Oakley Radar EV Advancer sunglasses review

The Oakley Radar EV Advancer sunglasses were selected for an Editor's Choice award in 2020. This year's list contains 78 items which scored a 9 or 10/10 with our tech team - this gear is the best of the best, and has received the Cycling Weekly stamp of approval. 

You just can’t beat a pair of Oakley sunglasses. Even in this rather subdued colour way with its very good adaptive lens’s which are great for the winter months. These are lightweight, comfortable and look great and that is way they’ve made it into Editor’s Choice once again.

The Oakley Radar EV range is arguably the pinnacle of what the eyewear giant produces. Its design, lens technology and style make them the most desirable offering in our eyes and it is hard to argue against the masses of cyclists, pro or amateur alike, who wear them daily.

The update to the Radar glasses borrows technology from the likes of the Flight Jackets that can only be described as an upside down Radar design, removing the rim at the top of the lens.

The Advancer technology is a new adjustable nosepiece that moves the frame and lens away from the face to help venting and reducing fogging of the lens.

>>> Best cycling sunglasses: a buying guide

When you are in the market for a pair of sunnies we all have most certainly looked at Oakley. The American brand has a large number to choose from and if you are unsure which'll suit your best bet is to try the Oakley Radar EV's as they offer the least show off style out of the lot.

Oakley Jawbreakers or the latest Flight Jackets all offer the same tech but for us the best fitting and least obtrusive remain the Oakley Radar EV.

It isn't only looks that attracted me to the Oakley Radar EV's. In functionality alone the Oakley Radar EV scores a solid 10/10 and this is a key area where it out scores a lot of rival brands. Zero distraction is key here, if I am able to forget the sunglasses are there then it's doing its job, exactly what the Radar's do.

This is thanks to a great all round fit. No digging in around the ears, nose or temples. The frames remain firmly in place even when doing your best Chris Froome head roll too. The 'zero distraction' is also helped by the low weight, with the Oakley Radars (in standard size) hitting our scales at 29g.

The lenses are the best bit, though, with several options available. The least expensive is Oakley's standard HDO lens, which comes in several colours including the blue pictured below.

This is a great option and often worn by Team Sky. For £10 more Oakley offers its road cycling-specific Prizm lens, which is my favourite. It provides excellent clarity and helps make the world look slightly more vivid – useful when trying to spot pot holes. For £185 Oakley also offers polarised lenses which are great at filtering out reflective glare.

However, as said, I have found the Prizm Road lens optimal. But if you ride in lots of different light conditions its changeable lens will be best for you.

The quality, performance and aesthetics are all excellent and in my mind beat Oakley's other top of the range glasses. Although, the likes of 100% are on the up and pushing Oakley on the performance front.