Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Police Product Test: Oakley Det Cord and Tombstone Eyewear

Oakley recently took a giant leap into the future with the debut of its Prizm lens technology. These lenses, made from a patented formula of lens tints, are designed from the ground up to make the absolute best shooting and tactical glasses to date.

February 26, 2015
Police Product Test: Oakley Det Cord and Tombstone Eyewear

Oakley Det Cord Ballistic eyewear. Photo: Oakley SI

3 min to read



Oakley recently took a giant leap into the future with the debut of its Prizm lens technology. These lenses, made from a patented formula of lens tints, are designed from the ground up to make the absolute best shooting and tactical glasses to date. The lenses are a reddish-pink color and do a fantastic job of filtering out all of the light that hinders vision while enhancing all of the good light spectrum and enhancing colors.

I received the Det Cord with Prizm lenses just prior to leaving for the SHOT Show and the Tombstones were unveiled during the show. I had a chance to wear them both in low light on duty and in broad daylight on the range. The results were impressive.

Ad Loading...

I'll start with the Det Cord, a full-framed pair of glasses with a large profile to fit the biggest of faces. The lenses are cut big to allow for maximum field of view while providing all the ballistic protection of MIL PRF32432 and ANSI Z87.1 (2010). Yeah, that's a mouthful, but it basically means these guys are bomb-proof and will keep you safe from serious frag.

In low light the Prizm lenses, although tinted, actually did a great job of enhancing my night vision. The differences in color and shade popped and glare from street lights and flashlights was minimized. The smooth, flat-black polymer frames were light and comfortable and I had no problem wearing them for several hours on the road.

Fast forward to the SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range and my Prizm experience was taken to the next level with the unveiling of the new Tombstone shooter's glasses. Designed around Oakley's homerun Prizm lens technology, the Tombstones are cut and fit with the tactical operator and competition shooter in mind.

Oakley Tombstone eyeshield. Photo: Oakley SI

Oakley spent years researching what the best of the best need to perform, tracking their eye movements, and logging countless hours behind a gun. The result was an incredibly light, full faced pair of glasses that minimizes blind spots while enhancing everything else. I spent about 10 minutes with these on the demo range and felt like I was seeing color for the first time. Although the tint isn't dark, my eyes were completely relaxed even in bright daylight and the targets and colors were enhanced like never before.

The Prizm lenses are interchangeable between light and dark tints, as well as a clear shield via a new frame system. The side stems detach by depressing a small lever on each side and re-attach with a click. Each lens has a portion of the frame built in so there is no more wrestling a single lens into a solid frame. Even with gloves the swap-out took just seconds.

Ad Loading...

Oakley is definitely onto something with its new Prizm lenses so if you find yourself wondering just how good optical clarity can be I'd suggest you pick up a pair. Through the SI program the Det Cord is $90 and the Tombstone array, with three lenses, zippered case, cleaning cloth, and solution is rumored to be about $285 when they're released to the public in April.

OAKLEY DET CORD BALLISTIC EYEWEAR SPECS:

  • Balanced for aggressive environments and covert capabilities

  • Anti-fog coating

  • Comms-compatible ear stems

  • Rubberized Unobtanium nosepiece

  • Lenses: Oakley SI Prizm technology uses formulated dye compounding technology producing a color-tuned lens specifically for shooting

  • Compliance: Fully compliant with the ballistic and optical standards of MIL-PRF-32432 and ANSI Z87.1-2010

  • Price: $90

OAKLEY SI TOMBSTONE EYESHIELD SPECS:

  • Expanded field of view

  • Easy-release lens exchange system

  • Lenses: Traditional clear, smoke grey, new Prizm lens technology (Prizm TR22 for bright light and TR44 for low light)

  • Sizes: Reap for larger faces, Spoil for smaller faces

  • Price: $180 for a set with a single lens, $285 for a multi-lens array (both sets include protective hard case)

Subscribe to our newsletter

More Patrol

Woman kneeling with a Bloodhound in front of a white pickup truck.
PatrolMarch 1, 2026

K-9s Play a Critical Role in Finding Missing Persons

Real-world scenarios show that a tracking canine can detect and follow a human track several hours after it was made.

Read More →
Man in a blue blazer lifting his shirt to reveal a concealed handgun in a waistband holster while standing outdoors.
SponsoredMarch 1, 2026

Safariland Solis Rethinks Concealable Duty

What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.

Read More →
Black background with image of police car light bar, logo for POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips, and headline What are the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical?
Patrolby Wayne ParhamFebruary 25, 2026

Garmont Tactical’s LE Boot Lineup

In this video, we get a look at the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical, both for men and women. Kyle Ferdyn, sales manager, showcases four of the latest boots.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Person in protective CMRN suit and breathing gear.
PatrolFebruary 18, 2026

Avon Protection Launches EXOSKIN-S2 High-Performance CBRN Protective Suit

With the commercial availability of Avon Protection’s EXOSKIN-S2, users now have increased options for their protective suit requirements across the spectrum of CBRN threat environments.

Read More →
Sky background with logos for Versatern and Aloft
PatrolFebruary 18, 2026

Versaterm Acquires Aloft to Unlock a New Era of Drones for Public Safety

Versaterm has acquired Aloft, an FAA-approved Unmanned Service Supplier (USS) that specializes in real-time airspace intelligence and flight authorizations.

Read More →
Clooudy sky background with a lot of blue, logo for DroneSense, and dates and location of an upcoming event.
PatrolFebruary 11, 2026

Versaterm Launches Innovation Summit for Public Safety Drone Operations

The two-day DroneSense Innovation Summit by Versaterm will bring together public safety and industry experts to define best practices for scaling drone operations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Thumnail for video series POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips featuring a black background with police car lights and headline What Makes a Good LE Boot?
Patrolby Wayne ParhamFebruary 11, 2026

What Makes a Good LE Boot?

Learn what makes a boot good for police officers as POLICE visits with Kyle Ferdyn, of Garmont Tactical, who explains the features of boots and why each is needed in an LE boot.

Read More →
Red fabric background with blue and white Folds of Honor logo.
PatrolFebruary 4, 2026

Folds of Honor Opens Scholarship Application for Children and Spouses of Fallen or Disabled Service Members and First Responders

The application period for the Folds of Honor scholarship program is now open through the end of March. Scholarships support students from early education through postsecondary studies, easing the financial burden for families who have given so much in service to others.

Read More →
Closeup of hands reaching to pick up a ballistic helmet and a Team Wendy logo in a white box top center in the image.
PatrolFebruary 4, 2026

Team Wendy Now on GovX: Faster Verification and Discount Access for Eligible Professionals

With GovX verification now integrated directly into the Team Wendy checkout experience, eligible customers can confirm their status in just a few clicks and have the discount applied automatically.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
backgroudn image of desert with inset 5.11 logo and images of pant and boot.
PatrolJanuary 28, 2026

5.11 Debuts 2026 Footwear & Apparel at SHOT Show

5.11 showcased new apparel and footwear products during SHOT Show 2026, including new color options for the A/T Boa Lite Mid Boot and the Founder’s Jacket.

Read More →