We review everything to know about the Oakley Fast Jacket Sunglasses!
Oakley sunglasses have always been synonymous with merging a unique, iconic design with innovation for outdoor sports. The qualities of fashion meets function are why the brand is still globally renowned and appreciated today. And the Oakley Fast Jacket Sunglasses are no exception!
Table of Contents
What are Fast Jackets?
Oakley Fast Jacket and Fast Jacket XL sunglasses appeared on the market in Summer 2011. Their main innovation was an all new way to swap lenses, Switchlock technology, which made the process easier than ever before.
The vision behind the Fast Jacket and Fast Jacket XL models was the ability to switch specialized polycarbonate lenses out in an instant using the same frame via a snap-in locking system named Switchlock.
While these sunglasses were phased out over time and discontinued, they laid the foundation for many of the sports frames we have today like the Jawbreaker and Radarlock. Keep reading for our complete review of the Oakley Fast Jackets plus all of your questions answered!
Oakley Fast Jacket Sunglasses Review
Frame, Design, and Size
We reviewed a pair of Oakley Fast Jacket Sunglasses in Polished White with XL Polarized OO Red Iridium lenses. Overall this is a great looking pair of sunglasses that is a bit beefier than the original Half or Flak Jackets thanks to the Switchlock technology.
The frame is made out of O matter material and has a sleek, modern, futuristic look. They’re also comfortable thanks to Oakley’s signature Three-Point Fit. Anti-slip Unobtainium coating at the temples also offer a firm grip even when sweating. This is an all around great pair for sports like golf and cycling.
The Fast Jacket has a very similar fit to the Half Jacket and Flak Jacket XLJ’s though a bit larger on the face.
The Switchlock technology is really the show stopper on this frame and it lives up to the hype. Having swapped lenses on several pairs of Half Jackets, being able to just flip the switch to release just seems easier. Yes it’s probably not a huge time savings. But the big difference is not have to grip and torque the frame to get the lens out. It’s just easier.
Lenses
Switchlock is the most prominent feature of Oakley’s Fast Jacket lenses so it mistakes sense that the lenses take center stage. The lenses, like all modern Oakleys are made of impact resistant Plutonite.
Similar to other sports pairs like the M Frame, most Fast Jacket sunglasses came with two sets of lenses. Once again encouraging the use of Switchlock technology. Most of the color combinations available were designed for sport specific applications. Our Polished White Oakley Fast Jacket XL’s came with Positive Red Iridium for bright conditions and G40 lenses for overcast conditions.
Oakley Fast Jacket vs. Fast Jacket XL
Similar to other Jacket pairs, Oakley sold the Fast Jacket with both standard and XL lenses. Despite selling them separately both the Fast Jacket and XL are the same frame, the only difference being the lenses.
The XL lenses flare out wider at the bottom than the standard offering additional coverage. The Fast Jacket XL offers an additional 5mm or so onto the standard lens. This is a great option for anyone with a larger face or just looking for extra coverage.
Since both the Oakley Standard Fast Jacket and XL share the same frame, you can easily swap standard and XL lenses between the models.
Where to find Fast Jacket Replacement Lenses?
Unfortunately since the Fast Jacket has been discontinued Oakley no longer sells Fast Jacket replacement lenses. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. If your looking for replacement lenses you can still buy them through a number of aftermarket suppliers. While you won’t find Oakley’s contrast enhancing Prizm lenses, you can still buy Polarized and Standard lenses from these suppliers.
Where to Buy Oakley Fast Jacket and Fast Jacket XL?
Because Oakley Fast Jacket sunglasses and Fast Jacket XL are discontinued, you can’t buy them from Oakley anymore. But, thanks to the internet you can still buy Fast Jackets on aftermarket exchange sites like our own Oakley Forum Exchange areas and eBay. Check out our complete guide to buying used and discontinued Oakleys here for our complete breakdown of top options.
Final Thoughts
Oakley Fast Jacket sunglasses and Fast Jacket XL made a significant splash when they arrived on the market in 2011. Critics and athletes praised them as the best and easiest to use sports sunglasses with interchangeable lenses for light variations that pop out and snap into place with a switch-locking system. Overall we love our Fast Jackets and are looking forward to more innovation from Oakley similar to Switchlock technology!
