Oakley’s shooting glasses

Anyone who’s watched the recent winter Olympics can’t have failed to notice how many competitors chose Oakley for their sports eyewear whilst the Kings Camo Signature Series is already a confirmed favourite with GunMart’s Technical Editor, Peter Moore.

Growing Range

Constantly expanding their range to accommodate both personal choice and style options, Oakley’s range of sports orientated glasses continues to grow alongside their established designs.

The first company to offer the now familiar interchangeable lens system that provided the competition shooter with the ideal tint and density dependant on the immediate conditions, Oakley has now applied their cutting edge technology to all aspects of shooting. Combining performance with a whole cross – section of model variations, so that both the shotgunner and stalker can take full advantage of Oakley’s protective optics, adding their own flair to proceedings.

What few realise is that each and every pair of Oakleys, irrespective of purpose or style, embody the same exacting, protective and visual criteria that the company calls HDO or High Definition Optics. Built to the American standard ANSI Z87-1, each and every lens must be capable of withstanding and deflecting a 150mph impact from a ball bearing from a distance no greater than 30cms without suffering breakage or fracture. Similarly, each prismatically perfect lens is aligned to ensure clarity, all refraction is eliminated and that each eye is correctly focused and looking directly at the subject in view. In other words, whatever you’re looking at won’t seem to ‘shift’ when you remove your Oakleys.

Shooting Radar XL (£149-99)

When it comes to the now familiar blade style of shooting and performance sports eyewear Oakley wrote the book with their Radar interchangeable lens glasses.

Consisting of a tensioned half – frame with curvilinear rubberised shafts, a soft rubber bridge and in this instance fitted with what Oakley refer to as their G26 Iridium lens, the glasses envelope the upper half of the face their shape curving round to ensure no ingress of detritus from the sides whilst the overall concept ensures no mater how the head or eyes are moved, the Radars remain firmly in place with no hint of intrusion into the wearer’s line of sight. 

With a total of fifty-six tints to select from or add to your lens collection, besides their ability to deflect stray pellets and shards of clay, they all employ the same principle. Besides purging glare, each lens has been optically designed to pick up and enhance any form of bright and fluorescent colours be they natural or man made. This means that whether the clays are orange, pink or the now fashionable lime green, they stand out like enhanced 3-D. And unusually for Oakley, the Radar XL’s come complete with their unique protective multi-lens capacity vault that would normally set you back an additional £20.   

Matte Rootbeer (£134-99) & Kings Woodland Camo Straight Jackets (£154-99)

As sharp as they are functional these new pairs of Oakley ‘Straight Jackets’ have been conceived with both the game shooter and stalker specifically in mind. Sculpted in shape to virtually hug each eye, the non – reflective, soft bridged frames draw back into a wide, tapering shaft that grips softy against the side of the head before culminating in a slender cushioned rubber bar, the complete frame enveloping and comfortable.

Both fitted with the same ovoid bronze tint polarized lenses, this gentle brown tone noticeably eliminates glare whilst significantly sharpening your surroundings and focus on the slightest movement. Predominantly for the game shooter, the brushed brown effect Matte Rootbeer versions will definitely add a touch of modern style to a day’s driven pheasant shooting. The Kings Woodland Camo versions will keep your eyes sharp and vigilant, once again featuring a matte finish, there’s even a small stag’s head engraved into the bottom of the left lens per chance you need reminding why you’re concealed in the woods. Both pairs are now an integral part of my game shooting kit.

Antix Brown Smoke (£144-99)

Part of Oakley’s Square – O collection, the new Antix Brown Smoke certainly cut the mustard when it comes to a touch of après shooting around the clubhouse, driving home or attending country shows. Complete with a one piece polarized tungsten iridium lens in a wide, rectangular wraparound frame and broad shafts, the Antix rate as some of the most comfortable and effective sunglasses I’ve worn. The beauty of the Antix is that whether you’re tackling fifty sporting targets or enjoying a day in the mountains, you’ll more than look the business wearing a pair of Oakley’s new Antix glasses. 

Nowhere near as expensive as you might think, whatever your choice of style, colours or lens, wearing any of these Oakleys will add a touch of flair to any day’s shooting whilst providing total protection for your eyes.