Oakley and Meta’s newest performance glasses promise hands-free action capture, real-time Garmin stats and AI support in a visor-style frame powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1 platform. After wearing them in multiple races and training blocks, here’s how they actually performed
All products featured on Athletech News are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
I started testing the Oakley Meta Vanguard with a little bit of skepticism: did I really need smart glasses for my workouts? I’m a runner who has largely stayed true to my core gear: polarized sunglasses, my flip belt and my favorite running apparel, but I decided to give the Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses a try to see if they could fit into my running routine.
Priced at $499, the Oakley Meta Vanguard sunglasses are available in black or white frames and in four lens options: the gold Prizm 24k, the rose-based Prizm Road, Prizm Sapphire or Black. Designed for running, cycling and other athletic activities, the frames feature Meta’s AI with Athletic Intelligence and integration with Garmin GPS and Strava. The glasses automatically identifies your activity and can track heart rate, calories, speed, pace, elevation, progress, elapsed time, duration and more.
We recently wore the Meta Vanguards while running 50 miles a week in Central Park, training for a 10K and a half-marathon, as well as during a few cycling rides. We wore them during rain, shine, high sweat, and low sweat workouts. Read our honest review of the Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses and whether they’re worth the price tag.
Oakley Meta Vanguard Review: The Bottom Line
Runners, cyclists and other athletes who want to stay in the zone can rely on the Oakley Meta Vanguards to enhance and track every aspect of their workout hands-free, from documenting key moments to providing real-time assistance and insights.
Oakley Meta Vanguard AI Glasses
$499
Oakley Meta Vanguard Review: Materials, Design & Fit
Made of lightweight O Matter material, the Oakley Meta Vanguard AI glasses use a single wraparound visor-style Prizm lens (more like cycling/racing shields than standard sunglasses) with thick arms that house the tech. Unobtainium temple tips, interchangeable nose pads and IP67 resistance allow the frames to stay put as you ride, run and sweat through heat, rain, humidity and other weather conditions. I wore them during mostly brisk fall days in Central Park, but found that they still held up during frosty winter days, even in light sleet or snow. The battery life and the features held up perfectly.
The key features baked into the frame are a front-facing, centered camera for hands-free photos and video, open-ear speakers so you can hear audio without earbuds and built-in mics for voice controls and calls. The idea is to give you one piece of eyewear that can handle action capture, audio, and on-the-go assistance without pulling out your phone.
One of the most surprising parts of the glasses is how lightweight they are for all the tech they offer. They don’t feel too much heavier than a normal pair of sunglasses. The wraparound look is one I previously reserved for cycling workouts, but I found it nice while running for extra sun protection. Oakley’s three-point fit keeps the glasses secure when you’re moving quickly, and the visor-style design blocks wind better than traditional running frames. The glasses also integrate cleanly with helmets, which makes them especially effective for cycling.
Oakley Meta Vanguard Review: Camera Quality
The 12MP ultrawide camera is the most impressive part of the glasses. Still images look sharp and balanced, and stabilized video holds up on fast terrain. In races, hands-free capture is where Vanguard earns its place. Being able to say “Hey Meta, take a photo” allowed me to grab moments without reaching for a phone or slowing down. For cycling, that becomes even more valuable since a phone is often tucked away. The camera’s centered position also makes footage feel natural and unobstructed.
Oakley Meta Vanguard Review: Audio & Open-Ear Listening
The open-ear speakers sound better than expected. They get loud enough to cut through wind and stay clear at pace. Music quality is strong for this format, though bass is naturally lighter than in-ear devices. Auto-volume adjustments work well, and audio pauses the moment the glasses come off. The music can be heard by others, however, which is good to know if your motivational playlist can be a bit embarrassing.
One race-specific note: if the action button is mapped to music controls, it can sometimes conflict with headphones depending on your setup. It’s worth dialing in your button mapping before a race so controls do not become a distraction mid-effort.
Oakley Meta Vanguard Review: Garmin Integration
Garmin integration is the feature that makes Vanguard feel built for athletes. When paired with a compatible Garmin device, the glasses can read out live pace, heart rate, cadence or a full stats breakdown. A small internal LED signals whether you’re inside your target zone, and it’s surprisingly useful because it provides feedback without forcing you to look down.
Auto-capture during races creates short clips at meaningful moments, then stitches them into a recap with stat overlays. The result is a polished post-race story without having to think about filming while you’re racing.
Oakley Meta Vanguard Review: AI Tools
Meta’s voice assistant handles reminders, simple questions and hands-free tasks reliably. The most meaningful utility may be accessibility: the glasses can identify objects and describe surroundings on command, which could offer real support for users with visual challenges. Messaging works best through Meta-owned apps, while third-party platform support feels less consistent.
Oakley Meta Vanguard Review: Battery Life
Battery life is solid for a device running audio, AI and camera tools. In mixed use, the glasses lasted around six hours, which covered most endurance sessions. The charging case adds multiple full charges, the IP67 rating kept them protected from sweat and weather, and the frame played nicely with helmets and headbands.
Oakley Meta Vanguard Review: The Verdict
Oakley Meta Vanguard delivers where it matters. The camera is excellent, the open-ear audio is better than expected, and the Garmin integration is genuinely useful in motion. The look is bold and the controls take a little setup, but once dialed in, Vanguard feels less like a novelty and more like a streamlined piece of training kit that enhances a workout.
Oakley Meta Vanguard Specifications:
- Price: $499
- Frame dimensions: lens width 52mm, bridge width 152mm; temple length 120mm
- Camera: 12MP; video 720p @ 120fps, 2203×2938 @ 30fps
- Audio: Built-in open-ear speakers
- Microphone: 5 mic array
- Controls: Touch/voice
- Water resistance: IP67
- Battery: 9 hours max
- Memory: 32GB built-in storage
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth
- Compatibility: iOS 14.4/Android 10 minimum
The Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses are available online for $499 at Meta, Sunglass Hut, Amazon, Best Buy and other retailers.
