This past week in Jackson, Wyoming, we got our hands on a pre-release pair of Smith’s latest goggle innovation: I/O Mag. Like many other goggle makers in the ski and snowboard industry like Anon, Zeal, Dragon and Giro, Smith has gone full-in to develop a new quick-change lens interface. In practice, the system works like most others on the market with eight magnetic contact points (utilizing N52 magnets) and features a completely rimless design.
What sets the I/O Mag’s lens system apart from others on the market are the locking tabs on either edge of the lens. This helps the lens to lock into place, keeping it in place regardless of what happens when you take the wrong line down Corbet’s. In testing, and in some pretty challenging weather and lighting conditions, Smith’s patented Porex filter on the dual lens system kept from fogging even when hiking.
The I/O Mag is a step in the right direction for Smith and shows that clear thought and testing went into the development of the new system — even when Smith easily could have gone to market with a “marketing only” magnetic lens system earlier.
The I/O Mag will launch fully at Outdoor Retailer this week and will be available for purchase in September 2018. It will debut with 17 different strap designs and will retail for $240.
