Product Review

Oakley Radar EV Advancer & Prizm Golf Lens Review

New from Oakley for 2020, the Radar EV Advancer is a stylish looking update to the popular sunglasses line. Boasting Oakley’s Advancer technology, is the new nose-piece worth updating for? Do these stand up against Oakley’s claims for fog free vision on the bike? And how do the Prizm Golf lenses for cycling? I just picked up a pair with the Prizm Golf lenses and we are going to put these to the test on the road and gravel. I’ll tell you my thoughts on these latest shades, and detailed thoughts on the Prizm Golf lens for cycling.

So I’ve had the Oakley Radars, the Radar EV’s and now the Radar EV Advancers. I have also tried and owned nearly all of Oakley’s lens colors. I have been using the Prizm Golf lens for about two years now and I just picked up some Advancers with the Golf lenses. These straight up KICK ASS. I am seriously stoked on them. So I wanted to share my thoughts on the best performing, most versatile cycling sunglasses out there.

THE FRAMES. The frames have been steadily progressing since the first model. First with an updated lens shape, and now an further improved lens shape and Oakley’s Advancer nose piece, a fog reduction lever. The Advancer addition is not just some half ass marketing gimmick. It works, and works surprisingly well. You flip the little switch on the nose-piece and the sunglasses are pushed out from your face about a centimeter. It isn’t much, but it is enough so those hot sweaty ass climbs you stay clear and fog free. It is even enough distance from the face so sweat drops off your face will miss the lens. If you’re like me, you’re used to putting your sunglasses on your helmet when you start fogging. Now you don’t need to. It’s a little amazing really. And the updated taller lens shape, looks more modern, makes these some of the best looking sunglasses out there, and provides more lower sight coverage, which actually helps for looking over your shoulder. If you’re familiar with Oakley’s proprietary technologies, you’ll know Oakley frame material is super strong while being flexible and lightweight. These frames have the right amount of pinch pressure and with the nose piece never move on my face. The new futurized nose-piece shape looks uncomfortable. But it isn’t. It’s soft and feels great and looks like a shape that can work even better than the previous models for supporting an even wider range of nose shapes.

THE LENSES. The Prizm Golf lens for cycling is absolutely amazing. I’ve thought most sunglasses I’ve tried are too dark for cycling. The problem is in shaded areas. Where I live, there are a lot of dark shaded areas on my rides especially on gravel rides, and I need clear, quick sight in those areas just as much as any others. That’s exactly why these lenses are so phenomenal. The rose colored tint and 30% light transition is exactly what you need to smoothly transition going between those bright and dark sections of road. The rose color tint also is very pleasant to look through, neutralizes really green areas (like some overhead trees on gravel rides), and will add contrast on partly and fully overcast days. Everything is just clear and in-view from the brightest days, to fully overcast. I’ll admit, straight noon sun, no shade rides, I would prefer less light transmission, something similar to the Prizm road lens, at 15-20%. But I don’t want to need three lenses. These ones and a low light or clear lens gets me 100% covered, in all conditions.

I hope this little review was helpful to you if you’re looking at new lenses or sunglasses. More cycling content, reviews and vlogs are on my Cyclist Pete YouTube Channel!