Why Are Oakleys So Expensive? (Top 5 Reasons)

 

If you have ever worn a pair of Oakley sunglasses, you probably understand how great they can be.

Not only are Oakleys stylish and high in quality, but they are also great for your eyes.

The only real downside of a pair of Oakleys is the pricing.

These sunglasses tend to get quite pricey, and it may be hard to find a model that is priced where you need it to be.

Here are a few reasons Oakleys are so expensive and a few tips to help you save some money.

 

Why Are Oakleys So Expensive?

 

1. Prescription

 

Oakley glasses can be custom ordered with your prescription lenses in them.

As soon as you start adding custom lenses to your eyewear, the pricing is automatically going to go up.

If you are a person who wears prescription lenses, the sunglass purchasing process is a bit involved.

You won’t be able to head to the store and grab any pair off a shelf.

Chances are you will have to order your sunglasses and wait a few weeks for them to come in.

The great thing about the Oakley prescription glasses is that they mix both style and technology.

You will look great while also getting some excellent quality and protection for your eyes.

If you know what you need from a prescription standpoint, you can also order prescription sunglasses.

It is essential to have both glasses and sunglasses that are a good fit for your eyes.

The Oakley prescription sunglasses are going to be available in a wide range of styles, and you would never know that they are prescription.

Many people who have trouble with their eyes will learn that the Oakley brand is a very reliable choice to go after.

This reliability and consistency in the product they offer are why the price is so high for Oakleys.

 

2. Technology

 

Oakley is one of the leaders when it comes to sunglass features and technology.

Not only are all of their sunglass lenses built to protect your eyes from the sun, but they have lots of other features as well.

The impressive technology helps to make sure your eyes are protected and that you can see as if you were not even looking through a lens.

Here are a few of the essential technologies that Oakley includes in their glasses.

 

• Polarized

Many of the Oakley sunglasses are polarized so that they filter out any glare you might come across.

The polarized lenses will allow you to see in the water and have a much clearer view of the world around you.

Not all people like polarized lenses.

They are usually considerably more expensive, and people like golfers feel that the polarization is negative when it comes to depth perception.

If you are looking for something polarized, there is no question Oakley is one of the top brands out there.

 

• Impact Protection

Some Oakley sunglasses come equipped with impact protection.

The impact protection helps them hold up against a number of different outside influences.

You won’t want to throw your Oakley glasses to the ground, but the good news is that they probably will not break if you accidentally drop them.

 

• Prizm Collection

Oakley has a new lens technology called the Prizm collection.

With the Prizm collection, you can see the world even more clearly than you can with your own eyes.

If you are a fan of high-end television and everything you have includes the new 4K technology, then you will enjoy this technology.

This is something which is exclusive to the Oakley brand, although some other manufacturers may have something similar.

Since this is an exclusive technology and it is relatively high end, you will pay a bit more for it.

People like to choose an eyewear company that is ahead of the curve and ready to provide very high-quality equipment.

 

• Change Out Lenses

Depending on the type of sunglasses you purchase, you may be able to change out the lenses in your Oakleys.

You can change out lenses so that they are better for a specific activity, time of year, or time of the day.

Sometimes you may want to change out lenses just for style as well.

If your lenses don’t match with your outfit for the day and you want to change them, you will have that ability.

Of course, you will still need to buy other lenses and keep your frames in great shape.

This type of accessibility and customization is going to cost you a bit more money.

 

3. Design and Style

 

There is no questioning the fact that eyewear is an accessory that will impact how you look.

Choosing a design and a style of sunglasses that looks good and makes you feel good is essential.

This is partly why Oakley is so popular.

You will have a wide range of choices regarding the type of sunglasses you want to wear and the coloring as well.

Essentially, you can purchase any combination you want.

Oakley also offers many of its options in custom styles and colors so you can truly be unique as well.

These types of customizations and the option to change your sunglasses around are going to be quite expensive.

When you purchase the customized sunglasses, you get to choose the frame color, lens color, and the lens type as well.

Having the ability to get precisely what you need for your style is very important to many people.

The pricing will add up, and you will notice that, although the design and style look great, you will certainly pay for it.

The designers who put these types of glasses together are going to be very well paid.

They have to stay on top of all of the latest fashion trends.

In addition, they need to understand the technology behind glasses and sunglasses so that the users will be happy with the function and not just the style.

 

4. Branding

 

Oakley has branded itself as one of the best brands in the market for eyewear.

Truthfully, they have done a very good job with this process.

They are looked at as a young but strong brand that will keep you both safe and stylish.

Oakley does quite a bit of advertising in the sports world, and they want athletes to be comfortable using their products.

It does not matter if you play golf or you snowboard, chances are you have seen an advertisement for Oakleys.

They are branded to look like they are better than all the other brands, and in many instances, this is true.

Oakley has to spend quite a bit of money on these marketing endeavors and brand awareness campaigns.

The money they spend is going to help them increase their overall sales, but this comes at a cost.

Brands that have very high brand awareness are generally priced a bit higher than the lesser known brands.

However, the good news about the Oakley products is that they are indeed a great product.

They are not just marketed to work for people; they actually work.

There are some products with a less recognizable brand name that are going to be priced considerably lower.

If you are not worried about wearing premium models, then that could be a good alternative for you.

Oakley sunglasses are priced high because they are branded as a premium product.

 

5. Activity Specific Models

 

The last reason Oakleys are so expensive is that they make products that are specific to the activity at the time.

Most people who wear sunglasses just need them for the beach or a walk around the block.

Oakley makes plenty of sunglasses like this, but they also make many sunglasses designed for a specific activity.

They do quite a bit of study and research into what works for the activity that you are taking part in at the time.

If you happen to be playing tennis, golfing, or skiing, you may need some different features.

For instance, when you are skiing, you need something that allows you to see changes in the snow very clearly.

When you are out on your boat, you are going to want the ability to see into the water.

For this and other reasons, choosing activity-specific sunglasses makes quite a bit of sense.

From a manufacturing standpoint, you have to consider why this may raise the pricing of Oakleys.

Not only do they need to make a great pair of glasses for runners, but they also need one for a tennis player.

The differences in these may be subtle, but they are different nonetheless.

Having the infrastructure, supply, and staff to design, manufacturer, and distribute sunglasses for all different activities is time-consuming and expensive.

These costs will trickle down into the costs you pay for a pair of Oakley sunglasses or glasses.

 

How Can I Save Money on Oakleys?

 

If Oakley is your favorite brand, but the pricing is bothering you, there are a few ways around it.

For starters, you should look for sales on the Oakley website.

They often run sales on older models shortly after newer models are released.

These sales are a great time to grab a pair of Oakleys, as this can be a rare occurrence.

Another way to save a bit of money is to choose a more baseline model.

Even the base model of Oakley sunglasses are going to be higher functioning than any of the knock off brand glasses.

Another thing to keep in mind is that, if you don’t need Oakley’s performance and functionality, you may be fine with a lesser known brand.

Certainly, when you pay for Oakleys, part of what you are paying for is the name.

If you have finally saved up for a pair of Oakleys, try to stay away from any type of customization.

When you start customizing lenses and frames and more, you will end up spending more money than a standard or basic pair.

If you can keep the customizations to a minimum, you may escape with a pair of Oakleys that is a great deal.

Overall, you will likely be happy with your Oakleys regardless of the price you pay, but it is good to be aware of some idea as to how to save money.

 

Conclusion

Now all that is left to do is to figure out which pair of Oakleys is going to be right for you.

With all of the choices out there, this process may be a little more complicated than you may expect.

Start with the activity you participate in most often, then start narrowing down the choices from there.

If you find a pair of Oakley glasses or sunglasses that you love and take great care of them, chances are you will be able to enjoy them for many years.