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The intriguing Oakley Meta Vanguard AI glasses combine Oakley’s signature wraparound performance style with Meta’s smart-tech ecosystem.
You get voice-controlled assistance, real-time training insights synced from compatible Garmin devices (more on that later), and an ultra-wide nose-bridge camera for hands-free photos and videos.
There’s 32GB of onboard storage and the glasses, which are priced at £499, can push your ride straight to Strava to overlay stats such as distance and elevation.
With IP67 durability, six hours of claimed battery life with continuous audio (plus 36 more from the case) and various Prizm lens options, they’re clearly built for long days out.
Back to the future
My initial impressions were mixed when I first laid eyes on the glasses. I couldn’t understand the point of a 3K-portrait camera when there are plenty of action cameras on the market that shoot in 4K and have better image quality, a wider field of view and far more versatility.
As for the stats, my Garmin Fenix 6S Pro Solar smartwatch already gives me all the data I need at a glance. I also never ride with cycling headphones, but if I did, I’d probably use my Apple AirPods.
But I was wrong – the Vanguard AI glasses outshine my other tech simply through convenience. As the saying goes, “the best camera is the one you have with you” – and that’s exactly where these glasses excel.
Anyone who posts video on social media regularly will love the portrait clips functionality, which is perfect for Instagram reels and stories. If you stripped away every other feature of these glasses, I’d still consider buying them purely for the camera and how effortlessly it feeds into social media.
The main trade-off for that seamless connectivity is needing to download and sign up for the Meta AI app. The setup is easy if you have a Facebook account – you link to it and pairing the glasses via Bluetooth takes seconds.
But, once everything’s connected, the first thing you see is a doomscrolling feed of AI-generated slop. Instead of landing on useful performance stats or anything remotely motivating, you’re greeted by a poodle wearing roller skates serving milkshakes – an odd and off-putting introduction to a product designed for the active user.
Trailblazing?
Out on the trail, I mostly used the physical action buttons on the arms. There are three in total, each with different press-and-hold functions, plus a custom button you can assign to whatever you like.
I found the buttons far less anxiety-inducing than talking to the glasses. I’ve never said, “Hey Siri”, so I’m definitely not using the “Hey Meta” command. One click takes a photo, and a press-and-hold starts video recording – very simple.
Putting aside my personal preference of not wanting to talk to a pair of glasses, the voice commands are quick and responsive, even with my Midlands accent. You can ask it a multitude of questions from “How many miles did I cycle last week?” to “What is this I’m looking at?” and the glasses will give you a visual description of what the Vanguards can see.
Real-time performance data wasn’t available for me because my Garmin Fenix 6S Pro Solar isn’t compatible, but the Fenix 7 range and newer models are. There’s also compatibility with Garmin’s Edge bike computers from 540 / 840 and 1040 models onwards (plus the Edge MTB).
The glasses use two small speakers near your ears, giving bone-conduction-style awareness, but with more sound bleed.
I would have expected bone-conduction technology to be used here because anyone in close proximity will be able to hear the speakers. As such, I felt more self-conscious of what I was listening to. The sound quality is fine for cues and light listening, but everyone around you can hear it too.
In terms of fit, that depends on your helmet. It’s worth bearing in mind that the arms are fairly chunky – the glasses were a little skewed in my Smith Forefront MTB helmet. When I switched to my Smith Network helmet for gravel riding, they fit perfectly.
Oakley also includes three sizes of nosepiece in the box. I’d say the Vanguards suit cross-country mountain biking more than downhill or enduro because the smaller lens lacks the coverage I’d want for those genres.
A clear lens would also be a welcome addition. Replacement lenses are available from Meta and Oakley for £69, but there is no clear lens option. That said, I used the Prizm low-light lens, and this turned the bleak UK winter into a daydream.
Oakley Meta Vanguard AI glasses bottom line
Although the Vanguards have become a very useful addition to my content creation setup and have really grown on me, I’m left wanting more.
A Zwift-style heads-up-display showing heart rate, cadence, distance, or even simple Satnav cues right in the lens would transform them into a true performance tool.
If Oakley and Meta brought this to a second-generation Vanguard, that could easily take the platform into five-star territory.
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