day or if I fell in deep snow, water would get between the lenses and it would fog up like a motherfucker for a day or so until they dried out.

[awesomesocks]

I had similar issues with fogging on storm days last year, but I only got out for 30-35 days, and only ran into 5 or 6 storm days. I scratched 2 of my lenses pretty good last year in the trees and just ordered replacements, I'm going to try melting holes in the old ones instead of drilling to hopefully preserve the dead air space.

only one way to find out..