The neighbors used to have a strange mutt, a rott something cross, for some reason it decided one day to lunge at my son and bite him on the head. A buddy of his threw his bike at the dog to get him off my son. My son was bit twice and they put the dog down, but what mazed me was the marks on the oakleys he was wearing. the frames cracked but held and the lense had a huge divot which from where the other bites on his head were was right inline with his eye. so without these glasses holding up, he most likely would have lost and eye.
About Oakley sunglasses
- Thread starter DigMe
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DigMe,
That's a good point about using them for safety goggles. I don't know what companies conform to this standard. Obviously, it would be wise to only use ones certified as such for the purposes of goggles. The main reason for this may have more to do with such things as coverage and ability and or likelihood of the shades/goggles staying put. In any case, polycarbonate of any type is more safe than glass or CR-39 (which was used for prescription glasses...and is considered much better than glass, in terms of safety). The main concern with using regular shades, made of glass is that they can shatter into your eye. Polycarbonate will not do this (at least not nearly as easily).
As for the polycarbonate itself, I don't know which companies use which types or what not. It's been a long time and I don't remember...And even if I did, things have undoubtedly changed.
That's a good point about using them for safety goggles. I don't know what companies conform to this standard. Obviously, it would be wise to only use ones certified as such for the purposes of goggles. The main reason for this may have more to do with such things as coverage and ability and or likelihood of the shades/goggles staying put. In any case, polycarbonate of any type is more safe than glass or CR-39 (which was used for prescription glasses...and is considered much better than glass, in terms of safety). The main concern with using regular shades, made of glass is that they can shatter into your eye. Polycarbonate will not do this (at least not nearly as easily).
As for the polycarbonate itself, I don't know which companies use which types or what not. It's been a long time and I don't remember...And even if I did, things have undoubtedly changed.
Mr. Tettnanger
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I am an optician(make and sell eyeglasses). I have never been a fan of the Oakley brand. They seem to have quality issues, some frames are very good others, not good at all. They tend to be a bit overpriced! You have to ask yourself if it is more important to have style or function. Oakley sure has style, but what about function? Are you looking for clear lenses or tinted? The most impact resistant lens materials are polycarbonate and a newer material called Trivex(trilogy, phoenix). Are you concerned about having the ansi standard? I have questioned the ansi standard for years. Some safety glasses that have the approved criterea are rather "junky". The "safety" lens issue comes into play also. There is a low impact rating and a high impact rating, based on material of lens, thickness of lens, weight of test projectile etc.,. Give some more detail(rx, tinted, polarized, or clear), frame for "safety" or just a good pair of glasses? I will try to help the best I can.
Mr. Tettnanger
Mr. Tettnanger
Tettnanger,
Thanks for the info.. I was hoping someone from your occupation would speak up!
As I said previously I do want some glasses that are stylish but not at the expense of the safety aspect. I'd always heard that Oakleys had high impact resistance and that's why I was considering them.
So basically that's what I want...something that has the style of Oakleys and other comparable sport-glasses but with high safety ability and impact resistance. Something I can wear all the time whether it be just driving around or at the shooting range. I'm thinking that it's got to be possible to find both of those things in a pair of sunglasses.
Now I've also been looking at some Gargoyles. I found an online liquidator for them that has them at majorly reduced prices and I was reading about them on another website where they claim that they are also ANSI rated and can withstand a .22 shot to the lens at 10 feet. Anyone know if there's truth to that? Anyone have good experience with gargoyles?
brad cook
Thanks for the info.. I was hoping someone from your occupation would speak up!
As I said previously I do want some glasses that are stylish but not at the expense of the safety aspect. I'd always heard that Oakleys had high impact resistance and that's why I was considering them.
So basically that's what I want...something that has the style of Oakleys and other comparable sport-glasses but with high safety ability and impact resistance. Something I can wear all the time whether it be just driving around or at the shooting range. I'm thinking that it's got to be possible to find both of those things in a pair of sunglasses.
Now I've also been looking at some Gargoyles. I found an online liquidator for them that has them at majorly reduced prices and I was reading about them on another website where they claim that they are also ANSI rated and can withstand a .22 shot to the lens at 10 feet. Anyone know if there's truth to that? Anyone have good experience with gargoyles?
brad cook
From what I remember, Gargoyle was excellent when it came to servicing their customers. They were my boss's (sp) favorite company to deal with, especially when it came to customer satisfaction issues. And they made quality products. The main problem they had was that they just didn't look as good as other brands (style). But they were beginning to come out with some better looking stuff when I left that job.
Unless they had a serious drop off in terms of their quality control, I would say that they would be a better choice than Oakley in that department. They were definitely better made than Oakley ten years ago. And besides, you don't want to be another Oakley sheep, do you? Good luck.
Unless they had a serious drop off in terms of their quality control, I would say that they would be a better choice than Oakley in that department. They were definitely better made than Oakley ten years ago. And besides, you don't want to be another Oakley sheep, do you? Good luck.
I haven't ordered from them so I can't vouch for them. They are registered with the New Jersey Better Business Bureau though.
http://www.idealtrade.com/gargoyles.htm
Also, click on the "Gargoyles GXP" and the "Gargoyles B" buttons at the bottom for more choices.
brad cook
http://www.idealtrade.com/gargoyles.htm
Also, click on the "Gargoyles GXP" and the "Gargoyles B" buttons at the bottom for more choices.
brad cook
auschip
Member
I am also looking at Dragon sunglasses, the "box" version fits me as well as Oakley Straight Jackets (better in some ways), and the retail price is in the $39-60 range. Plus, they use a ploycarbonate lense.
Guns_and_Labs
Member
There seem to be lots of forms of polycarbonate. Not many are tougher than Oakley while still optically true. In fact, I haven't found any, though some are probably as tough.
I get to do a lot of destructive testing on company time, and have blown up a lot of safety glasses. Oakley's tied for first, with several others -- none from the bargain bin made it, though.
I'll have to try some Gargoyles, next.
Mr. Tettnanger
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Guns and Labs-Lots of forms of polycarbonate? I am not sure I understand that statment, no offense.
What was the thickness of the test lenses? What manufacturer? Do you know that there are only a few companies producing polycarbonate for all the lens manufacturers?
Could you explain what optically true means?
Mr. Tettnanger
What was the thickness of the test lenses? What manufacturer? Do you know that there are only a few companies producing polycarbonate for all the lens manufacturers?
Could you explain what optically true means?
Mr. Tettnanger
Guns_and_Labs
Member
"Polycarbonate" is a rather general term, referring simply to the presence of chains of bisphenol A connected by carbonate-linkages. There are many variations in both precise chemical composition and manufacturing methodology. Googling "polycarbonate" will pull up many of the variations. Check, for example,
http://www.apme.org/polycarbonate/
http://www.boedeker.com/polyc_p.htm
Yep, and each of them require a very precise specification in the purchase order for the rolls.
Visual clarity at all angles of view, without bending or distorting the light rays through the full contour of the human eye, though filtering the UV spectrum.
Guns_and_Labs
Member
Don't get me wrong, this was no systematic Consumer Reports or ANSI test. This was a bunch of guys testing stuff that they barely had reason (or permission) to test. Yes, we're all scientists of sorts, but in all sorts of fields more usually involved in pharmaceutical, materials and life science research (and one mathematician).
So we bought a bunch of sunglasses, put them on the company AMEX card, and destroyed them. Note: we were testing the lenses, not the frames.
Oakleys were tough to destroy. So were some weird looking ones from The Rudy Project and Wiley-X. There were a few generics labelled for gun manufacturers and the like, all of which claimed to have passed ANSI Z87.1, that were not so tough to destroy. The ones our company was supplying us for safety glasses were almost the worst.
Not an optician in the lot...just guys with time and toys on their hands. I should tell you about the oxygen bottle ballistics experiments...
Mr. Tettnanger
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Guns and labs-Thanks for the reply.
The glasses that did not hold up under testing, did the lenses all fail, or was it the frames that got destroyed? Polarized or non ?
I would suggest looking into Rudy Project, Smith, and Liberty. The Liberty product line may be the least expensive of the bunch.
Are we looking for Polarized fixed tint sunglasses or non polarized? Are you looking to put your RX in the glasses or will these be non prescription?
Average price=
Single Vision polycarbonate=$85-$105
polarized add-on=$50-$85
Frame=$65-$175(?)
Good luck with your search.
Mr. Tettnanger
The glasses that did not hold up under testing, did the lenses all fail, or was it the frames that got destroyed? Polarized or non ?
I would suggest looking into Rudy Project, Smith, and Liberty. The Liberty product line may be the least expensive of the bunch.
Are we looking for Polarized fixed tint sunglasses or non polarized? Are you looking to put your RX in the glasses or will these be non prescription?
Average price=
Single Vision polycarbonate=$85-$105
polarized add-on=$50-$85
Frame=$65-$175(?)
Good luck with your search.
Mr. Tettnanger
Tettnanger,
Did you see my question above Guns and Labs posts about optical quality? If not please refer to it and let me know if you know anything about it.
Whatever glasses I get will be nonRx and most likely nonpolarized. I'm probably going to buy the frames and lenses together as one from one company. At this point in my life it will probably have to be on the lower end of the price scale so I'm looking at the Rudy Project Kybos for ~$75, the Oakley fives 2.0 for ~$65 and the Gargoyles, which I don't know a lot about but have heard pretty good things about. In about 2 years or so I'll have a lot more funds for this but I'd like to have something good for now too.
Thanks for the feedback.
brad cook
Did you see my question above Guns and Labs posts about optical quality? If not please refer to it and let me know if you know anything about it.
Whatever glasses I get will be nonRx and most likely nonpolarized. I'm probably going to buy the frames and lenses together as one from one company. At this point in my life it will probably have to be on the lower end of the price scale so I'm looking at the Rudy Project Kybos for ~$75, the Oakley fives 2.0 for ~$65 and the Gargoyles, which I don't know a lot about but have heard pretty good things about. In about 2 years or so I'll have a lot more funds for this but I'd like to have something good for now too.
Thanks for the feedback.
brad cook
308win
Member
Have you looked at the Scott Vectras?
GunnySkox
Member
Man, now I'm afraid to order my Wileys. It seems like everybody who buys a pair of good glasses gets IEDs blown up at them, or dogs chewing on them, or people keep shooting them in the glasses. Those things are just danger magnets!
~Slam_Fire
~Slam_Fire
308win
Member
Digme
They are popular with the motocross crowd. They aren't cheap. Here is a link
http://casual.ridegear.com/cgi-bin/...asses/F-8409_Vectra_Sunglasses.html?E+scstore
They are popular with the motocross crowd. They aren't cheap. Here is a link
http://casual.ridegear.com/cgi-bin/...asses/F-8409_Vectra_Sunglasses.html?E+scstore
http://www.safetycenter.navy.mil/photo/archive/photo47p.htm
I can't find the article right now, but Private Pilot Magazine did a comparison test of several sunglasses' optical clarity, and the Oakleys were the winner.
Optical clarity
Impact resistance
Those are the only 2 things that matter to me in eyepro. Oakley is the best in both categories.
Sometimes they break. Anything that will never break will be too heavy to wear on your face.
There is no free lunch.
It's just like everything else, there are sour grapes everywhere. People gripe about how much stuff costs as if companies aren't allowed to make a profit, and the ones that can least afford it gripe the most. If you are one of those people, vote Democrat.
I like the Oakley-Surefire illustration. Their business model is to make the best product on the market, regardless of price, then turn it over to their marketing department and sell it for as much as they can. It's a working model.
I can't find the article right now, but Private Pilot Magazine did a comparison test of several sunglasses' optical clarity, and the Oakleys were the winner.
Optical clarity
Impact resistance
Those are the only 2 things that matter to me in eyepro. Oakley is the best in both categories.
Sometimes they break. Anything that will never break will be too heavy to wear on your face.
There is no free lunch.
It's just like everything else, there are sour grapes everywhere. People gripe about how much stuff costs as if companies aren't allowed to make a profit, and the ones that can least afford it gripe the most. If you are one of those people, vote Democrat.
I like the Oakley-Surefire illustration. Their business model is to make the best product on the market, regardless of price, then turn it over to their marketing department and sell it for as much as they can. It's a working model.
The only other names I remember was Ray-ban and something like Panama Jack(?), but IIRC, there were a dozen or so glasses tested. The only info I bothered to retain was that Oakley beat the others tested, and that's all that really mattered. Most of the other glasses tested were at the same pricepoint, so I didn't see the point in figuring out how to save $20 or less when I could just get the Oakleys.
I think that part of the backlash is that no self-respecting "gun guy" wants to be seen in the same glasses as the Gen-Y Extreme Sports Addict, even if they really are the best glasses. Not to mention that some of the Oakley styles push the envelope of conservatism to it's extreme... lol...
I wear the square wires. Pretty conservative, comfortable, and give me good coverage for my face.
I think that part of the backlash is that no self-respecting "gun guy" wants to be seen in the same glasses as the Gen-Y Extreme Sports Addict, even if they really are the best glasses. Not to mention that some of the Oakley styles push the envelope of conservatism to it's extreme... lol...
I wear the square wires. Pretty conservative, comfortable, and give me good coverage for my face.
Yeah but I've heard Wiley and Rudy Project as being two of the top contenders with Oaks so I'd be interested to see an objective side-x-side assessment of those three.
Panama Jack?! That's what they sell at Wal-mart! Maybe you're thinking of Maui Jim!
I admit, I don't like that Oakleys are the choice of frat-daddy's and kewl-X-dudes but that certainly wouldn't keep me from buying them. I think it has raised the price on them though in that they know they can demand more because of their name.
brad cook
Probably. All the glasses were around $150.
I can tell you that Wiley does not have the optical clarity of O's. I have seen this first hand while working in a gun shop that carried Wiley.
Pat Rogers has also written that a shooter wearing Wileys that was performing poorly was corrected by borrowing a pair of Oakleys. He has seen this repeatedly, not just with Wileys. I was not there.
I have no experience or knowledge of Rudys at all. I can say with certainty that Wileys are not Oakleys-on-the-cheap.
Welcome to America.
A Name can only sustain itself for so long. Ask Sears. As long as Oakley (or Surefire, for that matter) is outputting a superior product, they can sustain charging high prices.
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