Oakley Radar EV Advancer sunglasses review

Oakley Radar EV Advancer’s are the pinnacle of what the American eyewear brand produces, we likes its latest upgrade to include new technology

Oakley Radar EV Advancer
Cycling Weekly Verdict

Adaptive lenses, comfortable feel and durable means these Oakleys will do you well all year round.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Great looks

  • +

    Secure fit

  • +

    Good lenses

  • +

    Comfortable

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    None

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

The Oakley Radar EV Advancer sunglasses were selected for an Editor's Choice award in 2020. This year's list contains 78 items which scored a 9 or 10/10 with our tech team - this gear is the best of the best, and has received the Cycling Weekly stamp of approval. 

You just can’t beat a pair of Oakley sunglasses. Even in this rather subdued colour way with its very good adaptive lens’s which are great for the winter months. These are lightweight, comfortable and look great and that is way they’ve made it into Editor’s Choice once again.

The Oakley Radar EV range is arguably the pinnacle of what the eyewear giant produces. Its design, lens technology and style make them the most desirable offering in our eyes and it is hard to argue against the masses of cyclists, pro or amateur alike, who wear them daily.

The update to the Radar glasses borrows technology from the likes of the Flight Jackets that can only be described as an upside down Radar design, removing the rim at the top of the lens.

The Advancer technology is a new adjustable nosepiece that moves the frame and lens away from the face to help venting and reducing fogging of the lens.

>>> Best cycling sunglasses: a buying guide

When you are in the market for a pair of sunnies we all have most certainly looked at Oakley. The American brand has a large number to choose from and if you are unsure which'll suit your best bet is to try the Oakley Radar EV's as they offer the least show off style out of the lot.

Oakley Radar EV Advancer

Oakley Jawbreakers or the latest Flight Jackets all offer the same tech but for us the best fitting and least obtrusive remain the Oakley Radar EV.

It isn't only looks that attracted me to the Oakley Radar EV's. In functionality alone the Oakley Radar EV scores a solid 10/10 and this is a key area where it out scores a lot of rival brands. Zero distraction is key here, if I am able to forget the sunglasses are there then it's doing its job, exactly what the Radar's do.

This is thanks to a great all round fit. No digging in around the ears, nose or temples. The frames remain firmly in place even when doing your best Chris Froome head roll too. The 'zero distraction' is also helped by the low weight, with the Oakley Radars (in standard size) hitting our scales at 29g.

The lenses are the best bit, though, with several options available. The least expensive is Oakley's standard HDO lens, which comes in several colours including the blue pictured below.

This is a great option and often worn by Team Sky. For £10 more Oakley offers its road cycling-specific Prizm lens, which is my favourite. It provides excellent clarity and helps make the world look slightly more vivid – useful when trying to spot pot holes. For £185 Oakley also offers polarised lenses which are great at filtering out reflective glare.

However, as said, I have found the Prizm Road lens optimal. But if you ride in lots of different light conditions its changeable lens will be best for you.

The quality, performance and aesthetics are all excellent and in my mind beat Oakley's other top of the range glasses. Although, the likes of 100% are on the up and pushing Oakley on the performance front.

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Michelle Arthurs-Brennan

Michelle Arthurs-Brennan the Editor of Cycling Weekly website. An NCTJ qualified traditional journalist by trade, Michelle began her career working for local newspapers. She's worked within the cycling industry since 2012, and joined the Cycling Weekly team in 2017, having previously been Editor at Total Women's Cycling. Prior to welcoming her daughter in 2022, Michelle raced on the road, track, and in time trials, and still rides as much as she can - albeit a fair proportion indoors, for now.