Smith Optics bicycle helmets and eyewear

Smith Optics, widely recognized in the cycling and snow sports industries, was founded in 1965 by Dr. Bob Smith, an orthodontist and ski enthusiast. The brand's journey began at a kitchen table in Sun Valley, Idaho, where Dr. Smith developed the first-ever thermal-sealed double lens snow goggle to combat fogging. Over the decades, the company expanded from its winter sports roots into the cycling market, becoming a leader in high-performance bicycle helmets and specialized eyewear.

While the brand maintains a strong American identity with its Global Design Center located in Portland, Oregon, and a major manufacturing and distribution hub in Clearfield, Utah, its ownership and production are global. In 1996, the brand was acquired by the Safilo Group, a major Italian eyewear conglomerate. Today, while many of its premium helmets and custom prescription lenses are still assembled or manufactured in the United States, some components and sunglass lines are produced in Italy and China as part of Safilo's integrated global supply chain.