Lens

Lenses tend to be the focal point when checking out a new goggle, whether it’s the colour or the shape, they’re usually the first thing to catch your eye. There’s an abundance of different styles of lenses out there, and it’s not always clear which option is the best for you. The Flight Tracker uses a toric lens, which is the most optically correct on the market due to its specific curvature.

They curve on both the X and the Y axis, but not completely equally like you’d find in a spherical lens, it’s the lens shape that most closely resembles your eyeball, and as such it’s the best at reducing distortion and glare. This is all getting a bit sciencey now, isn’t it? But that’s what Oakley do best, they take everything to the next level.

Everything about Oakley is premium, but possibly their most famous creation are their contrast enhancing Prizm lenses. These work to filter specific wavelengths of light, emphasising colours to which your eyes are more sensitive, which in turn maximises visibility and clarity. You can detect previously unseen detail in the landscape, allowing you to react faster and ride with more confidence. Again, it’s all feeling like a bit of a science lesson isn’t it? But if you’re shelling out this much cash, you want to be sure they’re the best.

“It’s the lens shape that most closely resembles your eyeball, and as such it’s the best at reducing distortion and glare”

Frame and Straps

The Flight Trackers use a full frame, which increases the overall durability, but the lightweight O-Matter frame material isn’t bulky or cumbersome and it even is malleable enough to conform to your face shape (plus it has discreet notches to fit your glasses comfortable underneath). There’s no right or wrong when it comes to frame vs frameless goggles, while there are a few small technical differences, it mainly comes down to preference of style.

With the Flight Trackers, the lower corners of the frame have been pulled right down to enhance this downward field of view, and while this translates to any type of riding, it really pays dividends for higher stakes riding.

Ventilation is important in a goggle, both for safety reasons and it’s just really annoying to have to keep taking them off and wiping them. And while some of this does have to do with the lens shape, a lot of it comes down to the frame and its venting. Oakley use a face foam to wick sweat away from your skin, as when it drips down into your goggles it can cause a disparate temperature and therefore fogging. This combined with the outer vents should help to keep them fog-free and fancy all day.

“If you’re willing to pay a few extra bucks, the Flight Trackers offer some of the best optical views and rider refined features in the game”

Roundup

The Flight Tracker use loads of the high tech ingredients and materials Oakley are famous for, and you’ll thank them for it but more importantly the Flight Trackers do the most important job and they do it well. They enable you to see what’s in front of you clearly and even help you to spot previously unseen distractions or objects that could end up causing a collision.

Pros:

• There are size options to choose from to suit you
• The lower field of view is great

Cons:

• They ain’t the cheapest

“I’ve tested many many pairs of goggles through the years, and though it’s almost cliche to say it now, Oakley really never does disappoint. The Flight Tracker offered a great field of vis, and incredibly clear optics in both bright conditions and shadows. We didn’t have the darkest of mornings before the cloud broke, but it’s hard to imagine actually needing to change a lens on these in a hurry, the Prizm’s just do their job so damn well.

The large Flight Trackers are definitely a big frame as you’d expect, but I still found these fit well underneath a lid. The toric design won me over as someone who normally prefers a cylindrical design, there’s enough curve in these to expand your FOV without getting the fishbowl look that can come with some bigger styles.

Design wise they’re minimalist in all the right ways, letting you ‘set and forget’ your goggles at the start of the day, and get on with the real business of riding.”

Buy the Oakley Flight Tracker: £160 at Blue Tomato UK 

Buy the Oakley Flight Tracker: €185 at Blue Tomato EU