Sunglasses are a practical, everyday accessory that has been a fashion icon since ancient times. Wearing outlandishly shaped sunglasses is not suitable for urban commuting, but ordinary sunglasses may not be functional enough for outdoor sports. Well, that’s why Oakley’s classic Gascon and Fuel Cell have been so popular and are still in production today. You may have wondered what the difference is between them, and we’ll talk more about it below.
Oakley Gascan
Oakley Gascan sunglasses were launched in 2005. Starting at about $100, they are one of Oakley’s most affordable, best-selling sunglasses in the U.S. The Oakley Gascan features a lightweight O-Matter frame design that ensures great convenience and comfort for the user. The Oakley Gascan’s lenses are made from individual lens shields that give the Gascan a unique look. They are made of nylon-infused plastic, which is more flexible and less fragile than acetate and can be bent more to fit your face for a more comfortable feel.
Oakley Fuel Cell
Oakley Fuel Cell was introduced in 2009 and is one of the most iconic Oakley models still in production. It is a larger Gascan, but temples are more streamlined than Gascan’s. It curves slightly inward to give an edgy feel. The fuel cell has two lenses cut from shields, and Oakley’s proprietary impact-resistant Plutonite ensures complete protection against UV and blue light. It also features a high-quality HD polarizing lens that penetrates reflected glare and provides unparalleled visual fidelity from all angles.
If you have any damage to your Oakley lenses, MRY is ready to serve you to your satisfaction! MRY lenses exceed high velocity & high mass impact resistant standards, and the lenses are manufactured with the highest level polarizing films, precisely delivering superior clarity and eliminating glare from shiny surface reflections.
Difference between Oakley Fuel Cell and Gascan
Design
Fuel Cell is designed for style, creativity, and a unique look. Starting with the frame, the first thing you’ll notice about the fuel cell is its thick rectangular design, which focuses on the fuel cell’s temples, which offer a simple, curved, and tapered back appearance to ensure a snug, comfortable fit. Thanks to a dual Polaric Ellipsoid lens geometry and a dual peripheral technology, better visibility, and clarity at all angles are ensured without any hindrance.
WhileGascan Oakley has a more classic design with its square edges and straight-line design of the frame. Its almost flat brow bar and simple, straight sweeping arm is more rigid than the streamlined shape of the fuel cell, which has a stronger brow bar and a slight lift on the bridge, but the Gascan stays completely flat. Gascan provides crisp visuals with Oakley Twin Toric lens technology with HDO™.
Size
What makes the fuel cell bigger than the Gascan is its height. It has a diameter of 44mm, 4mm taller than the Gascan. The bridge is 19mm, 4mm wider than the Gascan, and the 4mm itself is not much of a difference, but combined with the design tweaks, the Fuel Cell looks larger and more aesthetically pleasing. Compared to the fuel cell model, the Oakley Gascan frame is smaller in size and has narrower bridges.
In view of their size and rectangular shape, Oakley Fuel Cell sunglasses work best for people with large heads, and oval or round faces. And Gascan, a shape designed to complement almost any head shape, is best suited for people with average or smaller head circumference.
Curvature
Another difference between the Gascan and the Fuel Cell is the curvature around the arms or temples. The Gascan has a very flat design around the temples, but the Fuel Cell has a more aggressive curve at the end of the grip, curving inward more sharply at the end of the stem, whereas the Gascan is straighter. This difference allows the Fuel Cell to hug the head and hold the sunglasses more firmly on the wearer. The Fuel Cell has two curves that curve inward to hold firmly to the head for a more snug fit. In terms of lens curvature, the Gascan is very straight.
Summary
Both Oakley Gascan and Fuel Cell models have the same basic ergonomic nose bridge design. Likewise, they have the 3-point Oakley system that gently hugs your head, which means the temples hang straight back behind your ears for a great fit, but the Fuel Cell temples end up curving slightly inward for a more comfortable fit. But neither model has any unobtainium, nor are they suitable for cycling or rock climbing or running or any kind of hardcore sports, because they don’t have grip. The major difference between them is size, Fuel Cell is just a bigger Gascan. The larger frame provides a more inclusive head shape and is more aesthetically pleasing. Without regard to budget, if you are on the larger side of the head and prefer a sleeker style, then the Fuel Cell will be your first choice.