Oakley Jawbone Sunglasses Review

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Oakley has long been at the forefront of sunglass style and technology. Always pushing the limits of performance, the Jawbone represents the latest incarnation of sports-oriented eyewear. Intended for use while running, cycling, etc.

The pair I reviewed had the vented Transition lenses. The Transition lens adjusts the tint of the Jawbones to the outside light. This helps justify the high price to some degree as they can be used in a variety of conditions. I found the lenses to work well from sun up to sun down. My only issue is that on very sunny days I would have liked the lens to get a bit darker, but I was never squinting or grabbing a different pair. The venting along the top and side of the lenses helps to keep fogging up. These vents work well for running or cycling, but on slower days, like snowshoeing or skinning I did experience some fogging. Adding to the technology of the lens is Oakley’s hydrophobic coating. This coating is permanent and keeps any water or perspiration from leaving streaks across the lens. It also helps when cleaning the lens of fingerprints. This doesn’t sound like much, but when you have sweat dripping off your face and into your shades it’s a nice feature. I’ve had several occasions while racing my bike that I was able to simply squirt some water on my face and into the shades to clear them of sweat and grime.

For those that do not opt for the Transition lens, Oakley has several tints to choose from, and every pair comes with 2 sets of lenses, again making them more versatile. Lens changes are made easy due to the hinge at the nose-piece. Simply lift up the nose piece then push the lower section down to release the lenses.

The fit is close as it should be for what it is intended for. While cycling the wind and dirt was kept out of my eyes. Oakley has long used their Unobtanium rubber on the nose and ear sockets to keep the shades in place. While I’m not sure what the name is all about, I can say that the more you sweat the better they grip. Each pair comes with two interchangeable nose piece sizes allowing you to customize the fit. The size of the Jawbones is larger than other sunnies I’ve worn, but I like that. More coverage means more protection. Given a neutral color, mine were a light grey and silver mix, you can wear them around town as well.

Oakley offers the Jawbone as part of their Customizable program. With this program you can choose the color of the upper and lower parts of the frame, the ear socks, icons, lens color for both lenses, and have text etched into one pair of lenses. There are some truly crazy colors to choose from so you can really make them your own.

While not the cheapest option for sunglasses, the Jawbones offer a level of technology and style that few can match. Having used these in all sorts of conditions and activities I can say that the Jawbone’s perform well no matter what. For more info on the Jawbone and other Oakley eyewear, visit www.oakley.com or www.amazon.com/oakley.