Oakley Commit SQ sunglasses

Oakley have a long and established pedigree for producing high quality optics in distinctive and innovative frame designs that soon become sought after.

The company’s hardcore cycling specific range is tried and tested in professional circles, but how do the ‘crossover’ sports models function within the realms of cycling?

Pretty well is the answer. The Commit SQ (also available as a Commit AV in a slightly different lens shape) is the new women’s sports performance model, designed to offer no compromise fit, lens quality and stability for sportswomen, whatever their sport.

Available in a huge variety of frame colours and lens tints, I tried the polarized version. The benefits of a polarized lens are a massive reduction in glare and dazzle and Oakley’s lens claims greater than 99% polarization efficiency. It does have the somewhat bizarre side effect of making car windscreens look 3D (modern 3D glasses at the cinema use a form of polarization) but other than that the result is a restful and squint free ride, no matter how sunny. Oakley’s Plutonite lens material stops all UV. The tough lenses are also treated with a water and grease resistant coating, which provided you look after the glasses as suggested, will keep them smear and scratch free for years.

Other lens options are available and the lenses are interchangeable. The Commit frame is also available with Oakley prescription lenses.

Aside from sun protection, the Commits also offer impact resistance that’ll protect your eyes from debris. The shape of the frame and lens partnership also assists in this, providing good coverage around the whole eye socket area, yet still allowing for easy all round vision, with no impingement. The Commit frame is fine tuned to be best suited to the shape of a female face.

The Commit is very comfortable to use, with the securely grippy, but not hair dragging, legs sliding happily under the sides of a helmet. These grips see that the glasses stay put and don’t migrate down your nose. The quality of the optics is incredible, with absolute clarity of vision and a very restful shade. At 22g they are very light, and certainly they’re forgettable when you’re wearing them.

Most importantly, obviously, the Commits look very cool. They will happily shade your eyes whether you’re mooching around town, hitting the slopes, out on the yacht (the polarized lens is ideal for watersports too) or chasing down that breakaway group, and you’ll always look the part.

Come with a semi-hard zipped case and a soft drawstring bag that doubles as cleaning cloth.

Verdict

Extremely comfortable, virtually unnoticeable sunglasses that protect and rest your eyes no matter how sunny. Good looking too.