Everything you need to know about the Oakley Eyeshade Sunglasses and how they catapulted Oakley globally!
Table of Contents
Background and History
In 1984 Oakley Founder Jim Jannard revolutionized sports with the introduction of the Factory Pilot Oakley Eyeshade Sunglasses. In decades prior, however, you rarely saw sunglasses in cycling – they just weren’t made for the sport. At the time, if you were wearing sunglasses, they were usually Ray-Ban Aviators that just couldn’t stand up to the wear and tear of road racing.
But the Eyeshades changed all that with a lightweight design purpose-built for activity and a retail price of $60. When they debuted at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, people began talking. But when America Pro Cyclist Greg Lemond went on to win the Tour De France in 1986 as an Oakley sponsored athlete wearing the Eyeshades, the world noticed.
If you’re a Cycling fan or just want to relive the glory days of the 1980s and vintage Eyeshades, check out the clip below where you can see Lemond becoming the first American ever to win the Tour.
The Eyeshades were produced from 1984 to 1994, though the introduction of the Blades and Razor Blade Sunglasses in the late 80s began to steal some of their thunder with a more relaxed everyday design. However, all was not lost for the Eyeshades.
Rerelease and Heritage Collection
In 2010, approximately 25 years after their original Eyeshade, Oakley began re-releasing the Eyeshade quietly with a STPL release.
Now it seems these releases were likely testing the market for what was to come. Ultimately in 2014, Oakley launched the Heritage Collection, which re-released an updated version of the vintage Eyeshade sunglasses appealing to collectors and capitalizing on the fast shades trend.
The Heritage Eyeshades were offered as limited edition pairs with retail prices starting at $160. Unfortunately, this was the last time we saw the Eyeshades though they live in Oakley history forever!
If you’re interested in the full history of Oakley, Luxottica, and your sunglasses, be sure to check out this guide!
Original Oakley Eyeshade Sunglasses
Frame and Design
The Eyeshade frame pioneered the single-lens visor/shield design that has now become popular on frames such as the Sutro and M Frame. If your first thought when seeing the Eyeshade is that they look like retro ski goggles – well, you’re spot on.
Originally inspired by the goggles Oakley produced in the early ’80s, the single-lens provides a wider range of visibility compared to traditional sunglasses. This made them very useful in sports like road racing, where you not only need maximum visibility but also protection from flying road debris and particles that goggles offer.
However, Oakley wasn’t just appealing to cycling; they also wanted to capture the Ski and Snow audience who preferred wearing sunglasses on the slopes to goggles but didn’t have many options besides the fragile aviators at the time.
Even further appealing to the sports crowd, Oakley offered foam kits with the original Eyeshade. These foam kits could be optionally applied to the inside of the frame to provide additional cushion and support in wicking away sweat similar to the inside of goggles.
Lastly, the Eyeshade features an Unobtainium nose piece for maximum grip. This Oakley proprietary rubber works to combat sweat and water so your sunglasses stay on your face whether you’re sitting on the couch or racing down the Alps. These features, combined with a total weight of about 30 grams, made the Eyeshade the ideal sports sunglass.
Adjustable Earstems and Variations
In addition to the features above, the original Eyeshade frame also offers adjustable earstems along with two variations of designs.
First, the length could be adjusted on a pair of Eyeshade sunglasses through a system of indentations on the inside of the earstem. By sliding the earstem forward or back, the pieces near the front of the frame would catch the indentations and hold the adjusted earstem in place.
Additionally, Oakley offered two variations of the Eyeshade earstems with the ability to swap them out. The first is a pretty standard curved sunglasses design you’d expect to see today on a sports pair. The second, however, was a hooked design that fully wrapped around the wearer’s ears for maximum hold (pictured above).
Lenses
As mentioned above, the Eyeshade lens shape and design are almost identical to the Oakley goggles at the time. These lenses feature a single visor-like plutonite lens made of high-grade impact-resistant polycarbonate designed by Oakley.
This pair also featured the ability to swap lenses! You can replace Eyeshade lenses by simply pulling the top and bottom of the frame apart gently but firmly, then pushing the lens out. To insert a new lens, simply reverse the process.
It’s key to note that the lenses don’t actually attach to the sides of the original Eyeshades.
Also, it’s important to point out that Heritage Collection Eyeshade lenses are a slightly different fit in original Eyeshades. Members have reported being able to fit them into each other, but you should be very careful and understand you’re playing with fire! These days you don’t often find many people swapping parts or lenses on vintage Eyeshades due to their rarity and fragility after 30+ years!
Original Colorways
During their 10 year run, the Eyeshades were produced in 23 colorways. The original non-iridium pairs retailed for $60, while the later produced frames with Iridium lenses sold for $110.
| Colorway (Frame / Lens) | Original Price |
|---|---|
| Black / Bronze | $60 |
| Black / Grey | $60 |
| Black / Orange Iridium | $110 |
| Black / Violet Iridium | $110 |
| Blue / Bronze | $60 |
| Blue / Grey | $60 |
| Blue / Orange Iridium | $110 |
| Blue / Violet Iridium | $110 |
| Grey / Bronze | $110 |
| Grey / Grey | $60 |
| Red / Bronze | $60 |
| Red / Grey | $60 |
| Seafoam Green / Bronze | $60 |
| Seafoam Green / Grey | $60 |
| White / Bronze | $60 |
| White / Grey | $60 |
| White / Orange Iridium | $110 |
| White / Violet Iridium | $110 |
| Yellow / Bronze | $60 |
| Yellow / Grey | $60 |
| Yellow / Orange Iridium | $110 |
| Yellow / Violet Iridium | $110 |
Oakley Heritage Collection and Collectors Eyeshade Sunglasses
Frame and Design
While there were some exclusive collectors re-releases, such as the STPL Eyeshade in 2010 and several others leading up to 2014, we’ll mainly focus on the larger Heritage Collection here. Overall when Oakley re-released the Eyeshade, they kept the design the same.
There was no need to invent the wheel, and Oakley clearly didn’t want to upset collectors. However, that doesn’t mean they didn’t take the opportunity to make some subtle but much-needed improvements. Head on down to the comparison section of this guide to read through what has changed since 1984.
Similar to the Original Eyeshades, Oakley included both the hooked and curved earstems, which were interchangeable on the re-released models. They also included a retro Oakley pin and microfiber bag with the Heritage Collection Eyeshades.
Lenses
Similar to the frame, the lenses retain the same shape and design as the original Eyeshades. Oakley did take the opportunity to update the lens material and technology, which we discuss below. However, not much else changed here.
The lenses continue to be swappable, and as we mentioned above, the newer lenses can fit into the original frames. And vice versa. Does that mean it’s exact? No, so be very careful when attempting especially if dealing with original Eyeshades.
Re-release Colorways
The colorways for the collectors and heritage edition Eyeshades that were released from 2010-2014 are listed below for reference:
| Colorway (Frame / Lens) | Original Price |
|---|---|
| Black / Fire Iridium | $180 |
| Heritage Collection Black / Grey | $200 |
| Black and Yellow / Grey | $180 |
| Black and White / Black-Clear Gradient | $140 |
| Heritage Collection Blue and Black / Grey | $160 |
| Blue and White / Grey | $200 |
| Heritage Collection Fog / Grey | $200 |
| Heritage Collection Red and Black / Fire Iridium | $170 |
| Heritage Collection Seafoam / Grey | $200 |
| STPL Tennisball / Grey Lens | $250 |
| Heritage Collection White / Black Iridium | $200 |
| Heritage Collection White and Black / Grey | $160 |
| White and Yellow / Grey | $200 |
Vintage vs. Heritage Oakley Eyeshades
The re-releases and Heritage Collection Eyeshades had the same design as the Original Factory Pilot Eyeshade sunglasses. However, there are still some differences if you deep dive into the pairs.
First, the Heritage Collection Oakley Eyeshades are made of an updated O Matter material. It should be no surprise that over 30 years, Oakley has made some minor improvements to their proprietary frame material. This means the updated Eyeshade sunglasses are less prone to cracking and breaking over time.
Also, on the updated Eyeshades, the Oakley text across the center of the lens has changed. On the originals, this was typically screen printed. However, with the re-release, Oakley decided to laser etch the lens. This is typically how they brand their sunglasses today and will hold up better over time, so no real surprise here.
Similar to the frame, Oakley also used the opportunity to update the lens material and technology. The new Eyeshade lenses utilize XYZ and High Definition Optics for a clearer and more durable lens. Again, this really just boils down to technology improvements in the last 30 years.
Overall the Original Eyeshade sunglasses and the Heritage Collection are just about the same. The improvements made were all to be expected with 30+ years of innovation occurring.
Replacement Lenses and Parts
Now, if you find yourself looking for replacement parts for an Eyeshade, you better be ready to search! Unfortunately, due to their rarity, it can be very difficult to find replacement parts. Oakley no longer sells any original Eyeshade parts, and most aftermarket suppliers don’t either due to their scarcity.
To find Eyeshade replacement parts or replacement lenses for sale, you’ll want to check out aftermarket exchanges such as the Oakley Forum Sunglasses Exchange or eBay.
We’ve listed the replaceable parts from the vintage Eyeshade sunglasses below for reference:
- Earstems – Can be replaced and were available in 2 designs (Hooked and Full Ear)
- Lenses – Can we replaced within the same generation. Note: You can swap lenses across the Original and Re-release Eyeshades but be very careful as its not an exact fit
- Nosepieces – Unobtainium nosepieces can be replaced
Where to find Eyeshades for sale?
Based on which pair of Oakley Eyeshades you’re looking to buy, your experience is going to be very different. As you might imagine, the Original Eyeshade is difficult to find for sale.
Your best bet is to look in the Oakley Sunglasses Exchange here on OakleyForum.com or aftermarket sites such as eBay. Similarly, for the Collectors and Heritage Collection Eyeshades, you’ll want to use the same site. Although it can be a bit easier and cheaper to buy the New Eyeshades.
Final Thoughts
When you talk about the history of Oakley, you’ll almost always end up talking about the Mumbo, M Frame, and Razorblades. But known of those would exist without the Eyeshade sunglasses. They put Oakley on the map for eyewear and laid the foundation for decades of innovation to come.
Whether the original Eyeshades or Heritage Collection Eyeshade sunglasses, both are an epic part of any Oakley collection.
What are your thoughts? Are you a fan of Eyeshade sunglasses or have a question? Join the #1 Oakley Sunglasses Community and let us know in the comments below.
