We seared the optics of our proven M Frame® in an acid bath of design and performance. The extended Hammerfang™ earstems of this sculptural, hingeless frame are crafted for a secure fit. Four interchangeable lens shapes and a spectrum of tints let you hone adaptability to a molecule-fine point. The lightweight Plutonite® shield blocks all UV while POLARIC ELLIPSOID™ lens geometry protects you from the indignities of distortion. In the domain of athletics, generic accessory has now become vital equipment.
Strengths: Oakley quality After 10 minutes, you don't know you have them on Frames don't fold so they suck to your head
Weaknesses: Oakley name, you you're forced to overpay Frames don't fold so storage gets to be a bit of an issue Certain lenses don't snap into the frame. I was playing baseball in the outfield and I was running hard after a ball and the lenses just fell out. They've fallen out on some bumps on the trail as well. That's a little embarassing with a $100 pair of glasses.
Bottom Line:
Oakley's aren't cheap (duh) but you sure get a good pair of glasses.
Strengths: - Oakley Quality - Range Of Lenses & Colours - Nice And Light - Fit Face Well - Excellent Range Of View - Great Protection
Weaknesses: - Price
Bottom Line:
The Pro M Frame from Oakley has to be one of the most famous and widely used sports sunglasses on the planet. There is a very good reason for this: they work... very well.
If you're into XC riding or spending hours on the more gentle trails you can't go wrong with these glasses.
If you're into downhill or hucking, I suggest wearing goggles if you aren't already. Sunglasses will move around your face more than goggles, but they are also lighter and won't fog. A lot of it comes down to personal preference so it's always best to try before you buy (if possible).
As with most Oakley's, the Pro M Frames will hurt your wallet. A pair will suck about $230 out of your pocket in Australia, so know what you're doing.
Strengths: Best eyewear available! -Looks -Fit -Durability -High quality lenses
Weaknesses: Price
Bottom Line:
Bougt them 3 years ago (pearl white pro m frame with blue iridium & persimmon lenses) and still love them
Perfect fit, you just forget you're wearing them.
Lens colors work great: blue iridium works well in bright light but also on cloudy days, persimmon is great for riding at night and use indoors, but also works when the sun begins to shine.
Looks: after more than 10 years the m-frame shape is still 100% up-to-date.
Strengths: initially the optics were very good for prescription sports sunglasses, but this was completely erased after the shield cracked in multiple places for no reason and the RX lense fell out.
Weaknesses: quality, quality, quality. or should I say (K)uality as in Kmart quality. the shield cracked in less than a year, when I sent them back to be fixed under warranty, they cracked again, worse than the first time and in only a month!
Bottom Line:
despite what all their marketing says about quality products, they obviously don't give a crap about it.
Submitted by
JBB
a Cross Country Rider
from Albany, NY
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2003
Strengths: Oakley Optics interchangeable lens rigid frame won't break easily (i had regular ms and they broke)fit under helmet well Zero frame visibility
Weaknesses: you look like you should be getting out of a squad car or belong on a golf course... the product is great but has become tacky...
Bottom Line:
these are great if you can handle the (at least in my mind) look retro look of them. i highly recomend them... I had a bit of a fogging issue, but that's because I sweat a lot.
Strengths: great optics/ lens options, red iridium on the red "new" pro m looks awesome. look a little freaky when i have my bright yellow lens on. the frame is none slip, and strong, the nose grip goes tacky with water.
Weaknesses: hard case for pro m is not included for free, but you pay for hwat you get
Bottom Line:
These bad boys are the most functional sunglasses money can buy bar none. if money is no object these bab boys are yours
Similar Products Used: bolle vigilante....they were an excellent pair of glasses aswell, except they looked odd on my head
Bike Setup: i kayak
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
George
a Weekend Warrior
from Lufkin, TX - USA
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2003
Strengths: Cool look. Great fit. You can swap out lenses for different conditions. Durability.
Weaknesses: One-piece frame is a royal pain - it's too big to store anywhere without a full-size Oakley Vault which is like carying a suitcase in your car. I wear a ball cap most of the time I am outside, and I wore these under my bike helmet too. The "O" logo on the sides of the frame was the painted-on type, and it wore thin after a couple of months. The newer model has a molded & glued "O" logo that is set into the frame better and durability is much better on this newer design.
Bottom Line:
These are good glasses, but the fixed frames make them unmanageable in finding a safe storage place in your car where they won't get squished or broken. I really prefer the M frames with the collapsible (hinged) frame. 2 chili's for value - the fixed frame sucks. 3 chilis overall - good Oakley product & functional performance.
Similar Products Used: Oakley M Frames, Square Wires, X-Metal Romeo's.
Bike Setup: Irrelevant but Trek hardtail with many tweaks.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jon
a Cross Country Rider
from Michigan
Date Reviewed: December 8, 2002
Strengths: Very few points of contact on your face, so they ride very light. Excellent field of view and no reflection within the lense.
Weaknesses: if you let them rest on your head after a ride they fog up. but thats just chemistry at work, so what can you do.
Bottom Line:
I like em, they have made it outta some pretty nasty endos and crashs. I have a few lenses and i can ride in any light or weather condition with my oakleys. i broke the frame in two on a crash once, sent them in, even after my warnt. was up, oakley replaced them for free. I ride mtn and road, excellent for both. If your complaining about size, these arent glasses you fold up to put in your pocket, you wear them on the ride or run, then put them in a case. get some ray ban's or something if you wanna look cool walking around with sunglasses hangin outta your shirt.
Bike Setup: Trek 4500 frame, thats the only stock thing left on the bike.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jonathan Brazee
a Weekend Warrior
from Poway, CA USA
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2002
Strengths: Optics, durability, fit
Weaknesses: Tend to get stolen.
Bottom Line:
I have bought 5 of these. Two were stolen in Thailand, one got swept away while whitewater rafting in Costa Rica (during a tumble in a Cat 5 rapids), and I just lost one. I keep coming back becasue they are, bar none, the best glasses for active people. I use them for everything from biking to volleyball to skiing, and they fit securely on my head while giveing me the optical protection I need. I've tried others, but none do the job for me.
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Milwaukee, WI
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2002
Strengths: Good looks... just solong as you're in full bike gear, otherwise people kind of look at you funny... especially with the amber lenses (I have yellow frames). Good flexibility, no distortion, VERY clear optics.
Weaknesses: A little prone to scratching easier than other brands I've seen. The little "O's" tend to rub off pretty quick.
Bottom Line:
First off, for all of those people who complain about their lack of storability, did you NOT think about that when you bought a pair of hingless sunglasses? (DUH!) These Oak's have great optics and are distortion-free. Their customer service is bar-none. They've replaced 3 pair of frames for me (free) even after my warranty had expired 2 years earlier... my only problem was with the "O's" rubbing off. I highly recommend these for anyone who enjoys good looks, saftey and functionality. Oh, and of course they are expensive... you're paying for a name, just like everything else these days... but you get great customer service as well (not so common anymore).
Bike Setup: '97 Klein Mantra Race (pre-Trek), 2002 SID SL, AD-12 rear, Cane Creek Cronos, Kooka, Race Face, Syncros, Thomson, Avid, Bontrager, etc.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
James Whaley
a Weekend Warrior
from Pensacola, FL, USA
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2002
Strengths: Fit good and have good optics. Really comfortable
Weaknesses: Frames break when exposed to sunlight. I have Oakley Fives with the mat black plastic frame and they break right on the bridge of the nose in the same place every time. I am on my third pair of frames since November. They are prescription lenses so I can't just get a different frame. These are terrible sunglasses. I keep them in a Oakley vault case and handle them with kid gloves but everytime I go out for extende periods in the sun they crack.
Bottom Line:
Stay away from Oakley Fives. They are guaranteed to break when exposed to the sun for several hours.
Similar Products Used: I have some Costa Del Mar's that I have used for fishing for 10 years and they are still as good as new. I paid $100 for them.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Darryl
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa ana, Ca, U.S.
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2001
Strengths: 1)Optics.
Weaknesses: 1)Frame 2)"extremely over rated glasses"
Bottom Line:
I have had two pairs of Oakley's. I have been dissapointed with both of them. I admit that they look good and have good optic capabilities, but if they dont last at least six months, they are useless to me. I have purchased cheap $5.00 dollar smith & wesson glasses that are much more durable and dependable. I went over other reviews by customers. My conclusion of their reviews are either they are "smoking crack" or they are on Oakley's pay roll. You do not get what you pay for with Oakley's. Now I know why Sunglasshut broke their contract with Oakley.
Similar Products Used: 1)Smiths 1)Oakley "Zeros" by the way, the name speaks for it's self
Bike Setup: Trek (mountain)
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Weekend Warrior
from Princeton, New Jersey
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2001
Strengths: 1) Relatively comfortable 2) Interchangeable lenses--big plus--get the vented (golf) style to avoid having them fog up when you slow down or stop. 3) Optics are very good The interchangeable lenses capability is a very big plus. Get gray for sunny days, i.e. as regular sun glasses. Then, get amber/yellow for partly sunny or cloudy days. This makes a huge, beneficial difference in being able to see during the cloudy days. The amber/yellow lenses actually improve sight during those cloudy days.
Weaknesses: These are not low maintenance glasses. They scratch easily and come with their own cleaning cloth--the carry case for the lenses--and the micro-cloths can be purchased at any store. But, if you want glasses to stuff into your pocket after the ride, these probably aren't the glasses you want. Fogging after stopping was a big problem until I got the vented, golf, style.
Bottom Line:
Good comfort, great adaptability with interchangeable lenses (sold separately). Get the vented glasses, if you sweat. A moderately gentle approach needed for cleaning and storing.
