Money Well Spent: Oakley Eye Jacket Redux
Can a sequel ever be as good as the original?
I got my first pair of Oakley Eye Jackets for Christmas in 1994. They were my first pair of Oakleys, period—a Gen-1 pair of Rootbeer/Gold Iridiums. Even at 12 years old, I was instantly obsessed by the flowy, futuristic frame, the ultra-sparkle paint, the grippy o-matter on the earpieces, the high-gloss gold iridium lenses. They were pure pop art.
Everyone from megastars like Jordan, to my favorite skiers like Seth Morrison and Glen Plake wore them. Oakley claimed this was the first pair of glasses they designed with CAD software. They were and are instant design classics, which still look futuristic 30 years later. BrainDead’s recent re-issue, featuring an incredible gen-1 “Planet X” colorway, are case in point. Oakley was on some shit when they created the Eye Jacket.
I wore those glasses into the ground. I raced and rode bikes in them, backpacked in them, wore them to school, wore them on roadtrips and flights. They might have been the first piece of crossover sportswear I owned. One that transcended form and function. Eventually the earstem on my Eye Jackets cracked off, after years of use. Oakley forum collectors lament these first gen examples were more brittle than later versions. I wish I still had a pair.
That brings us to March of this year, I needed a new go-to pair of glasses for hiking, running errands, general go-tos that weren’t as fragile or dressy as my Dries Van Noten frames, or as technical as my District Visions.
In so many ways, I’m late to the party here. I knew Oakley had “reduxed” the Eye Jacket in 2019, but until now, I hadn’t even considered them, clouded by my nostalgia for the OGs. The new Eye Jackets looked blockier, bigger, less organic—and compared to the OG—not nearly as good. Or were they?
Still, for an everyday pair, the all-black with Grey Prizm lens drew me in. I found a great deal, and pulled the trigger for a birthday present for myself. I’ve been blown away how versatile they’ve been: I use them to add a bit of futuristic edge to preppier or dressier outfits. And their organic, flowy lines soften more technical “gorpy” or workout fits. Once again, an incredible balance of functionality and design.
On paper, the Redux is even better than the original. Oakley’s Prizm lenses are a benchmark in clarity and popped contrast, and are just so good for our bright days here in Southern California. The nosepiece is grippier and helps the glasses stay in place better than before. The arms extend into place with a satisfying snap. I think the slightly larger size is more wearable and provides better wraparound coverage for every day use, including out on the trail.
The Redux’s sharper lines have grown on me. The silhouette of the frame is not as abrupt or apparent in person as they are online. Again and again, I find myself reaching for the Eye Jacket Redux over every other sunglass I own. They may not be as exciting or innovative as the original once was. But, like Godfather 2 or Terminator 2, they’re something better: a worthy sequel that pushes the story forward for another generation. That’s money well spent.