Herbsley
Steadily Retiring
As an antidote to the potentially Debbie Downer 'Oakley Disappointments' thread I started today, I also had a think about the times when an Oakley product pleasantly surprised me - by either being better in real life than I'd thought it would be, or just impressing me sufficiently to make me go ". . . . Huh".
For example, Oakley Customer Service is pretty darned good. They have gone out of their way on a few occasions to help me (and one of my friends) out. We've probably all got similar stories to share.
But what about surprise on a personal level? That's what I'm talking about. There's obviously quite a lot of Oakley product out there that you just know is going to be awesome, and indeed it is when you receive it. Most of the old skool X-Metal range for example.
But there's also stuff that you DIDN'T expect to be so awesome - that then surprised you by piquing your interest, biting your wallet and never letting go.
For me, it's . . . .
FRAMES I DIDN'T WANT TO LIKE:
The main one here for me is Dispatch 1.
I used to rib people mercilessly on this - that it was such a massive frame that they needed windscreen wipers on. I felt like I was on 'Land of the Giants' when I tried one on, etc.
Then I bought one . . . . and loved it . . . . and bought another . . . . and another . . . . and on it goes.
Humble Pie anyone?
More recently, I have to hold my hands up and say I was pleasantly surprised by the Madman I recently bought. I know - boo hiss, right? After all the flak given to this frame (some of it by me after trying it on in a store when it was released), I picked one up for a great price and was expecting it to just sit in the collection and never get used. But, to its credit, it's getting some face-time. It's not that bad ya know. Get over the whole 'X-Metal' misnomer, put your head into O-luminium Mode, and you too might give it a chance.
Oh. But not at RRP. What? Are you crazy? haha
FOOTWEAR:
Why did it take me so long to find out how comfortable Oakley boots and trainers are? This should be the first thing kids are taught at school. Put a pair on . . . . and prepare to be pleasantly surprised.
COLORWAYS OF A FRAME THAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE AWESOME THAN USUAL:
I bought an X-Metal XX. That's awesome.
I then went on a hunt to buy a Ti02 and a 24k.
I bought them.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that OMG THEY ARE EVEN MORE AWESOME.
Please also see WITK Hijinx (and most of the Artist Series tbh).
LENSES:
We've probably all got an example of this.
The "Oh alright, I'll buy that colorway but probably swap out that lens" . . . . shortly followed by the "Woah, actually that lens is staying in! What other frames does that come in?"
For me? OO BIP in the Eyepatch 2.
Unfortunately of course, it does not come in any other frames suitable for my big bald noggin. But it was very much a pleasant surprise to drive home from the O-Store that day, loving the sh1t outta that lens.
What about you guys? Any examples?
For example, Oakley Customer Service is pretty darned good. They have gone out of their way on a few occasions to help me (and one of my friends) out. We've probably all got similar stories to share.
But what about surprise on a personal level? That's what I'm talking about. There's obviously quite a lot of Oakley product out there that you just know is going to be awesome, and indeed it is when you receive it. Most of the old skool X-Metal range for example.
But there's also stuff that you DIDN'T expect to be so awesome - that then surprised you by piquing your interest, biting your wallet and never letting go.
For me, it's . . . .
FRAMES I DIDN'T WANT TO LIKE:
The main one here for me is Dispatch 1.
I used to rib people mercilessly on this - that it was such a massive frame that they needed windscreen wipers on. I felt like I was on 'Land of the Giants' when I tried one on, etc.
Then I bought one . . . . and loved it . . . . and bought another . . . . and another . . . . and on it goes.
Humble Pie anyone?
More recently, I have to hold my hands up and say I was pleasantly surprised by the Madman I recently bought. I know - boo hiss, right? After all the flak given to this frame (some of it by me after trying it on in a store when it was released), I picked one up for a great price and was expecting it to just sit in the collection and never get used. But, to its credit, it's getting some face-time. It's not that bad ya know. Get over the whole 'X-Metal' misnomer, put your head into O-luminium Mode, and you too might give it a chance.
Oh. But not at RRP. What? Are you crazy? haha
FOOTWEAR:
Why did it take me so long to find out how comfortable Oakley boots and trainers are? This should be the first thing kids are taught at school. Put a pair on . . . . and prepare to be pleasantly surprised.
COLORWAYS OF A FRAME THAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE AWESOME THAN USUAL:
I bought an X-Metal XX. That's awesome.
I then went on a hunt to buy a Ti02 and a 24k.
I bought them.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that OMG THEY ARE EVEN MORE AWESOME.
Please also see WITK Hijinx (and most of the Artist Series tbh).
LENSES:
We've probably all got an example of this.
The "Oh alright, I'll buy that colorway but probably swap out that lens" . . . . shortly followed by the "Woah, actually that lens is staying in! What other frames does that come in?"
For me? OO BIP in the Eyepatch 2.
Unfortunately of course, it does not come in any other frames suitable for my big bald noggin. But it was very much a pleasant surprise to drive home from the O-Store that day, loving the sh1t outta that lens.
What about you guys? Any examples?
