Tag: oakley

Oakley Jawbreaker

Post author By Editor
Post date 02/09/2015

The Oakley Jawbreaker is a collaboration between one of the world�s biggest names in eye-wear and Mark Cavendish, one of the biggest names in cycling, but the results are likely to leave people as polarised as the company�s legendary lenses�

�Aggressive� is the adjective most often used to describe the aesthetics of Oakley�s output � there are a few exceptions such as the sleeker RadarLock range � but for the most part there�s a somewhat bolshie angularity to their glasses and the Jawbreaker is no exception. The first thing you�ll notice about the Jawbreaker is the size � these are true XL glasses that provide an exception field of vision; they appear disproportionate without a helmet, but once suited up it all falls into place (guess Cav and Oakley really do know what they�re doing�)

Comfort levels are exceptional here with weight coming in just under 35g � the lower frame is perfectly curved to sit snuggly against the cheeks and the arms are hinge-locked to provide a range of lengths to fit perfectly under any helmet. The downside here, particularly if you are reckless enough to try and adjust them on the fly, is that it�s possible for the entire arm to disconnect with catastrophic results.

The Jawbreaker has a hinged lower frame that gives them their somewhat aggressive (there�s that word again) name for fairly quick lens switching, which is only fiddly on the first couple of tries. Ruggedness has been upped by the addition of a tiny metal cam, which sits behind the rubberised nose bridge, and replaces the more traditional weakest link plastic affair on other Oakleys.

As you would expect from Oakley, when it comes to the lenses they are outstanding with a range of tints and polarized options for every conceivable condition (conceivable, so long as you have the budget of course with additional lenses starting at around the �70 mark.) On the subject of price � the Jawbreaker starts at �170 � we still feel slightly short-changed that Oakley only adds hydrophobic coating to the outside of the lens but will happily sell you, for �17, the Nanoclear treatment for inside application. Also the specific Oakley Jawbreaker Cavendish Edition � with the dinky CVNDSH logo on the lens � is at a premium of an additional �20�

The Oakley Jawbreaker clearly brings plenty to the table, not least a slightly old-school aesthetic, and if you want the added kudos of wearing glasses that have had input from Cavendish then these are the sunnies for you. Venting is excellent, optics uncompromising, and comfort superb � if you can live with �aggressive� and are willing to spend upwards of �170 these won�t let you down.

Further details of Oakley Jawbreaker at oakley.com � available online for purchase from, amongst other places, Wiggle.co.uk

Tags Mark Cavendish, oakley, sunglasses

Extras Featured Reviews

Oakley Radarlock Pitch

Post author By Editor
Post date 16/06/2014

To our eye there often seems something aggressively angular about Oakley sunglasses � whilst the bulkier Jawbone or Racing Jacket may look good on the hunched over form of a pro cyclist we�ve never found anything quite to our liking; that was until putting the Oakley Radarlock Pitch to the test…

The Oakley Radarlock Pitch manage to perfectly combine both aesthetic desirability and outstanding performance (the latter no great surprise from Oakley) and their stripped back design and lightweight construction � a mere 30g � make them ideal for rides of any length.

Using their bespoke �Switchlock Technology�, which makes swapping lenses effortless and ridiculously quick, the Radarlock Pitch � unlike both the Jawbones and Racing Jackets � are frameless below the lens, making them both lighter and less intimidating-looking. The lack of weight also improves comfort; there are no pressure points around the ears as, instead of hooking the ear, they simply rest above them gripping the sides of the head with sleeves made from brilliantly named �Unobtainium� � we hate to be reductive, but suspect �Unobtainium� is basically rubber.

On test with Cyclo the Radarlock Pitch fitted perfectly, stayed absolutely put and remained comfortable for extended periods. There are plenty of options for fine-tuning the fit too including changeable nose pads, a nicety you won�t find in �10 bargain sunnies.

When it comes to lenses Oakley are, quite rightly, considered second-to-none. The Radarlock Pitch ship with two standard lenses, in the case of the ones RunningMonkey were testing: Jade Iridium and the VR28. The former used for medium to bright light with a neutral lens tint for truer colour perception and an Iridium coating to reduce glare and the latter for less harsh conditions and when greater contrast is required.

Jade Iridium option proved outstanding in dazzling conditions and when the sun was low and the double venting to the top, outer edge (also featured on the VR28s) prevented all fogging. Despite the generous wrap of the single piece lens there wasn�t even a hint of distortion, even at the very periphery of vision and it goes without saying that they filter out 100% of UVA, UVB, and UVC rays�

The Oakley Radarlock Pitch will set you back a mighty �195 but are, by far, one of the best pairs on sunglasses we have come across.

Further details of the Oakley Radarlock Pitch at uk.oakley.com

Tags oakley, sunglasses

Featured Reviews

Oakley Jawbone

Post author By Editor
Post date 14/09/2011

There’s nothing more likely to give Cyclo that feeling of conflicting emotions than taking delivery of a shiny new pair of cycling sunnies. On the one hand there’s the knowledge that they will make you (hopefully) look and feel good but on the other there’s the underlying sense that they are something of an indulgence. And starting at �190 the Oakley Jawbones can unequivocally be described as such.

Having seen them sported by the likes of Lance Armstrong, Mark Cavendish and Thor Hushovd we certainly had high hopes for these unconventional looking shades and in most respects they held up well to testing. The lens quality is, as you would expect from these market leaders, excellent � offering 100% UV protection with superb hydrophobic properties, meaning they will repel sweat and rain rapidly. There is virtually no image distortion even at the very edge of peripheral vision and there are a good range of optional lens replacements available (at, it goes without saying, considerable cost) making them suitable for almost any ride conditions.

But it is this ability to switch lens that, in our opinion, begins to let this model down. The hinged lower frame swings away to let you flip out one lens and replace it with another (a feature that gives them their Jawbone moniker) but this feels considerably over-engineered and adds overall weight to the glasses, meaning they sit quite heavily despite a customisable nose bridge. It’s a nifty sounding feature on paper, but in practice is far less successful.

If you’re after a pair of glasses that will make you look like � even if not necessarily ride like � one of your cycling heroes then the Oakley Jawbones could be for you. Similarly if you are looking for frames that can accommodate a range of lenses (including prescription options) then again these might be for you, but make sure you try before you buy as the heft and weight distribution of these will certainly not suit everyone.

Tags oakley, sunglasses