ISPO Award Winner 2023: Oakley Flex Scape

“Flex Scape was designed with the purpose of maximizing the function of goggles and sunglasses. The outrigger clips on the frame represent visual cues of goggles from the past, intertwined with the swapping mechanism of goggle strap to sunglass stems”, this is how George Yoo, its Lead Designer, outlines the main idea of Oakley’s latest ISPO Award winner. As Oakley’s first hybrid goggle piece that utilizes lens Physiomorphic Geometry and allows the rider to adapt to their environment, Flex Scape can be worn with eyewear stems or with a strap like a goggle.

But coming to this solution was no easy task during development. “We haven't done a true temple to strap swap in the past, but we have had temples that accept strap attachments. Those tend to be clunky and feel like an afterthought. When we started working out how to make Flex Scape convertible from a goggle to a sunglass, or even something in between, we wanted it to feel like an Oakley product. Well-designed, robust, sturdy, with a simple and intuitive user experience,” explains Casey Lee, Senior Design Engineer. “We went through dozens of concepts before deciding on the slide and snap idea, and that concept went through dozens of iterations to ensure the installation and removal processes both felt right."

A removable winterized gasket is moisture-wicking and can be removed or added according to preference. Three different nose pieces deliver further custom fit options. 

The idea of Physiomorphic Geometry led the Oakley design team to ideate without shape limitations and come up with the look of the Flex Scape. The purpose-built lens design conforms to the contours of the face and is shaped to increase the wearer’s field of view. It is also equipped to be adapted to different weather conditions but also to your style. 

Still, protection is also a key feature. “The first prototypes that were implemented into the frame were intended to verify that we could meet our own rigorous standards for strength and impact protection. Once we had the slide's geometry established, we shifted to how might we incorporate a locking element that is tool-less and intuitive so that a user can quickly, easily, and without consulting a manual or YouTube, figure out how to go from their strap to temples or vice versa”, describes Casey Lee. “The snap alone went through its own iterative process and involved investigating multiple overarching concepts and the final concept went through another round of iteration to make sure everything from the removal force to the audible click were all just right.“

The Flex Scape is certainly not for those who want to go unnoticed, as it caters to the snow enthusiast who likes to stand out in a crowd, be bold, and break new boundaries of snow stigmas. It’s for when there’s fresh powder at 8 am and cold beverages at 4 pm. The hybrid goggle piece allows you to go from on-mountain to off-mountain within seconds, making it a pinnacle example of Oakley innovation, in pure Oakley fashion.

“In 2025, Oakley will celebrate its 50th anniversary. With that in mind, we kicked off this project by challenging all preconceived notions of what people expect in a snow goggle,” says Dave Muir, Oakley Product Manager. “We wanted to disrupt every norm through forward-thinking design, fit and function, and build something from the ground up. Flex Scape gives the world a behind-the-scenes look at Oakley R&D and not only highlights our approach to product but our approach for the future.”

The Flex Scape comes with either Oakley’s Prizm Snow Sapphire lens or a Prizm 24k lens, which are engineered to specific wavelengths of light and their reflection from the snow, enhancing contrast and clarity in differing snow conditions. The lens has an anti-fog coating and protects from both impacts and UV rays.

• Modular design for different custom fit options
• Wearable with eyewear stems or straps
• Three different nose pieces to fit different face shapes
• Wide field of view
• Prizm lens for enhanced contrast and clarity in the snow