Are Oakley sunglasses worth the money?

I tried on a pair of Oakley Pulse this weekend at the mall and they fit like a GLOVE! I even tried bouncing around as if I were jogging and doing other activities... and they were very comfortable. Then I looked at the price tag. $180!!

I've heard people make a big deal about Oakleys and that they are polarized, etc... however I've seen "polarized" sunglasses at WalMart and Target for less than $20. What gives? Is it just the brand name?

Just wanted to see if anyone who does a lot of activity outdoors might have some insight or recommendations.. especially with summer around the corner. Thanks!!

They look quite nice for walking around in, but for running? No way. Even if they didn't bounce the sweat would make seeing out of them very difficult not to mention I rarely run in the bright sun. If you do, then your answer might be different.

I recently went back to Oakleys and I'm liking them. I'd recommend trying to find something equivalent to the style you like in last seasons models; check oakleyvault or something. I've seen their prices seem to drop quite a bit once the new ones come in.

That said, if I found sunglasses that fit like a glove then they would be worth $180 to me.

Are they *worth* $180? No.

Do some people have more money than sense? Absolutely.

Most sunglasses are made from a few bucks ofr material in the same factory. Oakley, rayban, gucci, lenscrafters...

Get some decent polarized glasses that don't distort your vision. The ~$40 ones from Costco are just as good.


fwiw, oakley polarized tend to delaminate after a few years. They do not cover this in warranty.

I've never worn Oakleys...I have Fila Sport sunglasses for outdoor activities and they were clearance for $3 at Kohls...they are probably crap. I do know they fit well, are comfortable, block the sun, and have rubber ridges on the nose so they don't slide down on my face when I'm bicycling or hiking. Win win.

But here's the deal. It sounds like you LOVED those sunglasses and aren't likely to forget about them anytime soon. Assuming your bills are getting paid, and you have the extra cash...maybe this would be a good way to treat yourself! Whether as a fitness or weight loss "reward" or just a treat...I usually find a way to talk myself into something like that, when I really really want it.

And like another person mentioned...sometimes you will take better care of something knowing its price and "value". I am certainly that way with a couple of my nicer handbags. I am often hesitant to splurge on a non-essential item but sometimes you get more wear out of it than you expect. For example, I have some spendy Ugg boots that I have enjoyed wearing on every snowy/icy day for the past 3 years and when I got them I was having a minor panic attack because for me, $60 on shoes is a lot (and any amount over that is usually reserved for high quality shoes I'll wear every single day for work or exercise) and those were $200. But I'll have 'em for years!

There was a time when I spent $200 + for sunglasses. Then I had a pair fall off my face and into the ocean while surfing (even though I had a band on them). And the time a pair flipped off my head and went skipping down the road in a gust of wind. And the time a pair fell off and went over a cliff. And the pair I destroyed when riding my bike. And the numerous pair that I've shattered in various ways.

I now buy sunglasses at places like Ross and gas stations, and only on sale, and I buy 2 or 3 pair at a time.

I have this pair... The Lil Jon Signature Oil Drums




They make me feel like Lil Jon. Definitely worth the money to feel like Lil Jon.