I just received my first Oakley ever, a brown chrome Square Wire with the VR28 Black Iridium lens. All I can say is wow. While I can't fully review the frame, I can truly say that the lens made all the difference for me. Being a huge fan of the gray/green color, I was weary when I ordered these lenses. The store didn't have the polarized version for me to demo so I tried the non polarized ones. I thought they were a little to light for my taste but they looked so good with the brown chrome frame. After I was convinced that the polarized version is darker, I finalized my order. The two week wait for my prescription sunglasses was a torture for me. When they finally arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to see a darker tint and an even better match to the frame. It didn't take me long to adjust to the lens color which actually helped me during my drive home on an overcast day. Everything looked sharp and the contrast was amazing. Haven't tried the lenses under a very bright sunny day but I can already tell, they will be more than just fine. Now I can focus my worries on the frame. I read a couple of reviews where the spring hinges failed.

The VR28 base of this lensis nice for contrast. I like how dark the base makes it when looking through, adding a brownish tint, but still addng clariy for contrast. The black iridium coating on the outside could be more heavily applied I think. The polarization is nice also but I don't think polarized is necessary for daily conditions, at least not for me. Possibly the best lens that Oakley makes!

A great lens - no doubt - but IMHO a little bit overhyped.

Performance:
One can consider VR28 Black Iridium Polarized to be close to the perfect all-around lens, good from very bright to overcast weather conditions. I can wear these all day long without eye-fatigue.

However for me e.g. the OO Black Iridium Polarized and Tungsten Iridium Polarized offer more contrast, sharpness and better depth perception.


At the beginning it was a bit difficult to get used the rose VR28 tint, but now I appreciate the eye-soothing capabilities of this colour.
The VR28 B.I.P. are my favourite lenses for driving.

I would rate these 4-5 skulls!

Recently bought these for my Flak Jackets. It's my first pair of polarized lenses and first hydrophobic lens as well.

The appearance is stellar. I've always liked the VR28 for overcast conditions but thought that they just looked ugly. These are a totally different animal. They are not completely mirrored as other reviewers have said. While some might not like this, I find that it adds a depth to the lens with the black iridium blending with the base VR28 to make a rich brown color that is really stunning.

The view from the inside is equally gorgeous. This is the most versatile lense I have worn with previous ones being Grey, Black Iridium, and VR28. It works well in slightly overcast, shadows, and bright light even though it doesn't appear to be as dark as the Black Iridium. I assume that its performance in bright light is enhanced by the polarization. While working well in reducing light, the contrast still manages to brighten things up especially in winter conditions.

One complaint I do have about the lens is the amount of reflection on the inside. While not terrible most of the time, it can be distracting at times. I'm not sure why I have more reflection with this lens than with my other Oakleys. For a lens that sells for almost $100, it might be a good idea for Oakley to work on a more anti-reflective interior.

As for the polarization, this is a mixed bag. For every day use, I just don't see that much of an improvement over a non polarized lens such as the Black Iridium. Also, you have the slight rainbow effect when looking at certain surfaces such as LCD screens. Considering the ubiquity of handheld devices these days, that can be an issue. All things considered, unless you spend a lot of time on the water, I would save the $30 and buy a regular iridium lens.

I got these lenses recently in a pair of Plaintiffs. This is the 5th pair of Oakleys I've owned in the last 11 years since my 1st purchase. I have worn Black Iridium Polarized, Bronze Polarized, and Fire Iridium. These new VR28 Black Iridium Polarized are hands down the best yet. My favourite before would have been the Bronze polarized as I prefer a coloured hue opposed to the somewhat drabness of grey based lenses. The VR28 have a much more copper tone than the bronze which I prefer as it is far more effective in bright sun. The other thing I found quite surprising was the much higher level of contrast these lenses provide under low light conditions. I put them on the other morning in light overcast and found they almost brightened things up - some other drivers even had their head lights on! The other thing I love is the fact you can walk inside and still have excellent contrast even though they are on the lowest end of the light transmission scale at 10%. So the best yet in bright conditions, and the best yet in low light conditions, not to mention they are nice to look at from the outside too. You can just barely see the eyes of the wearer which I like as it doesnt distract people during a conversation as they know you are paying attention (i guess this could be bad for those who dont pay attention or have a "wandering eye" lol). I highly recommend these lenses, excellent for overcast and driving directly into the sun.