There are some things I just don't care that much about. Sunglasses fall into that category too. Well into my teens, I just used a ten-euro pair of sunglasses. Until I started working at V&D, and a Solaris shop-in-shop opened up there. There I got tempted into buying a pair of Hugo Boss sunglasses for a good price, in the clearance sale. It was finally a model that suited me and wasn't too pricey. I wanted to first find out whether I was even worth a pricier pair of sunglasses. Ultimately, whether I'd be worth an Oakley.
My first Oakley experience
Apparently Jesse had already been using Oakleys for years. It happened while we were in the car and I got a headache from squinting. He sweetly offered me his Oakley sunglasses. What a difference. Before that I honestly thought, what a fuss over nothing. Except I immediately felt a sense of relief in my eyes. The headache also slowly faded away. When I wore my "normal" sunglasses, I did have less trouble from the sun, but my head would still ache by the end of the day. So what makes Oakley lenses different?
Oakley lenses
They use what's called Oakley Prizm technology for their lenses. So what does Oakley's Prizm technology actually do? It optimises your vision, including while playing sports. You could say Oakley really is a sports brand. Of course, during sports, it's extra important that your vision stays sharp despite wearing sunglasses. With Prizm technology, Oakley boosts your detail perception. Want to take it a step further? Then they also have polarized lenses. This spec makes colours and contrasts easier to see. Polarized lenses are especially recommended if you spend a lot of time in the snow or on the water.
My first pair of Oakley sunglasses
A real, good pair of sunglasses is just an investment. When we were out shopping in Gran Canaria, I found out they're a bit cheaper there. Not every model, though! Naturally it was a matter of trying on what suited me and what I thought looked good. I already knew beforehand that I wanted coloured lenses, and that polarized wasn't strictly necessary. After trying a few models, we landed on the Ojector.
On the website you can build your own pair from scratch, and in-store you have to get "lucky" with the combinations they have in stock. The frame in matte black, the lenses in the colour Violet.
A fashion model
About a year and a half later, after using my Oakleys a huge amount, with my "regular" sunglasses sometimes on the side, I really wanted a new model. I wanted to see if Oakley made a more "trendy" everyday pair of sunglasses. One that doesn't immediately scream sporty sunglasses.
I went searching for the sunglasses in Italy. That's how we came across a tiny sunglasses shop in the really lovely city of Lucca. They only had a small selection of Oakley glasses, but exactly what I was looking for. A sort of round lens, in a colour other than blue (violet). The moment I tried the model on, I got really excited. It was exactly what I was looking for, and completely the vibe I wanted for my second Oakley. It's the HSTN model, with Prizm Ruby lenses. I'm only now realising my frame actually has two different colours/materials. The top is definitely Matte Carbon, but the bottom is clear black (I think).
Being able to perform at your best
I've only recently come to understand that when you're doing your sport, you want the most comfortable sunglasses possible. That you want sunglasses that don't get in your way. On Oakley's site and in their stores, you have an extensive choice per sport. The sunglasses are then matched to your specific sport. Think, for example, of surfing, swimming, but definitely also winter sports. I walked in looking for sunglasses to run well in. Of course they have those sleek, fast-looking glasses, but I felt that went a bit too far for me. I wanted a "normal" model, but with the specs of a running pair of glasses. I tried several models, including a few futuristic ones and also some genuinely sporty ones. For now, I felt that was still a step too far.
In the end I landed on the Actuator. Matte grey smoke frame with Prizm Tungsten lenses.
What's different about the Actuator compared to a "regular" model? Most lifestyle models have straight arms and a hard plastic nose piece. Because of that, they don't sit very stably. This model has a rubber nose piece, so it also stays in place well when you sweat. On top of that, the tips of the arms are iron and rubber, which you can bend to fit as you like. So far I've only been able to use it once (bought in early autumn), and that was for a 9 km route along the beach. I was wearing headphones and the sunglasses, and the sunglasses genuinely stayed perfectly in place.
As far as I'm concerned, every pair is worth its money, and I'm happy with the investment. Definitely keep an eye on the sale online, and the outlet stores also carry them year-round at a lower price.
