Deep in the woods, just outside of Idyllwild California, I was shooting a piece on how to do a “Clover Leaf Recon.”

I had intended to produce that piece and only include short blurbs about the gear I had chosen to use, but when I started to research the glassess I had with me I found the coating on them so interesting that I thought I should share it with you all.

As a Sniper instructor, grey had become my favorite color. It’s easy to darken or lighten, but its best attribute is its ability to smoothly blend into shadows and of course, when you’re hiding, there are always shadows.

For this reason I had brought out a grey pair of Oakley’s new Fuel Cell Cerakote glasses. As expected I was pleased with the fit, weight, and lenses but I was especially happy to see that after hours of crawling through bushes, and shoving the glasses in and out of my pockets, that they weren’t destroyed.

I knew they had a Cerakote finish on them, but to be honest, and I’m embarrassed to say this, I really didn’t know anything about Cerakote until I started doing the research for my original article.

Here’s what grabbed my attention about what Oakley is using to coat their glasses.

What you need to know about Cerakote

Cerakote is a ceramic based finish often used to protect and reduce the signature of high-end weapon systems as well as critical plastics, polymers, woods or metals that are expected to last and perform in a variety of conditions. Say like getting thrusted in and out of branches, leaves and dirt filled pockets.

Not just another paint job

It wasn’t the fact that Cerakote protects things from harsh elements that really caught my attention. It was how much better it protected things than other coatings that I found meaningful.

Read more: Loadoutroom.com

Picture courtesy of the Loadoutroom