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review

Oakley Sphaera sunglasses

7
£191.00

VERDICT:

7
10
Great coverage from a good lens and comfily secure, if expensive given the lack of features
Comfortable, secure fit
Great looks
Crisp lens with versatile tint
Expensive for basic sunnies
Weight: 
34g
Contact: 

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The Oakley Sphaera sunglasses are wide, tall shades that shield your eyes comprehensively. They're aimed at 'multisport' use, but the shaping and ventilation work as well for cycling as anything.

2024 Oakley Sphaera sunglasses - hinge logo.jpg

Contrast-boosting Prizm Road lens aside, these are pretty basic. The O Matter frames are noticeably broad and tall, and there's no adjustment beyond a second, thicker 'Unobtanium' nose pad in the box. Still, it's the work of seconds to unhook the original from its tiny plastic cleats and stretch on the replacement; essentially you get two settings for how high these sit on your nose, and how far from your face. Don't lose these pads, though, as a quick browse of Oakley's site shows that spares are not available. They really are Unobtainium.

2024 Oakley Sphaera sunglasses - inside.jpg

Both pads worked for me, though I preferred the thinner one as even that creates a decent ventilation gap all around. And while these are indeed broad around the temples – Oakley classes them as Wide, to fit large heads – they sweep in tight for a good secure fit over the ears even if you're not a giant. I wear medium or large helmets and have a 59cm head, for reference, and found these a great fit.

I had no issues with fogging (the central vent presumably helps there too), yet those big lenses still give excellent coverage against flying debris.

2024 Oakley Sphaera sunglasses - hinge inside.jpg

The 34g weight means there's little to trouble the grippy nose and well-tensioned arms, even when you're sweaty or rattling around, and despite their size I had no issues fitting these under helmets.

2024 Oakley Sphaera sunglasses - side.jpg

The Prizm Road lens here offers 20% light transmission (Cat 2), a middling tint that's perfectly useable even on overcast days – if you're the type to wear shades on overcast days – or for when you're constantly going from light to shade under trees. It's not really dark enough for the full, bright sunshine we don't get in the UK, however.

2024 Oakley Sphaera sunglasses - front.jpg

The slight rose tint is noticeable, pumping up the saturation on blue skies and fluffy white clouds, while darkening greys and blacks. The latter can help you pick out things like potholes, gravel or damp patches on the road. The former just starts The Simpsons' theme tune playing in your head.

2024 Oakley Sphaera sunglasses - hard case.jpg

Value

At £191 these are expensive given their relatively basic lens and non-adjustable frame. You can easily get photochromic lenses around this price, such as with the £189.99 Rudy Project Tralyx + White Gloss - ImpactX Photochromic 2 Laser Purple we reviewed recently. Those scored very well for both the performance of the lens and their adjustability.

An extra £9 will get you the £200 Koo Eyewear Alibi sunglasses, which also feature an excellent photochromic lens. They're great in low light and offer top protection, though the frames are less suited to those with larger heads than you might think.

Sticking with Oakley you can get a photochromic version of the Sphaera, though there's only a single choice of tint (clear to black iridium) and they're more expensive still at £221.

If you just want simple shades and great coverage, the full-frame Madison Crypto glasses are large, work really well and look great. Better still, they're just £40.

Our best cycling sunglasses best cycling sunglasses buyer's guide covers a wide range of quality shades, while our best cheap cycling sunglasses buyer's guide tops out at £60, so it's guaranteed to be an Oakley-free zone.

Overall

These do their job very well, and the gentle tint makes them versatile – they won't blind you if the sun goes in or you find yourself under trees at speed – if not as versatile as photochromics. They're not the most sophisticated shades for this price, but if you just love the look (or the Oakley logo) they'll keep you perfectly happy.

Verdict

Great coverage from a good lens and comfily secure, if expensive given the lack of features

road.cc test report

Make and model: Oakley Sphaera sunglasses

Size tested: One size

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Oakley says: "Designed for boundary-pushing performance, no matter the sport, Sphaera's wide field of view guarantees you'll see it all - and with Prizm Lens Technology, you'll see it all in detail. The lightweight O Matter frame is designed to wear with hats and helmets, and the frame features a front vent to ensure enhanced airflow. Unobtainium nosepads and molded-in earsocks provide no-slip grip when you break a sweat. Experience the pinnacle of sport performance eyewear with Sphaera – put them on and then forget them forever."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

* DESIGNED FOR MULTI-SPORT USAGE: Modern, sleek design with an extended field of view and optimized retention and comfort

* LIGHTWEIGHT AND DURABLE: O Matter frame material provides all-day comfort

* NO-SLIP GRIP: Unobtainium nosepads and earsocks provide no-slip grip when wet to help increase retention and help grip with hats and helmets

* SEE MORE DETAILS - Prizm Lens Technology engineered to enhance color and contrast to see more detail

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
4/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Very well.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Comfortable but secure fit, good coverage, lens boosts contrast.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Little adjustability, expensive.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

They're priced where you'd expect for designer sunglasses, which is to say they're expensive.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? With a chunky discount, yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

These fit well, sit securely whatever you're doing and feature a good clear lens. They're still a little basic for the money, however - they'd score higher if the price was lower or the lens features and frame adjustability were better.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 48  Height: 183cm  Weight: 78kg

I usually ride: Vitus Zenium SL VR Disc  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: general fitness riding, mtb,

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3 comments

Avatar
timmyotool | 1 week ago
0 likes

Galibier do a fantastic set of photochromic sunglasses for about £60. Can't see myself every spending Oakley money again.

Avatar
Lozcan | 1 week ago
1 like

I'll stick with my photocromatic ones from Rock Bros for 25 quid that are also way lighter.

Avatar
Rendel Harris replied to Lozcan | 1 week ago
1 like
Lozcan wrote:

I'll stick with my photocromatic ones from Rock Bros for 25 quid that are also way lighter.

I have the same having got fed up with losing/breaking/scratching £150+ pairs from Oakley and POC, also with constantly having to change lenses according to conditions, and I have to say that I don't feel there's any quantifiable difference in quality or comfort to the ones that cost six times as much. Not quite as good for cafe posing but I can live with that.

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