The Smith I/OX is the largest of the Smith’s I/O lineup, though it is hardly an “oversized” goggle by today’s standard. With a semi-frameless design, Smith’s patented Chromapop lenses, and a top of the line field of view, the Smith I/OX is a ski and snowboard goggle to be reckoned with.

Lens Shape and Quality

The Smith I/OX ski and snowboard goggle uses a spherical lens for the most accurate representation of the world around you, as well as Smith’s proprietary Chromapop lenses, which are among the best on the market at adding definition and clarity on even the cloudiest of days. Like most high-end goggles, the Smith I/OX comes with two lenses, one to block out harmful UV rays on bluebird days, and another to increase contrast and crispness on cloudier days. In short, we would be hard pressed to choose any other lens over Smith’s Chromapop, and the large, semi-frameless design of the I/OX means that you get that excellent lens experience in an extremely wide field of view.

Comfort

It seems like Smith makes a bit of everything these days, and a key feature for just about every Smith product that we have reviewed has been its comfort. Whether we are talking bike or snow, helmets or goggles, comfort is an area where Smith does not slouch.

The large frame of the Smith I/OX uses extremely plush, brushed foam padding and is very flexible. This allows the Smith I/OX to fit a fairly wide range of faces comfortably, and it is available in Smith’s Asian Fit for riders with smaller heads and faces.

Ventilation

If you are planning on alpine starts and long hours in the wee morning of hiking to earn your turns, then the Smith I/OX is a top contender. Even with high body temps, sweaty faces, and wet conditions, the Smith I/OX does a great job of staying fog free, venting well though thin, open cell foam on the top and bottom of the goggle. This effect is even more apparent when used with a Smith snow helmet such as the Quantum or Vantage.

However, even with its great ventilation, the Smith I/OX snow goggle is less drafty than some on our list.

Ease of Changing Lenses

Only a couple of years ago, the Smith I/OX would have been top of the line when it came to ease of changing lenses. However, goggles like the Smith I/O Mag and Anon M4 have since passed it by. Still, the Smith I/OX still scores above average in this category, owing in large part to its semi-frameless nature. It features two quick releases on the top of the goggle that help secure the lens into notched cutouts around the nose and sides of the frame. If you are looking for the absolute easiest lens change available, then the I/O Mag is a better option. Otherwise, the ease of changing lenses on the Smith I/OX should not deter you from this great ski and snowboard goggle.

The Bottom Line

Overall, the Smith I/OX is one of the best ski and snowboard goggles in just about every category, as well as my personal favorite. The I/OX is extremely well rounded, performing equally well on the resort as in the backcountry, and Smith’s spherical, Chromapop lenses are second to none. Better still, the Smith I/OX has been around for a few seasons now and can be found as low as $120, making them the no brainer best ski and snowboard goggle for the money, if you can catch them on such a sale.

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