It used to be that Ray-ban was the most often compared company to Oakley. Since Oakley was bought out by Luxxotica, however, they've obviously been less competitors and more "cousins" in the industry. So has the rest of Luxx's brand portfolio.

So who would you say is Oakley's top competitors in the eyewear industry now? There are many companies out there that are producing products that match Oakley's creativity even in their best yeas, but they don't have the size and their patents aren't as vast.

I dont know enough about their competitors to chip in but maybe Spy, Bolle or Nike ?

in europe : adidas

I would also think Rudy Project would be competition at least for cycling.

If you ever get to see the O presentation and comparisons on Optics - it isn't even close. The biggest competitor to Oakley is Oakley - always trying to better themselve thru mad science.

I would agree with the RP's. They're moving along with a lot of MLB players as well. Jimmy Rollins wears them all the time.

hmmm....didn't think there was any competition. :P

Nik is 100% correct. They ran some tests in front of us with some of the highest revered brands outside of Oakley and I can tell you from first hand sight, they SUCK HUGE compared to Oakley. No joke, not one single pair was even in the ballpark, and most were so bad that you literally would need prescription drugs to counter the headaches created. They literally tested out to be as bad in optical clarity as Keystone stuff if that is any indication. Oakley competes with itself to out do what it did, not re-do what is has done (HAHA had to make a reference only the Co-Pilots will understand)...

ahh...nice quote, yes, if you see that optical test, the competition is literally laughable...there is no competiton as far as quality goes...as far as sales, I'd say revo, maui jim, spy, etc...but then again technically Yugos used to compete with Benzes...lol

I guess, then, the question is this; does the average buyer pay that much attention to clarity and quality? Theses days , I'd say no. I see all these large, expensive shades with only a name and nothing else and people fork over huge amounts for these.

I figure that's the case as well. Unless you're an athlete that constantly focuses on fast-moving objects, I think for the vast majority of people perfect optics is unnecessary. Otherwise those gas station garbage wouldn't sell as well as they do. Nor would all the inferior "premium" brands.

I think what Oakley is trying to convey, is that you won't often noticed the difference, but they show that your eyes will constantly be trying to correct the distortions, and over time that will take its toll.

Yeah, that # of lines of definition test is pretty impactful to show a straight up comparison on what different eyewear is doing to visual optics. The hard part, though, is that the eye is then focusing through those crappy eyewear ... so the issues of long term eye strain really don't hit anyone when trying on the product in the store.

I mentioned it a few times, but if stores could get that laser and visual definitioin tests set up in store - they could sell way more eyewear.

I don't know about you guys but that phone call we heard from a father whose son was injured in Iraq was a testomonial to the product. There is no competition!!!

I second that about the phone call!

I get the impression there are a lot of consumers out there that rank Maui Jim highly. I think they are straight rubbish, but I do sense a somewhat-broad fan base for the MJ's.

Probably due to the "Maui" name in the brand. I don't know what it is, but it seems as if some people, for some reason, feel that anything from or associated with Maui is somehow magical.

Aside from Dawn and I, that's just pure nonsense.


~Yukio

I think the attraction toward MJ was them bringing to like the Flexon frames.

I agree with Yukio...I have family on Maui and if it weren't for D&Y, I would have no reason to visit Maui!!

The visual tests they did explain a lot. I saw perfect reasons as to why Dale Earnhardt JR can't win a race!!! Spy was HORRIBLE and MJ would literally make your brain think you are Cross-Eyed and correct it. Imagine the strain on your ocular muscles...

Back in the day ( ok, maybe the mid '90s? ) I remember seeing brochures on Revo polarized lenses, and how they had some super secret recipe with 11 herbs and spices or something along those lines.

Now, I actually do have some revo polarized lenses that have been cut down by an optometrist, and I can wear them with about as much ease as I do wearing other Oakley lenses. (Meaning, I don't get eye fatigue quickly when wearing them. I used to get terrible eye fatigue wearing cheaper sunglasses.)

Does anyone else remember/know the old revo polarized adverts?

Mike

My uncle used to wear Revo sunglasses (pre-Lux buyout) and said they were the best quality lenses he'd ever worn. Don't remember the ads, though.

I don't doubt that Oakley's lenses are among the best in the business, but I *do* know that I can wear polarized Oliver Peoples glasses, but I can't wear Oakley's polarized lenses. I still don't understand that one.

Oakley can go on about its polarized lenses but Kaenon lenses are clearer to me and have no annoying red filter effect when looking at water.

K

I've heard rumors about Kaenon lenses turning wearers into posing wankers with a grimmace. Any truth to that K?

You don't even want to open that door. Kaenon was worse the MJ actually on the optic spec test (lines of resolution for ansi spec)...Your jaw would hit the floor if you saw how poor all of the competitors optics are for clarity and alignment. It was no joke, some were shifted off the screen and you couldn't see any lines, but a real nice blur! I have 49 others to back that statement. Scary to think the damage being done at the costs being charged.

Even though their website has that HDO test comparison section, I think having a "live" video demonstration would be a nice, easy add-on. And maybe one for the high mass and high velocity impact tests.
I had watched those videos over and over again. But there's just something different about watching a real preson setup those tests and performing them in real time.


~Yukio