UPDATE: Check out our review of the 2017/2018 Oakley Flight Deck here
- Price: £145-£185
- Frame/Strap: Jamie Anderson Signature Wanderlust Gold
- Lens: Prizm Black Iridium
- OAKLEY.COM
The Oakley Flight Deck XM is a scaled-down version of the Flight Deck, the brand’s premier frameless goggle that made its debut last year. Naturally it’ll be more popular with people that have a smaller bonce, including most women. The XM version is the frame of choice for unstoppable slopestyle juggernaut Jamie Anderson, and the model seen here features her signature colourway.
The Oakley Flight Deck XM is available with Oakley’s ‘Prizm’ lens system, which ranks among the best we’ve tried. The levels of contrast and clarity are a definite step up from Oakley’s regular lenses, which themselves aren’t too shabby. The darker lens seen here is best for bluebird conditions, but works better than most of its ilk when the clouds come over. There are other options that cover the middle ground well, or you can pick up a spare lens for bad-vis days in order to have everything covered.
“The double lens features F3 (Fog Free Forever) coating, so even at varying temperatures you won’t find yourself in a personal whiteout”
The lens-changing system is a little more traditional than some of the quick-release systems you now see on the market. Popping the lens out is relatively fast and easy – just pull the top of the frame away from the lens, then gently remove the lower part of the lens from the notches that hold it in place at the nose bridge. Getting the new one in place can be a little trickier, but it’s something that becomes a lot easier with practice, and you’ll never have to worry about whether or not your lens is secure.
The double lens features F3 (Fog Free Forever) coating, so even at varying temperatures you won’t find yourself in a personal whiteout. The frame is compatible with helmets (and not just Oakley ones), and they’re designed to fit a pair of prescription glasses underneath without any discomfort.
It may be a favourite of pros of both genders, but the Oakley Flight Deck XM will go down well with riders of all abilities – especially those looking for something frameless that won’t swallow up most of their face.
