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July, 2025

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Dear Smith, I challenge you yet again!

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Triple_Strum
Posts: 6384 - Karma: 953

I made this post last year and shall make it again this year.

Dear Smith Optics,

I am still using Crowbars.  I actually quite enjoy your I/O goggle; it fits my face well and the lens change system is clever.  However, your lenses just don't even come close to your competition - Oakley.  Their lens are far superior in quality and appearance.  I wish that you would make a variety of nice lenses.  I would most likely switch to using your goggles all of the time.  However, my Ruby Clear lens from Oakley is the jangles, and it would take an impressive lens from you to get me to switch.  Could this be accomodated?

Sincerely,

Russell Capps (aka Triple_Strum, aka gear nerd)

15 years ago
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pigglywiggly
Posts: 4482 - Karma: 305
agreed. i actually made the switch from crowbars to i/o this year and love the fit and everything about them. i would love something like a dark grey lense and a pink iridium lense. also, i would be very thankful if you made getting the little slivers of the plastic that goes between the lense and the outer rigger that attaches to the strap to be a little easier to get on and off. getting them back on is a little of a hassle and requires some major finesse haha
15 years ago
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CDdesign
Posts: 1015 - Karma: 92
Oakley def has the best optics and polycarb lens, but smith is def a close second!

Adding on to your challenge however..

the one thing to make the IO better is 3 layer foam like oakley and spy!
15 years ago
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
soooo true.

its really the only thing keeping me with crowbars, oakley lenses = superior to all.
15 years ago
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Sklar
Posts: 8865 - Karma: 31,618
yup
15 years ago
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bibs_skibum
Posts: 4462 - Karma: 449
samesies. I love the hi-yellow lense more than anything
15 years ago
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division.bell
Posts: 2762 - Karma: 1,906
Spy/Carl Zeiss lenses don't mean anything I guess?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeXbMAaLd6c
15 years ago
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CDdesign
Posts: 1015 - Karma: 92
spy had great optics, and are very comfy but a lil expensive compared to the rest... i love my spy soldiers, but i would never buy them, i got em for free
15 years ago
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@tlas
Posts: 1625 - Karma: 68
electric!!!!!
15 years ago
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a_pla5tic_bag
Posts: 9245 - Karma: 5,695
wait, spy is affiliated with zeiss? am I wearing hasselblads or lecias?
15 years ago
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BWalmer
Posts: 9141 - Karma: 12,886
Spy's lenses are pretty sweet, they're very clear and compare very well to Oakley's lenses on a visual standpoint...but they're kinda flimsy, you can bend a pair of soliders or zeds with the lens in pretty much in half without even trying, and that's really not good. Smiths frames are dope, but like the OP said, they're optic quality is very low and there isn't much of a variety of lenses to choose from. Scott has stepped up their game, but still isn't up there with Oakley either, I just got a pair of Fixes and I'd put them above Smith in optic quality, but not quite up there with Spy and Oakley - those two are basically not even there when you look through them, it's amazing. I love my Splices, and they are by far the most superior lens out there right now, I'll probably were the fixes a lot though cause they're really light and comfy (Splices are comfortable, but they're kinda heavy on my face). I do agree though, if Smith had the lens quality and quantity of Oakley, I'd buy them not question, and I'm sure tons of people would as well.
15 years ago
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StReEtPIRATES
Posts: 1378 - Karma: 138
This, i will take my i/o's over any oakley goggle simply because 1. the lenses never ever fog, and 2. the antifog stuff doesn't rub off if i get any water inside the goggle.
15 years ago
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5676 - Karma: 4,297
I tried on some scott fixes on today. The shop near me is having an anniversary sale and I can get new ones for 100 which is decent, although I could do better I bet. I have aliases and they have a huge scratch across them from taking a pole to the face. The natural light lens is the perfect darkness, but not as clear as my brother's oakleys. The fixes seemed nice though, when I look over my shoulder I don't see as much of the frames. I may or may not go back and get them, cause I can live with the scratch and keep my 100 dollars.
15 years ago
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.69.
Posts: 111 - Karma: 5
i was told oakley lenses can be shot with a shotgun point blank and they will not break. although the inner lens is quite delicate. you can never go wrong with oakley
15 years ago
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nkmo.
Posts: 3994 - Karma: 285
Sensor > everything
15 years ago
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.69.
Posts: 111 - Karma: 5
haha +k to anyone stupid enough to try this
15 years ago
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Mr_pretzel
Posts: 4616 - Karma: 1,289
You dont need anything but the sensor mirror and the platinum mirror.

It is defiantly a gift from god.

15 years ago
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drumbumocdp
Posts: 3230 - Karma: 1,108
ima try this at work as soon as i can find an old lens. A point blank shot with even a low gauge round is pretty likely to fuck the shit out of the lens
15 years ago
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dispatchQ_main
Posts: 2619 - Karma: 629
I had crowbar's and loved the lenses. But i bought a pair of I/O's because it's easier for me to switch lenses for night skiing.
15 years ago
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