Smith Squad XL Goggle Review

My review of the Smith Squad XL goggle
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[@AwsmChan]

Great indepth review! Was so close to pulling the trigger, until you mentioned the fogging issue! Really appreciate it.

[@WilAlexander]

Right on

[@bukchoiii]

Been using mine in the wet pnw. No fog issues for me. Trick is to never take the goggle off on a wet day or put it on your forehead.

[@humanbeing2420]

I've had no fogging problems with mine in about 20 ski days, but changing the lenses is not something I will ever try again after having spent the better part of a day trying to complete the project. I had to warm my frame in a toaster oven to get them soft and pliable enough that the lens would fit.

[@WilAlexander]

Wild, the lens change on these were pretty easy compared to others I've had. They Semi-frameless build.

[@rodrigogalindo5709]

Thanks for the honest review, I just bought them and I expect them to be somewhat useful then, definitely better than the ones I have but at least they were 40 dollars less.

[@WilAlexander]

They're definitely better than anything $40. I'm just picky with my goggles after so many years.

[@Bloodysugar]

IMO it is not a system to change lenses on the go but to replace lenses when they are scratched dead. It is awesome for people wanting to change googles during the day, and avoid lenses manipulations in order to limit ware, like when touching the anti fog coating. I'm one of them and I loooove my Squads (didn't have fog issues so far).

[@WilAlexander]

Interesting take. Odd to think that touching the lens with your fingers would take any anti fog off of them considering full frame interchangeable lenses have been not fogging since they've been around like 50 years. I also would only change them day-to-day at best. If touching your lenses 10 times a season causes fogging. They need to come up with either better lenses or get rid of the system.

[@Bloodysugar]

@@WilAlexander Hi. Nowadays anti fog coating is like a varnish sitting above the surface. Even if you don't take it off completely you may make microscopic scratches that will facilitate humidity to grasp the surface and fog. Which is a vicious circle as the more we wipe the fog the more it builds back where you have wiped, until there's no coating left. I guess it's even more counter intuitive to think that whipping with an optic cleaning fabric is already too abrasive. Witch is why it is often recommended to not wipe but dab, and prefer heat defogging than dabbing to avoid any contact at all with the coating, like by drying googles with a heat blower in the toilets of some resort bar, or in emergency placing googles some minutes inside our jacket, under arm pit. (Witch is an other good point to prefer a set of googles instead of a set of mag lenses : when you change your eye protection then you get a dry pair google on your nose. And that's way better as the dryer = the less foggy) On googles like Squads, Skyline etc, it's a coating Smith calls Fog-X. It is said to not ware. On mag googles like I/O, 4d etc, it's an other coating Smith calls 5X. For what I can find it's their FogX base applied as several layers. If I'm right it's a bit better but it reacts the same way, it's just longer to ware off, but it eventually will. If not why adding layers to something not supposed to ware ? I guess it is a good indicative of what the industry is doing today, as Smith is well known to produce one of the best, if not the very best, anti fog system. I don't know about coating in the 70's, and I only had cheap googles during the 80's and 90's, so I never experienced high quality lenses of that time as Vuarnet, Cébé etc were out of reach for me. I used to practice scuba diving and it makes me think I would much more prefer an anti fogging system like most scuba googles have : none. So then we got to choose the anti fog coat we want, and we take care of it before each use. It would be less user friendly, but we would be more aware about what our coating is, we would be more in control of it, and we would not tend to think "fog coat is dead, let's buy a new lens".

[@alanstoss]

I have these for a couple of years and mine never gets foggy, it's really comfortable, good contrast and I just forget that I'm wearing goggles. Maybe something related to the shape of your face that doesn't go well with the shape of the goggles.

[@WilAlexander]

Yeah, could be. I have friends who have them and love them.

[@arnold7000]

I have these goggles. They are the only Goggles i've ever had that let too much air in when riding. So much cold air was streaming in my eyes were watering and i was struggling to see. I thought this might have been an issue with the fit but after watching this review I think it is the gaps as described. Unfortunately I will have to buy a different pair as these just don't work for me.

[@WilAlexander]

It's unfortunate. The low light lenses are still some of the best out.

[@arnold7000]

@@WilAlexander i agree the lens is very good.

[@bukchoiii]

You probably need a low bridge fit goggle then. Or it just doesn't fit your face.

[@56466bhggh]

Thank you!

[@WilAlexander]

You're welcome!

[@jakubpramuk2225]

Hey man, thanks for the honest review! I just have a quick question that you might be able to help me with. Will the Squad XL MTB lens fit on these? Been trying to find out before I order one. Thanks!

[@WilAlexander]

I would assume they would but I wouldnt suggest it. The snow goggles are designed to keep more air in the face with foam around the gaps in the top and bottom. The MTB goggles are designed with a lot more air flow to prevent fogging. If you tried to use Snow goggles in the summer you're going to have a rough time.

[@andrei-octavianpopescu8107]

Do you have any idea if these goggles does fit with Smith Method helmet? I read somewhere that it might be too big for the helmet. Thank you!

[@WilAlexander]

It should fit - most brands don't make goggles that dont fit their own helmets. On their site, it's only images they have with helmets is the Method.

[@imjadon5922]

do you think they will work like an otg goggle, even it’s not suppose to?

[@WilAlexander]

They should fit fine. Most OTG goggles use the same frame profile as the regulars, they just have cutouts on the side for the frames to fit without having a gap or smashing into your face.

[@syncopat1337]

fuck i just bought them :D i guess next year i will get another one, i hate fogging and they had good amazon score.. although i do not use a helmet so there is that..

[@WilAlexander]

Could get lucky.

[@stevendettor]

How come nobody actually wears the goggles in this goggles reviews?

[@WilAlexander]

It's additional shots that aren't always thought of. Also when it comes to goggles - So much is user experience with head size, face shape, nose size, helmet fit, etc.

[@KyleSantisi]

Thought this was the mtb version

[@WilAlexander]

Pretty Similar, just more ventilation for air flow on the lenses and the frame. For a long time when I was younger I was using a snow goggle with a clear lens for dirt biking

[@donwongjohnson3223]

Dude come on. These are not difficult to swap lenses and you are the only person who have issues with fogging

[@WilAlexander]

Compared to the other KZbinrs who are just reading the tech specs and maybe wore them for a run? These are honest takeaways - I'm being paid to say what someone else wants me to. The season I had these I knew 3 other people with the Squad or the Squad XL and all had the same issues.

[@natt369]

The lense swapping is pain in the azz💆🏼‍♀️i just bought them and wanted to try the spare lense i had in package and it took me like 10mins..expected its gonna be much faster&easier for this price range and brand. Haven’t worn them outside yet so i cant tell bout the fogging (but i dread it already) but fully confirm the swap system sucks. Sigh.