Oakley
 

And more specifically the Jawbone and Radar. Is there really that big a difference between the optics of some Oakleys and say, a pair of Tifosi's?
Considering that I can get a pair of Tifosi's highest end specks for a tenth of what I can get a pair of Oakleys for, is it really worth the jump?

Any insight would be much appreciated.

Oakley's optics are simply excellent.

Jawbones are fugly. Fugly, but oddly beautiful.

One of the lenses I use on my glasses is the Oakley Radar path Black Iridium Polarized VR28. It's basically one of the most, if not the most, expensive lenses one can get for the Radars.

Having said that, I'd say, "no".

But the Tifosi's do not say "Oakley" on them and I'm not sure about their warranty policy.

(BTW, Oakley is owned by Luxottica Group, which owns and operates, in-house, brands such as Arnette, Oliver Peoples, Ray-Ban, Persol, Revo, etc., which are all high-end brands. You are paying for the name more than the optics.)

I have to say that Oakley's are over rated. I have a pair of Half Jackets that I don't care for but paid way too much not to wear them. I had a pair of Smith Optics that were fantastic (light, non-slip nose piece and came with 3 lenses), but were misplaced and are no longer in production. My advice is wear what fits your face and if you can buy them at your lbs try them on with your helmet. If you do go with Oakley's get the polarized lenses, the Iridium lenses that came with my glasses seem to produce significant glare.

The Tifosi's have a great warranty. You break them, you go buy another pair at almost any bike shop on the same day. With their employee discount, it's like packing lunch for a day instead of eating out.

I think I might have just answered my own question, but I really do want those anti-freeze Radars.

So just get the Radars. They are sunglasses; it's like debating over something mundane like front derailleurs; nobody is going to be right.

I have racing jackets they are cool to look at but my Performance glasses are so much more comfortable and dont fog. They do not say Oakley on them. It just kills me eyewear is so over priced,

I love the Oakley optics. It's sad that my head is too large for the Radars. They press up against my head too much. Luckily, the Jawbones fit me like a glove. Should be having a set of custom Jawbones show up at my door in two weeks :thumb:

You aren't buying eyewear when it's from Luxottica, you are buying a lifesyle... :thumb:

BTW I used to use the Performance Cat-1's for morning/night rides. They were super comfortable but they only lasted a few months because the frame snapped while I was cleaning them. :(

I have a pair of Oakley Jawbones. I was also at Interbike two weeks ago and saw the whole Tifosi lineup. I've never worn Tifosis but I was not impressed with the look of any of their products. The Oakleys fit me well and the interchangeable lens system is easy and quick. The lenses really do resist smudges.

The Jawbones are insanely expensive. But they look cool and they're hot right now with the pros. The markup on these glasses must be spectacular.

Just curious what Oakley's cost to make. I remember back in the day when I got in to this sport the M frame revolution. How many lenses did I buy? A whole bunch. Oakleys rich and I'm poor.
Gotta stop buying Oakleys

Sweat, rain etc pretty much negate Oakley's optical quality for me when riding. I lose too many pairs anyways so Tifosis are fine.

I have 2 pairs of Tifosi. Best as I can tell the optics are excellent, frames are durable and warranty is good. Unless the Tifosi dont fit you I cant see any good reason to pay the price for Oakley, and yes I have owned Oakley in the past.

I have not used tifosi but I love my oakley radars.

Love my Jawbones. Its the only thing I pay full price for.

I'm still using the m-frame, lance edition. I love the lack of vision impairment that the M frame offers, I'm wondering how the radar compares. I know the jawbone will suffer in this regard as the frame is quite thick, but I'd be interested in someone who has gone from M frame to these other two.

keep an eye out for announcements of oakley patio sales. when you hear of one, just take the friday off and go over there. it's in irvine, which isn't really that bad of a drive from most places in los angeles. the line is hairy and the process is maddening, but my revos were 30-ish a piece. keep in mind that the selection gets progressively worse as the days go by. If you go on a sunday like i did, don't be surprised to see basically nothing interesting from the oakley name line.

for glasses, they had Oakley, oliver peoples, and revo's all on sale when i went.

I have a few pairs of oakeys and a few pairs of ryders and other cheaper glasses. I notice a difference. Is that difference worth paying 200+ for the oakley name? I would say no, but I do find oakleys to be good quality frames and lenses. I wear my oakleys a lot and trust them, but they are not the only quality eyewear out there.

The Jawbones replaced the Radar for me. They are a really nice compromise between the Flak Jacket and the Radars. The lenses are larger than the Flak's, but the ear stems are shorter and more comfortable than the Radars. They're extremely light, they stay in place better, fog less, and provide just as much lens coverage. Really can't say enough good things about them.

I agree. There is a premium to pay for the brand, but there is also a difference between cheap lenses.

I have 20/15 vision and can't stand cheap lenses. Some people might not notice or care. The coatings and filters on the lens are tops. The distortion is almost zero.

I have a pair of Tifosi. They are ok but don't fit my head, nor are as comfortable as the Oakleys I wear.
I also have a pair of Briko Stingers with a persimmon type lens. They are great glasses, very comfortable and the optics are very good too.
Oakleys, however, in my opinion are the best glasses I've owned/worn hands down. They are light and very comfortable. The lens materials/optics are also great. I have around 6 pair of Oakleys at the moment and a pair or two are at least 10 years old and still like new.

I've been wearing them since Andy Hampsten started wearing them...the old near full face model...lol funny looking now but very cool then.

I've lost ear pieces and nose pieces over the years and a quick call to Oakley has always been handled quickly and courteously with the price of replacements, how to get them and a quick turn around.
I've not had to do this with my other glasses so I can't comment on Tifosi or Briko customer service.
They are pricey however and now that I'm no longer working in a shop that carries Oakleys and can't get them at wholesale I'm in no hurry to buy a pair.

I have a pair of Radar Paths, best glasses I have ever owned.

Tifosi is a solid choice for the price. i had a pair, but had issues with the lens fogging up and they were horrible in wet conditions. i switched to the Radars and to me they are better and worth the price difference. the Oakley optics shine in adverse conditions. both are great when its 80 with clear skies, but the Oakleys seem to stay clear and clean all the time. the coating they put on the lens really is effective. i have the VR28 Red Lens that are transitional style. i picked them up of eBay for a fraction of retail. later.

Specialized makes great optics.

For the record - no value judgment intended: http://www.luxottica.com/en/brands/