What's with the dot on smith goggle lenses?

**balefulstare** · 03-28-2015, 07:46 PM

I always thought they were marked as demos or something to deter theft But I picked up a pair of Vice's for my daughter for her birthday and lo & behold they have it too. I checked out other peoples Smith's at the hill and they all seem to have it but there's no mention of it or its function in the users manual and a google search turned up nothing. What's the deal with it? Some kind of pressure release valve maybe?

**Brianskis** · 03-28-2015, 07:52 PM

GPS Tracking, Thanks Obama...

**skiing-in-jackson** · 03-28-2015, 08:03 PM

Adsorbs solar radiation.

**abraham** · 03-28-2015, 08:06 PM

I think it's to prevent fogging and relieve pressure between the lenses

**balefulstare** · 03-28-2015, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by abraham

I think it's to prevent fogging and relieve pressure between the lenses

So You're saying I answered my own question?

**phallic-menace** · 03-28-2015, 11:57 PM

It's a goretex marketing gimmick

**My Pet Powder Goat** · 03-29-2015, 02:36 AM

Ever since smith went to porex lens they've been garbage. Gone from A+ fog control with a prodigy Frame/lens to a c- with the O series. Not all the lens fault, but design is garbage.

**DJ2** · 03-29-2015, 07:58 AM

No such tingamabob on my old Fuse googles.

**Brianskis** · 03-29-2015, 08:23 AM

It is a pressure relief mechanism. It's described in Smith clinics as a "gore-tex like" plug to alleviate pressure between the lenses if taken in a plane. As far as I know Smith is one of the few, if not the only, manufacturer to fully seal double lenses rather than use a foam product which can allow moisture to get between the two lenses. Pretty sure the only lenses that still have this technology are the I/O series.

**undertow2** · 03-29-2015, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by My Pet Powder Goat

Ever since smith went to porex lens they've been garbage. Gone from A+ fog control with a prodigy Frame/lens to a c- with the O series. Not all the lens fault, but design is garbage.

I must be lucky as hell as I have 2 pairs of I/OX and have been skiing them since the first day they released the I/OX and have had zero issues with fogging...

**My Pet Powder Goat** · 03-29-2015, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by Undertow

I must be lucky as hell as I have 2 pairs of I/OX and have been skiing them since the first day they released the I/OX and have had zero issues with fogging...

Do you wear a helmet? Using my smith varient helps but without a helmet the fault I find is there is a open space between the top of frame and the lense. Snow gets in there on powder days, then melts (exp when hiking) and leaks down, creating condensation and fogging along the top. It happens with my I/0 and I/OX.

**undertow2** · 03-29-2015, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by My Pet Powder Goat

Do you wear a helmet? Using my smith varient helps but without a helmet the fault I find is there is a open space between the top of frame and the lense. Snow gets in there on powder days, then melts (exp when hiking) and leaks down, creating condensation and fogging along the top. It happens with my I/0 and I/OX.

Fair point... Never skied with them w/o helmet... I ski with 2 diff Giro helmets and never had an issue with I/O or I/OX... Hate Oakleys and my Smiths have never let me down... Dig the Annon quick change, but Smiths get it done for me now...

**TomCrac** · 03-29-2015, 06:50 PM

Goggles have user manuals?... I hope I've been doing it right.

**swissiphic** · 03-29-2015, 07:31 PM

Live and ski in northwest b.c. lots of wet days. When goggles soaked on long wet days and then transported wet in humid environment home from ski tour days, I suspect porex vent allows moisture to penetrate interior of lenses creating fog in between. Seal around lens intact, only weakness could be the porex vent hole. Sounds good in theory, lousy real world (in the harshest of conditions) results. To remove moisture, i hang the goggles over a drier vent...warm/hot dry air seems to do the trick; heating the lenses and pumping out the moisture. But over a few winters the repeated fogging/drying cycling has resulted in permanent (slight) clouding of interior lenses due to residue. This happened with every goggle I ever owned...a bit less with this lens but not perfect mouse trap yet.

**2FUNKY** · 03-29-2015, 07:32 PM

I don't wear a helmet and have had zero issues with fogging or snow getting in.

**balefulstare** · 03-29-2015, 07:33 PM

Interesting, the only manufacturer that mentions a gizmo like this at all is Electric:

When you're at higher elevations, pressure buildup between the lenses can cause optical distortion, so a pressure valve is placed on the lens to prevent this from happening.

And why wouldn't Smith put it in a more unobtrusive location? It's pretty much out of your vision range but still...

**SUPERIOR** · 03-29-2015, 07:45 PM

Humid weather and powder = smith foggles. Touring at Fahrenheit 25 to 30 degrees = I/ox foggles. You have to baby these I've found.

**Andeh** · 03-30-2015, 09:50 AM

It is, as people have said, to allow moisture/pressure out from between the sealed lenses.

If you're having problems with Smith lenses fogging, make sure to take them out of their bag & frame at the end of the day and let them sit indoors for an hour or more. I was having horrific problems with all 3 of my lenses fogging, contacted Smith, and was told to try this. I started religiously taking them out of the storage bags at night and had zero problems after that.

**char** · 03-30-2015, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by Andeh

If you're having problems with Smith lenses fogging, make sure to take them out of their bag & frame at the end of the day and let them sit indoors for an hour or more. I was having horrific problems with all 3 of my lenses fogging, contacted Smith, and was told to try this. I started religiously taking them out of the storage bags at night and had zero problems after that.

This is why I hang my goggles off the mirror on the drive home after a wet day.

**XavierD** · 03-30-2015, 11:28 AM

I used to use prodigies. They were awesome. I havent been able to use any smith goggles since those without fogging issues. I use Oakleys now and have not had a problem. Optics are better too. Only thing I miss is the blue sensor mirror on really shit light days.

**PNWbrit** · 03-30-2015, 11:31 AM

Thread needs theRawg

**My Pet Powder Goat** · 03-30-2015, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by PNWbrit

Thread needs theRawg

He'd just remind us that the Roj doesn't wear goggles.

**freak** · 03-31-2015, 02:00 AM

Originally Posted by My Pet Powder Goat

Ever since smith went to porex lens they've been garbage. Gone from A+ fog control with a prodigy Frame/lens to a c- with the O series. Not all the lens fault, but design is garbage.

also my experience. pre-porex lenses were somehow much better, i wouldnt say the newer ones are garbage, but they arent as good anymore.

freak~[

&

]

**My Pet Powder Goat** · 03-31-2015, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by freak

also my experience. pre-porex lenses were somehow much better, i wouldnt say the newer ones are garbage, but they arent as good anymore.

freak~[

&

]

I guess I should clarify. The porex lens are OK, tho they aren't as good as previous lens. My main Gripe is with the design of the I/O series. The open space between the top of the frame and lens is an obvious flaw, allowing snow to wedge into that area and leak thru leading to fogging.