My Oakley's have met a watery grave

[seanohue]

So my friend and I were out riding his new Kawasaki STX-15Fs and we were having this splash contest with them. We were cruising along at about 50 mph and making quick sharp turns to try and the splash each other. After doing it successfully a few times, I sped up a bit to try and cut him off with a large wall of water. I made a quick turn and instead of looking away to stay balanced, I looked to see if I hit him and in I went. Me and my Oakley Half-Jackets. After a few curses, I hopped back on the jet ski.

So, I need to find some new sunglasses, and judging by the sunglass thread, there are a lot of savvy people here. I'm looking for something similar to my half-jackets, they were designed very nicely and held onto my head (except when pushed by the force of water). They weren't polarized, so I definitely want that this time. Oakley charges way too much for their polarized lenses, so I think I may try another company. There are so many out there I don't know where to start. Can someone point me in the right direction? I wanna stay under $150.

 

[camille]

i have a spare pair of half-jacket i'm willing to part with (if you're interested). the sliver is showing some chipping though. it has standard black XLJ style lens

 

[Czilla9000]

I have a unused Oakley Thump 1.5 polarized sunglasses I have been trying to sell on the for sale forum. They have a built in MP3 player. Lance Armstrong wares them...they are top of the line Oakley's, I believe. Make me an offer....I'm DESPERATE!!!!!!!!

 

[Vertigo-1]

If you liked the Half Jackets, you could consider the Half Wires. Scout on Ebay, might be able to find a polarized pair in your price range. It's normally well over $200 for a polarized pair if you bought from an authorized Oakley dealer...something I would never do. The warranty is totally overrated if you bother to take care of the sunglasses.

If you want something with major grip, I can recommend the Minutes...I got a pair in Polished/Black Iridium recently for the hell of it since I've always wanted a Minute, and that combo is discontinued. I don't have a wide head at all and it still grips like a mofo. I don't wear it much though as I normally sport one of my three prescriptioned Juliets.

 

[plainsong]

Well if you think the polarized lenses cost too much, you get what you pay for.

There's some new Half jackets in the works, not sure when they're going to be released. The Half jackets fit me fine, but the half wire is way too small, just a thought depending on how well they fit you.

If you want something that hugs the face, has a good coverage, and has polarized versions, then that's gotta be the Unknown. Matte black/black polarized looks tight.

I guess it just depends, I mean, do you want something that's O-matter or something wire? What kind of lense do you want? Do you want something for all light types like ti polarized, or something that blocks out everything like black or ice polarized?

 

[skev13]

If you want something a bit more for lifestyle rather than sporty, I suggest the WHY series. I've got a pair of WHY8.0's and they've been absolutely great for me.

 

[seanohue]

Thanks for the tips guys. Here some input for ya:

camille: If I do get another pair of HJs, theyd have to be the regular style lenses because I already have a set of replacement lenses

czilla: Don't really like the Thumps, but thanks

Vertigo and plainsong: Yea, I do really like the Half-Wires but I think they may be too tight, like plainsong said. The HJs were pretty tight to begin with so I bet the HW will be too tight. Im now really considering the Unknown though. I really like those. I was searching around last night and came across these: http://www.spyoptic.com/the_products...e=Scoop/Meteor The Spy Meteors. The black polarized is $120 retail and I also like the red rust frames too and theyre only $95. I also looked at few Maui Jims, specifically the Ono but they were out of my pricerange. I may head to Sunglass Hut in a few hours to try some things on. Any suggestions on some more things I should try?

 

[plainsong]

How many versions of the Why 8 series have polarized lenses though? Amber black polarized ain't for everyone. But otherwise, the Why's are the only Wires I've kept.

Spreaking of which, if you like the aviator look, there's always the crosshair.

 

[skev13]

Quote:

Originally Posted by plainsong How many versions of the Why 8 series have polarized lenses though? Amber black polarized ain't for everyone. But otherwise, the Why's are the only Wires I've kept. Spreaking of which, if you like the aviator look, there's always the crosshair.

Thats true. The 8.1's i think have an ice polarized, but the 8.0's only have the brown polarized, which kinda sucks.

 

[nikongod]

Quote:

Originally Posted by skev13 Thats true. The 8.1's i think have an ice polarized, but the 8.0's only have the brown polarized, which kinda sucks.

the oakley brown polar lens is AWSOME. they do change the colors of stuff a bit, but the benefit of the reductions of eyestrain are SWEET. they are also said to improive contrasts a bit.

 

[MD1032]

My polarized sunglasses cost $20.00. Problem solved.

 

[redshifter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MD1032 My polarized sunglasses cost $20.00. Problem solved.

your garfield link is dead, much like the comic.

 

[plainsong]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MD1032 My polarized sunglasses cost $20.00. Problem solved.

Yes, and the polarization layer, if it's there at all, is glued on, and your lenes are distorted so much it's like watching the world through ibuds. Problem not solved.

I noticed when I got my first pair of decent sunglasses, the Whisker, when I was running my errands that day that things were a lot more clear, and those lenses weren't even polarized.

As for bronze polarized, I prefer ti polarized, or vr28 black iridium, but they're all nice.

 

[redshifter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by plainsong Yes, and the polarization layer, if it's there at all, is glued on, and your lenes are distorted so much it's like watching the world through ibuds. Problem not solved. I noticed when I got my first pair of decent sunglasses, the Whisker, when I was running my errands that day that things were a lot more clear, and those lenses weren't even polarized. As for bronze polarized, I prefer ti polarized, or vr28 black iridium, but they're all nice.

go get 'em ps.

 

[Vertigo-1]

Gotta agree with plainsong. I tried using generic sunglasses once with contacts, and it was horrible. Everything had a bloated appearance, and it was so bad I almost tripped over my own feet from looking downward. You do get what you pay for with high quality optics, but not everybody's going appreciate the differences or notice it I suppose...just like audio.

Oh, and if you like increased contrast lenses...you MUST try Oakley's G30 lenses. It makes everything appear like it's 12 noon, and the lenses look gorgeous...very exotic and unique, and not something you'd ever find imitated in the generic sunglass rack (unlike, say, fire/emerald/ice/gold iridium). I have a prescriptioned pair in my X-metal framed Juliets and the combination is soooooooo sweet looking.