Fake Oakleys?

[Lucky]

When you look on Ebay and see Oakley M's for $35 a pair, is that as big a warning sign as I suspect? What clues are there to tell whether they are fake or not? I'm not buying brand because of vanity, they're ballistic eye protection, so knock-offs aren't welcome.

 

[Manedwolf]

Yes, they're knockoffs. If they're on eBay and are significantly cheaper than retail, they're ripoffs out of China, and you shouldn't trust them for ballistic protection at all. eBay is caveat emptor with a capital C.

Fakes are really really good in appearance now, even the packaging. You'd likely only find out when you got shards of plastic in your eye.

 

[oh blanky]

Look carefully.

They're called Folklees.

 

[1 old 0311]

If things appear too good to be true, there is usually a reason.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

Are those the glasses they claim can take a 12 GA shotgun load?

 

[ugaarguy]

ESS

If you're looking for good eye protection at a reasonable price, and not a fashion logo, take a look at ESS - Eye Safety Systems. Their googles are now a mandatory issue item for US forces in Iraq. They make an eyeshield sunglass called the ICE that uses the same insert as the goggles for RX applications, and offers the same ballistic protection as the goggles. Since it's an insert it can handle prescriptions of either +/- 6 or +/- 12 depending on the insert frame. I cant remember if the plastic insert or the metal wire one handles the greater range. US forces use the plasstic insert and the Brits use the metal wire one. I'm very happy with the ESS goggles I was issued. The ICE eyeshield can be found for under $30 with 2, if not 3, lenses, and the RX insert is optional for those who need it. Overall my experience is that it's a very good product, and the prices I've seen online for what I was issued seem very reasonable to me.

 

[orionengnr]

They're called Folklees.

No, they are called Faux-kleys.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

If you go on Ebay and search for "Oakley" under Men's accessories or sporting goods, on the left side under the categories there are 'related guides' that people wrote on how to spot fake oakleys.

 

[dm1333]

This won't help with E-Bay but

all the fauxkleys I have seen DON'T have the Oakley symbol right over the nose bridge on the inside of the glasses. If you are military you can get Oakleys at cost from the factory and I think they extend that to cops and firefighters too.

 

[LkWinnipesaukee]

I bought a pair of ~$120 Bolle's on ebay for around $40 (seller was having a closeout). They were real. 2 years later I still wear them.


Just buy from a reputable seller; look for good (high # and high %) feedback. Email the seller asking again if theyre real, and you should be fine.

 

[Kevlarman]

I just ordered a pair of Half-Jacket XLJs for almost 50% off, since it was part of a multi thousand $ group buy.

 

[Lucky]

Thanks for the tips! I've got some ESS goggles I use for airsoft, but I'm a sweater, as in one who sweats. I'm amazed by how many people manage not to fog goggles up, but even after peeling the foam off the ESS goggles they still fog, despite hourly anti-fog goggle wax.

So glasses it is for me, but I'll look in to the ESS glasses too then.

Deer hunter, aiui the rating specifies .22 pellet impacts, but I've heard the shotgun impact story too.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

I got some Panoptx Dash glasses off ebay. They are made for riding motorcycles (at lower speeds, I have other shades for higher speeds) mostly but have impact resistance and have air gaps to let air circulate and cut down on fogging (a problem for me too). So far they have been great, plus they are polarized which elimiates glare (work great for fishing too). They were about $45 shipped.

 

[Lucky]

Do you feel the frames are pretty strong too? I looked at a pair, and they look pretty nice. Do they leave any gaps where BB's shot at you could slip through?

 

[swampgator]

Oakleys at cost

My MP company, prior to Gulf War I, got in touch with Oakley about a group purchase. Everyone bought two pair, don't remember the cost, though.

Cool thing, Oakley sent stickers in different colors for each Platoon. They also sent the "Thermonuclear Protected" stickers which were placed right under the military police stencil on the humvees. Some Iraqis really believed we could withstand a nuke. We had them on until the CSM of the 16th MP BDE (Airborne) required their removal.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

Lucky,
Not sure if your question is directed at me but the frames feel very strong and the sides are fairly thick near where they meet the front so side protection should be good. For something like airsoft you'd probably be safer using goggles (between the frame and your face it's foam, so it won't stop a direct hit from anything but a leaf) but these feel like they have good all around protection. I am more concerned with brass falling between the glasses and my face or heaven forbid, a bounce-back to the eye. When riding I gotta contend with rocks to the face and whatever else car tires pick up in front of you.

 

[AustDave]

If they are being sold as 'Factory Seconds' then they are a fake for sure as Oakley don not sell them that way. Another tip is if they have a sticker on one of the lenses then it too is a fake. Oakleys have no stickers on lenses. And they are not sold at markets if they're genuine.

 

[Lucky]

I ended up going to safetyglassesusa and getting 3 different pairs from Pyramex Blue Fortress, yellow Intrepid, and clear V2 goggles. Combined price including shipping to Canada <$40. The trick is to phone your order in, because their 'internet pricing' gave me two options, $50 shipping and $48 shipping.

DoubletapDrew in a perfect world I think I'd go for those Panoptx glasses/goggles. Priced over $200 but they've got a ballistic-rated model that also has lenses that tint themselves to adust to light conditions, wow.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

DoubletapDrew in a perfect world I think I'd go for those Panoptx glasses/goggles. Priced over $200 but they've got a ballistic-rated model that also has lenses that tint themselves to adust to light conditions, wow.

When I got some glasses for riding my Harley I considered some Panoptx but they were $170 so I got some $125 glasses, but they aren't light shifting (I think the light shifting ones are called polychromic or something like that). The Panoptx I got off ebay are ballistic rated and ran me under $50 shipped They aren't light shifting either but they are light enough I can shoot up until dusk and are polarized, and have enough foam to keep brass from getting inbetween my face and glasses. They work for riding the bike up to 50mph or so and are great for shootin.