Oakley sunglasses: worth the money?
 

Up til this point I've not felt the need to spend the higher prices for Oakleys. My history of sunglasses includes a lot of broken pairs (and not always because of my negligence -- though that has happened). Now, one could argue that Oakleys are better made, and so they aren't as likely to break, thus making them worth the money.

For those who have owned them, what do you say?

I've only owned one pair of Oakleys...lost them somehow. But when I had them I really liked them and they seemed durable. If you have a habit of breaking sunglasses though, you may want to look into a brand that makes more flexible frames. IIRC, the frame on my Oakleys did not flex. Also, I see sales on name-brand sunglasses pretty frequently on sites like slickdeals.com .

scratch easier than any I ever owned. Stay away from them

Varnet

I absolutely loved my Oakleys.

I had them for 7-8 years until they finally just looked too out of date (old school e-wires that had quite a bit of wear on them at that point).

They were comfortable and did a great job. I have a pair of ray-bans right now that I like well enough, but I'll go back to the Oakleys for my next pair.

They go great with a curly mullet and a goatee.

I stick to the cheaper ones myself also. I've dropped them out of a bucket truck, been smacked in the face by branches mountain biking, stepped on them, lost them, had them stolen, etc...

Now I get free ones from work since they're "safety glasses".

don't you want to help America? if you do, buy them. Oakley's are made here.

I have over 15 pair dating back almost ten years. Since Oakley sold out to Luxotica their products have gotten poorer in quality and design. Look at them, but IMO they haven't put out a good style of glasses in 3 years. There are literally 20 plus different styles from wire frame to durable plastics. I have never had a problem with them scratching.

TinyE will make fun of you.

Sounds like me.

Most of the junk Oakleys sells in made in China...except for the glasses.

This


Make sure you wear them when you're driving your Saturn over to Starbucks, then to the oxygen bar.

I owned a pair of Oakleys for almost 10 years after breaking or scratching a couple less durable pairs, and ended up losing them while travelling. I've had a second pair for a few years, and really like them.

The last time I was on their website I noticed a pair that are like $1500, and one review said "I'll never be able to wear a cheaper pair again"... uh, you better not have to buy another pair again. :eek:

One time I bought an expensive pair of sunglasses (Nautica, IIRC). They were nice, but the lenses eventually got all scratched up to the point that they were useless. I assumed that an expensive pair of sunglasses could be fixed somehow, but that was not the case.

They are a waste of money, IMO.

They're nice, but I'm the kind of guy that loses sunglasses, watches, hats.

My mom bought me a pair of Oakleys for my bday once. Lost them about 2 months later, found them about 5-6 years later in a box and they were scuffed up to no end. Waste of money IMO.

Too expensive for a guy like me that loses items like that. Now I just stick to the little huts they have at the mall where you can buy 2 for $20 or something like that.

Yeah, they've really gone up in price (and I didn't know they sold out).

My pair was only $120 about 10 years ago and that was near the top of their price range.

There is a 500 pair made of Metal, but there has never been a 1500 pair to my knowledge

They can be fixed. They are called "replacement" lenses

If I won the friggin lottery tomorrow I wouldn't pay $1,500 for a pair of sunglasses. That's insane.

Quality sunglasses are worth the $$$. I wear SPY+ but that's mostly because a friend of mine gets them for me at cost. They have held up very well. I wear them every day while driving, and all day when I'm outdoors.

I'm rockin' the Cooper XLs

http://www.spyoptic.com/category/98307/ALL

DT

For more than the price of a new pair of regularly priced sunglasses.

The sunglasses I have right now I paid $15 at the grocery store. I've had the same pair for a couple of years now and they've held up better than the Nauticas did.

http://www.oakley.com/pd/6409/23696

That's just insane... I also paid about $120 for a pair about 12 years ago, and they were close to the top of the line. The pair I have now are mid-range, and will hopefully last just as long.

Are Oakleys still even cool? I had some for baseball back in the mid 90's.

http://cdn.springboard.gorillanation...Image/dog1.jpg

Be like me. Oakleys are cool, brah. Want a smoke? You need to find the Lord, brah.

Quality sunglasses are worth it. I have a pair of Maui Jim and Revo, they have no scratches. I am not too careful with them on the golf course either.

Like said above Oakley's go best with jean shorts and mullets.

I'm thinking of getting these just not sure if I should go with Shade 4 or Shade 5 lenses.

http://www.cornerstoneglass.com/stor...roducts_id=617

Replacement lenses are arounf 40 dollars

1996

Which is $25 more than the $15 I paid for the other ones, which look pretty much identical.

But they don't have the little sailboat on the side.

Oakley is awesome. Check their outlet for deals. I get all my glasses through the vault, sometimes there are some rocking deals.

http://oakleyvault.com/

Also if you have a question about which lense take a look at http://www.o-review.com/lens.asp
Lots of reviews and descriptions on the various lenses and what kind of weather they are for.

I know. My life is full of FAIL. :(












LMAO

Never been a big fan of Oakley's styles so I have never owned a pair. I have had pretty good luck with other high end sunglasses AND have had some cheapies that I just loved so it's a crap shoot either way for me.

The pair I pick would be for casual wear, golf and maybe softball. I'm not a biker or anything like that. The only prerequisite would be some form of wraparound lens. It's annoying to try and golf with straight lenses and have the sun peeking in from the side. Good to know Oakleys are a little out-of-date.

I've had my Oakley half jackets for a number of years now and love them.

I utilize the interchangeable polarized lenses and wear them constantly. The glare reduction is remarkable and the price is decent.

If you're in the military, police force etc. you can go to usstandardissue.com and get them at about cost +10% so the prices get pretty reasonable. I recommend a heavy duty case. Helps to protect them and it makes them harder to lose being bulkier and all.

"Oakley makes the shades that tranform a tool....you'd hate for the kids to think that you've lost your cool...."

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I love my Oaks.

I love my Oakleys. I've had my pair for 6 years now and i wear them everyday. My Oakleys fit perfectly and i can wear them for an extended amount of time (all day if i have too) and not even notice I'm wearing them.

Cheaper glasses don't fit right, won't stay on my head during joggs or outdoor activity and give me headaches. I paid almost $150 for mine, and so far, i've got every dollars worth out of them.

And yes, they will scratch if you don't take care of them. But what sunglasses dont?

Oh, and i sport the "valve" style-Ducati Edition.

If I recall, Oakleys were designed so that the arms didn't rest on your ears, so much as they fit snug against the side of your head. Do a lot of makers of sunglasses do that nowadays?

http://costadelmar.com/store/BVModul...8-76e348261e2f

I recommend black frames with blue or yellow lenses. Simply awesome.

You are welcome

Had various of their eyewear products over the years, from normal glasses to skiing, biking and other uses. I've never been dissatisfied. The polarized lenses are a worthwhile upgrade. If you tend to lose or break things, I would advise against them - just get whatever came off the boat from China. But if you want high quality and take care of things, they can serve you well for a long time.

Here are some that would work for you. They are now on clearance so the price is right. I won a pair of these last summer in a tournament. They work with black or brown attire and there isn't light sneaking in the side when you are trying to swing.

http://shop.callawaygolf.com/eyewear...efault,pd.html

I would say no.
I bought some on a military base about 10 years ago; a closeout type deal. they were $50. I like them etc, but one day they simply broke when I was taking them off. I liked them while I had them but to break 2 years into owning them.... eh.

I've had the same two pairs of cheap sunglasses for 4 years. bought one pair at a gas station while buying beer and a cooler to go hang at the beech in FLorida. and the other bought at a gas station on my way to go Canoeing. Still have both pairs in my car. Total spent - $8.

As far as style and being out of date, etc; granted, there are only a few pair on oakley.com that I like, I've hardly ever gotten comments on them one way or the other and I've never commented on other people's.... I mean, they are just sunglasses, who gives a shit? I bought them for durability and liked how they looked, oh noes if someone thinks they're out of date or "don't fit my face right" or whatever... :shrug:

This...

Spy Optics
Smith Optics
Costa Del Mar
Native
Kaenon

I like all these shades. I'm usually choosing shades for either fishing or running/cycling/outdoor wear, though.

I used to work here, and I usually put up this link when buying outdoor gear comes up, but try out Sierra Trading Post:

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/sea...criptions=True

Good (sometimes great) prices on sunglasses.

I've had my A-wires for about three years now and love them. Have had about three pair over ten years, and sold them when I wanted a new style. Just can't wear cheap glasses after polarized Oakley's.
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No. Back when they used to lifetime gaurantee their frames they were worth the money but they quit doing that several years ago.

I bought a pair of Oakley prescription glasses (not sunglasses) 10 years ago and they are finally requiring a replacement now. They have been sat on (twice) crashed in a sledding accident, and numerous other mishaps and help up incredibly well. One of the best purchases I have ever made. Recommended.

is this a thread from the Star Board in 1996? Someone bump "your favorite Big Johnson T-Shirt"

As long as you don't step on them or forget they're in the driver's seat as you're sitting down, you'll be fine. Even the earpiece one of my friends broke on her pair snapped back on the first time, and probably would've snapped back on the second time if it didn't get lost.

Had a pair for 7 years then I got drunk and busted them...

Anything that shows you haven't had an original thought about style in 20 years is worth the money.

JK, go with what you like. I am a $20 pair kind of guy because I don't like worrying about breaking/losing them which I do quite often. When I did rock spendy shades I always liked Revo lenses and styles the best.

If you spend more than $10 on a pair of sunglasses you deserve to lose them.

Here, I fixed it for you.

Ah, GoChiefs and Slayer chasing each other around the playground, just like the old days.

At the rate I burn through sunglasses in losing them, I couldn't afford high dollar ones.

Just give me dollar store shades. I just need them for driving anyways.

I have a buddy that I apparently just don't get. He's married and has a baby boy. Well he recently bought some 90 dollar Oakleys and asked me what I thought... I didn't have the hart to tell him that I think he's an F-in idiot for doing that.

I just don't get it. I wanted to say..

"Okay so you want to look like Billy Bad A$$ in those shades but who are you trying to impress? Other Dudes? Because it sure isn't other women. Dude you're married."

Guess I just don't get the angle he's workin.

Tats: Tribal, or barbed wire?

I sense something, a presence I've not felt since....

hah! Big Johnson, barbed wire tats, goatees... takes me back to Missouri in the 1990s...

Nice sunglasses are worth the $$, IMHO. I used to go through several pairs of sunglasses a year due to loss, abuse, etc. Probably 8 years ago, I decided to spring for a nice pair of Oakleys (around $125 at the time, I think), and I've had them ever since. Comfy, durable, work well for sports. Definitely won't go back to cheap glasses ever again...

Smith has better looking frames and equally good lenses.

If you are just sitting in your car wearing them, I agree, $10 gas station shades are fine. If you do any kind of sports or outdoors activities, you'll notice the difference over and over in the quality of the lenses and durability. I can't pick something up at 7-11 and wear them to ski (or, cheap goggles vs quality, same difference). I can't even wear those when driving with all the snow-blindness you can experience during the daytime depending on where you live.

I agree. I think the people claiming that the $10 AM/PM sun glasses are equally as good are kidding themselves.

Nice, expensive sun glasses are well worth the money. I've owned many, many pairs of cheap sunglasses and the difference between them and My Oakley's are night and day. The Cheapies would start to give me a headache after an hour or so of use. If i were to go to Disneyland, out to a game or anything outdoors for a prolonged period of time, i couldnt wear those cheapies. I can wear my Oakleys all day and forget they are even on my face.

The cheap one's don't sit right, sometimes sit crooked on your face. The arms don't close right, causing the cheap paint to wear off from extended opening and closing. They don't fit nearly as well.

I can go out and PLAY sports with out my Oakleys falling off. My GF has sat on my shades so many times i thought i'd have to kill a bitch, but the arms just snap back into place. And don't they have some sort of warranty on there Lens?

It's just like buying shoes. sure, you can go to Payless and drop $15.00 on anew pair, but if you want nice, good looking shoes that will last and be comfortable in, go buy a nice $60+ pair of shoes.

Unless this has been answered I believe the $1500 is a limited run made with carbon fibre.

Eh, people say they lose sunglasses all the time so they don't buy expensive pairs... it took ten years for me to lose a $120 pair, and I'm sure there are people here who have spent that much on cheap pairs in the last 10 years. I spent more this time, and they'll last another 10+ years.

If you have a nice pair, you're not going to treat them like an $8 pair that came with a halloween costume.

I was going to mention that too. It seems like when you drop some good coin on something, your more apt to taking care of it. I don't own a single pair of ten dollar shades. Never took care of them. My Oakleys: I know where they are at all times. I've had them for six years, 3 housing moves and 4 cars later...they're still here.

Just do yourself a favor and get some of these badboys.

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...t_adv_XSG10001




I got a couple pairs of Ray Ban's recently and I don't think I'll be getting a pair of anything else for a long while. I really like the look and quality.

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The review is funny...

WTF would you expect from $10 sunglasses that advertise "HD Vision"? LMAO

make him stop!
 

Most of the people that crack on the expensive sunglasses haven't ever owned them.

I always thought it was stupid until my birthday came and I didn't have anything I really wanted. My girlfriend worked at the mall and we just bought them on a whim for my b-day present.

I'll never go back to cheapies. I used to have a pair of 'boat' glasses that I got from wal-mart (my old oakleys are now my boat glasses) but for everyday use, it's worth the coin.