Oakley Fall Line - Review 2023

Slick looks and luxury performance from optics professionals

The Fall Line XL represents the best that Oakely has to offer in both comfort and style. Though we have some reservations about their cumbersome lens swap system, our time with the Fall Line XL has been nothing short of the polished, professional experience you’d a reigning champion of the outdoor optics world.

Lens Quality

Oakley consistently delivers when it comes to visual clarity in rapidly changing mountain conditions. I’ve been using the Fall Line primarily in overcast conditions that most people would consider “bad” lighting, and they’ve held up so much that I’d trust them in nearly any terrain in almost any conditions.

Alongside Smith’s Chromapop lenses, Oakley PRIZM technology represents the best in high color, high contrast outdoor optics. Nowhere does this make as much difference as it does in the snow. I took note of this last year with the Flight Deck, reveling in their on-piste prowess, and the same holds for the Fall Line.

The difference is seeing fine details in the snowpack that I would otherwise be guessing about or totally unaware of. They’re not X-ray vision or cliff detectors, but they can help make out little details when the light is flat.

I lapped the same run a couple of times in a cheap pair of goggles that I was testing out, then went back and gave it another go in the Fall Line goggles.

The high-quality PRIZM lenses improved my ability to make quick adjustments accounting for the terrain. They don’t make me ski any harder, but they certainly help me make better line choices when lighting is in question.

Persimmon 39% VLT Lenses

I opted for some lenses that would excel in the largely overcast weather conditions we experience in the Pacific Northwest. With the massive amounts of precipitation we’ve been receiving this winter, it was a prudent decision on my part.

The Persimmon lenses do the trick for any conditions short of snowing sideways. On Mount Baker, where snowfall can be patchy and mixed with varying light qualities, they’ve worked very well to keep me aware in low-light conditions while staying protected when the sun occasionally peeks through the veil.

Oakley makes a total of 23 different lenses for the Fall Line ranging from transparent to black mirrored. You should be able to find a few different options that would work for your home mountain’s conditions- and maybe spring for an extra set if you’re willing to spend the extra money.

Lens Change System

Much to my chagrin, the Fall Line uses Oakley’s Ridgelock lens change system. By far, it’s my least favorite lens change system that I’ve had the privilege of trying. By far, it’s my most significant criticism about this pair of goggles.

I can’t help but feel like I’ll break the lenses when I struggle to pry them from the frame. Because of the “frameless” style of these goggles, it’s virtually impossible to do without smearing your fingers on the lens. It requires quite a bit of effort to get them popped out and some finesse to get them reinstalled after the fact.

When you couple the effort it takes to remove your lens and the fact that you’ll likely need to give them a wipe down after the fact, don’t expect to be swapping your lenses out on the lift or in a hurry.

Despite my general distaste for it, there are a couple of good things to be said about the Ridgelock system. Its general stubbornness makes it pretty burly. You’d need to subject yourself to a pretty heinous fall to get them to pop out from the frame. Additionally, I’ve never had issues with air sneaking in through the sides, as is sometimes the case with some quick-change systems.

Ventilation and Fog Mitigation

Fog buildup is an issue that I’ve noticed consistently with the Oakley goggles that I’ve tested. I’m willing to bet it’s that they usually have larger lenses and give more surface area for moisture to build up upon and that it would be hard to build a frame with enough ventilation to do a comparable job to smaller goggles.

On this note, my very first impression of the Fall Line wasn’t very promising. There was noticeable and performance-impacting fog buildup accumulated from nothing more than milling around a parking lot waiting for some friends to get ready. It got to the point where I almost left them in the car in lieu of something I was sure would work better.

Fortunately, they cleared out entirely when I started moving downhill. The goggles have followed this trend since- trouble with fog buildup when I’m waiting in line or stopped for an extended period on the side of a run and; then clearing out when air starts circulating through them.

The Fall Lines make use of the same high-quality lens coating used by all of Oakley’s PRIZM lenses. Additionally, they have a fairly standard ventilation setup, with one long channel across the brow and two smaller openings in the cheek area.

The final verdict on their fog-resistant qualities is complicated- sure, they could do a little better job of staying clear from a convenience standpoint, but when the stakes are high and you’re underway, they never seem to have any issues.

Fit and Field of View

The Fall Line XL has a better field of view than most other cylindrical goggles that I’ve had the opportunity to try. I’ve heard some complaints about the previous version of this goggle and the tunnel vision effect that plagued many users. Yes, the frame is visible at the extreme edges of your vision, but not in a way that meaningfully impacts your ability to navigate safely.

Speaking of the frame, comfort is a category where the Fall Line XL shines most. It takes the comfort crown out of all of the goggles that I’ve tested this season and may well be in the running of the most comfortable goggle I’ve ever tried.

Looking at the build, it’s easy to see why this was the case. The frame is hearty, with several layers of thick foam and padding around the flexible plastic TPU body.

As a final note on comfort, the Fall Line XL isn’t the only size available in the upgraded version of the goggle. While it fits my face more accurately than most other goggles (a major improvement from the consistent comfort issues in the goggle’s first iteration), the XL “extra medium” size brings the same style and attitude but better accommodates smaller faces.

Helmet Compatibility

As is the case with most Oakley goggles and most goggles on the larger end of the spectrum, the larger Oakley Fall Line XL fits reasonably well with the few helmets I’ve had a chance to pair it with. While I can’t promise a perfect fit with every lid, I can say that it is designed to pair well with most, and that’s coming from what I perceive as a very “fashion-forward” brand.

I’ll update the guide as I get the chance to try it out with more than what I currently have in stock. But, if you’re worried about optimizing your fit, you could always try to match a pair of goggles with their manufacturer’s helmet.

Conclusion

Although it does take a slightly different approach, the Fall Line XL doesn’t do anything that the Flight Deck or any other luxury resort goggles I’ve tested do. I see most models favoring a field of view and features approach; the Fall Line XL shifts its attention toward comfort and style.

When I say it focuses on style, I’m not begrudging the way they perform on the hill. I’d say it’s pretty close to ideal for anyone who wants a top-performing pair of goggles but prefers the look and feel of cylindrical lenses.

Even though I like theme goggles, I think I would leave them at home any day I wasn’t riding lift-accessed terrain. Though I didn’t have many issues with fog buildup while skiing, I can’t speak for how they hold up in warm weather or very high-exertion scenarios. The cumbersome lens change system isn’t great for making switches on the go.

Speaking of lenses, my biggest issue with the Fall Line is that they only come with one pair. This, more than anything else, puts them out of reach for budget-conscious skiers.

The Competition

The Fall Line is a solid set of goggles for any serious resort rider, but they’re far from the only option out there. For me, they were a leader in style and comfort, but this may not be the case for every rider out there.

If they seem interesting, but you’re worried about the oversized frame, I’d encourage you to check out the aforementioned Oakley Fall Line XM. On the other side, their Flight Deck goggles offer a similar quality experience, ramped up to maximum proportions.

Those seeking a high-quality cylindrical goggle at a more reasonable price should check out Glade Optics. We tested both their Challenger and MagFlight models and came away impressed. They might not have the same high-contrast lens tech as Oakley, but they’re more than enough for most skiers on the mountain.

For more on goggles and to see side-by-side comparisons of more of our favorites, take a look at our buyer’s guide.