Oakley SI Ballistic Crosshair Sunglasses are a wireframe design that feel like they can stand up to anything! I’ve been waiting to get my hands on one of these Oakley SI Ballistic Crosshairs for a little while. So my love of items in this vein is no secret. And true to form, these things feel like they can stop a bullet.
Keep reading as we review this latest military release from Oakley and how it stands up to the world!
Table of Contents
Oakley Ballistic Crosshair Highlights
- Ultra-lightweight C-5 alloy frame material that is durable enough for the field
- Wireframe design that can be worn on-duty and off-duty
- Unobtainium earsocks and nose pads for increased comfort and added grip even when sweaty or wet
- Surpasses ANSI Z87.1 industrial safety standards for high-mass and high-velocity impact protection
- Meets or exceeds MIL PRF 31013 ballistic fragmentation impact standards
- XYZ Optics and High Definition Optics (HDO) to maximize clarity and reduce optical distortion
- Pure Plutonite lenses that block 100% of UV rays including harmful UVA, UVB and UVC plus blue light up to 400nm
Product Link: https://www.oakleysi.com/en-us/product/700285661025
Oakley SI Ballistic Crosshair Review
Our Gear
We reviewed a pair of Oakley SI Ballistic Crosshair Sunglasses in Matte Black with Grey lenses. And these shades definitely stood up to the test. Keep reading to see what we found wearing these over the last few weeks!
Initial Impression
When held together with my titanium (Ti) Crosshair the SI Ballistic model feels like an armored version. These are both thicker, and heavier. But on their own the pair doesn’t feel overly substantial. Someone without knowledge of Oakley wire pairs may look on these and think they look like any other run-of-the-mill aviator. But once you pick them up, the difference is obvious!
With some extended face time in the coming weeks, I might be able to comment more on the weight as it feels on the face, but the strong hug from the arms helps bear the brunt and keep most of the load off the nose for me, so that’s very promising.
As I said above they’re near brick-like in comparison with my titanium pair, but even O-Matter pairs feel heavy against Ti wire frame Oakleys.
Crosshair vs. SI Ballistic Crosshair – Immediate Differences
As mentioned above, the differences are pretty obvious when you try on both pairs. To summarize the SI Ballistic Crosshair has:
- Thicker frame and lens
- Different hinge setup
- Anti-fog treated lenses (apparent when trying to clean them)
- Less curvature to the stems, narrower natural opening
Whether these differences matter to you will depend on your preferences, but we definitely liked the look and feel of this frame.
For more information check out our complete comparison of the Oakley Crosshair vs. Crosshair S. vs. Crosshair 2.0 sunglasses.
Hinges and Fit
The Ballistic SI Crosshair’s hinges are a leaf spring setup. This means they won’t open as large naturally, but will bend to accommodate your head. This serves two purposes; to both remove the hard stop from the hinge which can cause fatigue or failure under stress, and to allow a tighter fit.
As mentioned above the tighter fit helps combat the heavy weight of the frame.
Anti-Fog Coating and Military Standards
Oakley Ballistic Crosshairs are designed similarly to the Ballistic M Frame (2.0/3.0) meaning its a tight-fitting pair meant to fit inside helmets, under hearing protection, and in conjunction with optics or night vision (more so on the latter with clear lenses in M Frames). So it makes sense that they also have an added anti-fog coating.
While we were skeptical of this feature at first, it’s definitely powerful and you’ll even notice it when cleaning your lenses. Fogging clears almost instantly even when breathing on your lenses (Although we wouldn’t recommend that’s how you clean your Oakleys).
And along with anti-fogging, these sunglasses meet a slew of military regulations. Not only due they pass Oakley’s high velocity and high mass impact test, they also exceed ANSI Z87.1 requirements (meanign they qualify as safety glasses). But they don’t stop there, the Ballistic Crosshairs also meet MIL PRF 31013 ballistic fragmentation impact standards and are on the US Military’s Authorized Protective Eyewear List (APEL).
Lenses
The only downside of the SI Crosshair meeting military requirements is the limited color options. Since the U.S military has strict guidelines on the colors of sunglasses and lenses, including mirrored finishes as a part of APEL, Crosshair options are limited.
Today, the Oakley SI Ballistic Crosshair is only available with Grey lenses, and doesn’t even include contrast-enhancing Prizm lenses. In the past this frame was also available with TR22 shooting lenses but that has since been discontinued.
Colorways
As we mentioned in the section above, the Ballistic Crosshair is limited in colorways due to APEL standards. Today it’s only available in a Matte Black with Grey lens colorway (Product Link), though in the past Oakley offered 3 colorways we listed below:
- Matte Black / Grey
- Matte Black / TR22
- Gunmetal / Grey
Final Thoughts – Are They Worth It?
Oakley Standard Issue Ballistic Crosshairs are the perfect blend of off-duty and on-duty with a casual design that still meets military requirements. If you’re looking for a solid pair of sunglasses without the sporty look of a M Frame or Half Jacket, we’d absolutely recommend the Crosshair.
Plus check out more of our favorite Oakley Military Sunglasses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where to Buy Ballistic SI Crosshair Sunglasses?
You can buy Ballistic SI Crosshair sunglasses directly through Oakley Standard Issue, Oakley’s exclusive military outfitter. But you’ll need to qualify for the program first.
While Standard Issue sunglasses and gear are not supposed to be sold outside the program, with a few quick searches you can likely find these sunglasses even if you don’t qualify. But don’t expect the same great discount as the Oakley SI site.
Are SI Crosshair Replacement Lenses Available?
Yes, crosshair replacement lenses are available online for your Ballistic Crosshairs but not through Oakley. Unfortunately you won’t find these lenses on the Oakley or Oakley SI websites.
Instead the only options are to purchase replacement lenses from aftermarket suppliers. But be careful as some of these lenses may not meet the same stringent impact requirements as Oakley authentic lenses. Find out more in our complete comparison of the Best Oakley Replacement Lenses.
Are Ballistic Oakleys Bulletproof?
No, while Ballistic Oakley sunglasses and lenses provide superior impact protection, they are not “bulletproof”. As a part of Oakley’s high-velocity testing, they demonstrate that their lenses can withstand a 1/4 inch steel ball at 102 miles per hour (mph)! But this isn’t the same as being shot by a bullet that travels at over 1,800 mph!
Want More?
Have a question about Ballistic Oakleys or want to know about your sunglasses? Join the largest online Oakley community and let us know in the comments below!
Note: This post was originally posted by member cacatman, and has been adapted for this article with additional details added. Credit to member cacatman for his amazing review.
