Frame: Carbon Fiber
Lens: Persimmon

This model is for small head compared to O frame, Wisdom or Crowbar. I own a pair of international fit model and I have no problem wearing it. Persimmon lens is officially for both day and night but especially good for night vision. Not recommendable for a sunny day. Some people complain A frame provides narrow vision but I don't agree.

Frame: Silver
Lens: VR28
Nice goggle with great vision. Has that Darth Vader look, which is awesome.

Frame: A frame
Lens: ice iridium

pearl frame / ice iridium lens ; very cool color-combo , vision is perfect , size of the frame also really good

Frame: Shaun White
Lens: Black Iridium

I bought these mainly for looks, since the most winter activity I get is shoveling the driveway. I love the simplistic lines running down the side of the frame. The black on white look for some reason just works. The all text frame is nice, but I prefer the cleaner look. The box is also unique to this pair, so that's another plus. The Black Iridium lens should be noted is different that the Black Iridium on glasses. It has an increased contrast base like many of the goggle lenses, and will help with visibility.

Frame: Jet Black
Lens: Blue Iridium

Very cool goggle. Once I tightened them up enough, no snow got in. Provided awesome visibility. No wonder why this goggle is so popular.

Frame: Black to clear fade ; Copper Tribal
Lens: Persimmon ; Gold Iridium

I wish I could give the A-frame a better score. I love the goggles but the strap is WAY to small. I have a medium sized head and the goggles fit me fine, but the strap is extremely tight.

I own 2 pair of A-frames, one with the helmet strap, which is just as short.

Great goggles, but the strap makes them almost unusable. Put the crowbar strap on the A-frame and it would be perfect.

Frame: Matte Black
Lens: H.I. Amber Plarized

This is the smallest Goggle and probably most popular. I prefer something with more peripharal vision as I feel a bit of tunnel vision with these on. Visually the lense provides great contrast but the polarization masks ice patched making it a little dangerous on shady trail.

Frame: Pink
Lens: Pink Iridium

Read my other review for frame comments. The Pink Iridium lens is definately a cloudy day/night lens. The rose base appears similar to G30 or G40.

Frame : silver
lens : black iridium

I've been using it hardly. He has gone in French Aples, French Massif-Central and has always been a perfect goggle for sunny days.
Let me tell you a little anecdote which happened with my A-Frame :
I was riding in Les Deux Alpes with a group of friends. During a big ride, I stopped to have a little break and my buddies did the same. Our late skiing monitor arrived and felt just above my position. During is fall, the tail of one of his ski hit me in the head. A part of the the impact was absorbed by my helmet, but my goggles got a big shock from the ski.
After I recover, I pulled my A-Frame off to see how damaged he was and ... nothing ! Both the lens and frame was free of mark ! Without it, I probably have had big injuries.

Oh, and by the way, he is very comfortable, fit me nicely with of without helmet (and I have a quite big head), never fogs up...

A true classic

Frame: Black
Lens: Laser Lens

I had never seen these before, so even though I have absolutely no use for goggles, much less goggles with a Laser Lens, I had to get them anyway. This version is the SI "Assault" A-Frame. Unlike the standard A-Frame, the SI comes standard with the helmet strap kit that has wide-set brackets to make it easier for the strap to route over a helmet. The strap itself is also plain black, with no logos or patterns. Assault goggles also lack vent holes in the lenses.

The Laser Lens is an odd green-apple color. I have noticed some significant distortion in the lens around the nose cutout. I was not expecting that from an Oakley product, but I wonder if that is due to the material used for this particular lens tint (if it is different than standard Plutonite).

Frame: Black
Lens: VR28

Great low-key colorway. VR28 is a nice lens color that gives everything a warm, brownish-red tint. I've never worn goggles before, so I can't claim to know how they're supposed to fit, but these feel comfortable on my face and offer an acceptable amount of peripheral vision. The dual adjustment loops on the strap feel secure, and the strap material has rubbery stripes on the inside so it doesn't slip.

Frame: Black
Lens: Laser


I got these a while back on usstandardissue.com and they are really cool. I honestly don't know how effective the "laser" lens is but it does look really cool and looks cool to look though, I feel like I am master chief from Halo when I wear them. They are actually a lot lighter than I expected, they appear to be really heavy but they are not at all.

Frame: Carbon Fibre
Lens: Persimmon

Really comfortable, I'm impressed by the way they can keep in heat but not fog up, they hug my face really well and the carbon fibre finish looks boss, the persimmon lenses are amazingly clear but I haven't had an opportunity to test them in really bright light conditions yet.

Frame: Shaun White Illusion Stripes
Lens: Black Iridium

The A-frame has received a facelift for the '09 model year and is now larger. A wider field of vision, especially on the peripherals makes this frame much more appealing along with a more solid feel. The new Shaun White colorway is infinitely nicer than his previous signature series and will instantly grab the attention of other people on the slopes. The microfiber bag has the matching pattern which goes nicely with the new Shaun White Jupiter LX and his limited Blue Chrome Frogskins as well.

Frame: Blue
Lens: Persimmon, Fire

Have these for many years and was always satisfied with the fit and protection. Although I found the Persimmon always a bit lame. You are not supposed to clean the inside of the lens, not even with the microfiber bag because of some anti-fog coating. I made that mistake once after a huge crash that got snow into the goggles. That scratched it very badly.

I purchased a new lens and originally wanted to have a H.I. Blue or H.I. Yellow since I normally only use goggles when the weather is not too good. Otherwise I use normal Oakleys when snowboarding. But the shop didn't have them and I fell deeply in love with the Fire lense. So I made a spontanious purchase and I've never regretted it. The Fire looks spectacular on such a big lense and you get the whole color sprectrum from blue, green, yellow, orange to red and back. It's just amazing. And it goes very well with the plain and a bit boring blue frame. Also it is not too dark even in low light conditions. I was a bit afraid of this first, but no problems there.

perfect addition to the goggles. not only does it work with a helmet, it also works with the Medusa while skiing.

Color: Fire Iridium
This one or at least mine has a ruby iridium look to it. Totally a head turner on the slopes. Scratches easy so always use appropriate cleaner.

Color: Blue Iridium
This is another head turner on the slopes. I like this lens on a pearl white frame. scraches easy as well plus may get residue in between the 2 ply lens. There is no way to clean it out.

Like O-xide one of my two has a ruby look, the other does not so I assume these are like the juliet lens, each batch is different. If you can find the earlier versions grab one, they are still around because I just got my "rubyish" one off of the bay, they seem to be easier to find than other lens in this darker tone.

Frame: Platinum
Lens: Gold

The best wire available when it came out. I loved the older ear stem with the arm length ear sock and the false Hammer wing on it. And Copper was cool. I bought Platinum as soon as the straight arm pair had shown up. It was a great fit, slightly on the smaller side and a great lens shape. A good alternative from the E and Square.

Frame: Brushed Thick/Brushed Thick
Lens: Black Iridium/Emerald Iridium or Light Blue

these are one of the nicest Wires ever made, and even more comfortable to wear than the current A Wire Thick, because of the thicker unobtanium earsock (with nicely sculpted pseudo Hammer Wing) and bigger nosepads. these are still the nicest lens shape ever made in the Wire series. the Brushed Thick frames are really nice looking, especially in contrast with the Black Iridium lenses.

Frame: Dark
Lens: Black
These are awesome for dress up days. Very professional. The only draw back for me were they were not very durable, not like a X-metal. My frame broke after 2 years. Still, pretty nice looking.

Frame: Carbon
Lens: Black Iridium

The A Wire was my first pair of Oakley wires. The wing ear socks were one of the selling points along with the frames finish. I like the fact that wires in my opinion are more of a subtle looking sunglass. But the wing ear socks along with Oakley design definitely set them a part from other sunglass company's wires.

Frame: carbon
Lens: black iridium polarized rx

got these more out of necessity then want.i needed a rx sunglass pair and this was one of the only ones i could get at the time.
but when i had them in hand and on head it was great very confortable i little tight but it worked fantasticly. i kind wanna have them make me a H.I. pair in the future when i have the cash

Frame: Platinum
Lens: Gold Iridium
Looser fitting than the current a wire and as result very comfortable but I find they do have a tendancy to slip off if you're running around a lot.

Frame: Platinum
Lens: Gold Iridium
I bought these the day they were released in New Zealand. I might be wrong but they may have been the first wire ever available. I remember trying them on and feeling like they fit so well and looked great. I think they provide class and sophistication without sreaming "look at me!". The have a high level of refinement that is more difficult to find within the other Oakley families. Of all Oakleys I have ever recommended, the A Wire is the one that most friends have gone with. They are getting a little long in the tooth, but they are still an all-time favorite of mine. They served me well back in the day.

Frame: Brushed/Thick
Lens: Black Iridium
Almost exactly like the first pair I bought with the exception of a wider frame. I like the brushed finish. Looks classy but has a subtle industrial flavor.

Frame: Brushed Thick
Lens: Light blue
I love the way these look from a fashion standpoint. Really light lens that Oakley didn't use that often.

Frame: Platinum
Lens: gold

Only the second Oakley I ever had, great hammerfin socks & loved the gold lens compared to what else was available at the time. Not easy to justify the price tag at the time, but due to the cost I still have them now, where cheaper ones would be long gone by now.
My eldest son loves to wear them and consequently have got him his own pair

Beautiful introduction pair of Oakley and for sentimental reasons one of my favourites

Frame: Dark
Lens: Black Iridium
Dark A wires with Black Iridium lenses and old school false hammer earsocks were the S**t when they first came out. They were the second pair of Oakleys (Black/Black Iridium Eye Jackets being the first) I ever actualy went to Sunglass Hut and bought. They cost me $135.00 + tax of my hard earned lawn mowing money when I was in the eighth grade, and they were worth every penny. I eventualy sold them on eBay for $105.00 and put it towards some Juliet Plasma/fires but I wish I still had them.

Frame: Brushed Thick
Lens: Black Iridium
I purchased my A-wire Oakley's in September 1999 and have worn them almost every day since then. I purchased them because they fit up close to my eyeballs and gave me about 90% coverage. I also loved the HammerFang arms w/ 3-position ear socks because I have a wide head and most sunglasses cut into the side of my head. These were the first "expensive" sunglasses I had ever purchased; before this I had gone through a $10 pair every few months. My Oakley's have survived as long as they have because I bought a soft vault to store them in and kept the soft vault attached to my belt w/ a keychain thing I made. After 7 years the lense coatings are starting to decompose and the earsocks are almost worn out but the frames themselves are rock-solid. I am planning to send them in to Oakley soon to be refurbed w/ new lenses, pads and ear socks.

Frame: Brushed Thick
Lens: Emerald Iridium
Great shades. I bought these on a whim 3 years ago and still wear them all the time. Solid pair of shades. Extremely tough and great looks. Of course there are many new styles but these are still great.

Frame: Thick
Lens: Clear Blue & Black

Back in the day, these seemed like the pinnacle of wires. A newer, squared off lens shape and sleek earsocks. I love the clear blue lenses in the thick silver frame, something to wear at night or inside.

Frame: Brushed Thick
Lens: Black Iridium

these are the best looking wires on most people and the hammer ear socks are too cool.

Frame: Thick
Lens: Black Iridium
I gave these to my Mom, because I didn't like wearing them. The Hammer earsocks were cool, but they seemed a bit flimsy. They bent constantly at the hinge. The design of the hinge is that the orbital screws around the lens, with two little wings sticking out. These wings then sandwich the earstem. The 2.0 version beefed this are up a lot, making them less prone to bendage.

Frame: Brushed Thick
Lens: Black Iridium

I had the opportunity to get these real cheap. I missed the pair of A wires I broke yearas ago so I had to do it for memory lane's sake. The thicker frame doesn't look as clean as the thinner frame option. Still, the eye coverage and lightness of the frame is still good. It also is still really clean and conservative looking which is a nice professional alternative to a pair of x-metals.

Frame: Platinum
Lens: Dark Grey

While these can be tight on large heads, the initial style is timeless. These are some of the darkest Oakley lenses I have experienced. They're great for any day, whether it's a dress occasion or not.

I have an original thin frame pair with hammer Unobtanium pieces and it adds something to the look and feel. The 3 position grips make them right for almost anyone.

Frame: Dark/thick
Lens:Black Iridium

Probably the best wire ever made. I bought them in 1999 and I have worn them in every brigth condition: Alpi mountains , Polinesian baeches, an my eyes ever felt relaxed.

Frame: Brushed Thick
Lens: Black Iridium

My second pair of Oakleys. They only thing I didn't like about them was the extra-long earsocks that had a tendency to twist.

Frame: (NOT Thick) Blk.A WIRE
Lens: BLACK IRIDUM
I am 6'6" & 180 lbs. The variety of frames that fit my narrow head,w/out taking over my face were few and far between, and there was always a hand full of problems or things I did'nt like at all.
But, the orig.A WIRE w/ the Hammerfin style ear socks solved nearly all my frustrations.
You can not beat a CLASSIC style. Ten years ago,I was turned on to these in particular for their comfort fit and clarity of optics. Working in construction,I found myself loving them more & more daily. After almost loosing an eye, I learned that it was Oakley's saftey standards that allowed me to keep both my eyes. These saftey specs.,as well as clarity, comfort and timeless style are just a few reasons why I will not entrust my valuable visual sight to anything less than the best.
:Vintage OAKLEY since 1999: & still sportin' em
p.s. Now, if only I could easily find replacement softwear for vintage specs.(hammerfinn unobtanium)w/out shipping them to Oakley.(I'd miss them too much and my others just are'nt the same.) !!!THANK YOU OAKLEY!!!

Frame: Platinum
Lens: Gold Iridium
Without a doubt, the best Oakley's ever made. Gold iridium is my favorite non-polarized lens. Great in sun and overcast. Contrast is so good I wear them when driving in the rain. Oakley got an earful when they cancelled them according to the the sales rep I dealt with when ordering the Ti Whiskers to replace them after 8 years of great service. If they still made the A Wire, I'd be buying another pair.

Frame: Black
Lens: Grey


Nice pair of shades. I have a smaller face so these looked a bit too big. These aren't the most rugged so do be careful when using them in an active environment. Still, they do look professional and are pretty comfortable. They are a bit heavy after a while.

Frame: Carbon
Lens: Black Iridium Polarized

This was my first pair of wire Oakleys. I liked them until I bent the frame slightly and could never get a good fit after that. I agree with some here about the winged earsocks having a tendency to twist. I don't wear them anymore because the coverage is just not enough for me, I tend to like the bigger lenses.

I have the A Wire Thick with Light Blue lenses. Love the brushed finish on these and the lenses! I wish there were more low light options available on other frames.

Review: Frame: Brushed Thick
Lens: Emerald Iridium

Very solid frame construction. Emerald Iridium has a nice green/yellow mirror. The ''A'' lens shape is nice for people that don't like the oval ''E'' style lenses or the square style. The fit is quite snug, so if you have a larger head, the spring hinge version might be more comfortable.

Frame: all
Lens: all

I thought the second incarnation of the original was nicer than this. The wire frame got too bulky and was very tight, all the 2.0 wires were. This was the way to go though if you couldn't wear the E or Square. The A lens was a great shape and carried over into similar lens styles like the Juliet. And the Thick frame, I always thought was a terrible look and a bitch to adjust. The lenses didn't stay well in the thick frame. Kept popping out.

Frame: Dark Thick
Lens: Clear RX lenses/Black Iridium

I bought these as regular sunglasses to use with contact lenses, but as I had a good number of sunglasses at my disposal, I went to my local Authorized Oakley Optician and had clear RX lenses put in them. When the Black Iridium lenses were in the frames, they didn't really stand out in the Dark Thick finish (probably would've looked better in the Brushed or Chrome versions), after I have the clear RX lenses set in, the frames immediately stood out of the crowd and looks very bold and unique; I would get compliments everywhere I went! Sometimes I would swap the clear RX lenses with the original Black Iridium, but usually I wear them as eyeglasses. Also, I've never had any of the lenses pop out on me. One think I don't like about them is that they do fit tight, as the other reviews mentioned. Too bad the Thick versions don't come with spring hinges. Anyway, they look awesome as eyeglasses and are my favourite pair.

Frame: Carbon
Lens: Black Polarized
Surprisingly this is the only pair of Oakley's I have. (I need to get going on that) That makes them a must for winter time driving in ND. They really cut the glare off the snow and the black Iridium helps with the brightness. Luckily this I got these about the time Oakley got their polarization figured out. When I was working at SGH and the polarized Frogskins came out (the first style to have it if I remember correctly), the optics were off and made your depth perception all wonky. They stopped polarized for a little while and then returned and there's been no looking back since. I wear these a lot. I've been thinking about upgrading to a 2.0 w/ spring hinges.

Frame: Dark
Lens:Grey
They are o.k. Very robust and a nice shape, but I don't like the "oakley" between the eyes. I prefer the understatement of the e-wires and the big squares. On my face they cover not that good (slightly better than the square wires 2.0), the lenses are just damn small. But hey, I think these are the best selling wires together with the square 2.0 - the masses can't be wrong ,) !

Frame: Platinum

Lens: Gold Iridium

I love these glases. i used to have some of the originals till they got stolen. I have had this lens color in like 3 of the 4 oakleys i have owned: current A-wire, original A-wire, and in my old A-frame goggles i used to have.

Frame: Dark
Lens: Black Iridium

These are my 2nd pair and my 1st Wire ever. I wear them for over 3 years now, but the lenses are still in a very good shape. The unabtanium earsocks show some wear, but they are easy to replace. It's very comfortable and looks simply cool. The frame itself could be a bit smaller though. I like this much much better, than the O-Matter glasses.

Frame: C-5 alloy (they all are, I guess) silver
Lens: Black iridium

This is probably the first wire to fit my face nicely. I also enjoyed the E wire and square wire, but despite the fact that I prefer those with S/H, I tend to have a better fit with the non S/H.

The shape of these glasses are awesome. I just wish that they had a TITANIUM frame version of these. Anyone know if there is one or is going to be one?

Frame: Platinum
Lens: Gold Iridium

Very very nice frames, i prefer these over the Spring Hinge versions. The orbitals on these have a more sculpted, rounded tapered look to them, while the Spring Hinge versions look a bit too boxy. I also get a much better fit with these than the Spring Hinge versions. The regular A-Wire 2.0 frames aren't as bold as the Thick versions, but my Platinum/Gold Iridium is an eye catcher colour combination. It's sophisticated looking but unmistakably Oakley. The frames itself are solid and sturdy, with no lenses popping out. Overall excellent sunglasses.

Frame: black
Lens: black iridum

Solid frame well sculpted, good all around look for dress, funeral, or day to day use. not enought coverage for sport use.

Frame: Dark
Lens: Dark Grey

Great styling and great functionality. I love the plain, understated frame color that I have of these.

But the greatest thing about the A-Wire 2.0 is the sleeking out of the temples and overall shape of the frame.

I understand and appreciate that there are some out there who prefer the hammerfang temples of the first A-wires, and, in fact, the old A-Wires fit me better slightly. But the design looks much cleaner in my opinion and it's one of the few major improvements Oakley has made to any of its lines.

Frame: Dark
Lens: Black Iridium

Very neutral pair of sunglasses. Suitable for every occasion. Not too big, but still good sun protection.
These were my first pair of sunglasses. When I first got them they were prescription adjusted. When I had my eyes lasered I ordered a set of lenses and after 4 years of heavy usage they still look great!

Frame: Platinum
Lens: Gold Iridium Polarized
These are a significant improvement over the old model. They fit better, because of the straight arms, and the improved hinges. Their rather plain design would be well accented by adding the Hammer earsocks from the Gen1.

Frame: light
Lens: black iridium
These were my first pair of oakleys and they got me completly hooked on oakley. These are a very classy and clean looking pair of glasses and really it was the exceptional optics and awesome quality that told me on the oakley brand.

Frame: Brushed Thick
Lens: Emeral Iridium

One of better designed wires but for whatever reason, these look narrow on me. It's unfortunate since they fit really well and the "Thick" frames look nice and sturdy, as well as just looking good. I'd easily recommend these for people with small to medium sized heads.

Frame: Platinum
Lens: Gold Iridium Polarized
Good professional look, and quite durable for a wire frame. The lens hits my eyelashes due to the lack of lens curvature. Also doesn't have the best coverage for those with large faces. Good for business/work wear.

Frame: Black Chrome Thick
Lens: Emerald Iridium Polarized
I have never really seen these in person, only in pictures, but they look and sound like they would be the ultimate A-wire to own.

Frame: Black Chrome Thick
Lens: Emerald Iridium Polarized

Classic Polarized Emerald Lens looks great with the Black Chrome Lens. It is very solid. The Emerald Lens is reflective green/yellow. The frame is polished and thereby can be worn is a more casual and with a more dressier classic outfit. The fit is tight and can be a problem for wider heads...actually my head is not that wide at all and when I were these for more than 3 hours i really notice the dig..., demanding the need for A-wire with the Spring Hinge. I did not think that this oval shape would look good but they do. They are light but heavier than lets say Monster Dogs. They look Dam Cool

Frame: Black Chrome Thick
Lens: Emerald Polarized

You REALLY have to look hard for the "polarized" etching on this model. The lenses are rare, and great. While I'm still not a huge fan of the frame, this is my third pair. They're on the verge of being too small for my big head. Every time I wear them, though, I get compliments.

Frame: Platinum
Lens: Gold Iridium

Very solid frame that is hard to bend, these are very strong for a small sunglass! The style I think is very cool looking for a wire frame. Which is rare as wire frames are usually more conservative than O-Matter. Wow these wires look very cool and sophisticated all combined! Just perfect! So great to wear a cool and sophisticated looking pair of wires! I have a medium to large face and they look great on me. I was worried when I first got them that they would look silly, but in no way do they, and actually they suit me great! The Platinum frame shines and stands out in the sun and the Gold Iridium mirror looks superb! The Gold Iridium is a great lens for Golfing as it has good contrast. Just a great pair of wires my best yet! I'll keep them as long as I can. Get one today you won't be disappointed!

Frame: Black Chrome Thick
Lens: Emerald Iridium Polarized

Just Simply beautiful and very cool shades! The Vinatge and modern appeal combined make these so great! You really can see the superiority of these over any cheap roadhouse or chemist shades! The Emerald green polarized is probably the rarest Oakley lens out there! It looks both cool and very expensive! It is great for overcast skies or full sun! I love the colour green and unfortunately there is not too many green mirror shades out there, so this is a rare gem! The A-wire shape actually very much suits me. (For starters I thought it wouldn't). Some may class A-Wire as going to a Feminine style but I would say it's definiately more of a Mens style! Examples of Womens style oval wires are : C wire and Teaspoon with the more pointed ends. A-wire looks more Juliet shaped which is a Mens style. Although Ladies can get away with A wire or Juliet!

Frame: Gunmetal
Lens: Grey Polarized

This is my second pair of Oakley wires and my first pair of polarized lenses. These glasses are unmistakably classic Oakley. I like the shaping of the bridge with the Oakley stretch logo across it.
I've dropped these quite a few times and had the lenses pop out. I just forced them back in. I've also had these bent out of shape by children and by accidentally stuffing a lot of stuff in my backpack with them in there. They are really strong and help up well. I just flexed them back, and they look and feel normal now.
I have some kind of small deposits or etching that won't come off the lenses near the frame - possibly from saltwater.
My only complaint with these is that they let a lot of sunlight in on the sides of my eyes IF the sun is at the right angle, which makes me squint and makes my eyes tired, especially while driving.

Frame: Dark
Lens: Black Iridium

I used these for a few years. Didn't really fit my small head too well. The frames weren't as durable as I would have liked but the glasses were still pretty cool. Since they were kinda big, these didn't stay on too well

Frame: Platinum
Lens: Gold Iridium

Great for outdoors especially in the beach. One of the best oakleys that I ever have

Frame: Black
Lens: Black Iridium
Used these for a while and then traded them. They were a bit too big for my face. They look very classy and professional. The icon is a bit hidden, by the temple, but that is okay. The unobtanium allowed for a secure fit.

Frame: Dark
Lens: Black Iridium

For me this design is possibly the pinnacle of Oakley understated style design, proving they can do elegance and class as well as cutting edge out there style frames. The fit is smaller yes, but that makes it perfect for my tiny face ^.^

I had 2 pairs of A Wire 2.0 Spring Hinge (SH) before this, and both times their ear stems had broken! The hinge design on these are perfectly sturdy, not placing pulling forces on a tiny piece of metal inside the stem attachment every time you open and close the stems like on the SH's.
This less complex mechanism allows more attention to detail in the design, particularly the icons and cutout sculpting on the orbitals rather than a big blob covering the temples.

To top it off the A 2.0's have the classic Oakley etching across the nose bridge, something sorely missed from their new slim/wire range. Light, sophisticated and classy!

Frame: Carbon A-Wire 2.0
Lens: Black Iridium Polarized
I was just told that Oakley no longer carries any parts for this glasses, lenses included. Best they could do was offer me a 25% discount on a new pair. Truth is I don't want a new pair but to repair my old pair. Will have to think about their offer long and hard but I'm so disappointed I'll probably go with a competitor. Loved my A-wires. Not a happy camper right now.

Frame: Carbon A-wire
Lens: Black Iridium Polarized
I was just told that Oakley no longer carries any parts for this glasses, lenses included. The best they offered me was a 25% discount on a new pair. Truth is that I don't want a new pair but to repair my old ones. I going to think long and hard about their offer but I am so disappointed that I will probably go with the competition. I loved my A-wires.

Can I add a sixth star?

Frame/Lens: Black Chrome Thick/Emerald Iridium Polarized; Black Chrome Thick/Black Iridium; Brushed Thick/Emerald Iridium

Superb glasses, I find that they fit very closely and cover my eye sockets so even though the orbitals aren't huge, the coverage is very good for me. They are very snug - medium/large head and the earstems are in firm contact with the temples - but comfortable and fit very securely. The only downsides, aside from Oakley having no parts to repair them any more, have to do with the frame being quite soft and fairly bendable - I managed to bend my BI pair one day and although they bent back with care, there is still a tiny 'ripple' in the metal next to the nosebridge. Later Wire designs are much more rigid. The Emerald Pol pair tend to only come out a couple of times a year because they're essentially irreplaceable. A very lightweight, sleek, elegant design and without the weak point which seems to come with the spring hinges. I'd love another pair with the polarized Ice lenses but they don't come along very often!

Too bad they don't print the glasses themselves on it.

another yellow box Oakley uses these days. however, at least this one is customized for the frames they come with.

Just an average yellow box. I like to old black version much better.

Not nearly as cool and unique as the older black and white boxes, but I like it better than the current generic white boxes. Some of the yellow boxes were customized for the frame they were holding such as this one, which is why I gave the yellow box a higher score than the white ones which are the same for every frame.

Frame: Light
Lens: Clear

A really nice pair of RX glasses that I have been wearing almost fulltime for more than 2 years now. The field of view is pretty wide, and the frame itself is very sturdy (have survived numerous incidents of basketballs hitting face point blank with no damage done to the frame). My only pet peeves with the glasses revolves around little things like the nose + ear bombs (which I had to replace after a year of wear because the rubber was almost completely falling apart), and the lens themselves (which being prescription from Oakley, I expected to be less vulnerable to scratches, but were in fact no more impressive in that department than many other brands of "scratch-resistant" lenses like Nikon. All in all though, the glasses are a good choice if you plan on purchasing a stylish set of glasses which can probably be passed off as it's sunglass counterpart with colored lenses.

Frame: Carbon
Lens: clear

My first pair of Oakley, I used them for more than 3 years and now they are broken in 2 parts.
Super style. For me, the best wire, ever.

Frame: light
Lens: clear
A true Oakley classic!!If it not broke don't fit it!! I love the way they look and they feel so comfortable. The fit is just perfect and they are in no way heavy to wear all day.I would recommend these puppies to anyone. I get lots of great comments about them.

Frame: Dark Carbon 11-534
Lens:

Love the glasses but the temple broke off. Didn't use them very often so thats's a big dissapointment

Frame: A-Wire 2.0 Rx
Lens: 1.67 high Index Clear (Rx)

I have been wearing these EVERY DAY for 8 years now, and they are still going. Replaced rubber parts 2 times now with the little 14$ Oakley kit. They are awesome.

I'd like to change but they don't seem to make curved ones anymore in the Rx department, apart from the whiskey but they are too big for me (51 size is where it's at).

Best glasses ever.

Review: Frame: Titanium Pewter
Lens: VR28 Blue Iridium Polarized

Wow! You will not believe how light these are! The titanium makes a huge difference in weight over the regular C5 alloy. The spring hinges are perfectly weighted... not too tight, not too loose. The pewter color is just dandy, matte finish with a tinge of bronze. "TITANIUM" is imprinted on the back side of the nose bridge to differentiate these from the non-Ti wires.

VR28 Blue Iridium Polarized is a nice color to look at and look through. Like other VR28-based lenses, it is a pinkish-brown tint that is pleasing to the eyes and good for a wide range of light conditions. Depending on the angle from which you are looking, the outside of the lenses can have a slight blue haze or a deep blue mirror. If you have seen these in person, you know what I am describing... just beautiful.

Frame: Silver
Lens: Ice Iridium

A very nice sunglass. The frame looks best in really bright light. The spring hinges are a nice touch, especially since they can accommodate larger heads. I would buy them over again. It is too bad you can no longer get the +Red and the VR28 Blue Polarized versions on-line.

Frame: Gunmetal
Lens: Red Iridium

Gorgeous piece of sunglass!

The one Oakley wire that has caught my attention for so long. I'm not one to keep wearing the same sunglass. I have changed my alt-sunglass over and over again (M Frame to Juliet to Half Jacket) but this pair of wire glasses just rocks my boat.

Absolutely beautiful.

Frame: Gunmetal
Lens: Red Iridium

My favorite pair of Oakleys yet. They are a wonderful buy and I wish I could buy them again. My pair lasted for 4 years before one of the earpieces broke (where it goes into the spring hinge). I miss them.

Frame: Dark Carbon
Lens: Ruby Iridium

the Dark Carbon/Ruby Iridium is a great looking combimation. i love the way how the Dark Carbon is matte finished, and the Ruby Iridium is really mirrored, even more so than the Ruby Iridium on the E Wire 2.1. however, the Rubies on the A Wire 2.0 Spring Hinge is more of a darker shade of orange (but not as orange as Fire Iridium) than red. the spring hinge is good for accomodating those with larger heads, although i get a better and more comfortable fit with the non-spring versions. however, the lens shape is not the same as the A Wire 2.0 non-spring hinge, as those are closer in shape to the original A Wires (which i prefer). the A Wire 2.0 Spring Hinge's lens shape is more of a squarer, trapezoidal shape than the smoother, more rounded tapered shape that's on the 2.0 non-spring hinge.

still, these are great looking sunglasses, the Dark Carbon/Ruby combination is worth the price of admission alone.

Frame: Silver
Lens: Ice Iridium

My best pair of glasses, these are extremely light and have a solid feel to them. The spring hinges adjust to my head perfectly and i'm just in awe at the construction of these. If you were to buy a pair of wires i'd highly reccommend these!

Frame: Dark Carbon
Lens: Ruby
The A-wire Ruby is one of those that gives a consistently amazing Ruby lens color. Although I have a couple a-wire thick frames, I think this is one of the classiest wires I own. Great fit, very comfy, and looks more refined than the regular a-wires that seem a bit too sporty.

Frame: Silver
Lens: Ice Iridium
Got these when I got sick of my Square wires. They are exceptional but have only served to make me appreciate my square wires more. Found the A's looked slightly more feminine. Also, they had to be adjusted a load of times before they stopped hurting my head due to the pressure applied by the spring hinge.

Frame: Titanium
Lens: Titanium
I was a huge fan of the original A-Wire when it was intially launched. In fact, I owned two pairs at one point. I was quite surprised when I stumbled on this combo whilst scanning the O-Review DB. I never knew the A-Wire was available in a Ti frame. Let alone a Ti lens. I knew the T-Wire was Titanium (of course). I was even more surprised when I won my BNIB pair on Ebay for less than $70! They are quite simply the Cadillac of A-Wires. Light, sophisticated, and very comfortable-fitting - I don't have enough good things to say about this pair. I am so grateful to this site for putting me on to these, because like I said, I would never have discovered them otherwise.

Frame: gunmetal
Lens: grey polarized

These are my first pair of Oakleys. I bought the SI edition off of eBay. I liked the "matrix" look of the glasses but they seem a bit small on my face. I find that the Square Wire 2.0 fit me better (aren't as tight) and look better on my face. The lenses are pretty scratch resistant. I took it out to the firing range and one of the shells hit the lens but no marks!

Frame: Carbon
Lens: Ruby

bought these off ebay from US, and my friend brought it back from there for me. it was kinda a bad ebay experience cos they came without the warranty registration card that i'll need(for my country), and the microfiber was missing too(hence, the lens was scratched). but thankfully another member of this forum offered to help me with the warranty registration card(thanks Darren Taylor!).

on to the review, after trying the glasses for a few days, i find myself liking them for the way they hug my face, better than the square wires. i don't have to do any adjustments to the nosepiece position at all and the fits just perfectly. however, i prefer the shape of the square wires cos they look better on me.

on to the lenses, ruby lenses just rulez. nice warm blue tint from the inside and totally aggresive iridium mirror from the outside! i can only say that my friends who saw the glasses were 'drooling' all over asking how to get one..! i myself is thinking to get a pair of XX ruby or other frames with ruby lens.., but too bad NONE of the ruby lensed O's is available here..

Frame: carbon black
Lens: black iridium

got these as a replacement for a previous pair of a wires and i love them they are strong and flexable.

Frame: Titanium
Lens: Titanium Iridium

I got these almost 50% reduced and love them to bits. I also have a C5 A-Wire (Silver/Ice) which I found a bit disappointing. The titanium really does this frame justice. So light it feels like you have nothing at all. I dont like golds or browns and this kind of veers in that direction but I just had to have them.

Frame: Gunmetal
Lens: +Red/-Red

I'm a hug fan of this frame. It gives you great horizontal coverage and the spring hinges are comfortable and sturdy. +Red is a wonderful lens but I scratched it terribly and eventually replaced them with the experimental -Red which is basically a Red irdium coating on a light blue base. Very sexy.

Frame: Ti Pewter
Lens: VR28 Blue Irid Polar

Holy cow! I love titanium frames. They are so light and yet they feel sturdy. I love the contrast of the VR28 blue lenses. I've been wanting this pair forever. I finally got it in mint condition off of eBay for less than 1/2 of retail!!!

I like the fit on my asian face. It's not too wide or too angled. Once again, the weight is phenomenal. The spring hinges offer sturdy grip without the extra pressure like when you wear the non-spring A wires for a little while. You pretty much can't go wrong with this pair of O's. I highly recommend these to everyone.

Frame: Carbon
Lens: Black Iridium

Just wondering... I seem to have an A-Wire that is all black (including the lens) I got it from a cousin who bought it in LA I think. Thing is, I haven't seen any A-Wire SH that is all black. Could these be replacement lenses or are they (GULP!) fake???

Frame: Silver
Lens: Ice
I like the design and with the spring hinges they fit perfectly.
However after 3 years of moderate use the coating started to peel off and parts of the frame turned green. Other users on this site have reported simular problems. Oakley seems to have a problem with its coatings and I find it really disturbing on sunglasses of this price.

Frame: Gunmetal
Lens: +Red

Sleek and stylish, the A Wire 2.0s look appropriate with either casual garb or more sophisticated attire. The style of the lenses resemble those of the Juliet, which most will find appealing, and the +Red Iridium tops the list as one of the most beautiful hues Oakley has created. The wire frames are also lightweight and durable, and spring hinges increase comfort and durability.

Frame: Gun Metal
Lens: + Red Iridium

Great looking Glasses. Pictures don't do it justice. The frame is dull...gunmetal.works very well with the + Red lenses. The colour of these lenses range from purple to blue to deep red..depending on the angle of course. Compared to the A-wire 2.0 these are more comfortable due to the spring hinge. Also as with the A-wire 2.0 i get impression marks on the bridge of my nose as well as the nose pads...prehaps I have to get them adjusted. . All a-wires have a slight wrap around...not as wraped as other glasses therefore there is a little bit of a space between the lens portion and the face for more curved faces.Light weight. Amazing Look. Try them on!

Frame: Gunmetal, Dark Carbon & Titanium
Lens: Grey, +Red, Ruby & Black Iridium

I've always loved A Wires. I love the lens shape, the frame and the overall look and feel to them. The only down side would be the their tight fit around my head, but the spring hinge completely takes care of that. Not only does the spring hinge model help with the fit, but the minor frame changes that came along with this version are great as well. With the rounding of the ear stems as well as the rounding of the nose bridge, the A Wire 2.0 Spring Hinge is just about a perfect pair of glasses in my opinion.

Frame: Carbon
Lens: Ruby Iridium

Possibly the most versatile pair of sunglasses ever... The beautiful styling means I can wear it not only regularly going out but formally at work or with a suit, while the amazing ruby tint catches the eye of anyone who looks your way.

These fit aboslutely perfectly on my tiny head and face; I might guess these are one of the smallest frames that Oakley makes. They are ultra light, yet are solid enough to sustain daily abuse. One thing I also like is 'Oakley' branded across the bridge, which newer Wire models now miss.

A timeless classic.

Frame: Gun metal
Lens: Ice Iridium Polarized
These were great glasses, nice fit, until the 2nd yr of moderate use. The lenses started to peel, and now the one arm just came out of the hinge. I haven't wore them that much and always kept them in the Oakley vault when not in use. I paid a lot for these glasses for them to just fall apart like this. I called Oakley about these issues and they said well there is nothing we can do, we will however give you a small discount on a new pair. After the short time these lasted I don't want another pair of Oakleys. My wife has a cheap $20 pair of glasses for 5 years now with no problems. I am VERY disapointed with Oakley quality!

Frame: Gun Metal
Lens: + Red Iridium

My favorites of my Wires. The Gunmetal looks very sharp with the +Red. The spring hinge makes for an all day comfortable fit. The lens provides good eye coverage. Very professional or official look to them, like you work for the 'Feds'. If you can find these, buy them.

Frame: Dark Carbon
Lens: Ruby Iridium

First the good, these A Wire's are pretty much the perfect wire design, cool and stylish yet still understated and classy. The ruby lenses make them pop much more that other neutral colours, and they also still have the Oakley etching on the nose bridge not seen on the new wire designs.

However I owned 2 pairs of these before I gave up and got a non SH pair, because both times the ear stems had broken! The SH design on these involve a tiny (1 mm) metal tube that connects to the inside of the arm, which suffers pulling stress every time you open and close the stems. Although allowing a better fit for bigger faces, it is extremely fragile as I found.

If you can get a non-SH A Wire 2.0 to fit I'd recommend that, otherwise handle these stylish, but delicate, frames very carefully!

Frame: Titanium Pewter
Lens: VR28 Blue Iridium Polarized

Loved these glasses. Still have mine but lens are scratch. Looking for a good replacemnent.

Frame: Silver
Lens: Clear

I really love these frames. The spring hinges are nice so I don't have to worry about them falling off of my face. Everytime I wear them when I'm too lazy to put my contacts on I always get compliments on them. They are very nice.

Frame: Carbon
Lens: Clear A/R

For a frame conceived quite some years ago it remains very fashionable and stylish: the mark of a true classic. But style would mean nothing without quality and wearability. With Oakley you know you get quality so that leaves wearability: granted the frame is slightly heavier than the now popular rimless designs but other than that I never had a pair of glasses I enjoyed wearing more. The spring hinges really make them part of your head

This stand holds any accessory depending on the pegs. The built is different from the regular tower. The bigger rivets stands out

I have five of these...they are extremely cool. The smooth transition from the bob face to the spike is somewhat alien in appearance.

This frame is rare but goes for less when it appears on Ebay for some reason. I personally don't like it because it's almost frameless

the first ads were more product0info related, whereas nowadays it is more image related both are working for me.
Advertisement/marketing is one of the superiour points of Oakleyinc.

Awesome ads. Artistically done in showing the detail of Oakley products.

Oakley has always done a tremendous job with their ads. These along with the brochures played a major role in getting me into Oakley in the first place. I wish I had held onto them or at least knew where they were in my room if I was smart enough to.

Oakley advertisements featured detailed photos, vivid colors, and captivating phrases which helped propel the company's products to the forefront of their competition. It's also interesting to note that Oakley has always used their very own in-house advertising agency instead of relying on outsourcing this critical marketing division as most other companies do.

Color:

Only one thing could have made this sticker (and the Warning sticker) perfect. That would have been making them out of metal and semi dimensional so they would look like they really belonged on heavy machinery.

Color:

I love this sticker, again would look great on a vehicle
but could do with being a bit bigger.

Color:

A great little accessory with a fun message. I agree it would have been cool if this sticker was made out of metal or some other material with thickness to make it stand out more.

I got this one as a display store use item, I peeled it off a binder and still have to pay retail for it. That is because I love it!

Where can I buy this.

the correct name is ADVANCED TACTICAL FIGHTER MASK , it is supposed to be attatched on an MX O/PRO frame , when you wear an open-face helmet. al lot of pro riders used these ATFM's in the early 80's , and so did I . you get a litttle claustrofobic while wearing them before you start to ride, but when you are riding , you don't seem to care anymore. very cool piece

I used this on a non-Oakley paintball mask and it fogged up immediately.

Probably not good for anything but Oakley stuff.

Color: Hey junkies...did any of you notice all the Oakley clothing that was wore on the movie Hell Boy...if you havent check the movie out

Way better quality than their alter ego XL

Color: Stealth Black

This is one of Oakley's more basic sandals with nothing more than a EVA midsole for tech. The bed is very soft and retains it's sponginess well. I should have bought more colors when they had the Vault sale. I wear these more than my others.

Awesome colorway. This is a very deep green color and its pretty unique. The M Frame in these are awesome!

for me this just doesn't do it.. maybe because they were on the Fives, but i cannot help but think "old-people" when i see this colour

Oakley would be smart to bring back some of their retro colors such as Algae. I think collectors would be especially interested in an updated release of this one. The dark green would look great paired with a Gold Iridium on a Monster Dog don't you think? As it is, I don't think we'll see this frame color again so enjoy it if you have it.

My friend has this color and it looks really cool with Emerald lenses. It's different and that's a good thing.

A great frame color for a change of pace. Although the fives are much too small for my head and I don't get to wear these often, they are still a wonderful frame color. Probably best for those "reduced cranial" frames, because I just can't see algae working on a pair of Monster Dogs ... a bit too much algae!

Algae is one of those frame colors that really grabs your attention and makes you inspect the glasses further. Far more interesting than a simple opaque version, this color is translucent and compliments gold iridium perfectly.

This is a great color. Probably one of the best for the green frame colors right next to the joker green. With the green being a darker shade and being somewhat translucent, it gives the frame color some character.

comes in 2 colors but the darker one is not readily availble. This is the best poster frame you can get. All aluminum and put you MJ or L. Armstrong poster and you have a museum

Very nice color option. Pretty unique and not a lot of frames come in this color. Its a nice change to have for your collection.

Disappointing on the water due to annoying red reflections off waves and mist.

K

an amazing lens with sick contrast and a cool-yet-different color. the closest existing color is the amber polarized available with the o-matter m-frame.

An interesting lens that screws with my depth perception but increases my contrast. Still not sure how that works. Does look cool, though, especially paired with my Why 8.2's.

I tried this in the MD the other day, and was pretty pleased. It seems the Iridium coating on this one is a little more pronounced than in some of the other BI hybrid lenses (Persimmon BI for example). I looked in the mirror and couldn't see any hint of my eyes showing through, which I only expect from the darkest and most heavily mirrored lenses. I'm not crazy about the optics of the lens, but I only tried them inside. I might get a pair when I go sailing in BVI this summer and write a full report.

I finally completed the polarized set of Monster dogs.I must say that these lenses are pretty cool.But I dont think I'll be wearing these on a bright sunny day.

Everything looks pale green thats probably why they dont recommend these while driving.Honestly tho I dont see the problem coz I can still tell colors with these on.

Overall...this is a nice addition for the polarized lens group.

A unique lens option. The combination of the amber base color with the strong Black Iridium coating gives it a unique sheen to the lens. Really, there isn't any lens quite like ABIP. The fact that it's polarized as well just makes it that much nicer.

I, also, haven't had any problems looking through the lens. Highly recommended for your collection!

This lens is perfect for fishing in rivers and small waters! The transmission is useable for almost all light conditions and the polarization combined with the insane contrast makes the entire underwater world come alive before your eyes. If you take the glasses off all you will see is the reflections on the water - so put em back on if you want to see where the fish are hiding!

When I first saw these online I didn't think they were anything special. But when I saw them in person I was very impressed. The amber black color is very nice and I think looks best in the polished black frame and polished white frames. One con about this color option is I don't think it matches well with the bright color frames like a red or blue. This is the only polarized lens that I really like.

The lenses are cool to look through but if you are looking for a dark lense this is not it. You can see your eyes bad inside and in the sun. They turn everything a yellowish color which is pretty cool. They do turn the water mist red. I just need one a little darker.

Nice lens... Useful on overcast days or in the early evenings, as it does increase contrast as well as lighten everything up. On the same note -- it makes everything extra bright on sunny days. A little too much for my taste.

The Black Iridium coating is a little on the thinner side, so the lens is pretty transparent in sunny conditions.

I believe the Polarization helps boost the contrast on these lenses, as it does cut down glare.

These lenses are really cool to look through if you like high contrast lenses. They make the color green really stand out.

Great contrast lens. Picked up these in a half jacket frame and they are great on cloudy as well as sunny days. Nice polarization but my monster dog deep blue are still the best on the water. Overall very cool lens.

I was at the optician a while ago. He recommended this tint as a complement to more ordinary sunglasses. So I got hold on a pair of Half Jacket XLJs and - what's this? Felt almost sick at first (tried them indoors, wrong place). Tried them on a long walk in half sunny, half cloudy weather - good! One gets used to them like Persimmon or similar more extreme colours after just a while. It works fine in bright but maybe not chrystal clear conditions. The polarization really works well.

These are the best fishing lenses money can buy. They make seeing fish in water almost effortless. I have found that I can see pan fish in water up to 15 feet deep with these things on. I have tried the fishing specific lenses before in the past and these things are 100 times better.

All of you anglers by these while you still can!

These are the best light lenses you can buy. The tint really makes colors pop and they are great for any day except for an extremely bright day. Even so they block a lot of glare and other unwanted light. Great for any mildly bright to very low light, I even wore them at night and they were still great! Definitely a must!

These a niche lens. I can't really imagine situation where these would ever be the best option. With that said, I'd probably use these as an all-conditions lens for fishing.

Other than the yellow/greenish hue that these give to everything (which is not necessarily a bad thing) these lenses are excellent for overcasts days, These definitely do not feel like a 18% lenses (which is the same transmission rate as VR28 Black Iridiums) and enhance just about everything on a dull day. However, wearing these during the dawn or dusk periods doesn't quite work as they don't quite work too well with car headlights.

While it's one of the most controversial,if not ,THE most controversial lens ever,the amber black iridium polarized manages to literally have it all.It's got iridium which is supposed to be more reflective,and not allow the eyes to be seen,yet,you still can see somebody's eyes,just like the old time aviators that didn't have mirror coating.Yet,and because of this,although you'd think that the lens itself is meant only for overcast days,they are exceptionally protective against the strong sun,and you somehow feel like you have the darkest lens in front of you.Their tint is a nice yellow to green one,that resembles the fire iridium,very pleasant I think,and IMO they're possibly the most succesful option for the crosshairs specificly.

A good, solid lens - and your only choice if you want a polarized lens for the M Frame in Strike shape.

When I started using the Amber Polarized lens, I didn't like the yellowed tint it gave to everything. It just wasn't a tint that appealed to me. It's not as warm or as soothing as Persimmon. But, once I got used to it, I rather liked this lens.

The lens is darker than Persimmon but not as dark as Polarized Grey, which makes this a good lens to use on those mixed sun & cloud days when you'll get a mixture of bright-sunny patches and clouded-over patches. The lens is a godsend on those evening drives back home with the sun coming in at a low angle right in front of me.

In the early spring here, everything looks flat and dull when I take off my sunglasses. With the Amber lens, while the color tint took some getting used to, once you're used to it everything looks "deeper" and "richer". It's not just a sea of uninteresting grey. Of course contrast is also enhanced.

As long as you're concerned more with utility than the "coolness" of your lenses - or if, like me, you think "see-thru" lenses are stylish - the Amber Polarized is a very good, flexible and practical lens.

These a niche lens. I can't really imagine situation where these would ever be the best option. With that said, I'd probably use these as an all-conditions lens for fishing.

perfect for overcast days on the water and on the bike

Excellent lens for stream and brook fishing with excellent contrast lens tint. A perfect 5/5 for that use.
Didn't expect it to be good for cycling or driving -and it isn't as the tint changes colours too much. But i bought them for fishing so i'll keep it a 5 rating. Flak Jacket XLJ -nice and light for a full day's fishing comfort.

I wanted a pair of HI Blue shades before, but this sort of fueled my desire to go out and find one. I'm glad I was able to grab a pair of Square Wire's rather than the Four's though.

... then again, you see Oaks all over cable tv nowadays. You can find the Teaspoons, Half Wire XL, and the Thumps all in DOG: BOUNTY HUNTER.

Agreed. Buy the pack by itself? A bit crazy, IMO. Buy it with the full fuoro pack and you'll be happy.

Of course, if you felt like buying a case for every pair of Oakley shoes you own ... now THAT would be impressive.

This is the bag from the FlouroCamo pack. It's pretty useless altogether, and not particularly attractive. But if you must carry a pair of shoes in padded luxury, this will do it.

well i bought it on it's own.. useless maybe.. but hey i will find many use for it. nice to carry your shoes in it, if you have it in your car. it looks nice, or i like it..
like the interior.

when i wanted A-frames I was gonna get these. this is a really nice bright shiny slime green colour. unfortunately it doesnt look the same as the picture abouve, if it did i think it would be called FMJ green.

This is the color that started my frogskin and radar collection. I was never into those models until I saw the frogskin and I fell in love with it. When I saw the radar paired with the jade lens I had to have that as well. I hope they use the color a little more without over doing it.

Color: Black
Very comfy and gives you an inch raise. Got it a Marshalls for $30 and it's worth it.

Color:Black

I have the low version of this shoe, it is a great looking shoe with the black rubber and the bright metal icons all over the shoe.
I have a size 13 but find it fits more like a 12-12.5 so I suggest you get the size up if your thinking about this shoe.

great shoe a little heavy for basketballl--- great with jeans -- but they are so comf--to bad they stop making them ---gus

Color: Black & White/Blue

Very comfortable. Nice leather and one of the best fitting shoes. The first pair I got seemed to wear uneven on the soles, but haven't had that problem on my second pair.

Good loking shoe, but it's pretty heavy and bulky for a real basketball shoe. Also noticed that like most Oakley footwear, the inside padding wears off fairly quickly.

Not great for practicality, but still a good looking shoe.

best shoe ever. i got all of them and love them. but cant find them any more.

Frame: Polished Black
Lens: Grey

I love the antix in general. I liked the hinjinx a lot too but i think the antix is even better. It is more comfortable and more imporantly a better overall fit to the glasses. the shape of sheild lens makes the glasses look more smooth and less bulky than the hijinx. Now they just need to release some cool colorways.

Frame: Metallic Red
Lens: Warm Gray

I just got these glasses in and I really like them, although they are not my favorite pair by far. You can't tall from the picture online but the frame is very glittery. That's not necessarily bad. Just different from what I was expecting. They fit alot like the hijinx. The hijinx do seem to fit me better for some reason. Overall I do like these frames and are a good deal for the money.

Frame: Black Tortoise
Lens: Black Iridium

A marked improvement over the Hijinx and a very logical next step. As far as I'm concerned, they fit exactly the same as the Hijinx which I have absolutely no problem with. The Black Tortoise frame is nice since it's a fairly unique frame color and the Black Iridium always looks lovely as a shield lens. All in all, it's a simple style that always looks good.

Frame: Metallic Red
Lens: Warm Grey
What a great bang for the buck on this one. The Metallic Red is amazing. You couldn't get a paint job like this on a custom car if Mitch Lanzini was doing it! At $90, I've never received more compliments. They are sure to become a favorite of mine. There's no way you can go wrong with these.

Frame: Black/Ghost Text
Lens: Tungsten Iridium Polarized

This is what the Hijinx should have been from the start. The swoopy lines and curves of the frames lend themselves to a shield lens design much more naturally than the individual lenses of the Hijinx. There's gonna be a ton of reviews comparing the two models (as they rightfully should). If the Hijinx fits you, then so will these. They don't fit me all that well but the style is fantastic so I give them a 4. I've been waiting for these to join the custom program. The black text frame gives it a hint of flashiness without being obnoxious. They're complemented nicely by a subtle Tungsten Iridium lens.

Frame:Metallic Red
Lens: Warm Grey

I LOVE these glasses, I used to love the Hijinx arms, but i hated the bubbley lens, they seemed to feminine. Now these antix solve all the issues with the hijinx. Now they are aggressive and the metallic red is flashy in direct sunlight, but very subdued in natural light and shade, making them very versatile.

The very large black O's are the biggest striking feature about these which is a trait carried over from the hijinx. I really cant find anything bad about these glasses. I own oil rigs, eye patches and gascans. These are quickly becoming my new favorite.

Frame: Plaid Black
Lens: Grey

I just got these at Sunglass Hut (exclusive color) and I love them. I had to choose between the Metallic Red (which look sharp) and these and chose the plaid black. I already have the metallic red flak jackets and a pair of custom olive green monster dogs so I wanted a new color and these do not disappoint. Style wise I thought they looked better than the Hijynx (which I also tried) and I really love the one piece lens. They have a good overall fit and the plaid black is a sharp design (accented by the large gunmetal O's). Definately worth the extra $20 for the color. As with my monster dogs, the only annoyance is the squeaking when opening and closing them which seems to be a Oakley O Matter result of having a sturdy plastic frame. Still worth the money and rating.

Frame: Black Plaid
Lens: Grey

These have a similar fit to the Hijinx, but with the smaller frame size, the bottom of the frame doesn't drop down and low and rub on my cheekbone like the Hijinx. A big plus there. The frame color is pretty cool as is the matching plaid microbag. I do find that this fits a little better than the Hijinx and seems to be a little more comfortable. Lookswise, this is a very good looking pair of glasses, obviously a smaller Hijinx. The shield lens makes it different enough to avoid the "small" naming convention. The smooth curves of the Hijinx/Antix duo offers a nice departure from the hard lines and squareness of the Oil Drum/Oil Rig family and everyone should be able to find something they like. Overall, great pair of glasses.

Frame: Polished Black-Fuente
Lens: Tungsten Iridium Polarized

It was a toss up between these and the Propaganda Hijinx, but these won out because of style and function. The frame looks great. It is huge and provides great coverage, but the clean lines mean even the most conservative dressers can wear it. The side is perfectly accented with a huge square O icon that flows with the contours of the frame beautifully.

It is light weight and comfortable with a fit not unlike, but more comfortable, than the Hijinx. A little bit of unobtanium would be nice, because after about 4 hours they slid down and caused a little discomfort on my ears, but not enought to keep me from wearing them for 6 more hours. This is the only bad thing I have to say about the Antix. They fit my medium-large head perfectly.

The Fuente graphic are awesome. They are noticeable from a distance and look even better up close. It is easy to see the marshall influence that makes them part of the "military inspired" collection. The gold details with hints of white and silver look stunning when paired witht the polished black frame and tungsten iridium lens. My only worry is that they may wear over time. If they do I will cry, but the Antix is too comfortable and looks too damn good to keep sitting in a drawer or even a display case.

I would not have considered this frame if it wasn't polarized. It is great to finally see some polarized special editions. The added technology makes this piece of art functional eye protection.

Oakley, keep the POLARIZED special editions coming and I will be back for more.

Frame: Ernesto Fonseca Polished Black (Koi Fish)
Lens: Black Iridium
We just got these in my store and they are absolutely beautiful. Oakley decided to make the wise choice and give these Antix Black Iridium instead of Grey. The koi fish design is incredible and the addition of chrome Os only makes it better. The microfiber bag also looks like the side of a koi fish. One of the best renditions of the Antix to come out so far.

Frame: Metallic Red
Lens: Warm Grey

These are one of the most beautiful glasses that I own. The only way they could be better was if they came with a Black Iridium Polarized lens.

Frame: polished black
Lens: grey

great fitting glasses, with abit of bad ass attitude. nice and light, perfect vision. fantastic, and cheap!

Frame: red
Lens: grey
this pair looks good i wanted a black pair but tried on the red and they just fit well colorwise for some reason. thyey fit my face well, (midsize face) if you like the one solid lens look id recomend these

Frame: Mambo
Lens: Tungsten Iridium

There is a special place in my heart for all Artist series. Me as a collector, I see these peaces as art work and not just sunglasses. In saying that, I also LOVE this frame. It is super comfortable, it looks awesome, and it is affordable. This is another great product oakley makes and will be kept for a very long time.

5 comfort
5 looks
5 cost
5 total

Frame: Mambo, Fuentes, Ernesto Fonseca, Devils Brigade
Lens: Various
I must say these are probably my favorite frame to wear. They are comfortable and the lense is amazing in them. I collect mainly artist series and would not ever think about getting rid of any of my antix. They are one of my favoirte frames along with my frogskins.

Frame: Polished Black (Koi Print)
Lens: Black Iridium

Great looking glasses. Koi print is eye catching and the black iridium lens compliment the frame. Fits slightly better than the hijinx but both end up sitting on my cheeks and leaving marks after I wear the awhile. I ended up giving these away to my sister but I am really tempted to get the again

These fit me well, and since the colorway is the Devil's Brigade, they are really eye catching!
A cool and soft frame!

Frame: Devil's Brigade, MotoGP, Plaid, Fonseca
Lens: Various.

I've been really skeptical about picking these up due to the poor fit on the Hijinx, but these actually fit pretty well, even with my Asian facial features. They do tend to touch my cheeks, but only slightly. The color ways are excellent, and the Devil's Brigade is probably the coolest pair out of all of the ones I do have. These are also the MOST comfortable frames that I have, more so than the Fuel Cell. Great pair, and highly recommended!

Frame: Black Plaid
Lens: Grey Polorized

Recieved these sunglasses as a gift in May 2011- after only five months, the polorization started to peel off the back of the lens. Called Oakely - thay informed me that with out receipt they would not honor warranty...wanted to charge $135.00 USD to replace just the lens!!! What a rip off!! Oakley sucks!!

Frame:Matte Black
Lens:Grey Polarized
Ive had these for about a year now and they are performing well. My only gripe is i wish they had more lense color options.

Frame: Fuente, Mambo, Devils Brigade
Lens:
This is my favorite frame oakley has ever made, they fit great and the lense gives you a wideview.

The main storage for this bag is big. There are plenty of pockets on the outside to store anything you like. The padding on the shoulder straps is soft which makes this bag comfortable to wear.

My Quick review of the AP 3.0 is 2 huge thumbs up. I'm a big Oakley fan who's first bag was the very first Icon pack and my 2nd bag was The Kitchen Sink pack. The AP 3.0 stands between those 2 IMO and even surpasses The Kitchen sink in some areas. For example while the AP is smaller I can still fit quite a lot. My books, Notebook, Records, Etc. plus it has 2 side pockets, 2 pockets on the flaps plus one big compartment on the back of the front flap. The AP also has padded shoulder straps and Back for comfort. A few problems I had with the Kitchen Sink included: Zipper pull came off, Plastic Air hole cover Broke, rear Zipper for laptop compartment came off track. While these weren't deal breaking flaws, I chose to get the AP because of the limited number of Zippers that can break, plus Oakley durability and haven't been disappointed.

Pros: This bag looks good and it appears on Showtime's "Dexter". It holds an awful lot despite its slim profile. The outer pockets are deceivingly roomy. There are a lot of different compartments on this bag. It works exceptionally well with a rolling bag as the back opens up to slide the bag onto your roller. The fabric is easy to keep clean.

Cons: Isn't very functional nor does it live up to its AP namesake. Only the pockets on the sides are removable, as the pockets on the front are fixed to the bag. The strap is way too tame for an Oakley bag. The edges wear quicker than they should.

Love the look, the snap clasp, the closure flap ... everything about this case except the storage size: Despite what folks have said, I just don't think this case fits anything but the smaller frames. This being the only case you slide your eyewear into, I'm not down with forcing a pair in (worrying about scraping lenses as you slide it in or out). So this case is limited by what you can put in it, IMO.

Looks nice and easy to take with you on your belt. It's always hard to fit a normal case in your pants or something, so when you go on the road without a bag or something and you do wish to protect your glasses, this is the case for you! Too bad X-metals hardly fit. Penny's do, but Juliets become a little bit too snug in there, and Romeo's won't even go half way.

Got these to complement my AP backpack, as well as hold my wires. I recently got new Crosshairs, and I was even surprised to see that they fit! You just have to insert them in nicely to avoid rubbing against the walls. I give these a 3, since I still prefer my soft vaults.

Color: Black
Good case for storage X-metals. Fits to Oakley AP system (bags, vest, etc.).

This is a nice case since it is large and fits some of the bigger Oakley glasses. However, I hope they intro different colors so you can match them to other AP equipment. I also don't like the cross stitching on the lablel face.

if you have an AP collection , this item should be in it also , easy to use , easy to strap on , hardcase with multifunctionality

A very nice case i like the fact that you can attach it to almost any bag where you cannot do that with soft vaults but the only problem is that it does not hold larger frame glasses like Juliet's or X metal XX unless you remove the stiffener that protects the glasses, so 2 stars because it is really will not protect your larger frame glasses

Didn't really give me a good sense of sercurity. Use this to carry my half jackets and wires. Cool thing about it is that it is very convenient to carry since you can attach it to anything. Would like to see something like this that would be more functional with x-metals.

Great case to add to your Sandbag when stowing away your glasses

Black

My wife got me this for Christmas. It holds a pair in the microbag snugly, and can be clipped on a belt. Of course I ended up having to purposely wear a belt and that got old fast. Won't hold x-metals too well, so mainy small O Matter.

well i didnt like this one too much but i thought if i got about nine or ten of them i could carry all my oakleys at once on my belt, kinda makes you feel like Batman but oakley-fied

Nice case for my glasses when I cant carry my Vault cases. I still use a microbag before I put any of them in there, I too worry about scratches. Fits nice on my shooting rig

Me hubiera gustalo que la hciera un poco mas grande para poder meter los juliet y se me hace muy grande para los demas lentes no muy seguros me da miedo un rayon ese es el unico pero por lo demas muy padre

Good idea from OAKLEY. I love the fact that it is compatible with the AP line. I am not impressed with the way you almost have to force your glasses into the case. If you want to put most small wires or fives in the case it should work. I find that I even have to use some force when puting my XX in this case. Still looks cool though and once glasses are inside it they are perfectly protected.

nice case, i use it to carry my perscription t-wires in at work on my belt, quite big, but very durable, also one to display with my ap stuff

One of the worse cases ever produced. The only reason it did not get a ZERO in my book is the AP design. The design LOOKS GREAT and that's what prompted me to buy one.

however, there is a major design flaw. Unlike the other "pouches" that you see on AP bags that have similar, double velcro loops, the "loop" that is supposed to attach this to your belt or other AP bags, etc. is only held together with a push snap. It takes very little force to open this strap (a flick of the finger) and have your protected glasses fall off your belt, or AP bag and be lost forever. I know because it happened to me at the Philadelphia airport only 2 weeks after getting these and a pair of OCP Crosshairs.


the opening is a bit small and getting Crosshairs into the case often bent the frames.

This is a cool display piece, but not a very functional piece.

This is one piece of Oakley AP gear you simply can't do without. It will hold a majority of they eyewear and is compatible with all the AP line and a few other bags, or on a belt. I recommend this to anyone who wants a fast deployment eyewear case minus the need for a separate carrying system. Awesome, as always!!!

This bag is awesome. Before putting any clubs in it, it is pretty light. Once I got my clubs in there, it was very comfortable to carry around. The straps offer a decent amount of padding so that you aren't hurting to much if you decided to walk. I like the amount of storage in here too for extra balls and tees. It also has a smaller pocket so you can put your tees in there and not have to dig deep for a tee. Excellent design.

This looks cool and goes well with the AP line, but it's a shame that it's too small for the iPod touch. The case does a great job of protecting the screen. The two attachment options add a nice touch.

Definitely a great buy for those that are willing to wear the outrageous. Not for me, but picked up a set for my brother in law - and it definitly suits him well. Great fuctionality and flexibility in its uses.

nice, well thought. haven't tred it yet, not sure if i wikk, more for a display use.. fany pack made by oakley. nice looking. looks very good material, come from the AP line, so ver Adaptable.

extremely versatile and roomy. looks and functions great in any configuration. also makes a very cool "upgrade" to the AP Vest. whether you're venturing into the wilderness or the heart of the city, this is an essential piece of gear. makes cargo pants obsolete! it's also got a very "tech" look to it, like something you'd see in a movie on a futuristic special ops soldier. definitely a classic piece of mad science.

This is so awesome. It screams Oakley. I really like this a lot to use for small outings. It gets a lot of attention which I'm not a big fan of, but it is very useful and I like it better than having a bag on my back. For being small, it does have a lot of storage space. It also offers easy and fast access when it is strapped up to your leg.

A very 'Oakley' product. much like a lot of their more unusual items, you don't know why you want it, you don't even know if you'll ever use it, however, you do know that you need it!

I have seperated mine as use it as a small bag that I can stick a camera and wallet/sunglasses in, and I also use the belt and bum/fanny pack when travelling, almost as a money belt.

As with any Oakley Product construction is top notch. Very durable and will last a lifetime. I saw this about a year ago and bought it on a whim... at the time i was playing a lot of competitive paintball and needed a good leg bag. I used it one game and found that it did not fit my needs as well as i had hoped for. It was way too bulky for me. It now sits in my collection and get a lot of comments.

Quite possibly one of the coolest "bags" that Oakley has put out. The placement of pockets and zippers was well-thought out and nicely implemented. When wearing, it's easy to access everything, and space is quite plentiful. This is the perfect tool for photo gear, hiking, or just to look like a BAMF.

While the AP Leg Holster can be quite useful for many purposes, one small design flaw keeps me from using it on a regular basis. Unfortunately, the design of the leg straps only allows for certain sizes of legs to be able to comfortably use it. When I do use the Holster, I find myself having to tie or contort the straps in ways I fear might have long-term damage on the straps because they're just too big for my thigh circumference. If there were other size straps or a more adaptable leg strap system, I'd rate this higher. But because I'm unable to use it as often as I'd like, I have to knock off a couple points.

I think this is an iten that fits into a niche segment well.

Aside from the usual stellar construction and styling that we expect from Oakley, it really helps put personal cargo in places that have 'free space' while giving you the flexibility that you might need in a physically demanding situation.

It might not make sense for a walk in the park, or commuting in the urban jungle, but it will serve you well in a tactical situation where you are encumbered and need immediate access to certain provisions on the fly.

That and it looks cool in full tactical get-up like a BDU and the AP vest.

This thing is a head turner! Gets a lot of looks lol. Screams Oakley. Useful for carrying light stuff on the go...small water bottle for running or credit cards, cash, cell phone, car keys, etc!

Got this on ebay not long ago. This is AWESOME!!!!! I've used this for hiking a couple of times and everything I couldn't put in pockets goes in this. The belt works great by itself too. Every Oakley collector needs this.

I've actually found that this works really well as a dropleg holster. I have a tactical light on my pistol (Walther P99), and it fits perfectly in the large pouch (i removed the smaller one and connected the main pouch directly to the belt). Great for going to the range, and always gets comments!!

The AP PACK is esthetically much more appealing than the Icon. I am a little sick of pinched fingers from the triple buckle closure system on the icon (although this keeps the load from shifting on you while moving). Granted, the AP Pack might be a little overstated to be carrying some places but I love it. I don't even use 3 of the 4 little black detachable pockets at the top but they look hip so they are staying on. There aren't any specialized pockets (calculator, pens, key holder,etc) like the Icon has though. The only changes to this bag that I would like to see are some of what the Icon has (and vice versa for that matter). It would be nice to have some sort of tie down system securing a load of a few heavy items. As is a single big book might move around a bit as you move. OAKLEY DIRECT CONFIRMED THAT THIS BAG DOES NOT SHIP WITH A WAIST STRAP. Only a chest strap. For heavier loads this bag is slightly less comfortable than the Icon but it still does pretty well. I'd give this a 4.5 if the rating system allowed.

Great bag! Looks so cool, like a parachute pack. Although it wasn't designed to interconnect with the AP Sandbag, I found a way to rig both bags in a "Halo Jumper" config. And I also figured out a way to make the Sandbag piggybak onto the AP Pack. Both configurations are very bulky, and are only used when I'm lugging around a LOT of stuff and I want to keep my hands free.

AP Pack is still new, so I can't speak for it's durability... if it's anything like the AP Sandbag, then it's gonna last forever!!!

very durable backpack , with a large "filling-hole"on top of the bag. it closes easy due to the metal flight deck closures. opening is a bit more difficult.
looks are great , it is a prachute-styled backpack. side pockets are wide enought to hold drink-cans etc. comfortable fit.
all around great colors.

I just returned from a trip to France for two weeks. I took this bag along with the Large Rolling Duffel and the Dopp Kit 2.0. I used the AP Pack as a carry on and an everyday bag when walking around in France. The bag was very comfortable and was more than capable of holding what I needed. I was able to use the 4 small pouches up top to hold film, two in each. This was very convenient although since I will be soon switching 100% to digital, I will have to find other uses for them. The main compartment was nice to store my camera as well as a jacket on days that it was threatening to rain. It was also big enough to fit things that I bought that I didn't want to be carrying or having the store bag advertising the money I had spent while on the metro. Overall a very good bag with a cool look.

Awesome backpack. This bag has many options. I like to use if for all my weekend trips. I wouldn't recommend it for long trips just because it does not carry as big of a load as luggage. I like the small detachable pockets for tolietries. But I'm looking to add the Dop kit. Makes this bag so sweet is all the stuff you can add on or take off depending on that day's use.

Very versatile pack. Perfect for people that also have the other AP items Oakley makes. Only problem with the pack is that it has no water bottle holder.

I found this to be an excellent pack on holidays to haul around my camera equipment and jacket. I do like the large cavern for carrying all my stuff. Tough and durable, love the military style hardware. Yes, the bag is a bit over-the-top, but what'd you expect? Quality all the way.

It obviosly looks super cool, but it doesn't have an organizer or a designated place for your cellphone, shades and other small objects. I thought I could deal with that due to the large amount of pockets but honestly most of the time it gets to my nerves, beside I'm afraid of putting valuable staff on the little pockets on the top because they could be easily stolen. It is not as comfortable as it looks, the compression straps don't work that well it should have another compression component at the top, besides it takes to much time to deal with the straps anyway. It looks better and less bulky compare to the 2.0 and 3.0 version but it was not designed for the 21st century. A laptop pocket would have been nice too. Most of the time I feel I have due to its looks rather than funtionability.

OMG. I just had a chance to tool around with this bag at my o-store. Just a freakin' amazing bag. Much larger capacity than the original sandbag, but also much less streamlined (it is more bulky, like a breifcase attached to the sling). But great storage, good for laptops. The sweet flexibility and options the bag offers is just amazing. A great buy!

I was choosing between this and the SI Computer bag... I chose this because it was a lot smaller, and integrated with the AP Pack better. The Si Computer bag only attaches to the Rolling Bag.

The AP Sandbag is pretty cool. My 15" HP fits just fine. Although I wish the backwas padded a bit more, to cushion the laptop, as well as hold the shape of the bag... and I wish the main sling was adjustable in length.. those are the reasons I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars.

Everything else is great... fits all my cables, adapters, etc. Will be getting the AP Pack as well since this thing can attach to it... that'll give me a lot of flexibility when it comes to packing my stuff.

I'm glad I got this over the SI Computer Bag, the SI draws too much attention, the Sandbag looks just like a regular sling bag, albeit a bit chunkier.

Sorry forgot to login... previous review "John" was from me. :P

**the snaps on the shared clip popped off (3 of them) Oakley replaced the bag right away. I hope that was just an isolated incident.

A question to other AP Sandbag owners... do you have a small nylon webbing loop on one side of the bag? Oakley's PDF claims it's an attachment point for a shoulder strap (not included), but the PDF shows 2 loops, one on each side. My bag (and every AP Sandbag in the Oakley dealer) only had a loop on one side.

The Sandbag was okay, but what happens when you take a more standardized messenger bag and mount it to a Sandbag chest harness is just amazing. I gave my new AP Sandbag the full on test this weekend to get me through an overnight in NYC and the organized space is just great compared to all the dead space in the teardrop shape of the first. The 4 attached pouches are great for smaller items, or removable if not needed. There's a quick access zippered space on the front to store flat items without needing the main compartment. The main bag is split into 3 sections with one dedicated for a 14"-15" laptop and removeable for more interior room. There is an organizer for pens and cards but it could have done better facing front and having slightly deeper slot pockets. The chest strap is detachable, and a harness is hidden inside to attach to rolling AP bags or the vest or snowboard bag. The waist belt is also hidden but I would rather see it zipper in and out (the harness too) as the chest strap does so the hidden rear pocket could be used for more than harness storage. Overall it's an amazing and well organized piece to have if you don't go for traditional backpacks or want a cheaper option for a computer bag.

Color: Black

I wanted to get a bag for work and I really like the AP concept. So this bag was perfect. The size is nice, it's larger compared to the original Sandbag and the multiple pockets and compartments offer some great options for storing and packing things. The fact that you can remove and add pockets is a very cool feature. This is a truly versatile bag and a great solution for me for work.

Sheet Metal

I really like this bag and I think the color is pretty cool. It's fairly roomy with a padded seperator, which may allow you to put in a small laptop. My biggest complaint with this bag is that the "removable" outer pockets aren't very removable. The strap on the removable pocket that attaches the pocket to the bag doesn't snap on like the AP computer bag, but instead is held on by Velcro which attaches on both the front and back of the strap. The Velcro strip that attaches to the back of the strap is quite long and runs behind the strap on the bag and is extremely difficult to get to and Oakley must have used some new steroid enhanced Velcro because this stuff is hard to pull apart. I'm not sure why Oakley decided to do this, the snaps seem to work just fine. This might seem a little confusing, but once you look at the bag you'll see what I mean. I also find it curious that other than black, all the AP stuff is a different color, which means attaching something from one peice to another ensures a mismatch.

Black

This is a really cool bag. I like the compartment for my computer. It is really durable and heavy duty. Lots of extra poaches on the outside. It is a great bag.

Just a follow up on my Sandbag... I noticed that mine onl has one "loop" for the optional shoulder strap... as did all the other AP Sandbags in the Oakley shop when I bought mine... so I feel kinda bad..like I got a defective batch. Anyway... my sandbag is now home to 2 12" laptops which fit in it perfectly. I removed the internal divider to make more room, since each of my laptops has it's own padded sleeve. The outer pockets carry all the accessories and chargers.

Color: AP Sandbag Black Atlas Camo Print

This is an awesome bag. The design and style looks really cool. I really like the over the shoulder strap. It is comfortable to me and I like how its close to your back and not flopping around like a messenger bag. The atlas camo print looks really cool and its a nice detail to add to a plain black bag. The ability to add AP features and take off pockets is another bonus. Great design and function.

Dark Red

This is my daily commuter bag that I have started using in lieu of a back pack. It is also my first Oakley bag. All round I really love this bag, plenty of room for the various crap that I need to haul around, and looks very utilitarian which is cool. The problem I've run into (and the reason for the lost skull) is the buttons that hold the hook for the shoulder strap on, are breaking off. Oakley won't help me whatsoever with it because it's older than 90 days. The velcro is also coming un-stitched from one of the pockets. I will probably fix it because I really like the bag, but I'm a little hesitant to go buy all the other O bags I think look cool, based on the quality of this one.

Just picked up a military olive version. First off, this bag weighs a lot. I can't see how or why it's this heavy.However, it is a really good, tough lookign bag, with plenty of options in regards to carrying. I love the pockets on the front, I'm amazed how much I can squeeze into these. I'm impressed, and I love this colour. Whats next.......

The AP Sandbag 2.0 is almost identical to the AP Computer bag with the exception of the strap. The AP Sandbag 2.0 is carried more like a backpack than it is like a messenger bag.

Pros: This bag looks good. It holds an awful lot despite its slim profile. The outer pockets are deceivingly roomy. There are a lot of different compartments on this bag. It works exceptionally well with a rolling bag as the back opens up to slide the bag onto your roller. The fabric is easy to keep clean. The strap is adjustable: it can be worn over either shoulder (a plus for those ambidextrous folks out there) and it can also be split to be worn over both shoulders like a backpack.

Cons: Isn't very functional nor does it live up to its AP namesake. Only the pockets on the sides are removable, as the pockets on the front are fixed to the bag. The edges wear quicker than they should. The bottom of the strap fastens to the backpack using sliding clips identical to the ones on the shoulder straps on the Kitchen Sink; given enough use, these straps will become loose and eventually slide off, even during use. With some minor customization, it is possible to fix them in place, but you won't be able to adjust the configuration of the straps.

Color: navy

Its a slip on shoe, very comfortable, the material at the top makes your feets feel light and like they can breath, while the sole is strong and wont let you slip.

Ideal for people who want a light pair of shoes but dont like sandals.

Colour: Black

Amazing shoe but if you buy some get them at least one size smaller than your standard shoe size as without laces if they are too big they will flop around and you will never feel how comfortable they are.

Dont worry about them being too tight as they are wide and deep its only the laces area that needs to be tight.

They are discontinued now so if you see them take a punt and buy them they are phenominal!

The arrowhead is not the coolest design but it will pass for a 3 .Check out a picture in my collection page to see

The changes the artists have made look amazing & authentic. This is so cool. Do the artists take requests to render ideas by those of us who aren't as digitally gifted?

Yes, there's a thread in the forum called "< Insert Your Name Here > Signature Model - What Would It Be?" at this address:
http://dcj.amaltd.com/oakley/forum_detail.asp?ID=136

Just list what you're personal signature model would be if you had one, and someone will whip you up a custom image.

This was really entertaining. I think I'm going to Photoshop my own signature series.

Awesome thread, the first memory that I have from this site is the Plate design by Luke, it did such an impression on me, such a beauty of design.

The flames MD from Phil comes close too.

People from HQ at Foothill Ranch have talked to me about this thread, that they saw it and really enjoyed it.

Too bad, all of those designs will never seee the light of day.

Great looking designs. So much more interesting than the black/black iridium signature series Oakley has been releasing lately. Now why didn't they come up with bloodstained models? Weathered copper Penny is my favorite though.

I like the Pez idea. Oakley should contact the manufacturer and get something started! I don't collect Pez, but I'd have to get the Oakley ones for sure.

Dann! the "weathered copper" frame of the Penny was genius! I would absolutely love to see one of those come to real life.

For some reason I want to believe the Dartboard is a Frogskin and not a Jacket. I swear it was included in the Frogskins section before O re-categorized their site.

It was categorized as a Frogskin, but then when I bought one, the package said it was a Jacket. It should be a zero in my opinion.

I thought Halyon was Halo? *shrug*

It was, they just changed the name recently.

It's nice to see that you took the time to write your own descriptions rather than use the ones given by Oakley.

Excellent site and very informative, why have you not put Romeo II in the pictures ?

It seems that the Juliets (X-Metals) have extra benefits that the other glasses don't (like having the lenses replaced at cost).

So, is it worth spending $250 on the Hatchets when the Juliets are only $50 more?

Since the Hatchets are still a metal (aluminum), though not an x-metal, do they qualify also? That is, can the lenses on the hatchets be replaced by oakley at cost also?

I enjoyed reading this article very much. It really achieves its goal of informing new (and even experienced) collectors and is very well written. As someone who likes wires very much, I feel it could have expanded on those a bit more. Hope it will be updated soon with all the new releases.

You can't discuss in the forum without reading this before. Very informative. Definitely a large (and first) step in the Oakley knowledge

Looking good. Just have to update and put the romeo 2 on there.

Good overview of products. What about giving the + and - of each frame? It is possible to stay fairly objective in their review by comparing the facts of each.

Nice job! Very informative.

Time to update...a few more things and models to discuss, but still a great overview

Oakley was founded by Jim Jannard in 1975 when he began selling handgrips for motocross motorcycles from the back of his car. Something of a motorcycle enthusiast, Jannard attended the University of Southern California in 1970. The long-haired student dropped out, reportedly because the Irish setter he brought to class irritated his professors. He spent about a year driving around the Southwest on his motorcycle. When he returned to Los Angeles, he traded in his motorcycle for a small Honda and began selling motorcycle parts out of his trunk to shops that serviced motorcycles. In 1975 he designed a rubber grip for off-road motorcycles and began selling it along with the motorcycle parts. That was the beginning of Oakley, a company he named after one of his dogs.

Jannard was in his mid-30s when he began Oakley. Toward the end of the decade he began selling motocross goggles. Featuring his own designs, the goggles were made of high-impact plastic that was lighter and stronger than the glass goggles then in use. With the help of some young salespeople, Jannard began handing them out at motocross competitions and selling them through Oakley's motorcycle parts accounts.

When the motorcycle goggles became a hot item, Jannard began developing eyewear that was part goggles and part sunglasses for skiers and bicyclists. In 1983 Oakley began selling ski goggles. Next year the company moved into the sunglasses market. Cyclist Greg Le Mond wore Oakley sunglasses in 1986 on his way to winning the Tour de France, becoming the first of many star athletes to be associated with marketing Oakley sunglasses. Jannard was encouraged to develop new sunglass models. One was the company's trademark Blades model, which featured interchangeable wraparound lenses that slipped into a simple carbon-fibre frame.


To market his new sunglasses, Jannard and his salespeople handed out many pairs to top athletes in the late 1980s and early 1990s. At one golf tournament, they gave a pair to basketball star (and golfer) Michael Jordan, who became a regular wearer of Oakley sunglasses. Other celebrities who have been associated with Oakley sunglasses include Nike chief Philip Knight, tennis star Andre Agassi, skater Bonnie Blair, and baseball great Cal Ripken, Jr.

A key element of Oakley's distinctive marketing approach has been the use of influential athletes. Relying primarily on the "editorial" endorsement of influential athletes, Oakley was able to increase consumer awareness of the company's product performance and overall brand image. Oakley believed serious athletes were quick to recognize the superior technology and performance of its products.


Many of Oakley's endorsements were obtained at little or no cost. In 1994 Oakley paid about $4 million to its endorsers, or about three cents per sales dollar. Andre Agassi, for example, did not charge his friend Jannard for his endorsement, even though he used to have an endorsement contract with Bausch & Lomb's Ray-Ban brand of sunglasses. By comparison, it cost Phil Knight of Nike $10 million per year to sign Agassi to an endorsement contract for ten years. Michael Jordan, who first wore Oakley sunglasses while playing golf, then while playing baseball for the Birmingham Barons, negotiated a stock package with Jannard when Oakley went public in 1995 that included a position on the company's board of directors.

The use of influential athletes to endorse its products helped make Oakley the acknowledged leader in the sports sunglasses market. Its high-performance sunglasses and goggles were worn by professional baseball and basketball players, skaters, skiers, cyclists, golfers, tennis players, and others. In 1990 the company had net income of $7.7 million on sales of $68.6 million. Sales were off slightly in 1991, then rebounded in 1992 to $76.4 million, with net income increasing to $9.1 million.


In the early 1990s Oakley's products were becoming popular in the nonsports fashion segment of the market. Sales and net income rose significantly in 1993 and 1994, to $92.7 million and then $124 million. By the end of 1994, the company made eight lines of sunglasses and three lines of goggles, accounting for a 13 percent market share of the U.S. premium (over $30 retail) sunglasses business. Its products were distributed in more than 60 countries.


Throughout its history Oakley has been selective about introducing new products. Starting with the basic Blades brand, which retailed for around $110 plus $60 for each additional coated lens in 1995, the company developed other product lines. The least expensive was the Frogskins line, which sold for $40 a pair. Agassi wore Oakley's Eye Jackets brand, which were introduced in December 1994. The M-Frame, a high-impact line that featured superhard polycarbonate lenses, could withstand a blast from a 12-gauge shotgun at 15 yards, or the force of a one-pound pointed weight dropped from a height of four feet. They sold for about $130 a pair in 1995. Trenchcoats, a line of camouflage eyewear, were introduced in October 1995, followed by Straight Jackets in May 1996. The much anticipated X-Frames were introduced in February 1997. Oakley also made three lines of goggles: H2O, Motocross, and Ski.


As Oakley prepared to go public in 1995, Jannard gave himself a $21 million bonus at the end of 1994. He owned 64.8 percent of the company, and his net worth was estimated to be $750 million. His chief executive officer, Mike Parnell, who was 42 in 1995, received about $4.8 million in 1994. They each owned jet planes that they leased back to the company after it went public. Parnell owned about 7 percent of Oakley. Overall, the company was valued at about $820 million.


The year 1995 began well. Sales for the first half were 37 percent above sales for the first half of 1994. In August, 10 million shares were offered to the public at $23 per share, some $4 to $6 higher than the range of $17 to $19 per share originally envisioned by the underwriters. The initial public offering (IPO) raised $230 million, with $154 million going to insiders. Jannard made nearly $139 million. His holdings in the company were valued at $627 million after the stock rose to $27.125 a share on the day after the IPO, making him the second richest Orange County resident behind billionaire Donald Bren. The remaining $76 million for Oakley was earmarked to build a new corporate headquarters and pay off debt.


In December 1995, Oakley won two patent infringement suits against Bausch & Lomb Inc. and Lombardie Booster. The Court of Commerce in Paris ruled that some models of Bausch & Lomb's Killer Loop sunglasses infringed on two of Oakley's design patents. In a separate judgment, the same court ruled that Lombardie Booster's Infrared and Morpho sunglasses infringed on three of Oakley's design patents. Although Oakley was awarded less than $50,000 in damages in each case, the rulings served to help Oakley keep its competitors from copying its trendy glasses. Earlier in the year, the company was able to halt the sale of fake Oakleys delivered to Big 5 Sporting Goods, which the retailer had heavily advertised. The retailer agreed to cooperate with Oakley in tracking down the distributor of the fake sunglasses, all of which were ordered destroyed by the court. In April 1996 Oakley filed suit against The Clubhouse, a sporting goods store located in Thousand Oaks, California, charging that it resold Oakley sunglasses to an unfashionable discount warehouse. The discounter, Price/Costco, apparently offered Oakley's e Wire brand sunglasses in its mail-order catalog.


Historically, Oakley vigorously litigated any unauthorized distribution of its products as well as patent infringements. This helped keep competitors out of such a lucrative business. One attorney told Forbes that Oakley "uses litigation as a marketing tool." He estimated he had spent 2,000 hours helping ten sunglass makers fight Oakley in court in the early 1990s.


Oakley had some 320 patents issued or pending worldwide, plus 249 registered trademarks, as of 1995. Jannard's chief legal advisor, boyhood friend Gregory Weeks, spent much of his career enforcing Oakley's patents and trademarks, starting with Jannard's first motorcycle handlebar grip. Oakley exhibited zero tolerance for counterfeiters and used its sales force, concerned consumers, and private investigators to seek out counterfeiters and sue them.


In January 1996 Oakley unveiled plans for its new "interplanetary corporate headquarters," to be located on 40 acres in Foothill Ranch in Orange County. The $35 million facility had "the look and feel of a post-industrial age gone awry," according to the Orange County Register. "Steel beams, oversized rivets, and galvanized metallic surfaces give the structure--dubbed 'Technical Center'--a dark, intimidating presence." Jannard reportedly wanted the facility to "look as if it were the sole survivor in a 'post-nuclear kill zone.'"


A sense of privacy was achieved by setting the facility back from the main entrance, where a winding road took visitors past rock formations. The dark-shaded, two-story building came into view only after the final turn of the road.


Over the main doorway, plans called for a 40-foot high metal ring with a convex stainless steel center, similar to Oakley's trademark ellipsis. Inside were the corporate offices, an auditorium, a boutique, and a museum. The adjacent warehouse was the size of four football fields and contained a basketball court. Other features of the Oakley campus included a helicopter landing pad, a small park for employees, a jogging track that circled the area, and an amphitheater. Much of the corporate campus appeared to reflect Jannard's personal style and took into account the youth of the company's workforce, whose average age was under 30.


As for landscaping, an architect who had done work for Great Britain's royal family designed prehistoric-looking rockwork to surround the campus. Native plants and trees were to be used around the grounds instead of manicured lawns, and the parking lot would be lighted by heavy-duty airport landing discs instead of traditional parking-lot lights.


Oakley held its first-ever annual meeting for shareholders at El Toro, California, in June 1996. Jannard presided over the meeting, which was attended by basketball star Dennis Rodman and was held at the Command Museum at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. Soldiers wearing Oakley camouflage Trenchcoat sunglasses directed shareholders at the base. Jannard, refusing as usual to allow his photograph to be taken, was wearing black M-Frames sunglasses during the meeting.


The company reported to shareholders on 1995 earnings, which grew 49 percent to $39.6 million. Sales rose nearly 40 percent to $173 million. The company's stock had nearly doubled to $45.25 per share since its IPO in August of the previous year. Jannard gave a speech to the shareholders in which he emphasized Oakley's high-tech abilities and competitive strength. "We solve problems with inventions and then we wrap those inventions in art," he said about the company's products. The next line of sunglasses that Oakley planned to introduce were X Metals. The company also planned to introduce sunglasses especially for cricket players in the international market.


A secondary offering of stock, underwritten by Merrill Lynch & Co. and Alex Brown & Sons Inc., also took place in June. Jannard and Parnell were planning to sell about five million shares, worth about $220 million at current market prices. After the sale, Jannard would still own at least 45 percent of the company. Jannard's compensation for 1995 consisted of a $380,697 salary and a $9.3 million bonus, earned in part for exceeding financial performance targets.


In August Oakley entered into an agreement with Essilor International and its U.S. subsidiary Gentex Optics, makers of prescription lenses. The deal gave Oakley access to prescription lens laboratories and lens-making capabilities. Oakley planned to make its e Wire frames ($130) available in prescription sunglasses within a month. Previously, prescription lenses had accounted for less than 1 percent of the company's sales and were limited to only two of its sports sunglasses. Oakley's agreement with Essilor International and Gentex Optics was expected to cut the time for obtaining prescription lenses for Oakley sunglasses from three weeks to just one week.


In addition, Oakley was granted an option to purchase Essilor and Gentex's nonprescription-lens unit within four years. At the time Gentex was the world's leading producer of advanced-technology polycarbonate lenses and was Oakley's sole supplier of polycarbonate lenses. As part of the deal, Oakley also obtained an exclusive right to purchase a new scratch-resistant coating and decentered sunglass lens blanks, which would enable it to create optically superior dual lens sunglasses.


In October, Nike announced it would enter the $1.5 billion premium sunglasses market. It planned to focus on sports performance sunglasses, the same niche occupied by Oakley. Nike began with two styles of sunglasses designed specifically for track and field, the V12 ($160) and the V8 ($145). Nike also announced it would introduce the Magneto brand of glasses in the winter of 1996-97. The unusually designed Magnetos had no temples; they adhered to the face of the wearer with two small, semi-sticky round discs called AMPs that were placed on the wearer's temples. The AMPs held the sunglasses to the face with tiny magnets. The advantage, according to Nike: the glasses were lighter and would not bounce when you ran.


After effecting a two-for-one stock split in early October, Oakley experienced problems with one of its principal distributors. Sunglass Hut International, Inc. reported lower than expected sales for September, causing Oakley's stock price to drop by 16.9 percent. Sales to Sunglass Hut accounted for approximately one-third of Oakley's total volume in the first half of 1996. On December 5, Oakley announced that Sunglass Hut had cancelled all purchase orders through January 1997. Oakley delayed the launch of its new X Metal brand of sunglasses, and its stock lost 33 percent of its value, falling to $10.625 a share.


In November Oakley announced it had reached an agreement to acquire Serval Marketing, its exclusive distributor in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The distributor would be renamed Oakley U.K. Based outside London, England, Serval Marketing had been Oakley's exclusive U.K. and Irish distributor for 15 years, since 1981. It employed about 35 individuals, and its chairman, Carl Ward, and managing director, Ray Tilbrook, were signed to five-year employment contracts to ensure they would continue in the same roles for Oakley U.K.


Closing out a very eventful year, three shareholders filed a class-action suit in December against Jannard and Michael Parnell, Oakley's two top executives, charging they misrepresented the state of the company's operations to take advantage of Oakley's secondary stock offering in June 1996. The two underwriting firms and Oakley were also named in the suit. According to the suit, Jannard sold nine million shares at $23.81 per share (adjusted for October's stock split) for $205.2 million, and Parnell sold 1 million shares for $22.8 million. Six weeks later, Oakley's stock dropped to $15.375 on news that Sunglass Hut was experiencing weak sales. The lawsuit charged that company executives artificially inflated Oakley's stock by claiming that business with Sunglass Hut was strong and that the X Metal line would be introduced by the end of 1996. Several other similar class-action lawsuits were soon filed.


Sales in the fourth quarter of 1996 declined sharply, because of the loss of orders from Sunglass Hut and sluggish European sales. For the year, sales were up 27 percent to $218.6 million from $172.5 million in 1995. Net income for the fourth quarter was only $3.6 million versus $9.2 million the previous year. For the year, net income increased 16 percent to $46 million from $39.6 million a year ago.


Oakley moved into its new Foothill Ranch headquarters in early 1997 while still struggling from the aftermath of the Sunglass Hut debacle. Revenues for the first quarter of 1997 fell 29 percent, and earnings plunged from $11 million the previous year to $550,000. The full-year results for 1997 were no better: net income fell to $19.6 million while revenues declined to $194 million. During the year Oakley took a number of steps to lay the ground for a turnaround, including a renewed focus on product innovation and a ramping up of new product introduction. After belatedly introducing the X Metal line in February, Oakley in April launched Fives, a frame designed specifically for the heads of women, which are typically smaller than those of men. In August the Eye Jackets line was extended with the introduction of a frame called Topcoat. Pursuing an aggressive strategy to achieve direct distribution in its international markets, Oakley began such an operation in Japan in May 1997. One month later, the company acquired One Xcel, Inc., maker of distortion-free face shields used with the sports helmets of athletes in the National Football League and the National Hockey League. Also accomplished was the addition of about 400 new retail accounts in order to lessen the company's reliance on the still struggling Sunglass Hut. By 1999 sales to Sunglass Hut would account for only about 23 percent of Oakley's sales. Continuing its litigious ways, Oakley filed the first of several suits against Nike in July 1997, alleging that the shoe company had infringed a patent covering several Oakley sunglass designs. Nike later countersued, and Knight and Jannard's relationship turned acrimonious. In September 1997 Link Newcomb, who had been the company's COO, was promoted to CEO, replacing Parnell, who was named vice-chairman. Because of the company's poor performance, Jannard took the unusual step of foregoing any compensation for the year, receiving neither a salary nor any stock options.


Soon after suing Nike, Oakley took on the company in the heart of its market--that of footwear. Oakley announced in August 1997 that it planned to enter the athletic shoe market, and in June 1998 the O Shoe made its debut, priced at $125. Despite sporting a funky design and the company's usual high-tech materials, the shoe was perhaps most noteworthy for being manufactured entirely in the United States, at the Orange County plant. This was a direct challenge to the contention of Nike and other shoemakers that they had to manufacture overseas in order to make a profit. A further diversification of the product line came in December 1998 when Oakley introduced its first wristwatch, the Time Bomb, which retailed for between $1,300 and $1,500. The company was also by this time offering a line of apparel and accessories. Other 1998 moves included the purchase of the Oakley division of its Canadian distributor. This drive to directly market and sell its products in foreign markets continued in succeeding years. In November 1999 Oakley's Australian distributor was acquired; in June 2000 the company took over the distribution of Oakley products in Austria and also opened a new office in Munich, Germany.


The year 1999 turned out to be a turbulent one for Oakley as the shoe line, which was not yet profitable, proved to be a drag on earnings. Although revenues increased 11 percent for the year, profits fell 18 percent, to $19.8 million. There was also turmoil in the management ranks, as Oakley hired William D. Schmidt, a former Olympic javelin thrower and former Gatorade executive, as CEO in April, with Newcomb returning to the COO position. In October, with the stock price down to around $6 per share and Wall Street pressing the company to drop the troubled shoe line, Schmidt left the company, having apparently sided with the Wall Street analysts. Jannard refused to back down from his challenge to Nike, and even assumed the CEO position for the first time, vowing to take a greater hands-on role at the firm.


To turn the shoe line around, Jannard reversed course and outsourced manufacturing to a South Korean contractor. Plans were also formulated to significantly expand the shoe line to offer a broader line that would be more appealing to major retailers such as Foot Locker and REI. Oakley had introduced two lower-priced models in 1999, ShoeTwo at $90 and ShoeThree at $99, but then eight more styles debuted during 2000, ranging in price from $75 to $120. By late 2000 the shoe line was in the black, aided by much wider distribution into about 2,700 stores worldwide. Also helping Oakley's shoe sales--as well as the sales of its other products--was the decision in mid-1999 to hire the company's first outside ad agency, which led to a new print campaign that debuted in early 2000. In July 1999 Oakley established its first retail outlet, opening the first O Store in Irvine, California. In October, Oakley made its entire product line available through the company web site, and direct Internet sales totaled $1 million for the final quarter of 1999. Also aiding sales of sunglasses in 2000 were the exploding pair of X Metals that Tom Cruise wore in the opening scenes of the motion picture blockbuster Mission: Impossible 2. Revenues for 2000 increased 41 percent, hitting $363.5 million, and profits skyrocketed 83 percent, to a record $51.1 million. By late 2000, meanwhile, the good news coming out of the Foothill Ranch headquarters sent the company stock soaring; it tripled in value from its level of a year earlier.


Another important development in 2000 was the settlement of the various class-action lawsuits that had been filed in 1996 and 1997 accusing the company's executives of misleading investors. To the chagrin of Jannard, who continued to insist he had done nothing wrong, the company's insurance carrier elected to settle the lawsuits rather than keep fighting them, agreeing to pay the plaintiffs $17.5 million.


In March 2001 Oakley expanded its retail operations by opening its first outlet store, which it located in Milpitas, California. Dubbed Oakley Vault, the store featured mostly products from the previous season and discontinued styles, along with selected first-run merchandise. By the end of 2001 there were two Oakley Vaults along with four O Store locations, with plans in place to expand these concepts primarily in the California, Texas, and Florida markets. Oakley's retail operations gained added importance in April 2001 when Luxottica Group S.p.A. acquired Sunglass Hut. Luxottica had purchased the Ray-Ban brand from Bausch & Lomb in 1999 and was therefore Oakley's main sunglasses competitor. Fears that the new ownership of Sunglass Hut would lead to reduced stocking of Oakley products soon proved justified as Luxottica told Oakley in early August 2001 that Sunglass Hut would order only about one-sixth of what Oakley had been expecting. Responding quickly and aggressively, Oakley expanded its distribution network by partnering with several sporting goods retailers, including Champs, the Finish Line, and Foot Locker. In October 2001 Oakley acquired Iacon, Inc., which was based in Scottsdale, Arizona, and which operated 40 sunglass specialty stores in malls under the names Sunglass Designs, Sporting Eyes, and Occhiali da Sole. During its most recent fiscal year, Iacon had reported revenues of $15 million. In December 2001 Oakley signed a three-year agreement with Luxottica that would return Oakley products to the shelves of Sunglass Hut, although not to the level seen prior to the acquisition.


Oakley had had a strong first half of the year during 2001, but the Sunglass Hut feud combined with the downturn in the U.S. economy and the effects of the events of September 11 sent both sales and profits plunging. For the year, revenues increased 18 percent, aided in large measure by a significant jump in international sales--an increase large enough that non-U.S. sales accounted for more than one-half of overall revenues for the first time. Another key trend was the increasing importance of sales of non-sunglasses products, which accounted for 33 percent of overall sales in 2001 (compared to just 18 percent in 1997). The net income figure of $50.4 million was a slight decrease over the preceding year.


In February 2002 Oakley established an office in Brazil to facilitate the shipping of products to that nation. Oakley further broadened its distribution channels in early 2002 when it began opening "concept shops" in Macy's West and Parisian department stores featuring Oakley products from all of the company's product categories. In May of that year, Oakley and Nike ended their nearly five-year-long court battle, reaching an undisclosed settlement with neither of the two sides admitting wrongdoing and with the companies agreeing to "compete in the marketplace." A new battle between the two rivals was soon underway, however, as a result of Oakley's foray into the basketball shoe market that was dominated by Nike. Oakley was clearly a fierce competitor, with an ever-widening product line and an expanding distribution network, and there seemed to be no reason to doubt that Oakley would remain one of the hottest consumer brands.


Oakley, Inc. is an innovation-driven designer, manufacturer, and distributor of high-performance eyewear, including sunglasses and goggles. Oakley sunglasses sell for anywhere from $65 to $335 a pair. Although known best for its sunglasses, Oakley has also expanded into footwear, watches, apparel, and accessories. Key aspects of the company's success include celebrity endorsements, especially by athletes, together with high-tech designs that include interchangeable lenses, high optical clarity, and damage resistance, and selective distribution through high-end retailers and specialty stores, including the Oakley-owned O Stores, Oakley Vaults, Sunglass Designs, Sporting Eyes, and Occhiali da Sole. These elements of Oakley's brand-building strategy work together to increase the perceived value of the company's products. Its products are not available from mass-market retailers, and Oakley vigorously litigates any unauthorized distribution of its products as well as patent infringements to keep competitors out of its lucrative business.

Origin of the Species. It started with a single idea. A mad scientist looked at a product and saw an opportunity. Jim Jannard created a world's first--a motocross handgrip with a unique orbicular design, engineered to fit a competitor's closed hand. The year was 1975. It was the beginning of Oakley Inc. (NYSE: OO), a technology company that would soon be fueled by a raging distaste for mediocrity and a fierce devotion to innovation.

Today, Oakley is driven to seek out problems, create solutions, and wrap those solutions in art. The company's obsession with innovation has built a legacy of science, sculpture, and defiance of conventional thinking. Reinventing the concept of eyewear was only the first step. The passion that ignited the optical industry is now unleashed on high-performance footwear, wristwatches, apparel and accessories.

Key Dates:

1975: Jim Jannard founds Oakley when he begins selling handgrips for motocross motorcycles.
1984: Company enters the sunglass market.
1986: Cyclist Greg Le Mond sports Oakley sunglasses while winning the Tour de France.
1995: Oakley goes public through an IPO that raises $230 million.
1998: Company introduces its first athletic shoe.
2001: Company acquires Iacon, Inc., operator of mall-based sunglass specialty stores Sunglass Designs, Sporting Eyes, and Occhiali da Sole.



Oakley, Inc.

Oakley is an eyewear company known mostly for their high end sunglasses and ski goggles. They also make watches, clothing, bags, backpacks, shoes, prescription glasses and other accessories. Their 'Inter-Planetary Headquarters' is located at Foothill Ranch, CA. On June 21 2007, Italian group Luxottica announced a plan to merge with Oakley in a cash deal worth $2.1 billion, expected to be finalized in the latter half of the year.Oakley is going to join the portfolio of Luxottica group (located in Milan,Italy) with other famous brands like Ray Ban, Persol, and Vogue among others.

Oakley's distinctive 'O' logo is placed on the sides of most of their glasses and sunglasses. They also employ a unique skull logo on some of their accessories and clothing. Recently, fashion-oriented models such as the Gascan now employ a squared version of the 'O' logo. The design of both their products and their stores are a futuristic meld of organic and mechanical forms. The futuristic, spaceship-like stores make use of heavily tooled mechanical designs, such as rivets and thick metal hoses visibly connecting the store's light fixtures to a huge overhead "pipeline".

Like many high-priced brand-name accessories, Oakley's sunglasses are often counterfeited and sold in markets around the world that cater to tourists and internet buyers. Counterfeit Oakleys are often referred to as "Foakleys" (fake Oakleys) or "Joke-leys." Counterfeit Oakleys are occasionally referred to as Oakeys (pronounced: oak-E's), this is due to an inconsistency between the spelling of "Oakley," written on the bridge, on real Oakleys and fake ones.

Oakley's current chairman is Jim Jannard, who owns approximately 68% of the outstanding shares (2006), and reputedly named the company after his English setter Oakley.

Notwithstanding the high cost of top quality polycarbonate, these glasses appear to be priced as high as the market will stand, setting a trend among other sports eyewear manufacturers.

The Oakley Corporation also owns Dragon and manufactures eyewear for Fox Racing. In 2006, Oakley acquired the Oliver Peoples group, one of the leading manufacturers of high-end fashion branded eyewear.


History
Oakley was first started by Jim Jannard in 1975, by selling what he called 'The Oakley Grip' out of the back of his car at motocross events. They were unlike grips riders had seen at the time.

Although the grips were successful, they were most of the time hidden in the palms of motocross riders as they competed, and thus they did not have a good level of exposure (most people have heard of it, but did not know what they were). It was then in 1980 did Jim release a pair of goggles called the O-Frame. With the classic 'Oakley' logo emblazoned on the strap, onlookers could now recognize the brand. In 1984, Oakley introduced the Factory Pilot, which were sunglasses in the same shape as the O-Frame, but made of plastic. They also had removable lenses, and were popularized by Tour de France winner Greg LeMond and other professional cyclists. Soon after, Oakley introduced several models of sunglasses, including the Blades, Razor Blades, Frogskins, and the Mumbos, which eventually evolved into the M-Frame series of glasses.


Materials
Oakley complies to the ANSI Z87.1 requirements for basic impact and high impact protection.


Frames
Acetate is used for some of the women specific glasses. Not very widely used.
C5 is an alloy of five metals used in most of the 'Wire' series.
Magnesium has been used for a few glasses. It has been discontinued as the ceramic coating on the glasses was notorious for deteriorating due to oxidation.
O-Luminum is the name given to the aluminium alloy used in some Oakley glasses. It has been applied to only two models, of which only the RazrWire remains in production.
O Matter is the name given to the nylon composite used for most of Oakley's plastic eyewear.
Titanium is also used. Some Wires have a Titanium counterpart to their C5 version.
X Metal is a titanium alloy used in the premium 'X Metal' series.

Lenses
Plutonite is used for all of Oakley's glasses. It is made of polycarbonate and features impact protection as well as an inherent ability to block all forms of UV and harmful blue light.
Lexan is used for some goggles.
In 2006, the company partnered with Transitions Optical to produce Oakley powered by Transitions photochromic lenses. Three colors are currently available.


Other
Unobtainium is the name of Oakley's hydrophilic (water-attracting) synthetic rubber that increases grip when wet, usually applied to the contact points of the glasses (nose and sides of the head). The Unobtainium ear socks and nose pieces tend to deteriorate under regular use. However they can be replaced by virtue of replacement kits. Unobtainium of some formula was first used in Oakley's first product, the Oakley Grips.

Popular Culture
Oakley sunglasses routinely appear in popular movies (particularly action fims), including the X-men series, Mission: Impossible 2, Blade 2, Black Hawk Down, Spider-Man, and others.

The X-metal/Ruby Iridium Penny (with sideblinders not available for public) worn by James Marsden's Cyclops in X-men was a one off lens made to look extra red for the cameras. Actor James Marsden frequently complained about headaches caused by the extreme tint. Also the visor that Cyclops uses in action is a custom made by Oakley.

Rapper/Producer Lil' Jon is both an Oakley collector and a spokesperson/model for the company, and has several signature versions of Oakley eyewear.

Poker player Phil Hellmuth is sponsored by Oakley. He wore Oakley gear during the inaugural World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions event. It should be noted that Hellmuth, who usually wears his UltimateBet gear, chose to wear his Oakley gear mainly due to the fact that the coordinators of the event did not allow advertisement for any online poker websites. In addition, Hellmuth usually chooses to wear the Oakley THUMP when playing on the tournament circuit.

Rapper/R&B Artist T-Pain has many times referenced the eyewear in many of his song, one reference can be in the Unk 2 Step Remix as well as Buy U a Drank


Trivia
Oakley also supports many racing drivers in different series. Including famous and successful drivers such as Juan Pablo Montoya, Bobby Labonte and Gary Scelzi.
The box of the computer game 'Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six' shows a member of special forces wearing Oakley goggles. The classic Oakley script is clearly visible on the headband.
Oakley is the sole company that Lance Armstrong has a life time deal with. In June of 2007 Oakley created two special edition sunglasses, one the Radar, the other, the Flak Jacket, with "LIVESTRONG" laser-etched on the lens, as well as the iconic yellow color used to represent the Livestrong moniker on the earstems and Oakley logo.
There have been two jets that were painted in an Oakley paint scheme, both Bombardier Global Express jets belonging to Jim Jannard the owner. Registration: N2T and N701WH.

Very nice guide Dan. Very informative. It was like a Getting Started Quick Guide.

i have. but everyone's faces are dreefifnt therefore the glasses will fit and look dreefifntly on dreefifnt people. i just try to give people a good look and the detail of the shades. i would recommend to everyone to always try on sunglasses b4 buying them. cuz its about how they look on your face and not how they look on the shelf. thanx for the comment, i appreciate.

Great review. I now know a few things about them that i didn't before. Need to get home & start pressing buttons.

awesome piece of Oakley history... well done!

great to know more about oakley

This was good stuff.

I Never knew so much about Grips before.

Cutie patootie!The one where she first got her gesasls actually made me "Awwww" out loud. She is such a doll and I love that I've been "around" for most of these big milestones!

A useful and informative guide, providing what were formerly 'missing details' to many on the subject. Excellent work!

This is a simply amazing article. The depth of information is unbelievable. All is very well written and very well illustrated. Everyone should read this whether you are interested in Zero's or not. Why aren't there more articles like this with all the knowledge some people on this forum have?

i just re-read it again, and am amazed with the work and research put into this article... excellent stuff! makes the entire Zero line much easier to understand.

This is just pure outstanding work. The research, the graphics and content used is so detailed and organized. Really appreciate the effort. Really great teamwork to come out with a marvelous job. I hope Jim notices this.

Awesome article. Nice graphics, too!

I'm not a fan of the zero's but the review catched me even more!

Phil and Lee-
Kudos to the both of you, great article.

Thanks for expanding the knowledge base as zeros are so confusing for many

Very serious write-up. JJ should commision you guys to do Oakleys comlete history-book.

This is by far the best review I have ever read/seen about one type of sunglasses , PERIOD !
to the both of you , thank you very much for the time and effort

very nice!!!

Awesome work. Very nice break down of the history of the zero. Much appreciated.

Thanks for sorting out the line for me since I drew a ZERO everytime I looked into these...Getting my 1st pair of 1st gen Sub's next week....

I remember the original zero series were also available as "implants", thus with prescription lenses put in the "cut out". This was available a short time to the public after a test period by athletes. I remember very well that HB (Greg Herbold/miyata, rockshox) had really wicked looking zeros.

A very informative article.

I still wear my zero 3n (bronze/rootbeer) now and then but I hate that I lost my zero 3 (planet X/red). Those were awesome.

The very best article on sub-zero's I've read or seen to this day .Hats off to you Stay-Down Blonsno.

Such a wonderfully; conceived, designed and executed article.
I keep returning to it for clarification and education.
Plus it is I such a joy to read.. Thanks to Lee and Phil

Got it! Tnhaks a lot again for helping me out!

Just what the doctor ordered, thakntiy you!

While I'm not a fan of the Riddle, the frame itself was pretty cool looking. It's almost like a crystal black frame but the lighter streaks give it a cool, unique look.

wow , nice colour ! i'm gonna order this one for in the shop

Frame: Tan
Lens: Fire Iridium (both of them!)

Well since I have two of these, I should take a few seconds and add my review. Not much more I can say other than if your into rare and unusual Oakley stuff for your collection these are a must have. The engineering to come up with this is rather simple but ingenious at the same time. I do not have any real world experience due to the fact that we don't have any snowy slopes here and I can't justify taking several hundred dollar goggles out 4 wheeling or mudding to see how well the fan works but the idea is a great one has I am sure O did their research on this or, your "Uncle Sam" paid some lab a lot of money to develop this item. Again, a must have for that "Gotta have it" Oakley collector!

Frame: Olive Drab
Lens: Clear

Hard to find since this is not available for civilian use. As with any military accessories, this is very expensive. Will cost around $400. The Assault A Frame goggle is the military/tactical version of Oakley's popular A Frame sports goggles.

This is great goggles, but the strap is too long to be used stand alone. It is designed to be used on helmet. It works great though, with my helmet, headset, Night vision, and A-frame! Keeping fog out of lens when we go inside of buildings. I just wish they made strap more adjustable.

While some people voice that Atomic Orange isn't "bright enough" the colorway stands out above and beyond previous orange hues. Although not as radiant or loud as Team Orange, the subtly down-toned chroma looks perfect when paired with a Fire lens. The beautiful color combined with the limited release makes this a classic.

For the release of the Thump, the chrome Bob head was modified a bit to fit small microphones. When the thump is placed on the Bob, the sound is transferred to speakers that people can hear. It was mainly for the promo night. Too bad all they played was Lil Jon.

Very cool. I wish they were available to the public. If they were, I'd certainly get it...and a Thump so that when I didn't feel like wearing the glasses but I wanted to listed to my music, I could just pop the Thump on this bad boy and enjoy. Seriously, how cool would this thing look in your house? I guarantee you that no one (other than a fellow O collector) would be able to figure out what this thing is - great conversation piece.

Although it resembles Tinman it represents something 1,000 times cooler. I wouldn't place this in the same category as the original Bobs (Shadow or Rx), though, as it lacks the overall visual appeal of the first two.