Oakley Meta Glasses Review. HTSN vs Vanguard. A heavyweight clash.
- Dec 9, 2025
- 6 min read
Smart glasses have come a long way since Google Glass. As someone who's been wearing them since those early days, I was excited to test Oakley's latest Meta collaborations: the HSTN and Vanguard. Both promise to solve a problem every runner faces—how do you capture your runs without bouncing footage or carrying a phone?
I've been running with both pairs for a few months now, and they're surprisingly different. One is built for extreme athletes, the other for everyday runners who want smart features. Here's what you need to know before spending £399-£499.
Quick Take: If you need prescription lenses or want a more casual look, get the HSTN. If you're training in extreme conditions or want the absolute best specs, go Vanguard.
I’m not going to go into detailed setup walkthrough here. This is also not the place to review the AI components of these glasses. That’s for someone else. For my part, I’m not interested in Meta's AI talking to me or doing any of the sequences you see in the adverts for these glasses.
This review is going to focus on:
Fit of the glasses
Running in them
Image and Video quality
Sound quality
Price and overall performance
From the get go these are two very different looking glasses. The HSTN have more of a sports casual look whilst the Vanguard are that sweeping shape that defines some of Oakley’s most iconic glasses. I would struggle to comfortably wear these in a casual setting, but everyone has their own tastes.
Specs at a glance
Feature / Spec | Oakley META Vanguard | Oakley META HSTN |
Camera & Field of View | 12 MP ultra-wide, 122° FOV, centered in bridge for better first-person capture | 12 MP ultra-wide, standard ~100° FOV |
Video Modes / Capture | 3K @ 30 fps; 1080p @ 60 fps; 1080p @ 30 fps; 720p @ 120 fps (slow motion) | 3K video @ 30 fps |
Image Resolution | 3024 × 4032 px still photos | 3024 × 4032 px still photos |
Water / Dust Resistance | IP67 (dust tight, resistant to immersion) | IPX4 (splash and rain resistant) |
Battery Life (glasses) | Up to 9 hours use, fast charge ~50% in 20 minutes | Up to 8 hours use |
Charging Case Total Time | Adds up to ~36 hours of additional charge | Adds up to ~48 hours of total battery |
Audio / Speakers | Open-ear speakers, louder with wind resistance optimization | Open-ear speakers, balanced for daily use |
Lens / Optical Support | Prizm™ lenses, swappable, supports prescription options | Prizm™ polarized lenses, limited prescription options |
Storage / Memory | 32 GB internal memory (photos & videos) | 32 GB internal memory (photos & videos) |
Connectivity / Interface | Wi‑Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, touch controls, voice assistant (Meta AI) | Wi‑Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, touch controls, voice assistant (Meta AI) |
Fit / Weight | ~66 g, medium to large fit | ~53 g, medium fit |
Sport / Fitness Integration | Fitness integrations (Garmin, Strava) with Meta AI support | More fashion-focused, less sport integration |
Price | £499 | £399 |
Fit & Comfort
HSTN: These fit snugly—perhaps too snugly at first. I have a medium-to-large face, and they took several runs to break in properly. Once they loosened up, they felt secure without being uncomfortable. At 53g, you definitely know you're wearing tech-packed glasses, but they're not heavy.
Vanguard: These nestle onto your face more gently thanks to their sweeping Oakley shape. The weight (66g) is distributed more evenly, and despite being heavier on paper, they feel less bulky. More comfortable from day one.
Winner: Vanguard for immediate comfort, but both work fine after break-in.
Running Performance
Both glasses stay securely in place—I had no worries about them falling off, even during interval sessions or trail runs.
A note on fogging: The Vanguard did steam up on me during colder runs, particularly when I started working hard. I'm not entirely sure why—possibly the shape creates less airflow? The HSTN didn't have this issue.
Camera button placement: The Vanguard's button took more getting used to. It's positioned differently than the HSTN, and my muscle memory kept searching for it in the wrong spot. After a week, this became second nature.
Winner: Draw. Both glasses are rock solid, no bouncing
Image & Video Quality
On paper: The Vanguard wins with its ultra-wide 122° field of view versus the HSTN's 100°, plus more video mode options (including 720p slow motion).
In practice: Both produce fantastic images for on-the-go capture. The 3024 × 4032px photos are crisp and detailed enough that you can edit them properly afterwards. Unless you're pixel-peeping, you won't notice the difference.
Camera placement matters: The Vanguard's centered camera gave me more confidence when framing shots—everything lined up more naturally. The HSTN's temple-mounted camera (Oakley calls it "athlete-centered but not centered"—marketing speak for "on the side") works fine but requires more thought about composition.
The runner's advantage: This is where these glasses shine. Mounting an action camera while running creates unwatchably bouncy footage. These glasses? Minimal movement, stable footage. It's genuinely the best solution for capturing runs I've found.
Winner: Vanguard for video versatility, but HSTN is 95% as good for most uses.
Audio Performance
Recording: Both capture audio well—almost too well. You'll hear every laboured breath, which can ruin otherwise great footage. If you're recording for social media, you'll want to add music over the top.
Playback: Listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks through the open-ear speakers is surprisingly good. The Vanguard sounds noticeably richer and louder (important when running in traffic), but the HSTN isn't far behind.
Winner: Vanguard for audio, especially in noisy environments.
Battery Life
Both glasses deliver 8-9 hours of use per charge—more than enough for any run. Real-world testing: I run, charge them, and never think about battery. Even ultra runners would only hit limits on their longest days.
The charging case adds another 36-48 hours, so you can easily go a week between case charges.
Winner: Tie—both are excellent.
Garmin Integration (Vanguard Only)
The Vanguard promises "real-time insights about your performance metrics with Meta AI and Garmin." In theory, you can ask your glasses for your heart rate, distance, or pace while running.
My take: This sounds better than it is. Looking at your watch is easier and quicker than voice commands. The one compelling use case is for partially sighted runners—for them, this is genuinely valuable. But for most of us? Gimmick.
What IS useful: Stats overlaid on videos (distance, pace, time). If you create run content for yourself and others, this could save editing time.
Price & Value
HSTN: £399
Vanguard: £499
Neither is cheap, but you're paying for genuinely useful tech. The £100 difference buys you: better water resistance (IP67 vs IPX4), louder speakers, a wider camera angle, and Garmin integration.
Is it worth £100 more? Only if you're training in extreme conditions, creating content professionally, or need the extra durability. For most runners, the HSTN offers 95% of the experience for 80% of the price.
Prescription Lenses & Customization
This is where the HSTN has a clear advantage.
HSTN: Fully compatible with prescription lenses. I used Lensology (£146.90) and the mirror finish matches Oakley's original almost perfectly. You can also buy replacement Oakley lenses (£69) to change the look or switch between different light conditions.
Vanguard: Currently NO prescription lens options available. Oakley is releasing replacement lenses (£69), including Prizm™ Low Light which would be perfect for year-round UK running without looking ridiculous in sunglasses on dark mornings.
Winner: HSTN by a mile if you need prescription lenses. This is a dealbreaker factor.
The Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?
Both are excellent smart glasses for runners, which makes the choice tricky. Here's how to decide:
Buy the HSTN (£399) if you:
Need prescription lenses ← BIGGEST FACTOR
Want a more casual look for everyday wear
Run in typical UK conditions (not extreme environments)
Want to save £100
Buy the Vanguard (£499) if you:
Train in extreme conditions (heavy rain, water sports, mountain running)
Want the best camera angle and maximum recording options
Create running content professionally
Don't need prescription lenses
Want the loudest audio for busy environments
My choice? As a glasses wearer who runs in normal conditions and wants something that doesn't look too sporty off the trail—HSTN every time.
Both solve the long-standing problem of capturing runs without bouncy footage. You can't go wrong with either, but for most runners, the HSTN offers better value.
Check out our RayBan Meta reivew if you are interested in something a bit different.
