This lens is only slightly darker than the normal VR28 but i still prefer it.
it is a rich dark redy brown. im a huge fan of brown lenses and this is a darker brown than gold iridium but gold iridium offers better protection from the sun.
the increased contrast makes it a great lens for outdoor use on a medium bright day.

I just bought a pair of Plaintiff's with these lenses. While they are great for what they are supposed to do. I already have the tungsten polarized lens in a pair of flak jackets which is about as good. I was more looking for the mirrored look for style but refuse to not buy polarized. My question is whether the regular black iridium polarized will do what I want. If not what should I go with?

This color looks great in my Chrome Crosshair frame. Gives the frame a classy look. Pretty good light tranmission index, but better for less sunny days in my opinion. If you want something for bright conditions, stick to your black, ice, ruby and polarized, etc.

I'm just gonna keep it simple. The sunglasses are great! Not too dark and not light. Perfect for everyday use. Do not get the polarized version, way too dark and a bit dangerous for driving. The VR28 black iridium is the perfect balance period.

The VR28 Black lenses are superb. I haven't had a chance to try the other VR28 variants, but these are phenomenal. I prefer the VR28 Polarized Black, but these came with the metallic red flak jackets I ordered. I actually replaced these with the polarized version pretty quickly, but they were awesome. They don't hide the eyes very well though...Do yourself a favor and pick up the polarized ones. If you're on a budget, these will be just as good.

This was my introduction to VR28 lenses. I never really liked the normal VR28, but when I got this in my Water Jackets, I was impressed. It is a truly all-condition lens. You could spend all day on your boat, from dawn until dusk, and not need another pair of sunglasses.

A great lens. Wearable on overcast days, but still workable in extreme sun. Doesn't obscure colors in extreme sun. Realistic color contrast balance is still there (straight BI makes dark things darker and difficult to see, these don't). Surprisingly good.

VR28 black is one of those versatile lenses that's easy on the eyes during overcast days, yet still provides a moderate level of protection for bright conditions. The base color filters a portion of the light intensity while the iridium coating reduces glare. I haven't yet tried the polarized version of this lens, but could only imagine how epic it would be.

This one came with a pair of Half Jackets that I badly wanted for the frames (metallic red). Feels like a great alternative or complement to Grey with its warm tone. About the same sun protection - up to bright sun.

While this is an all around nice lens tint, I don't think its a stands out from the various other lens tints. There's nothing wrong with this tint - it just that its not all that exciting.

I probably would have a different view if the black iridium coating was stronger and more reflective. With all the options from Oakley at around the same lens transmission rate, I prefer the Tungsten Iridium, Blue Iridium or VR28 Blue Iridium Polarized lens for everyday use.

When I first tried this lens years ago I wasn't quite sold on it. It had a real rosey complexion to it. But, after many years now of using this lens, it has become a favorite of mine and my wife. It is a solid performer and really casts a nice tone on life.

Putting a black iridium coating on the classic VR28 was a brilliant move by Oakley! Theese lenses are versatile, great looking and great looking through! I see Oakley use them in a lot of the new fashion oriented frames, but i have them in my Juliet.

The 18% paired with the contrast enhancing characteristics makes this lensesuitable for allmost every type of weather. This is my everyday lense 90% of the time.

I love this lens. Contrast is great and can add some excitement to your day. It's a fun lens to look through, and not bad to look at. Not good for super sunny days but brightens up an overcast day.

eversince i started wearing my VR 28 black iridium Ti burnt copper crosshairs , i was amazed how easy this color is for your eyes , it's light enough to still wear your glasses when it isn't bright sunny , and it is dark enough for mildly sunny days.
so it is a perfect overall use lenscolor. currently my favorite lens

A perfect lens for days when you aren't sure what the sun is going to do. If it gets cloudy, you won't have to go to another lens, but if it gets sunny you're taken care of. They are somewhat see-through from the front, but that depends on how much light gets in the back of the lens. From a short distance usually others can't see through them. A good lens to add to your stable. Oh, and the increased contrast is nice and soft on the eyes. On par with Titanium Iridium.

Nice lense, I have them in my Crosshair and my Juliet. The red-brown tint is nice, if you like the gold iridiums you may also like these here.
I think these are a lil bit clearer than the gold iridium (and they are way clearer than the dark bronze lenes).

very nice lens tint, very easy on the eyes and has great contrast, these are nice looking through. it's a very warm reddish brown tint, unlike my VR28 Blue Iridium Polarized which are a bit more rosy red than brown. i wished the Iridium coating would have more of a mirror effect, since your eyes can be seen behind the lenses in some lighting conditions. but overall, quite a nice lens.

One of the best all-around use lenses. They provide excellent contrast enhancement of the standard VR28 but the Black Iridium darkens the lens enough that they still be worn in sunny days.

A sweet lens all around. A great soft VR base to look through. And the iridium coating bring the flash to the overall look. A superb option with a chrome frame (making the Crosshair chrome/VR28 Black a top choice!).

A nice step up from non-Iridium VR28. Same reddish-brown base tint with a very light Black Iridium coating. Under some conditions, it is highly reflective while at other times your eyes can be seen behind the lenses. Very versatile lens.

It's a deep dark brown when looking through. Very warm for the eyes. Should be used for medium light and not for extremely bright or sunny days.

It's been my experience with the vr28 Black that the best way to describe the way it looks is that they look a lot like the developed 35mm (or any type) film negatives you get back with pictures!

I was never one for the V lenses. To pink. To reddish brown. No mirror. Then this showed up. Thing is though, it's not like I was out to buy this lens. I had wanted a pair of Red Oakley and the Crystal Red Premium Dealer Fives 2.0 fit the bill. It had this lens in it and it's great. It does let in a fair amount more of light but is still great in bright sunlight and excellent in low sun or on overcast days. If you ever want a lens that you would describe as "cinnamon", this it. The iridium barely shows mirror and the VR28 looked so much nicer this time around as if it had been modified along the way. With this lens is where I will say that Oakley pictures online almost always lie. This looks dead black in any photos they show and is so much lighter in person.

While I was in the market for the new straight jacket I came across the blood frame and I loved the look of it. But it came with the VR28 B.I. lens and I wasnt fond of it. I decided to give it a try and im glad I did. Great contrast, and great in any kind of weather. My only gripe is that they scratch easily. If you can get the polarized version.

I have these in my Hatchets (Raw with VR28 Black Irdium). A great lens like everyone says here they are perfect in all conditions, from overcast to full sun. Attractive brownish earthy appearence from the outside (very elegant) almost vintage sunglass look which is pretty cool! The lens has no mirror (which does not matter as my frame is bright silver and this lens compliments it perfectly). I reckon Mirror lens finshes look good on dark frames and non mirror lenses look best on light frames. Remember the law of : "opposites attract".

Like everyone said it's a very versatile lens which is great if you're an utilitarian but rather boring for the collector. Other than that i agree with the previous reviews.

Nice lens tint. Not very special too look through, but it is very versatile in its use. You can use it for a lot of different weather conditions. So every time the weather is a bit freaky and changing a lot during the daytime I always bring along my Penny with VR28 BI.

I've only tried this lens on once, and it was a pleasant experience. The color of the lens is so easy on the eyes. It does let in a lot of light, but it doesn't detract away from the overall beauty of this lens.