Oakley EVZero Blades evaluation: Perfect for smaller faces, and so gentle you’ll overlook you’re carrying them

If you’ve browsed my information to one of the best biking glasses currently, watched any biking on TV, and even simply been on any semi-serious group trip you would be forgiven for pondering all biking glasses at the moment are completely monumental. Most manufacturers’ top-end fashions are reflective monoliths that may dwarf smaller faces – see the Spatz Shield and POC Devour for examples on the excessive finish of the dimensions, however even the often-seen Oakley Sutro is massive by comparability. 

Not catering to smaller our bodies (by which I imply ladies, let’s be clear) is an trade development that continues to frustrate, however right here a minimum of I’ve discovered a wonderful set of biking glasses that may work brilliantly on smaller faces, and for many who merely don’t desire a big mirrored wall on their face.

I’ve been utilizing the EVZero Blades for some time now, with each a Prizm Road lens and the Prizm Sapphire you may see right here. They’re not good, however they will combine it with one of the best light-weight choices.

Design and aesthetics 

Of all of the glasses I’ve examined, which is properly over 50 – I’ve stopped counting at this level – the Oakley EVZero Blades are the lightest at 21.6g. It’s a matter of lower than a gram or two between them and different light-weight choices just like the 100% Hypercraft and the POC Elicit. They are lighter, simply, than the insane $400 titanium version POC Elicits, however these are a money-no-object proof of idea greater than a sensible proposition.

In any case, they’re essentially the most feathery, due to each a smaller kind issue and an absence of frames; a function shared with the Hypercraft and the Elicit. My favorite biking glasses, the Oakley Encoder, are additionally frameless, however use a thicker lens and extra chunky arms which provides a couple of grams. 

The kind issue is analogous in some ways to the POC Propel, however not fairly so excessive; gently curved lenses with a heavy wrap and a low top. Like the Hypercraft, the EVZero Blades depend on a pair of skinny pair of arms connected solely on the temples. Also just like the Hypercraft, and the Elicit, the dearth of a full body or a lens stiffening fold like on the Encoder or Oakley Kato, means they don’t grip the perimeters of your head with fairly the identical tenacity as even a half-frame set would. 

You are additionally fated to decide on a single lens; there’s no choice to swap, both if you need a change of aesthetic or if you wish to slap a transparent lens in. My recommendation is to go for the Prizm Road lens should you worth optical efficiency, however there’s no denying that the high-shine blue of the Prizm Sapphire seems cool, you’ll simply sacrifice a little bit of low gentle efficiency. 

It’s additionally value noting that, from a security standpoint, Oakley lenses are impact-rated, a declare not matched by its opponents. It is a small element, however particularly should you’re driving on gravel the place the danger of a stone to the face is probably barely increased, it’s one thing to keep in mind. 

Performance

I’ve very a lot loved utilizing the EVZero Blades. They are maybe a bit small for my tastes – I’m within the huge glasses camp – however the wrap and the very fact they sit near your eyes means there’s truly no actual drop within the visual field. The lenses are, as is mainly common throughout the Oakley vary, distinctive. Totally distortion-free, clear, and within the Prizm Road guise they’re all you could possibly ever want from a one-lens-only set. It stays the benchmark in opposition to which I choose all different lenses.

The frameless nature additionally implies that there isn’t something ever actually sitting in your eyeline. This, mixed with the actually low weight, means you truthfully can successfully overlook you’re carrying them till they sometimes shift misplaced. 

More closely wrapped, nearer becoming lenses are usually a bit extra fog-prone in my expertise, particularly in chilly climate. I’ve examined these nearly solely in heat climate, primarily as they solely include a solar lens. If fogging ever turns into a difficulty because the yr progresses and will get colder I’ll replace this to replicate, however supplied you’re nonetheless shifting I think it gained’t hassle you. 

As properly as being higher for smaller faces, the shorter lens (within the vertical aircraft) means there’s mainly no danger of the lenses ever fouling on the brim of your helmet. The lengthy slender arms will maybe begin sitting on helmet rear cradles, and there’s no adjustment to change this which is at all times a slight bugbear. This lack of adjustment, mixed with the frameless building, means retention isn’t one of the best. It’s on a par with the opposite lightweights I’ve examined however is barely worse than the Elicits due to narrower arm grippers primarily. 

The lightness definitely provides to creating the EVZero Blades a really snug pair of glasses, and the arms by no means bit in. If something it was most likely the alternative, feeling a bit free. The Elicits are maybe a bit extra snug, however they do have a large lens too. 

Value

The EVZero Blades have been a part of the lineup of Oakley biking glasses for fairly a couple of years now, and as such they don’t command almost the identical premium as newer fashions. They can simply are available in at the same value to mid-range choices from the likes of SunGod and, having used these I do know the place I’d be spending my cash, and it rhymes with ‘soak knee’.

The added worth of smaller glasses like these, in a lot the identical approach as one thing just like the perennial Oakley Radars, is that they appear far regular when doing non-cycling actions. I don’t assume they’ll ever be regular for going to the retailers, however when climbing, operating and so on you’ll look extra the half, which positively make them higher worth. 

Verdict

An glorious pair of biking glasses. Lightweight, with good optics and a multisport aesthetic that’ll enchantment to those that don’t desire a wall of glass. The lack of adjustment and incapability to swap lenses is a downside, however with the proper lens, try to be high quality. For the worth they far outshine many within the mid-range, too, in optical phrases a minimum of.