© Oakley
Oakley Meta Vanguard: Smart Glasses That Display Your Running Data in Real Time
Head down. Check your watch. Look up. Pick up the pace. During the Paris 20K, French runner Étienne Daguinos repeated this motion dozens of times — a reflex every runner knows by heart when pacing themselves. But what if you no longer had to look down? That’s exactly what Oakley and Meta promise with the launch of the Oakley Meta Vanguard, smart glasses capable of displaying your running data in real time, connected directly to your Garmin, Strava, or Apple Health, all while keeping your hands free and your eyes on the road. Welcome to the new era of augmented reality running.
| Where Sport Meets Technology
We already knew about Meta’s partnership with Ray-Ban for everyday smart glasses — but this time, Oakley is entering the race. And when the California-based performance eyewear giant teams up with Meta, it signals a real shift for endurance sports.
The Oakley Meta Vanguard could be nothing short of a revolution for runners.
They come packed with high-tech features:
- Direct connection to Garmin, Strava, and Apple Health
- Voice command “Hey Meta” to ask for pace, heart rate, or distance without ever taking your eyes off the road
- Integrated LED that lights up when you’re in your target zone
- Auto-capture function that records video automatically during key moments of your run
The concept is simple: less distraction, more focus. Data appears directly on the lenses or is delivered via audio feedback — letting you stay immersed in your effort without breaking rhythm. For athletes chasing optimization, every detail counts, and this innovation adds real value to their training and racing experience.
| Built for Action
As expected from Oakley, the hardware delivers: durable, precise, and performance-driven, wrapped in the brand’s signature aerodynamic, futuristic design.
The glasses are IP67-certified — dust- and water-resistant — with a 9-hour battery life, extendable to 36 hours with the charging case. They feature a 12 MP ultra-wide camera (122° field of view) capable of shooting stabilized 3K video, slow motion, and hyperlapse, plus a five-microphone array that filters out wind noise up to 50 km/h.
It’s essentially a mini action camera for your face. Imagine recording that magical moment when you cross the finish line — without even touching a button.
This is far beyond a gadget. The Oakley Meta Vanguard is designed for runners, cyclists, and triathletes who live and breathe performance.
The collection comes in four lens variations, each built for specific conditions:
➜ PRIZM™ Road lenses, ideal for road running and cycling
➜ 24K lenses for bright sunlight
➜ Black lenses for a sleeker look
➜ Sapphire lenses for mid-light conditions
All are interchangeable, with a PRIZM™ Low Light option coming soon for early-morning and late-evening training. A complete lineup, from sunrise to finish line.
| The Future of Running — Without Looking at Your Watch
On paper, it’s a dream come true: no more glancing at your wrist every 30 seconds. Your stats are displayed right in front of you — or read aloud — while you stay locked into your pace.
For elite runners like Étienne Daguinos, this could change everything. No more breaking form mid-run. Fewer distractions. Better flow. And ultimately, better performance.
The possibilities are endless: execute your interval session hands-free, get an alert when your heart rate drifts out of range, or rewatch your marathon later in first-person POV, as if you were reliving it.
“At Oakley, our ambition has always been to imagine the future — and make it accessible today.
Oakley created the category of high-performance sports eyewear. With Oakley Meta Vanguard, we’re redefining what’s possible once again. We want to reinvent what a pair of glasses can do — by integrating technology that amplifies human potential. A decisive step toward a new era of human capability.”
Caio Amato, Global President of Oakley
| High-Tech Revolution or Luxury Gadget?
There’s still one question: do everyday runners really need this? At $499.00, these glasses aren’t made for casual joggers. But for performance-focused athletes and tech enthusiasts, they’ll be hard to resist.
Running has been quietly evolving for years. After carbon plates and super-foam shoes, a new frontier is emerging — one where technology meets awareness. Until now, innovation was all about going faster. Now, it’s about running smarter, more focused, more connected — both to your data and to your sensations.
Oakley and Meta haven’t just built another pair of glasses. They may have created the runner’s next personal assistant — one that tracks, analyzes, and records every stride.
And that? That’s priceless.
In an increasingly connected world, where innovation moves at lightning speed, running too is stepping into its digital revolution. Some of these advances may sound like science fiction — but this one could quickly become part of every runner’s reality. The Oakley Meta Vanguard may not change your stride… but it might just change the way you experience running.
✔ The Oakley Meta Vanguard is now available on the official Oakley and Meta websites, priced at $499.00.
Clément LABORIEUX
Journalist
