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Camera and sports glasses in one product: the Oakley Meta Vanguard brings exciting technology directly into your field of vision. Sebastian from the Sport Conrad team tested the glasses between February and May on ski tours in the Karwendel mountains and Chamonix, as well as while cycling in Mallorca. Conditions ranged from cold winter weather and classic spring ski touring to warm days on the bike.
Key features at a glance
- Smart sports glasses with Meta AI features
- 12 MP ultra wide camera with 3K video quality
- Touch control and voice control
- Open ear audio with speakers integrated into the temples
- Oakley Prizm lenses for enhanced contrast
- O Matter™ frame with one size fit
- IP67 protection against sweat, dust and water
- 32 GB storage for over 500 photos or more than 100 short videos
- Charging case with an additional 36 hours of battery life
How we tested the Oakley Meta Vanguard
Our mountain loving gravel expert and Pub Ride Guide Sebastian Dorn tested the Oakley Meta Vanguard over four to five days between February and May. He used them on ski tours and while cycling in Mallorca. This put the glasses through a wide range of conditions: cold winter days, changing spring ski touring weather and warm temperatures on the bike. Sebastian has a high level of experience in mountain sports, but had not used comparable smart glasses before this test.
Oakley Meta Vanguard test result
The Oakley Meta Vanguard is a special pair of sports glasses for anyone who loves tech and wants to capture their activities with minimal effort. The camera function is especially fun on the move, as short videos can be recorded much faster than with a classic action camera. Listening to music during sport also works well, while ambient sounds remain easy to hear.
You should allow a little extra time for setup. In very cold conditions, battery life may be reduced, and for smaller heads the glasses can feel a bit large.
Our rating
- Comfort: 8/10
- Build quality: 9/10
- Function: 7/10
- Features: 8/10
- Value for money: 7/10
- Overall: 8/10
First impression
Right out of the box, these Oakley sports glasses feel well made and high quality. The lens quality delivers the strong impression we expect from Prizm lenses. The design immediately stands out: the glasses are very large, but still sit well on the nose. The overall quality impression is also convincing. A large case is included, which is used for both charging and storage. That is practical, although it does make the full package feel a little bulky.
Fit and comfort
The glasses sit well on the nose and offer a very high level of comfort. At the same time, you do notice the weight during longer wear. The temples in particular can start to press a little over time. For smaller heads, the fit is more critical, as the glasses are quite large overall. In everyday use, the charging case is a clear plus: it keeps the glasses protected and makes them easy to carry in a backpack. Without the case, storage is less practical.
Operation and setup
Setup requires a bit of patience. To use all functions, several steps are needed in the app. These include creating Meta AI accounts, connecting the glasses to your phone and integrating social media. In Sebastian’s test, setup took around 30 to 45 minutes in total.
The controls and voice control are also not immediately intuitive. With gloves or cold fingers, the controls are less easy to use, and in windy conditions voice control is only reliable to a limited extent.
Performance in practice
The biggest strength of the Oakley Meta Vanguard is its unique range of functions. During sport, it is very practical to record short action videos directly from the perspective of the glasses. Compared to an action camera, it is faster and can be used more spontaneously and more often.
Listening to music during sport also works well. A major positive is that ambient sounds remain audible, which is especially important when ski touring and cycling.
Battery life leaves some room for improvement, especially in winter. On ski tours in cold temperatures, it felt rather short, so this is something to factor in when planning longer days.
Safety and care
The glasses use safety glass that will not shatter in the event of a fall. A microfibre cloth is included for cleaning, making it easy to care for the glasses both during and after use.
Photos and videos from the sports perspective
The following videos from the test show just how easy the camera function is to use in practice. They were recorded with the Oakley Meta Vanguard during Sebastian’s sessions and give an authentic impression of the perspectives the glasses can capture during sport.
Practical test verdict
✔️ Strengths
- High quality build
- Familiar strong lens quality from Oakley Prizm
- Very high wearing comfort
- Fast recording of short action videos
- Practical for listening to music during sport
- Ambient sounds remain easy to hear
- Charging case protects and charges the glasses
❌ Weaknesses
- Weight is noticeable during longer wear
- Temples can start to press over time
- Setup takes around 30 to 45 minutes
- Controls take some getting used to
- Less easy to operate with gloves or cold fingers
- Voice control is limited in windy conditions
- Battery life is rather short in winter
Conclusion: who are the Oakley Meta Vanguard for?
The Oakley Meta Vanguard is first and foremost a pair of glasses for tech enthusiasts. Anyone who wants to record short videos easily while ski touring or cycling gets a very exciting product with a truly unique character. Especially during sports where you do not want to constantly operate an action camera, the built in camera offers real added value.
These are not classic sports glasses, but a technical highlight for anyone who wants to capture and experience more during sport. The camera is genuinely fun on tours and bike rides, the music function is nicely implemented and the high quality build matches the strong overall impression. At the same time, the glasses do require a willingness to compromise. They are large, noticeably heavy, take time to set up and the battery life can become limited, especially in winter. For tech loving athletes, however, they remain an exciting product with a high fun factor and a genuine unique selling point.