Jan Peterson first met Dr. Bob Smith back in the early seventies. Both men were visionaries in their respective fields. Jan Peterson is the founder of Jans, an outdoor retailer that has grown from a single location to twelve stores, and Dr. Bob created the legendary eyewear manufacturer, Smith Optics. When the two first met, Smith was a relatively new company. Only a few years prior, Dr. Smith had been an orthodontist with a passion for skiing, making goggles with his dental tools, and trading them for free lift tickets.
It was the beginning of a strong and long lasting relationship between Jans Mountain Recreation Experts and Smith Optics. Jan Peterson describes going fly fishing with Dr. Bob Smith as very important, and calls the ties between Smith Optics and Jans “more than a business relationship.”
From the start, Jan was very impressed with Smith’s products. “Dr. Smith and the whole group are pioneers in the industry,” Jan notes in reference to the company that brought skiers the first double paned, anti-fog goggle.
In honor of the life of Dr. Bob Smith which ended last year, Smith Optics has come out with the Dr. Bob Limited Edition I/O Goggle. The frame, strap, and microfiber storage bag of this goggle feature a red, white, and blue theme inspired by the styles of 1965, the year that Smith Optics was founded.
Beyond the retro style, the Smith Dr. Bob I/O Goggle also offers the latest technology in ski goggles, of course. An articulated outrigger design allows these goggles to fit comfortably with a helmet, and a silicone backing secures the strap in place. Three layer DriWix foam creates a comfortable seal against your face, with a soft feel and moisture wicking properties to keep your skin from getting sweaty.
The Dr. Bob Goggle comes with two easily interchangeable lenses, Yellow for flat light, and Ignitor for sunny days. Both of these lenses feature Tapered Lens Technology (TLT) to reduce distortion, and Carbonic-X engineering for impact- and scratch- resistance. A Vaporator seal and Porex filter join the inner and outer lens, blocking moisture but allowing fresh air, in order to prevent fogging. And if that’s not enough, 5X Anti-Fog treatment further enhances the fog resistance.
As Jan Peterson says of Smith products, “All the elements are always first class.”
Kendall Fischer, Content Writer
