Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Back to REVIEWS
review
Cleaning products
Oakley Lens Cleaning KitOakley Lens Cleaning Kit

Oakley Lens Cleaning Kit

7
by Alex Jerome
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Feb 27, 2013

6
£17.00

VERDICT:

7
10
Not cheap but you're doing the right thing by your optical investment
Weight: 
29g
Contact: 
www.oakley.com
How we test

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

Keeping your vision as clear as possible, the Oakley Lens Cleaning Kit is a good antidote to sweat and fingerprints.

If you've seen fit to spend an Oakley amount of money on eyewear, and we'll be honest here and say that we agree that there's a massive mark up on these glasses, but at the same time we've never used any that are - when all is said and done, better - then you ought to look after them in the best possible way.

Oakley suggest using their own cleaning kit which comprises of a specially formulated cleaning fluid and a microfibre anti-static cleaning cloth. It's all kept safe and together in a sturdy little box with a popper closure. The fluid dispenser is a non-aerosol pump unit which provides a measured spritz of fluid to each lens. This you then wipe over the entire lens. The fluid cuts through the grease, dirt and whatever else is on the lenses to leave them clear and smear free.

If the lens has a lot of wet or dried on dirt, we would recommends running them under warm water so that flow loosens and removes as much debris as possible. Do not be tempted to agitate the dirt as the water is on it as you can still damage the lens with the dirt particulate. Once rinsed let them air dry, before using the Oakley lens cleaning kit. Some will always opt for hand soap warm tap water and the edge of a t-shirt. Effective, but not really doing the best by your investment.

By using the proper Oakley kit to clean your lenses you're taking the recommended route to keeping them clean, avoiding the possibility of damaging the fragile optical surfaces with other cleaning agents or rougher than ideal cloths.

We've been using this one on our lenses for over a year and despite initial scepticism as to the need to spend £17 instead of using dish soap and shirt tails, along with a continued view that it could be a fiver cheaper, we're convinced that we're doing it the right way with cleaner results and fewer accidental scratches.

Verdict

Not cheap but you're doing the right thing by your optical investment.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Oakley Lens Cleaning Kit

Size tested: xx

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Oakley say, " our cleaning solution offers the highest level of clarity without affecting the optical precision of our performance lens coatings'

We say

This way you're safe in the knowledge that you're not harming your expensive lenses

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

Expensive, but in the long run probably worth it.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Works as described and is easy to use. Guaranteed perfect vision.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Fast effective results and safe for the fragile lens surfaces.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The cost and that I often don't have it with me when I need it (mid ride).

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Probably.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 41  Height: 5'9  Weight:

I usually ride: My Seven titanium  My best bike is: My Seven titanium

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, club rides, sportives, mtb, A bit of everything

 

Oakley Lens Cleaning Kit
Oakley
lens
Cleaning

Add new comment

6 comments

Avatar
sethpistol | 11 years ago
0 likes

i think the oakley stuff has free refills too - though not sure where, maybe an oakley store?

Avatar
notfastenough | 11 years ago
0 likes

@crikey - I wear fancy Bolle prescription sports specs, but wasn't aware of that - the driving rain can be a problem so I'll check it out, thanks.

Avatar
pdows47 | 11 years ago
0 likes

why not just go to the pound shop and buy a box of lens wipes?? far cheaper, just as good, and sticking a couple in your jersey takes up no space at all

Avatar
sorebones replied to pdows47 | 11 years ago
0 likes
pdows47 wrote:

why not just go to the pound shop and buy a box of lens wipes?? far cheaper, just as good, and sticking a couple in your jersey takes up no space at all

I take it you have tried the £17 Oakley option then, to state with such confidence that your lens wipes are just as good?

Avatar
crikey | 11 years ago
0 likes

A better investment is the Oakley Nanoclear solution. I was sceptical until I got some with a pair of Oakley riding glasses and rode in driving rain.

Seeing the water bead and roll off and being able to actually see convinced me.

I use it on all my glasses, bikey or otherwise now.

Avatar
mikeprytherch | 11 years ago
0 likes

Or buy Autoglym Fast Glass for £5 and some kitchen roll !

Latest Comments