When we talk about brand awareness especially in the world of Eyewear, it is hard to look past one of the most iconic lifestyle and performance brands – Oakley. Known for their unique ‘O’ shaped logo on the temple of every pair they sell and chosen by world-class athletes to compete at the highest level possible, they are known for their innovation and design in this space.

Since 1975, the sports eye wear brand Oakley have been offering men’s and women’s product lines that appeal to sport performance, active and lifestyle consumers. In fact, Oakley also maintains US Standard Issue, which provides U.S. military and law enforcement eye protection. Today, the Oakley brand is more than just eyewear. Oakley has morphed into a lifestyle that includes sports watches, footwear, apparel, and of course, its famous Oakley sunglasses. We were recently given the opportunity to check out two of their latest offerings: the performance lifestyle Apparition sunglasses and best-selling Split Shot sports model.

The first thing we noticed about the Apparition was just how well they fit into the modern sunglass design aesthetic. These ultralight lightweight frames are made from what Oakley call Nano-Matter with stainless steel temples and Unobtanium ear socks that provide strength, a non-slip grip but more importantly a very comfortable all-day wear. Our chosen satin black finish also made these look incredibly classy and perfect for work and/or play.

We also love that these offer a universally flattering silhouette suitable for many face shapes and with the unique single element that connects the center frame and temples, they feel well made. However, the real star of the show is Oakley’s proprietary Prizm lenses which provide exceptional class leading clarity and light transmission, colors and contrast are brilliantly tuned and magnified to improve overall visibility. We have never experienced anything like this with conventional sunglasses that just seem to shade the visual field, they are truly great!

The Split Shot offer a similar experience, especially if you opt for the Prizm lenses like we did, but what sets these apart is their more sports-oriented design. Created for those that live on the land or the water, the Split Shot offers a full wrap around construction that significantly reduces glare.

We could see these being popular with athletes and fisherman alike, especially, with the detachable leash to keep them from flying off your head. The matte black finish too, on our review model, should mean that they hold up well to wear and tear in the real world. Plus, with Oakley’s own High Definition Optics® (HDO®) lenses and their hydrophobic quality, UV rating plus polarization options available, these are a real winner for those adventure sorts.

To conclude, whether it’s for an Iron Man competition or a day at the beach, Oakley sunglasses continue to be a symbol that populates the race circuits and streets across the globe. Their innovation in this space continues to be unmatched by their rivals and with over 600 patents to their name, there is no sign of them slowing down anytime soon.

Get yours at https://www.oakley.com/en-ca

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