Oakley Sutro Lite Sweep Vented Sunglasses Review

Directly inspired by the iconic Eyeshade model that appeared in the mid-1980s, the new Oakley Sutro Lite Sweep Vented glasses are worn in 2022 by Remco Evenepoel (Quick Step – Alpha Vinyl), among others, and they provide protection and comfort in all conditions.Test of a pair of glasses with which you cannot go unnoticed.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: ©3bikes.fr

The Oakley brand was born in 1975, but originally it manufactured motorcycle grips, using an innovative rubber that founder Jim Jannard named unobtainium. Building on the success of this material, which stands out for its grip properties even in humidity, Oakley developed its first sports glasses in 1984, with a model dedicated once again to motorcycles. And a few months later, the brand launched the Eyeshade, the first specific model in history for cycling, which protects against UV, insects or all kinds of projections, while remaining very light. Glasses popularized in 1985 by American rider Greg LeMond, who won the Tour de France the following year. Then Oakley diversified by offering sunglasses for all sports and for everyday life, and even frames for prescription glasses. Today, Oakley is one of the most iconic brands in the world, and it continues to offer technical products that are not particularly unaffordable. For the record, the name Oakley comes from the founder’s dog’s name!

The Sutro Lite Sweep Vented are therefore modern and high-performance glasses that are inspired by the brand’s first iconic model, the Eyeshade, in terms of shape and field of vision protection. Very wide on the face, they don’t suit everyone, at least with a bare head without a helmet. We will therefore deliberately set aside this aspect for this test, and instead focus on comfort.

Four characteristics distinguish them with an absence of a frame edge on the lower part of the lens (unlike the Sutro, the other “wide” model in the range), straight and slightly flexible temples to adapt to the maximum number of face sizes with an anti-slip material, Unobtainium nose pads that ensure excellent grip even with sweat (two sizes of nose pads are provided), and Prizm lenses designed to improve colors, contrasts and terrain details. These pink reflective lenses offer 20% light transmission, which makes them particularly comfortable in changing conditions, while protecting against UV. They remain interchangeable, which allows for replacement lenses if necessary (currently available without the Vented option, with its ten holes on the top of the lenses).

Weighing 30 g, the Sutro Lite Sweep Vented are very light, and they are available in three versions: green and yellow with Prizm Ruby Lenses (17% light transmission, so more for strong light), yellow and orange with Prizm Trail Torch lenses (35% light transmission, more for cloudy conditions) and therefore black and pink with Prizm Road lenses for more intermediate conditions. Lenses tested to resist strong impacts, and designed like the frames to minimize the risk of injury in the event of a fall, by twisting rather than breaking.

The Sutro Lite Sweep Vented are part of a very complete Sutro range, with the Sutro (the wide model inspired by urban cyclists), the Sutro Lite (without a frame edge on the lower part of the lens), the Sutro S (smaller) or Sweep, with a shorter lens on the lower part, or Vented, with vents on the upper part of the lens.

On the road with the Oakley Sutro Lite Sweep Vented

Although appearing very wide on a slender face, the Sutro Lite Sweep Vented perfectly match the wearing of a helmet. The frame does not conflict with the front part of the helmet, and once in place the glasses do not move. The temples are long enough to ensure good support above the ears, but as they are particularly thin at their end, they do not interfere with the helmet straps or the plastic part of the occipital retention.

Accustomed to photochromic lenses, we are a little surprised by the slightly pink screen at the beginning of our first ride under bright sunshine and in the heatwave. The contrasts seem well accentuated and the colors are ultimately not superficial. It’s a bit like benefiting from a slight subdued veil. Even if the protection against brightness is not extreme, we appreciate the visual comfort provided, especially in wooded areas where the lens retains some clarity.

Under clouds, the filter is quite sensitive and the vision is a little darker than with photochromic lenses, but the Prizm Road remain versatile. The choice seems excellent for those who do not use their glasses in extreme conditions, such as on ski slopes in full sun or at noon by the sea in the Tropics.

Nothing to say about the fit, because despite their width, the Sutro Lite Sweep do not move on the face, even during a sprint. The temples go well with wearing a helmet, as long as it is well adjusted.

But where these glasses really stand out is in the management of sweat on the forehead. We remember that the Eyeshade were optionally equipped with a sponge part on the top of the frame to prevent sweat from running into the eyes, but here it is totally unnecessary. At 35°C, where all the glasses in our collection receive drops of sweat on the inside of the lens, absolutely nothing happens. You can ride for four hours in full heat without having to sit up to wipe your field of vision.

Ventilation is obviously very useful in case of rain, because the risks of fogging are non-existent here. The very generous size of the lens also greatly limits drafts on the eyes. Finally, the absence of a lower edge also provides comfort, very noticeable in a race to apprehend and see more quickly the placement of the rider next to you, or who “breaks out” in a sprint.

In short, beyond a retro look that either appeals or repels, the Oakley Sutro Lite Sweep Vented are above all very high-end glasses perfectly suited to cycling in difficult conditions or when you need to keep all your reflexes to try to achieve a great performance. Their selling price is also not excessive compared to the competition, and given the quality of the product. In short, we recommend them!

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