To add to the thoughts already posted, I say XS is a natural for the 2009 O-Review eyewear Icon Award. IMO, the PB gives it a good run and it'll come down to those two (possibly even the JB), but XS comes out on top.

I think the XS is a good pic, but history was made with the first Elite piece. Will sure be interesting to see how the chips fall in the end!

Don't forget the Jawbone! Imo they are awesome and their lense-change-system is a nice innovation but I also do really like the XS. Well, I like how it looks on pics, I can't wait to try a pair. But so far it is a battle between the JB and the XS for me.

It feels like it has been a few years since so much outstanding models have been released. Two years ago all we had to talk about were nice painted gascan frames... I'm really happy that this has changed!

Two weeks away from the Icon Awards, so get those lists ready. I had designers approach me at HQ says they hedge informal best to see whos design wins that year, so they are watching.

Priceless ^_^

I agree that the PitBoss was an entry into a new vision - and world as Jim had envisioned. Love it and wear it a lot.
The only negative for me was the cost VS actual design and material. Other than the name "Elite" I have struggled to find a reason for the price point. That being said - I do own a pair, enjoy them, and wear them often.

Jawbone is a sick design and truly ground breaking - unique (somewhat) in its color ways but most certainly in its design. My only drawback with the JB is its questionable lack of peripheral vision. I am not a bike guy but was still surprised at the limited side-to-side vision with this frame. I thoroughly enjoy it in the pool but wonder what actual athletes truly feel about it. I mean, if I can tell a difference...

That being said - it's still a sick design, love the frame/lens options, and I will most definitely own more than one pair - but mostly for the pool and casual driving in the summer.

X Squared. Wow. After years of "Half" stuff we have finally got a true X-Metal again. I couldn't close my eyes and dream of a better sibling to the X-Metal line than the XS. It is truly Oakley to its core and an actual X-Metal through and through. For me - it is truly the best Design I have seen out of Oakley since Juliet. It speaks to me daily and says that Oakley hasn't forgotten us purists (fanatics) and that we are still an important part of the O Big Plan.

X-Squared, hands down, is the frame of the year - or years, if you ask me. Truly the hands down winner of the Icon of the Year Award.

Thanks O - for taking care of us hardcore collectors!

I think for myself, like some others have said, it's gonna be difficult to choose. Jawbone, Pit Boss and XS...well I'm honestly not sure. I'm a HUGE X-Metal fan so XS is tempting to give the nod to but there's just something about Pit Boss, even with it's high price tag, plus the functionality of Jawbone is awesome.

With the awards being right around the corner I guess I have some serious thinking and deciding to do.

Thanks Nik...... now I'm really questioning the Custom Jawbone i just ordered.... should i have gone the XS.

I know i'll be happy with the JB since i want it for Golf, but hell the XS will have to happen as well sometime sooner now.

You have to see the shear facts that Pitboss at $595, was the most expensive Oakley out and sold completely out!! That speaks loudly for itself as a new eyewear piece released with little marketing. For XS, it is a sick piece as well, but a late release. Might have to modify the Icon Award categories to accommodate best design or advancement in design. Both pieces will easily fit that mold, but which will be picked?? So tight this year which is nice for a change.

Did the PB really sell out? I still see all three of the colourways in several stores, and it's still available online.

It was sold out. They are on the second batch of them finally. You couldn't get one for a few months anywhere except the occasional rootbeer pair stores had laying around.

That drove them up in price on ebay for a while, but now they are back and cheaper there again too.

Ah, gotcha. I mistakenly thought "sold out" as in "not available anymore" rather than temporarily out of stock.

Although I love the Juliets a part of me was wanting a squared metal lens instead of an elliptical based one.

Bring in the X'2.

I thought that these guys would not look good no me, too large, however they do. I think.
Everything that the previous metals bring to the table is satisfied by the X2 and it brings it owns sense of style. I think one can pull wearing this (polished/carbon black) in both worlds (purposes) more sophisticated/casual and sporty. I tend to wear the juliets in a more sporty attire.

Compare pics here:
http://www.o-review.com/portal_detail.asp?ID=9530

Love these glasses. It is getting hard for me to resist getting another pair of these.

Can't go wrong with the JB Mike - killer frame - you'll love it. But, knowing you, like most of the rest of us, it won't be a matter of one or the other.

It will be

A.?
B.?
C. All Of The Above!

Such is the life of an O Junkie...err.. Fanatic.

Oak, that was the fear for many when they said sold out on the site, couldn't be had in stores, and nobody had a clear word on if or when a second batch would be released. I was fearful myself thinking they had produced maybe 10,000 for worldwide sale and that was it. Luckily, that isn't the case so far. CSix on the other hand, that will be a limited run and will be worthy of notoriety for an Icon award.

Yep, its a second batch on the Pit Boss after all. I originally thought they had pulled all the left overs form the whole sale accounts but I was wrong. They wanted to have Pit Boss available for people who were looking for C6 but were not going to be able to get one.

I have been told that of the 5 (for retail any way) C6 that will be available by the end of the year 4 are already spoken for.

I know of a place that has basically "pre-sold" 2 pair of Carbon CSix and 1 TimeBomb II if the store will be allotted them. They buyers have offered to pay cash now to try and pin them down which is crazy to think it. I was a disbeliever of the $4k price tag but has that been blown. Even the watch, which I wasn't keen on is in my targets for the future.

The X-Squared is a thing of beauty! Customers, much like all of you, have responded very well to it. I was going to right up a short review, but the one that Nic did beats anything I could have written so I give up.

On the Pit Boss as Josh said the initial batch did "sell out" but you have to remember that Oakley is primarily a wholesale company so sold out to them means that retailers had bought all the units they produced. My store got 7 of all three colors and sold out of all but one of the rootbeer pair. I am glad they have done another run, because as others have said the C Six has sparked interest in the Elite line and only 4 Oakley Stores (and sadly mine is not one of them) will get them. I think something like only 10 stores will get the aluminum version, and only 25 stores are getting the Time Bomb II. We have had 3 customers come in and ask to see the C Six but only one of the was even half way serious about buying one. I have talked the some of the managers of stores that are getting them and all but one of them says theirs is already spoken for.

Edit: Okay wow this is supposed to be a X-Squared thread and I really went off the rails there. Sorry!

and you cannot forget about the shaun white frogskins. i mean those were killer also.

yeah, but they had issues with the coating peeling. I still want one real bad to pair up with the one off I got at the Co-Pilot event.

Just ordered the x squared in x metal/ruby and I'm excited about the larger coverage. I love my juliets for sure but they've always been a little small for my face.

So, I just got back from a trip to Southern California. I drove down on Sunday, and I sat in traffic from Las Vegas all the way to San Bernardino at 15 mph. On Monday, I attended my grandmother's funeral in Costa Mesa. On Tuesday, I helped my parents to clean my grandmother's house, had a major falling out, and I scrapped my plans to finally see HQ. I was close, but I just wasn't in the mood to fully comprehend the majesty. Instead, I hit up to O-Store in Victoria Gardens. I picked up a pair of X-Metal/Ruby X-Squareds. On Wednesday, while driving down the 57 freeway, I was involved in a collision, and my wife's car got totaled, 700 miles from home. In the collision, several bones in my right foot were shattered. On Thursday, after dealing with insurance companies, I was finally able to start the trek home. After two days of trying to press the gas pedal without shrieking like a little girl, I finally got back to Northern Utah. It's now Friday, and I have my X-Squareds. After looking back on the mishaps, I decided that, in the end, it was a good week. :)

You visited Ruben...His store is cool. Should have hit me up, I live about 20 minutes from there and would have made an excuse to drive you to HQ!!! You were only about 30 minutes from there in Rancho....And oh yeah, watch out for Cali freeways, they SUCK!! Especially in OC....Sorry to hear about the wreck. I didn't even read it all thoroughly. That is horrible. Hope you heal up, and a flight might be cheaper next time...Anytime you are planning on being around, let me know and I will meet up with you.

Sorry for the strife Ian. Life is funny that way. Sorry for the loss but at the same time - congrats on the purchase. I hope you've found the joy in the new XS that, not only I have, but us as a group. Don't forget you are a part of that.

Best of luck on your perseverance.