Legacy Optics Reign Supreme: Smith I/O Mag ChromaPop Ski Goggles Review

A big winter storm descended on Vail’s back bowls, stopping me in my tracks. Light in the treeless China Bowl went completely flat — my ski goggles became even more essential. Snow swirled around me. It was impossible to distinguish the sky from the slope.

For possibly the first time in my 30 years of skiing, I stopped mid-run to swap my ski goggle lens. Fortunately, I was wearing the revered Smith I/O Mag and had remembered to slip the low-light lens into my pocket before I’d left my house that morning.

The ChromaPop low-light lens provided enough visibility and definition for me to ski through the storm. That’s great, because — as everyone knows — trackless powder is abundant in bad weather.

Smith’s goggles hardly need an introduction. The I/O Mag has been hanging at or near the top of GearJunkie’s Ski Goggles buyer’s guide for years. That’s thanks to the I/O’s mix of optical quality, lens swappability, and an excellent fit across various faces.

In short: With today’s eyewear innovation, it’s impressive that the Smith I/O Mag Ski Goggles ($275) remain so competitive, 7 years after launch. Much of the credit goes to Smith’s exceptional spherical lens shape, which provides a huge field of vision. The ChromaPop lens technology also offers a vibrant, high-contrast field of view. Each pair includes a primary lens for sunny days and a secondary low-light lens. Anti-fog on the lens and dense triple-layer moisture-absorbing foam are heroic.

The medium shape is surprisingly versatile across faces and helmets, providing excellent comfort. But it’s also available in a small frame, low-bridge option, or XL version. On top of that, they’re easy to swap thanks to the brand’s magnetic lens change system. For security, the magnetic attachment is secured by two lens flanges that slide into channels on the frame. The catch? Swapping lenses isn’t as quick as magnet-only designs. And while they work for many riders, these goggles are pricey.

See how this design compares to a competitive lineup in the Ski Goggles buyer’s guide.

Smith I/O Mag Ski Goggles Review

Smith’s I/O Mag ski goggles aren’t new. This design launched in 2018, yet it remains relevant 7 years later — it’s become timeless. Smith was ahead of the curve in terms of ski goggle optics and features.

I put these goggles through the wringer for several months while downhill skiing at various Colorado ski resorts. Throughout the winter, I also took these goggles into the backcountry. As a gear tester, I test many ski goggles every winter, and a lot of the designs these days are impressive. So, I wanted to see for myself if these goggles meet the high standards set by today’s top goggle makers.

ChromaPop Lenses: Enhanced Snow Texture

It’s tough not to fall in love with the ChromaPop lenses from the second you put them over your eyeballs. ChromaPop is Smith’s signature contrast enhancement tech built into the brand’s high-end lenses.

ChromaPop technology adds more vibrancy and definition than your naked eye would pull out of the surroundings, and it works dang well. During really snowy days with low visibility, the ChromaPop gave me a very obvious visual advantage over goggle lenses that don’t employ some kind of contrast enhancement tech. I could see subtle changes in snow texture: details that are critical for skiing safely at speed.

Spherical Lens: Large Field of View, Low-Profile Frame

Aside from the ChromaPop visual enhancement, the I/O Mag ski goggles utilize a spherical lens that effectively limits distortion and offers a very large field of view. I could see well in all directions despite the medium-fitting frame.

Unlike some cheaper goggles, there wasn’t any color distortion around the edge of the lens. The low-profile, edgeless frame was barely noticeable along the peripheries.

Two Lenses: Low-Light and Bright, Photochromic

Each pair includes two ChromaPop lenses: a primary lens for sunny days and a secondary low-light lens. The majority of the I/O Mag ChromaPop goggles have a primary lens with a fixed visible light transmission (VLT). The options range from as low as 9% to around 25%.

(Editor’s Note: Some models also offer the ChromaPop Pro PhotoChromic photochromic technology, which debuted last winter. Photochromic lenses transition in the field, becoming darker or lighter in response to changes in light exposure. For instance, the ChromaPop Pro Photochromic Gold Mirror has a VLT range of 15-57%. The ChromaPop Photochromic Red Mirror has a VLT range of 20-40%.)

The I/O Mag goggles that I tested came with the ChromaPop Pro Photochromic Gold Mirror Lens, and the tint lightens and darkens with the ambient lighting. With that VLT range of 15-57%, it’s a solid competitor in the photochromic lens arena.

I noticed that the changing lens is most sensitive to very bright and semi-bright conditions, where it changes quickly between dark and darker. I wasn’t as impressed in low light and overcast conditions, when I often felt the tint remained too dark. 

For those conditions, the included low-light ChromaPop lens (55% VLT) was a much better option. While still protective enough for partly cloudy conditions where the sun occasionally popped out, the low-light lens gave me just enough clarity and definition to confidently slash deep snow when the slopes and sky were one.

Fit & Design: Medium Size, Works With Many Helmets

The I/O Mag ski goggle has a medium fit that should pair well with most faces. But they felt a little bit small on my medium to large noggin. They don’t fit like all the big coverage goggles that have become popular in the last few years. The fit and coverage are more traditional. Folks with small and medium faces will appreciate it in particular.

I tested the I/O Mag with two different ski helmets. I used it with my resort-oriented Sweet Trooper and my backcountry/ski mountaineering Petzl Meteor. The I/O Mag felt right at home with both helmets without leaving any glaring gaps around the tops or sides of the frame.

Despite a slightly smaller fit than I typically prefer, the fit was downright comfortable. Triple-layer face foam felt soft and secure on my face. Even after full days wearing them on the mountain, I didn’t experience any weird pressure points. 

One of my ski partners had a different experience when I gave him the I/O Mag to try out. The medium frame did not fit particularly well on his larger face. He found a gap between the foam and the bridge of his nose that let air and snow in.

So, the fit may not work for everyone, especially folks who prefer oversized goggles or who have larger faces. For skiers like me with slightly bigger faces, Smith offers the I/O Mag in an XL version.

The strap on the I/O Mag is very adjustable via two sliders on either side. Adjusting the strap length to helmet or hat mode was quick and easy.

Another feature many of Smith’s goggles employ is the brand’s signature strap clasp, which fully opens the strap into two strands. I’m not sure what the exact function is supposed to be, but I found it useful from time to time when I was taking the goggles off my helmet to swap lenses on the ski lift. 

Swappable Lens: Magnets Plus Retention Ridge

Swapping between the I/O Mag’s lenses is quick and easy. The lens is secured to the frame by seven magnets, which provide a solid hold while allowing for fast changes. Two mechanical locking arms — discreetly located under the edge of the strap where it connects to the frame — add an extra layer of security.

To remove the lens, you push these release levers inward, which disengage the mechanical locks. Once unlocked, the lens can be pulled away from the frame with a light tug. The retention ridge on each side of the lens slides out of the lens channel on the frame.

The process is pretty easy, but it’s not nearly as fast or streamlined as the lens release for the Anon M5 or Pitt Viper Proform. With competitive designs like those two, the lens swap is intuitive while wearing them.

With the I/O Mag, I need to remove the goggles from my helmet or head. And even when I swap the lenses in a controlled environment, I end up leaving finger smudges on the exterior that require a quick clean before I ski away.

That said, removing and replacing the lens is vastly easier than replacing lenses in cheaper goggles without a magnetic or quick-swap system. The additional security provided by the two retention lips and locking arms means that they cannot bounce off in a crash — like I experienced with the Zeal Cloudfall. This lens is locked on, as lenses should be.

Conclusion: Smith I/O Mag Ski Goggles

Skiing fast and loose in big terrain requires impeccable vision. Being able to see slight variations in snow density and firmness can mean the difference between ripping turns and taking a crash. Every year, ski goggle brands raise the benchmark. For many, that’s meant getting caught up to where the Smith I/O Mag continues to impress.

Through big storms and sunny spring days alike, the popular and prominent Smith I/O Mag ski goggles had me covered throughout my field tests at the resort and backcountry missions. These high-end goggles give what you’d expect from one of the brand’s top offerings: excellent optics, a high-quality face foam and frame, and a relatively simple lens-changing system.

While it’s not offered in each bundle, the photochromic ChromaPop lens that I tested added versatility for quick-changing weather conditions. The fixed low-light ChromaPop lens was excellent in low-light conditions and protective enough when the sun popped out.

The premium I/O Mag comes with a challenging price tag: $305 for a photochromic ChromaPop version and $275 for the other ChromaPop lenses. They’re not the most expensive ski goggles I’ve tested, but they’re in the same tier. Thankfully, the Smith I/O Mag delivers for the price. Riders willing to shell out for exceptional optics won’t be disappointed by the Smith I/O Mag, especially if they select the correct fit.