Oakley cycling glasses
Discussion
Talk to me about Oakley cycling glasses please - namely are they still the best option if you’re prepared to pay that much, are they over-rated etc.
Those who have them, what models please and what lenses? Do people swap lenses based on the conditions or is there a lens suitable for almost all conditions?
Personally I’m not a massive fan of the Jawbreaker styling but it’s their functionality I’m most bothered about. Are polarised lenses a must (I’m a fair weather / nice day only cyclist)?
In the past I’ve never quite understood paying that kind of money for cycling glasses (I currently use a £30 pair made by Bloc (dark) or Sunwise (yellow lenses) depending on how sunny it is) but I might be having a change of heart!
Thanks in advance.
Those who have them, what models please and what lenses? Do people swap lenses based on the conditions or is there a lens suitable for almost all conditions?
Personally I’m not a massive fan of the Jawbreaker styling but it’s their functionality I’m most bothered about. Are polarised lenses a must (I’m a fair weather / nice day only cyclist)?
In the past I’ve never quite understood paying that kind of money for cycling glasses (I currently use a £30 pair made by Bloc (dark) or Sunwise (yellow lenses) depending on how sunny it is) but I might be having a change of heart!
Thanks in advance.
cslwannabe said:
Talk to me about Oakley cycling glasses please - namely are they still the best option if you’re prepared to pay that much, are they over-rated etc.
Those who have them, what models please and what lenses? Do people swap lenses based on the conditions or is there a lens suitable for almost all conditions?
Personally I’m not a massive fan of the Jawbreaker styling but it’s their functionality I’m most bothered about. Are polarised lenses a must (I’m a fair weather / nice day only cyclist)?
In the past I’ve never quite understood paying that kind of money for cycling glasses (I currently use a £30 pair made by Bloc (dark) or Sunwise (yellow lenses) depending on how sunny it is) but I might be having a change of heart!
Thanks in advance.
Nor sure of other good options and I'm sure others will be along shortly with some good alternatives but for my pennies worth............. Like yourself, I'd worn lots of cheaper brands (mainly Bloc which I love) on the bike and as regular sunnies, mostly because I tend to lose them, drop them or sit on them in the car.............. I bit the bullet prior to last summer and got some Jawbreakers..... To be honest I wish I'd done it sooner. Everything fits and feels just right, they are made properly, and you know you're wearing Oakleys........ To be honest if they broke tomorrow I'd buy another pair immediately ! Those who have them, what models please and what lenses? Do people swap lenses based on the conditions or is there a lens suitable for almost all conditions?
Personally I’m not a massive fan of the Jawbreaker styling but it’s their functionality I’m most bothered about. Are polarised lenses a must (I’m a fair weather / nice day only cyclist)?
In the past I’ve never quite understood paying that kind of money for cycling glasses (I currently use a £30 pair made by Bloc (dark) or Sunwise (yellow lenses) depending on how sunny it is) but I might be having a change of heart!
Thanks in advance.
I have a pair of Flight Jackets. They're very comfortable and they don't move around when you look down. The anti fog device actually works too.
The lenses are kind of hard to describe what they do, they sort of make certain things like road signs, bits of glass, ice etc more visible. They make everything a bit more vibrant. As I said before I find them really handy for picking out bits of glass and debris in the road to avoid.
The lenses are kind of hard to describe what they do, they sort of make certain things like road signs, bits of glass, ice etc more visible. They make everything a bit more vibrant. As I said before I find them really handy for picking out bits of glass and debris in the road to avoid.
I've had a pair of SunGod Pacebreakers for the last 2yrs and couldn't be happier with them. They have interchangeable lenses with a selection of polarised and non-polarised lenses available.
https://www.sungod.co/shop/sunglasses/pacebreakers...
https://www.sungod.co/shop/sunglasses/pacebreakers...
I was very anti Oakley which stems from snowboarding. 25 years ago, a new set of lens for your goggles cost you as much as a pair of goggles, petty yes but it put me off ... loved them before as I had a pair of Frogskins in 1991. Had a few pairs of road glasses then went to Oakley and haven't looked back ... lens replacement doesnt cost the earth and its nice to have a couple of optional lenses dependent on weather conditions.
I like the Radar EV's ... nice and simple design.
I like the Radar EV's ... nice and simple design.
I have the jawbreakers.
So far so good. Their bigger sizing made a huge difference to the previous pair of sunglasses. I did wonder why I hadn’t bought them sooner.
I bought them with the photochromic lenses and they do a great job of spring/autumn/winter riding. Or evening races where light is good heading there but getting darker on the way home.
They have limited tinting though so I do also have the mirrored road lenses also for summer riding.
I don’t have the polarized lenses. Just didn’t think is was necessary for cycling at the time of buying.
I would buy Oakley again if these broke.
So far so good. Their bigger sizing made a huge difference to the previous pair of sunglasses. I did wonder why I hadn’t bought them sooner.
I bought them with the photochromic lenses and they do a great job of spring/autumn/winter riding. Or evening races where light is good heading there but getting darker on the way home.
They have limited tinting though so I do also have the mirrored road lenses also for summer riding.
I don’t have the polarized lenses. Just didn’t think is was necessary for cycling at the time of buying.
I would buy Oakley again if these broke.
Edited by LM240 on Monday 11th May 13:08
SomersetWestie said:
Nor sure of other good options and I'm sure others will be along shortly with some good alternatives but for my pennies worth............. Like yourself, I'd worn lots of cheaper brands (mainly Bloc which I love) on the bike and as regular sunnies, mostly because I tend to lose them, drop them or sit on them in the car.............. I bit the bullet prior to last summer and got some Jawbreakers..... To be honest I wish I'd done it sooner. Everything fits and feels just right, they are made properly, and you know you're wearing Oakleys........ To be honest if they broke tomorrow I'd buy another pair immediately !
Almost an identical experience to mine. Went through various pairs of cheap, crappy glasses including a pair of fauxleys which turned into brokeleys almost immediately. Took the plunge, bought a pair of Jawbreakers, immediately regretted not buying them sooner. They're more comfortable, fog up less, and even survived the odd bounce. If I lost or broke this pair I would replace them with another.LM240 said:
I have the jawbreakers.
So far so good. Their bigger sizing made a huge difference to the previous pair of sunglasses. I did wonder why I hadn’t bought them sooner.
I bought them with the photochromic lenses and they do a great job of spring/autumn/winter riding. Or evening races where light is good heading there but getting darker on the way home.
They have limited tinting though so I do also have the mirrored road lenses also for summer riding.
I don’t have the polarized lenses. Just didn’t think is was necessary for cycling at the time of buying.
I would buy Oakley again if these broke.
Got jawbreakers. Takes seconds to swap out the lens to a clear lens for dusk/night riding. Very happy with them after two years+ ownership.So far so good. Their bigger sizing made a huge difference to the previous pair of sunglasses. I did wonder why I hadn’t bought them sooner.
I bought them with the photochromic lenses and they do a great job of spring/autumn/winter riding. Or evening races where light is good heading there but getting darker on the way home.
They have limited tinting though so I do also have the mirrored road lenses also for summer riding.
I don’t have the polarized lenses. Just didn’t think is was necessary for cycling at the time of buying.
I would buy Oakley again if these broke.
Edited by LM240 on Monday 11th May 13:08
Dropped them a couple of times, they bounce well.
Brillant - thanks for all the replies. Sounds like I need some Oakleys in my life (even if the SunGod ones in the link do look nice JayBM!).
Am leaning towards the Radar EV with prizm trail lenses based on my typical usage - prefer the design and may even use them for running too (am more of a runner than a cyclist).
Thanks again.
Am leaning towards the Radar EV with prizm trail lenses based on my typical usage - prefer the design and may even use them for running too (am more of a runner than a cyclist).
Thanks again.
I used to be a bit anti-Oakley, thought they were a bit overpriced and wasn't a fan of some of the designs. But I've now got a pair of these and I can't fault them
EV zero path. Totally comfortable and you don't even notice them when wearing, never fog up and nice clear vision (I prefer no/minimal frames and clear lenses)
Lots of Oakley on sale on sportpursuit website at the moment
I had rudy project glasses before, they are pretty good too if you want an alternative. The good thing about oakley is they are widely stocked so you can try before you buy! Hard to find a lot of other brands in store
EV zero path. Totally comfortable and you don't even notice them when wearing, never fog up and nice clear vision (I prefer no/minimal frames and clear lenses)
Lots of Oakley on sale on sportpursuit website at the moment
I had rudy project glasses before, they are pretty good too if you want an alternative. The good thing about oakley is they are widely stocked so you can try before you buy! Hard to find a lot of other brands in store
I have a pair of Oakley Flight Jacket with the prizm road lens and also a pair of fakes in the same style from Aliexpress
You can't tell the difference between the two pairs unless you are closer than 5 km :-) , if you do get within 4,999m then the differences in build quality and finish are glaringly obvious
In use there is absolutely no comparison in terms of the lenses, though - to give them their due - the fakes are just as comfy to wear as the real ones
You can't tell the difference between the two pairs unless you are closer than 5 km :-) , if you do get within 4,999m then the differences in build quality and finish are glaringly obvious
In use there is absolutely no comparison in terms of the lenses, though - to give them their due - the fakes are just as comfy to wear as the real ones
I have both the flight jackets, with photocromic lenses and jawbreakers with the prizm lens. Both are equally as comfortable with my Met Vinci helmet. However, I tend to now use the jawbreakers for really sunny days, and the flight jackets for everything from night riding to bright but not "really" sunny days. I'm sure another pair of lenses for the jawbreakers would have done the same job though...
Similar to everyone's comments really, I'd spent years using various glasses, mainly DHB's and their inter-changeable "triple-pack" lenses.
I bit the bullet and went for Oakley Radar with Prizm Road Lenses and they are awesome. I'd used polarized lenses for my normal sunglasses before and knew the benefits but for some reason never changed my cycling ones over. Prism Road are a great lens and I really like the design of the glasses as a whole. I didn't want super bright "retina burn jawbreakers" but I did want a premium pair of glasses so these fit the bill well.
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/oakley-radar-ev-advancer-...
The only thing i'll be adding in Autumn/Winter is some clear lense (Probably Prism Low Light).
I bit the bullet and went for Oakley Radar with Prizm Road Lenses and they are awesome. I'd used polarized lenses for my normal sunglasses before and knew the benefits but for some reason never changed my cycling ones over. Prism Road are a great lens and I really like the design of the glasses as a whole. I didn't want super bright "retina burn jawbreakers" but I did want a premium pair of glasses so these fit the bill well.
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/oakley-radar-ev-advancer-...
The only thing i'll be adding in Autumn/Winter is some clear lense (Probably Prism Low Light).
*Badger* said:
Similar to everyone's comments really, I'd spent years using various glasses, mainly DHB's and their inter-changeable "triple-pack" lenses.
I bit the bullet and went for Oakley Radar with Prizm Road Lenses and they are awesome. I'd used polarized lenses for my normal sunglasses before and knew the benefits but for some reason never changed my cycling ones over. Prism Road are a great lens and I really like the design of the glasses as a whole. I didn't want super bright "retina burn jawbreakers" but I did want a premium pair of glasses so these fit the bill well.
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/oakley-radar-ev-advancer-...
The only thing i'll be adding in Autumn/Winter is some clear lense (Probably Prism Low Light).
What do you mean by retina burn jawbreakers? I thought they were very good and made dim days much brighter.I bit the bullet and went for Oakley Radar with Prizm Road Lenses and they are awesome. I'd used polarized lenses for my normal sunglasses before and knew the benefits but for some reason never changed my cycling ones over. Prism Road are a great lens and I really like the design of the glasses as a whole. I didn't want super bright "retina burn jawbreakers" but I did want a premium pair of glasses so these fit the bill well.
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/oakley-radar-ev-advancer-...
The only thing i'll be adding in Autumn/Winter is some clear lense (Probably Prism Low Light).
*Badger* said:
From my reading, retina burn are the colour of frame (fluorescent yellow), jawbreakers are the style of frame, prizm road are the lenses.
oh, i seeI found these fantastic in low light and sun: https://www.wiggle.co.uk/oakley-jawbreaker-matte-b...
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