We expected to see tons of athletes wearing the all-new Oakley Kato and Kato X with the Olympics underway. But just when we thought we had it figured out, they came and surprised us with the Oakley Xeus sunglasses.
Keep reading as we review everything to know about these wild sunglasses!
Table of Contents
Olympics Debut
The Oakley Xeus sunglasses first appeared on national television during the Tokyo Olympic track and field events. Specifically on the faces of sprinters Kevin Borlée and Andre de Grasses.
As we mentioned above, the speculation was that Oakley would use the Tokyo Olympics to massively push the new Kato sunglasses.
But it appears they had some other thoughts in mind.
While the Kato has been prominently shown on dozens of Olympians’ faces, it’s the new Xeus Sunglasses that are stealing the show.
This isn’t the first time Oakley used the Olympic stage to debut a radical new design – at the 2000 Olympics sprinter Ato Boldon debuted the wild Over The Top sunglasses. And the rest was history.
Name and History
Just based on the name, clearly, these sunglasses are destined for greatness. The name Xeus is obviously a reference to the Greek God of lighting, so it’s no surprise you’ll find them on the faces of track and field sprinters.
Plus, the gold frame and lenses are an obvious reference to the Gold medals given to the winners of each Olympic event.
Oakley Xeus Sunglasses Review
Frame and Design
As we actually focus on the frame itself, the Oakley Xeus features a dual-lens design made of lightweight O Matter material. And since these sunglasses are designed for peak performance, it’s no surprise to see large Unobtainium nosepads and earsocks for grip.
The design appears to be somewhat similar to the classic Oakley Zero sunglasses, though definitely with an updated look.
But the two components that stand out for us the most are the upper brow bar that stretches the width of the sunglasses and the vented frame.
The Brow Bar
The upper brow bar on the Xeus sunglasses is bent at a 90 degrees angle to give rigidity to the entire structure. (H/t Jesusek).
This is similar to the design of the Kato, but instead, the Xeus features a space between this bar and the lenses allowing for airflow.
Lenses and Frame Vents
From the initial pictures, it appears the Xeus features 24K Prizm lenses. We just saw Oakley launch the limited edition 24K Kato X, so it makes sense they would use a similar lens on this frame.
It’s also no surprise to find Prizm lenses in these sunglasses since almost every new pair of Oakleys features these contrast-enhancing lenses.
But the really cool design and performance feature of these sunglasses is the vented frame around the lenses.
These lenses extend the same PhysioMorphic Geometry Oakley found on the Kato. And looking closely, you realize that it’s actually around the lenses that’s vented. This feature likely exists to improve airflow and prevent fogging for elite athletes.
Double Iridium Coating
The other unique feature of the Xeus lenses is the double iridium coating. Iridium is a common coating on Oakley sunglasses that provides a reflective or mirrored property to the lenses. In simple terms, people can’t see your eyes.
However, on the Xeus, Oakley stepped it up to the next level with a double Iridium coating. This coating increases the mirrored look while also providing a two-toned color that darkens from the gold going across the lens.
Collectors Edition Box
As a part of this limited edition release, the Xeus comes in a collectors edition built for displaying these sunglasses. Plus, a collectors booklet explaining the history of the disruption of Oakley and the innovation in the Xeus.
The inside of the box is inscribed with the picture of a samurai warrior, the signatures of the team that designed the frame along with the inscription below:
“Competition brings transformation, a process that is born almost entirely from within. When the stakes are their highest, the emotional and metal battle can be just as, if not more, critical than the physical one. The strong dig for more.
For that ultimate edge, they turn to Xeus. Sitting at the intersection of the mindset of a god and the image of a warrior, Xeus provides the final advantage to unlock what’s possible.”
Oakley Xues Collectors Box Inscription
Size and Dimensions
The Xeus is a medium to large frame that will fit well on most heads. We’ve included the full dimensions below for reference:
- Frame Width: 138.9 mm
- Temple Width: 127 mm
- Lens Width: 47 mm
- Lens Height: 61.6 mm
For more size comparisons and information, check out our complete Oakley Size guide.
Where can you buy Xeus Sunglasses?
Oakley Xeus Sunglasses were released online and in some stores on August 12, 2021. You can find the link here: Product Link.
In total, Oakley will only be selling 200 of these frames as a part of a Tokyo Olympics release. And just like we predicted, these sold out in an instant. By the time we even received the email and launched the site, they were already gone.
How much does the Xeus cost?
The Xeus retailed for $550 on Oakley’s website. These definitely aren’t inexpensive. But this price doesn’t seem as wild as the $14K MUZM X-Metals we saw last year.
And obviously, we expect to see several pairs hit the aftermarket for above the retail price in the next few weeks after the release.
If you’re looking to buy a pair in the aftermarket, we’d suggest checking out sites like our Oakley Forum Exchange Areas and eBay.
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