GogglesLenses

Oakley PRIZM Persimmon Lens Review: Great For Snow, Bad for Sun

Oakley Prizm Lenses offer unparalleled contrast and color-enhancing technology. And the introduction of Oakley Prizm Persimmon lenses tailors this technology for snowy days!

But how does this lens actually perform?

We got our hands on Prizm Persimmon for a whiteout day on the mountain to see how this lens stands up to real-life conditions. Now, let’s get into our full Oakley Prizm Persimmon Snow lens review.

What is Oakley Prizm Snow Persimmon Lens?

Oakley Prizm Snow Persimmon is a Prizm Snow lens tuned specifically for overcast, cloudy and snowy conditions with a 38% Visual Light Transmission (VLT). Compare this VLT to the darkest snow lens, Prizm Snow Black Iridium, which clocks in at 5.5%, and you see the difference!

But don’t worry, Prizm Snow Persimmon still includes all of the great contrast and color-enhancing we love in Prizm lenses and sunglasses.

Check out the highlights of this lens below:

Prizm Snow Persimmon Features

  • 38% VLT designed for low-light conditions including overcast and snowy weather
  • Contrast-enhancing Prizm lens technology designed specifically for snowy mountains and terrain
  • Enhanced color and visibility to help you easily spot snow contours and hazards in the terrain while skiing or snowboarding
  • Orange base lens color that provides a warm and bright look to your environment, even when snowing
  • Made of impact-resistant Plutonite lens material featuring High Definition Optics (HDO) that blocks 100% UVA, UVB, and UVC rays

What Color is Prizm Snow Persimmon?

Oakley Prizm Snow Persimmon appears light orange when you look at the lens. And you’ll see the same orange tint when you’re wearing these lenses, thanks to the orange base tint.

It’s important to note that Prizm Persimmon does not have an Iridium (Mirrored) coating. That means that other riders will easily be able to see your eyes through your goggles. But this isn’t uncommon for other low light lenses like Prizm Hi Pink or Low Light that also don’t have an Iridium coating.

Oakley Prizm Persimmon Lenses in Flight Deck Goggles

Prizm Snow Persimmon Lens Review

Our Review Gear

We reviewed a pair of Oakley Line Miner M goggles with Prizm Snow Persimmon lenses on a snowy day in the northeast. And we were surprised by our experience, with one big caveat.

Let us explain.

Initial Impressions and Review

To start off, we aren’t the biggest fan of higher VLT lenses. While they definitely perform well in snowy conditions, we generally prefer colors like Prizm Sapphire or Prizm Snow Jade for all-around use.

But we vowed to give Prizm Persimmon a fair try. And when we put on these lenses for the first time, the biggest surprise was the orange base tint.

Most snow goggles use red or rose base tints that help contrast white, snowy environments while still protecting against glare and sun. And while these red tints work great as all-around lenses, they still have room for improvement in whiteout or snowy conditions.

And that’s exactly where Prizm Persimmon steals the show.

Oakley Prizm Persimmon lens

The orange base tint was perfect for a snowy day where the mountain received up to 2 inches of snow an hour. And even as it stopped snowing for a bit, the orange worked great in overcast.

Plus, the Prizm contrast-enhancing really stood out for such a high VLT lens. Typically the effects of Prizm technology can get diluted for lenses that let in more sunlight. But we didn’t experience any of this with Prizm Persimmon.

Not only did the Orange base tint brighten our environment, it highlighted bumps, rocks, sticks, and other hazards on the trails in front of us.

So what did we think of this lens?

Are They Worth It – Our Recommendation?

Overall we had a great time with Prizm Persimmon and highly recommend this lens for snow, whiteout, and overcast weather.

But there’s a catch.

We don’t recommend using this lens for brighter or even partially sunny days. During our ride, when the snow began to peak out towards the end of the day, the high VLT of this lens really showed, and we had to change goggles.

So if you’re looking for one all-around lens, we’d avoid Prizm Persimmon and instead opt for lenses like Snow Jade, Torch, or Sapphire.

This will really be decided by your willingness to swap lenses on the mountain during a ski day. Luckily Oakley has plenty of goggles that allow easy and quick lens swaps. Keep reading for our top picks for Oakley goggles with Prizm Snow Persimmon.

Top Oakley Prizm Snow Persimmon Goggles

Line Miner

Oakley Prizm Persimmon Line Miner Snow Goggles

Thanks to its increased peripheral vision, the Oakley Line Miner (Product Link) is one of our favorite Oakley goggles. And they’re the same goggles we reviewed above. Plus, its flexible O matter chassis conforms to your face for a close but comfortable fit, even in the coldest conditions.

Read more in our Oakley Line Miner review.

Line Miner Highlights

  • Optically correct Dual Lens with F3 Anti-fog coating
  • Low profile design for increased visibility and helmet compatibility
  • Discreet frame notches built into the temples provide compatibility with prescription eyewear

Flight Deck

The Oakley Flight Deck (Product Link) goggles, feature a modern rimless design for a wide field of view. Plus these goggles are available with Oakley Ridgelock technology so you can easily swap between Oakley Prizm Snow lenses on the mountain!

Check out our Oakley Goggles Size guide to find the right size for you.

Flight Deck Highlights

  • Triple-layer face foam with a moisture-wicking polar fleece liner for dry all-day comfort
  • F3 Anti-fog coating to prevent fogging while you’re skiing or snowboarding
  • Available in small, medium and large sizes with an adjustable strap for a secure fit

Where to Buy Oakley Prizm Snow Persimmon?

We’d recommend trying on Oakley goggles at your local Oakley store or ski store to find the right frame for you. But keep in mind Prizm Persimmon is only available in a limited selection of goggles, which we highlighted above.

Once you’ve found the right Oakley goggles, we’d recommend buying them online. That’s because you can save 30-50% off new goggles with only a few seconds of work.

First, you can typically save 20-30% off goggles and lenses during Oakley seasonal sales. These sales happen a few times throughout the year, like Black Friday. Find out when the next Oakley sale is in our complete Oakley sales schedule.

And if you don’t want to wait for a sale, you can still find new Oakley goggles for 30%+ off through aftermarket sites like our Oakley Forum Exchange. For complete options to save, check out our guide to Saving Big on Oakleys!

Looking for More?

Have a question about Oakley Prizm Persimmon lenses? Join the largest online Oakley community and let us know in the thread below.

Created this site because of the lack of a place for the Oakley Community to talk. Feel free to Message me any time with feedback for the site, tips o...