Remember 3D printing? That revolutionary technological innovation that once held our collective attention and imagination before AI took over the news feeds? Well, it's doing just fine. AI might be able to make you a cool playlist or faux painting, but 3D printing can make you a pair of form-fitting, one-of-a-kind, custom ski goggles. That's the premise behind Smith's Imprint 3D collection, which turns face scans into one-of-a-kind eyewear and recently expanded to include the Squad Imprint 3D. Curious to see just how well the technology works, I had Smith make me a pair ahead of the 2024 ski season.
Smith has been fiddling around with this 3D-printed concept since 2021 when it launched Imprint 3D with a customizable version of the I/O Mag. With nearly every brand having brought quick-change magnetic lenses into their lines, custom seemed like the next big step in snow eyewear. But the launch was limited, and the goggles $450, making it all feel a little unattainable.