Oakleys - are they worth it?

I've got a pair of prescription Oakley Whiskers and they are fantastic. The frames are very strong and they have excellent lenses. The shape is great for cycling. I'm getting another pair with transition lenses so I can use them after sunset, but this time I will shop around on the web. I've found I can get a pair for about £125, although the lenses won't be Oakley, but good enough for what I need. Hope this is helpful.

They're expensive due to the bullet proof lenses. My blue iridium lenses sharpen up the dark days and keep the sun out on brighter days.

To me they're not worth the money because I don't use sunglasses very much, but if you use them a lot then they are worth the money. Much the same as I have a good quality bike because I use it a lot whereas someone who only rides once a year around to the park and back really doesn't.

Apparently Tesco Optical will do Adidas frames with prescription sports lenses. I say apparently, because when I checked, they were having a promotion, which meant they couldn't sell them. Huh? Hey - it's Tesco. I emailed Tesco to check on the madness (twice) but never got a reply. That's a class act.

Rose do some nice sunglasses which accept a prescription insert. The insert is cheap enough (30 Euros, I think) but then you have to have it ground to your prescription.

I went to the US on holiday, went into a mall, found an optician, had my eyes checked and then bought a set of decent prescription sports sunglasses. $100 for the eye test, $200 for the glasses. Ready next day. AND I have a copy of my prescription with IPD (interpupillary distance - or how close yer eyes are together

The list price is made up, and opticians have lots of mark-up to play with. I got nearly 50% off the total price with a bit of haggling.

'I know luxotica employees. The mark up is substantial."
I work in this business - as with many other things, there's a fair mark-up. But to say that the cost is down to the plastic is incorrect.

I've got Bloc shades. They're fine, fit well which is kinda the point. Sports glasses, lets be honest, universally make you look like an utter twat. There's no getting past it. You can't argue it. You look like a bollock whether you spend 3 quid in Lidl or 250 quid on Oakleys. So it just comes down to how fussy you are about the optics, and how well designed they are to not fog up. Diminishing returns over 40 or 50 quid, I expect. But hey, you want the quality of the Oakleys, go for it. It just doesn't come cheap.

'I might be biased against glasses after wearing childs NHS specs in the 80's.'

Thing is, those NHS specs would have had decent optics. Unlike 'any sunglasses you fancy'.

Contact lenses and any sunglasses you fancy. Take you sunnies off: still see! Don't have to carry spare glasses. Clear vision if you glance over your shoulder and no joggling movement effect. Look like yourself not like a hipster.

I might be biased against glasses after wearing childs NHS specs in the 80's.

'I would guess that most glasses over £30 - £35 will be just as good as the Oakley's'

I suspect your guess would be very wrong.

I've had Rudy Projects with inserts and never got on with them and I've been happy with my Oakley Half Jackets that I got last year. They didnt work out that expensive either as I got the lenses from http://www.balanceoptics.com/index.php/lens/prescription-sports/prescription-lenses.html and the frames from ebay. All in with transitions presciptions came in at a little over £200 including postage which is only a little more than the cheapest presciption sunnies.

Oakleys every time.
Lens quality superb and they don't seem to scratch. Best thing, when you decide to change them, pop them on Ebay and get at least 60% of your purchase price back, Not sure any other sport glasses do that....

To be honest i've got a pair of Oakleys and they look the biz, but they are not prescription and after a long ride me heed is knackered.

I've had numerous oakley's over last 20 years never a bad pair, currently using jawbone custom with polarised lens, fantastic, highly recommended for on/off the bike. Reasonable value too at balance optics

I would guess that most glasses over £30 - £35 will be just as good as the Oakley's. There are some great glasses made by smaller brands like Julbo, Cebe, BBB and Uvex that will be as good. With Oakley you are paying as much for a bit of branding and fashion as anything else.

I had the DHB ones for a while, they get sweat on them and half way through a hot ride you cant use them. Now I have some BBB ones, they are great, £30, never muck up and if I drop them, have done already, its not a heartbreaker.

How strong is your prescription? I can't use Oakleys because they only go up to -4.0 or -5.0 (depending on which design you choose). I need -6.5, and my Bolle Bounty prescription specs are superb. They cost £254, so that gives you an idea of how good I think they are.

Personally, I try never to take my sight for granted, and won't buy cheap specs. Not worth it.

'They charge a ton for plastic.'

no, they charge a ton for superb optics.

Never buy cheap glasses, slight optical imperfections can in the short term cause headaches and do lasting damage in the long term - You get what you pay for.

Yes they are a bit pricy and you don't want to lose them, but the transition ones that go from 50 to 20% or so are great for being on the bike. I've got some 12% ones as well for really sunny or skiing, all prescription.

I'd definitely buy again, I don't like taking them off to put my normal glasses on!

They do need careful measuring for the rx, to make sure the pd. is correct, online suppliers seem a bit hit and miss so your optician is probably safer.

I have tried glasses with an extra insert, but don't like the extra weight, and they tend to make the lenses sit further away, so don't work so well, particularly in bright sun

Get some!

I use ballistic protection safety glasses. My eyes are in zero danger, and they look like sports glasses.

Unobtanium is plastic. They charge a ton for plastic. I love Luxotica because they have a local branch here, but its still plastic.

BBB optiviews if you want a script in them, about £45 on amazon, and another 40 for lenses from the opticians. Fit nicely, come with the lenses for light conditions, and relatively cheaper than getting oakleys with a script

The prescription bit is ridiculously expensive. If you want interchangeable lenses for different conditions then consider Rudy Project. I have used Rydons with the prescription Rx insert for about 8 or 9 years. Insert clips into frame and sits just behind the Rydon lens. Can change Rydon lens as normal, or if you don't want to use the Rx insert (if you start using contacts say) then take the Rx insert out. (Other plus side is if you prescription changes than it is a heck of a lot cheaper).
Negatives - felt a bit strange at first, but soon got used to it. Insert not really visible to the outside world except when I use clear or yellow lenses. In very cold conditions + wet they steam up. (Anti fog treatment works well unless you go for coated prescription lenses).
Big plus is you can often pick a Rudy Project pack up cheap, frame and a few different lenses. Rx insert can be ordered in by Rudy srockists. Your optician can glaze the insert which is handy particularly as most opticians refuse to give out your PD measurement (as not part of the prescription). You will need to check Rudy website for maximum Rx index that insert can support.