Oakley is one of those brands that continues to innovate with modern technology, while also honoring its past by looking to the vault for inspiration. Whether you’re an Oakley fan or not, you’ve probably seen Michael Jordan rocking his favorite Oakley Eye Jackets, and there’s no denying the label’s presence in the sports scene. From professional cyclists to runners, and celebrities to dads, there’s a pair of Oakley sunglasses for nearly any occasion. By chance, Oakley accidentally made a thousand pairs of miscut Katos, and now we have the Oakley Space Encoders, a limited edition pair of futuristic sunglasses.
Based on the Oakley Encoders, this Space edition cuts a bit off the top above the bridge and features a more hat/helmet-friendly fit, using O-Matter temples purpose-built for headgear. The Prizm 24k lenses add to the futuristic look and give you the contrast needed for vivid colors and detail, with Unobtainium ear socks and nose pads to prevent slipping. Using something called PhysioMorphic Geometry, Oakley states these shades are “intended to fit the lens as close to the face as possible, providing optimized coverage, wider field of view, frame retention and impact protection.”
As for the colorway, the frame comes in a matte primary blue, and the Prizm lenses come in a sleek gold. The OG Oakley Encoders took heavy inspiration from the Katos, which Mark Cavendish wore in 2021 for his return to the Tour de France, and it’s clear that Oakley is going all-in on these futuristic mono-lens silhouettes (seen in the Oakley Crush The Ordinary collection, which also features some very sci-fi-looking Encoders).
The Oakley Space Encoder glasses are available now for $264, but you’ll want to act fast if you’re interested because this is a limited edition run with only 940 pairs in stock.
