Oakley has just released its latest eyewear, the distinctive Oakley Kato, which features a wraparound lens that partially covers the nose.
The sunglasses have been a long time coming, being worn to victory by Sam Bennett on stage four of the 2020 Vuelta a España – and featuring again one day later on Chris Froome’s Instagram.
Oakley describes the glasses as featuring an “an innovative, frameless lens, crafted with an extended wrap and built-in retention to mimic the structural properties of a typical frame.”
(Image credit: Oakley)
“The result is a product intended to fit close to the contours of the face, creating a mask-like feel.”
Feedback from the riders wearing prototype Kato sunglasses led to the inclusion of “an adjustable rake system and multiple nosepads to enable a customiaed, seamless fit like never before.”
(Image credit: Oakley)
We can only speculate about any aerodynamic gains that might come from this greater coverage, but Oakley is at least happy to assert that: “This product removes limitations and provides the wearer with the confidence to be at their best, unlocking their inner superpower.”
More information about the new sunglasses can be found at Oakley.com
Chronology of the Oakley Kato
Close to one year ago today, American footballer, Patrick Mahomes posted a photo of himself wearing the yet-to-be-released sunglasses to his Instagram.
More recently, Mark Cavendish wore the sunglasses during the 2021 Tour of Turkey in April, in which he picked up a total of four wins from eight stages.
Photo by Mustafa Ciftci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
(Image credit: Photo by Mustafa Ciftci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
It’ll be interesting to see if the new Katos become as ubiquitous within the pro peloton as the Oakley Jawbreakers did after their release in 2015.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
After winning the 2019 National Single-Speed Cross-Country Mountain Biking Championships and claiming the plushie unicorn (true story), Stefan swapped the flat-bars for drop-bars and has never looked back.
But his favourite rides are multiday bikepacking trips, with all the huge amount of cycling tech and long days spent exploring new roads and trails - as well as histories and cultures. Most recently, he’s spent two weeks riding from Budapest into the mountains of Slovakia.
