Summary of Smith Optics Editorial Coverage during the month of April 2014
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Total Seen Monthly Circulation: +35,423,936SELECT SEEN BRAND COVERAGE / CIRCULATION
1. MensHealth.com - Vantage, Vice - 2,491,819
2. WIRED.com - PivLock Overdrive - 12,102,110
3. PinkBike.com - PivLock V2, Overdrive, Mount - 1,847,054
ABOUT SMITH: Based in Sun Valley, Idaho, Smith Optics, Inc. was founded in 1965 with the creation of the first goggle featuring a sealed thermal lens and breathable vent foam. Today, Smith is known for its diverse line of sunglasses, snow, and motorsports goggles, snow helmets, prescription eyewear, and ballistic eye protection. Smith’s devotion to authenticity, innovation, performance and style has made Smith the choice of outdoor athletes and enthusiasts worldwide. For more information, check out www.smithoptics.com
*Please note that a pitch does not guarantee that the above mentioned product will appear in print.
To view the full video, please visit: http://www.backpacker.com/smith-pivlock-sunglasses/videos/344?utm_source=newsletter01&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter02
http://huayhuash.bikemag.com/6-crew-and-gear.html
For the full review, please visit: http://bustedwallet.com/smith-voyage-womens-helmet-gear-review/
For the full review, please visit http://www.feedthehabit.com/outdoors/smith-frontman-chromapop-sunglasses-review/
MB
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Enduro lid from the optics specialist
72 www.mbaction.com
PerfectionDelivers above-average value and performanceRecommended for intended applicationShows potential but has drawbacksSave your hard-earned bucks
SMITH FOREFRONT HELMET AND GOGGLE
When Smith set out to build its first mountain bike helmet, they set their sights very high. The goal was an enduro-style lid for aggressive riders in a package that weighed the same as a minimalist road racer lid. This required some serious R&D, but Smith eventu-ally came up with the Forefront helmet.
Tech features: To achieve its lofty goals, Smith departed from the typical EPS foam construction for the Forefront. Instead, they developed a product they dub the Aerocore, which is made from a new material called Koroyd. This material looks much like
PerfectionDelivers above-average value and performanceRecommended for intended applicationShows potential but has drawbacksSave your hard-earned bucks
a honeycomb built from melted-togeth-er drinking straws. Its rigid structure is filled mostly with open air, which not only provides a perfect “crumple” zone in the event of an impact, but also allows air to flow freely through it. Smith claims this new technology offers more impact absorption than a typical EPS foam helmet. Smith uses this Koroyd material throughout most of the helmet, but the pockets where the Koroyd material won’t fit are filled with standard EPS foam. The helmet features Smith’s new VaporFit adjust-able fit system, an integrated camera-
and light-mounting area, and an addi-tional helmet goggle retention strap. The Forefront is available in three sizes and 10 different color schemes. The Forefront lid sells for $220 and tipped our scales at just under 12 ounces.
Field test results: Strap the Forefront on and you’ll know it’s a serious lid. The extra coverage toward the back of the helmet screams enduro styling. Enduro coverage typically means a compromise in ventilation; however, the Koroyd material delivers exactly what it advertises. The long, narrow vent in the front of the helmet scoops air in and over the top of the rider’s head to keep the rider cool and comfortable. We’ve tested numerous enduro and all-mountain-style lids and have typically been disappointed with the ventilation, but the Smith Forefront raises the bar. The Koroyd material seems to be a solution to the most uncomfortable issue with extra-coverage helmets.
Moreover, this helmet mated well with nearly every piece of eyewear we could throw at it, be it a pair of sunglasses or a goggle. Whereas other helmets interfere with sunglasses, the Forefront can accommodate any style of optics. We should expect no less from a helmet designed by an optics company, but nevertheless, we were impressed.
The addition of an integrated camera or light mount will also be a welcome feature for many riders. The GoPro-style mount is sleek and easy to use and positioned perfectly in the middle of the helmet shell so as not to cause issues with movement from the extra weight. The snap-in attachments are also easily removable for the rider who wants to go without electronics.
Our only gripe was that a few riders couldn’t get past the aesthetics. While this helmet will certainly draw atten-tion on the trail, the unconventional appearance isn’t for everyone.
The Forefront is sure to meet the needs of riders and enduro racers alike, albeit with love-it-or-hate-it styling. As far as “enduro” helmets are concerned, the Forefront proved to be easy to integrate with a number of goggle and sunglass models, something that few of its peers can claim. ❏
Spaceman Spiff’s lid: The Forefront’s unconventional looks garnered mixed responses from the crew. However, the technology, user-friendly features, and compatibility with optics and accessories were hard to argue with on the trail.
INDUSTRY NEWS AND ANALYSIS FOR RETAILERSFrom the Editorial Team of Sporting Goods Intelligence
Click Here to enter the SGI/PHIT Get America Moving contest!
INSIDE:INSIDE:Global equipment sales topped $67 billion at wholesale in 2013.John Horan’s Deep Intelligence looks at Macy’s venture with Finish Line and Lids.Sportsman’s Warehouse looks to sell $150 million to investors in IPO.Bauer loss up on investment, acquisition spending in Q3.Freedom Group net income more than doubles for 2013.VF names Steve Rendle to head all of Americas region.Golf chains look to grow their floor space in 2014.Winter sports sales are up 7% through February and inventories are clean.
Modell’s settles out of court on ‘spying’ at Dick’s.Half-marathon participation nears 2 million.Get America Moving: Mountain GearDick’s Interbrand Marathon Sports Pacific Sunwear REI Retale U.S. imports Zumiez Billabong Brunswick Crocs Deckers Garmont Marucci Sports Nike Puma River’s End Wilson Yue Yuen K2 Sports.Obituary: Mark Lemond.
Like pro surfer and brand ambassador Yadin Nicol, Smith Optics is riding a wave of success. The com-pany will turn 50 in 2015 and to help celebrate the milestone, it has just launched a multi-sport webi-sode series called “Great Days.” To learn more, visit the video of the week department. Photo courtesy of Smith Optics.
VOLUME 6, NUMBER 15APRIL 14, 2014
INSIDE: A SPECIAL REPORT ON PROGRAMS ENCOURAGING FITNESS
The Ketchum, ID-based eyewear, goggle and helmet maker will turn 50 in 2015, and to help celebrate the mile-stone, Smith has just launched a yearlong, multi-sport web-isode series called “Great Days.” The webisodes, which high-light Smith’s athletes and ambassadors across all disciplines of outdoor activity, will drop every Wednesday through April, and every other Wednesday from May through the end of 2014. Each installment is intended to give viewers a peek behind the scenes into what makes a Great Day for a particular elite athlete, and the challenges he or she faces along the way.
SMITH OPTICS SEES ‘GREAT DAYS’ AHEAD
Part of the Archive Collection, the Cheetah (shown in aqua) and Cor-nice (shown in brown) are replicas of Smith’s best-selling frames from 1988, 1991 and 1993. They include Carbonic TLT lenses for optical pre-cision, and are available in polarized and non-polarized versions.
PAGE 30 APRIL 14, 2014
On the product side, Smith Optics is introducing the Archive Collection, and has also expanded its ChromaPop line. The new Archive Collection boasts five models that are exact replicas of the brand’s best-selling frames from 1988, 1991 and 1993. Each style is labeled with its original launch year and is offered in original colorways. The glasses, which are still constructed from cellulose propionate frame mate-rial, have been updated with Carbonic TLT lenses for optical precision and are offered in polarized (SRP $119) and non-polarized (SRP $80) versions.
The expanded ChromaPop line (SRP $209-$269) now includes Polar Blue Mirror and Polar Bronze Mirror lens tints that are designed for avid watersports enthusiasts. Both tints provide 100 percent protection from harmful UVA/B/C rays with film-free polarization for visual clarity. The Bronze Mirror lens, for medium/bright light conditions, is designed to intensify reds, blues and greens. The Blue Mirror lens, for bright light conditions, is designed for open water environ-ments and amplifies colors in their natural state. Both lenses
VIDE
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Smith’s ChromaPop line now includes new Polar Blue Mirror and Polar Bronze Mirror lens tints for watersports enthusiasts. Both tints provide 100 percent protection from UVA/B/C rays with film-free polarization for en-hanced visual clarity. Pictured is the Dover with Polar Blue Mirror lens.
APRIL 14, 2014 PAGE 31
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
include Anti-Reflective mirror coating to eliminate back-glare, and hydroleophobic coating to repel water, dirt and grease. According to Smith, ChromaPop technology works by eliminating color confusion for the brain, ultimately rec-ognizing true color, faster, regardless of lens tint. When light passes through a traditional lens, there are two points where light waves intersect and the brain has to work to decipher whether it’s seeing red, green or blue. With Chro-maPop, the color intersections are blocked so the brain im-mediately recognizes true vibrant color as it should be seen, with increased depth and detail of objects, while reducing eye fatigue.
Click here to learn how Smith makes the “Great Days” better.