Dr. Bob Smith founded Smith in 1965, establishing the brand that became known for ski and snowboard eyewear.
Smith began with goggles designed for skiing, an activity in which fogging and poor ventilation were persistent problems. Smith’s early designs helped popularize double-lens construction and improved airflow for winter sports.
The company is often called Smith Optics, although its consumer branding commonly uses simply Smith. It later expanded from snow goggles into sunglasses, cycling eyewear, helmets, and other outdoor products.
Smith is sometimes confused with Scott or Giro because all three are major winter-sports equipment names. The key distinction is that Smith’s origin story centers on Dr. Bob Smith’s handmade ski goggles in the 1960s.