Oakley Encoder Strike Vented sunglasses review

The Oakley Encoder Strike Vented sunglasses are one of the US brand’s latest designs.

It takes the structural lens design first seen on the Oakley Kato glasses, but the shape and aesthetic have been tweaked.

All-in, the Encoder Strike Vented sunglasses perform very well, but are best suited to people with larger heads.

Oakley Encoder Strike Vented sunglasses details

The Encoder glasses maintain the structural lens design that debuted with the Oakley Kato.

Shaping the lens with a ridged brow and sculpting it around the nose enables Oakley to adopt a frameless design that maintains the integrity of full-framed glasses without the obtrusion of a frame.

It’s certainly a novel idea that works well, creating a stiff, well-sprung and tenaciously gripping set of cycling sunglasses. The design, however, throws up a few issues (more on this later).

The lens is 138mm wide and 56.3mm deep, with long 123mm arms optimised for larger heads.

The lenses are available in Prizm Trail Torch (35 per cent transmission), Prizm Black (11 per cent), Prizm Road (20 per cent), Prizm Sapphire (12 per cent), Prizm Jade (14 per cent), Prizm 24kt (11 per cent) and here in Prizm Field (15 per cent).

The arms bring chunky, stiff connection with the lens, tapering out to flexible temple tips coated in Oakley’s trademark grippy Unobtanium ear socks.

The same material is used on the large nosepiece.

Even with their oversized dimensions, the Encoder Strike sunglasses aren’t heavy at 31.3g.

The Strikes come with a spare nose pad, a hard case and a soft cleaning bag.

Oakley Encoder Strike Vented sunglasses performance

The Prizm Field lens, with its rose tint and 15 per cent light transmission, provides exceptional clarity.

Though the tinted lens only looks suitable for dimmer days, I’ve been able to use these Oakley sunglasses on the sunniest days of the year so far in the UK, as well as on trips to Europe and the USA. I've found them to be brilliant.

There’s high contrast for off-road riding and little glare even in low direct sunlight.

The lens shape is inspired by one of Oakley’s earliest designs (the Razor Blade). Unlike those sunglasses, the Encoder has a sweeping shield shape but also a vertical curvature, which keeps the distance from the lens to your eye more equal across your full view.

You need to take particular care with the lens, however. I’ve already picked up a couple of surface marks on the formed bridge where I haven’t been careful enough when putting the Encoders down.

It's galling to see marks on a lens when the Encoder glasses cost as much as they do.

The vented brow may have an element of style over substance, but the fuller airflow meant no misting or fogging on a lens that sits close to your face.

Occasionally, you can get a bit of flare from the edges of the cut-outs that's noticeable, but not distracting.

I did find the oversized rubber nosepiece distracting, though.

It’s very comfortable and grips even when you're soaked with perspiration or rain, but the 10mm-wide interface between the nosepiece and lens is in your eyeline.

I tried to ignore it, but found it difficult once I saw it in my peripheral vision.

Oakley Encoder Strike Vented sunglasses bottom line

In all, the Oakley Encoder Strikes are great-looking, premium-quality sunglasses with a great fit that's ideal for larger heads.

They are certainly expensive, so I recommend trying them on first to be sure they suit you (both functionally and stylistically) before buying.