Smith Optics began as a ski-goggle company founded by Bob Smith in 1965.
Smith, an orthodontist and skiing enthusiast, developed goggles with a double lens and breathable foam to reduce fogging. The company initially focused on winter sports equipment rather than fashion eyewear, building its reputation among skiers and snowboarders.
It later expanded into sunglasses and other performance eyewear. Smith products have been associated with cycling, fishing, running, and mountain sports, where lens clarity, ventilation, and impact protection are important.
The brand is sometimes confused with Smith & Wesson, a firearms and sporting-goods company. They are unrelated businesses. Smith Optics also differs from Bollé and Julbo, which are separate eyewear manufacturers with their own histories in sports and outdoor equipment.