Oakley combines Prizm and Transitions in two new lenses
Many athletes know the problem: you start with a sun lens when it's still cloudy, or halfway through a route you enter a dark forest and suddenly see little. Photochromic lenses solve this, but lack the contrast enhancement of Prizm for which Oakley is known. Oakley has now tackled this differently with two new lenses: the Prizm Transitions Ember and the Prizm Transitions Cobalt.
What is Prizm again?
Prizm is Oakley's own lens technology where the lens specifically enhances certain colors and contrasts, tailored to the environment you're active in. On the road, cracks and potholes in the asphalt become sharper. On a trail, you'll spot roots and loose stones more quickly. So it's not just a colored tint, but a lens that helps your eyes pick up relevant details faster.
And Transitions?
Transitions lenses are photochromic: they react to UV radiation and automatically darken outdoors and lighten indoors or in cloudy conditions. The technology has long existed in regular optics, but Oakley is now applying it to sports lenses. This is technically more difficult than it sounds, because Prizm lenses have a specific color composition that is normally fixed. With Transitions, that composition constantly changes with the light conditions, and the contrast enhancement must remain intact.
Prizm Transitions Ember
The Ember has a warm, reddish base color and is the most versatile of the two. In low UV radiation, i.e., on a cloudy day or in the shade, the lens transmits 62% of the light. That's more than enough to see well even in a forest or in heavy cloud cover. In bright sunlight, it automatically darkens to 14%, which is a comfortable sun lens.
Due to this wide range, the Ember is suitable for athletes who are often in varying conditions. Mountain bikers who ride from open trails to forest routes, or runners who start early and only later run in full sun, will benefit greatly from this.
Prizm Transitions Cobalt
The Cobalt has a cool, bluish base color and is naturally a bit darker. Unactivated, it's at 49% light transmission, activated at 12%. The lightest setting is thus slightly darker than the Ember, which makes it less suitable for activities when evening truly falls. With a darkest setting of 12%, it's perfect when the sun is shining brightly.
The blue tint also gives the Cobalt a striking appearance, which for many people is also a nice bonus.
Availability
The Prizm Transitions Ember and Cobalt will be available early July for the Radar EV Path, the Sutro, the Sutro Lite and the Sphaera Strike. These are four of the most popular models in the Oakley range, so chances are your frame is among them.
Do you want to know if your glasses are compatible, or are you curious which model suits you well? Feel free to visit our store in Wolvega or send us a message. We are happy to help you.
