Oakley Straight Jacket Sunglasses | Review & Ultimate Guide

Oakley Straight Jacket sunglasses combine performance and comfort into a sleek frame that has become an eyewear icon. We were excited to get our hands on a pair of original Straight Jacket sunglasses and new Straight Jackets to compare them ourselves.

Keep reading as we review everything to know about the Oakley Straight Jacket Sunglasses and compare the Straight Jacket 1 and 2!

History and Release

Oakley released the Straight Jacket sunglasses in 1996 and updated the frame 3 years later to the New Straight Jacket in 1999. Unfortunately, this pair was discontinued several years later.

Then, in 2007, Oakley released the Straight Jacket 2. But you wouldn’t necessarily guess the two pairs were even related. Oakley completely changed their first design with the Straight Jacket 2, giving it a more aggressive styling we’ll cover below.

But clearly, Oakley was targeting an audience that isn’t afraid to go against the grain. This is especially evident in their marketing for the Straight Jacket:

Oakley made Straight Jacket® for those who understand that style is something you define yourself — it’s not the world’s idea of how you should look. If you need the world’s opinion, Straight Jacket® isn’t meant for you. 

Straight Jacket Marketing Materials

But how do these sunglasses actually perform? And which model of Straight Jacket sunglasses is best?

Keep reading as we answer these questions and more in our complete breakdown of this classic Oakley frame!

Oakley Straight Jacket Sunglasses Overview

Frame and Design

Original Oakley Straight Jacket sunglasses feature a lightweight O Matter frame that is flexible and durable. Plus, the frame features Unobtainium earsocks on the temples for added grip and all-day comfort.

These sunglasses feature a classic oval wrap shape with a little extra depth near the nose inside of a full-frame design. The ear stems curve to create a snug fit, and the Unobtainium keeps the glasses from sliding during movement.

The most common Straight Jacket frames were black, but there is an impressive array of special edition colors out there, including blood, dark blue, brown tortoise, electric blue, and various shades of red.

And sticking with the 1990s theme, Oakley sold several models of the Straight Jacket with colored flame accents that ran down the ear stem.

Overall, this is a classic design that epitomizes Oakley in the 1990s.

Lenses

Original Straight Jacket lenses are made of pure Plutonite with available polarization, Iridium lens coatings, and prescription lens options.

And the lenses feature High Definition Optics (HDO) with XYZ optics for superior clarity while protecting against 100% of UVA, UVB, and UVC rays.

Oakley accomplished this superior quality by producing their lenses from a single sheet of material for consistency.

While they feature plenty of innovation, you won’t find original Straight Jacket sunglasses with Oakley Prizm lenses since they weren’t created until after this frame was discontinued.

Oakley Straight Jacket II Sunglasses Overview

Frame and Design

Introduced in 2007, the Oakley Straight Jacket II is a much more aggressive style than the original Straight Jacket.

These sunglasses feature a full-frame design that is more angular with increased depth across the entire width of the lens.

The frame is also thicker, with sturdy but stylized curved ear stems that start wide and taper back.

Today the Straight Jacket II is part of Oakley’s Standard Issue (SI) eyewear that features sunglasses specifically designed for military, government, law enforcement, and first responder use.

Despite its thicker design, this frame is still lightweight since it’s made of O Matter frame material.

Lenses

Similar to its predecessor, Straight Jacket II lenses are made of impact-resistant Oakley Plutonite lens material.

These lenses are designed and tested under high-mass impact and high-velocity circumstances to protect your eyes from whatever is thrown at them!

Unfortunately, Oakley hasn’t released Straight Jacket 2 sunglasses with contrast-enhancing Prizm lenses. Today they are only available from Oakley SI with HDPolarized or Standard lenses.

But these lenses still provide complete UV Protection and feature an Oakley Hydrophobic lens coating to repel skin oils, lotions, dust, and dirt.

Size and Dimensions

Oakley Straight Jacket sunglasses are a medium-size frame that will look great on most face shapes thanks to their rounded lens design. We’ve included the complete dimensions below for reference:

• Temple Length: 135 mm
• Lens Width: 61 mm
• Lens Height: 36 mm
• Bridge: 18 mm

Learn more about the perfect fit in our Oakley Sunglasses Size Guide.

Oakley Straight Jacket vs. Straight Jacket 2.0

Despite sharing a name, there are crucial differences between the Original Straight Jacket and Straight Jacket 2.0 sunglasses.

The most important difference is the design. The original Oakley Straight Jacket features a classic and simple wrap design similar to the Minute and Valve frames. But the Straight Jacket II takes that to another level with a bold and aggressive design.

Plus, the updated Straight Jacket sunglasses feature the latest in Oakley innovation with a three-point fit for precise optical alignment and XYZ optics that run across the entire lens contour for crystal clear vision.

Final Thoughts – Which Straight Jacket is Best?

From a collectible standpoint, we’d always choose the original Straight Jackets because of their place in Oakley history. But if you’re looking for a pair to wear every day, we’d recommend the updated Straight Jackets available from Oakley SI.

Plus, keep reading to find out where you can buy Straight Jacket sunglasses even if you don’t qualify for Oakley Standard Issue.

Frequently Asked Questions?

Did Oakley Discontinue Straight Jackets?

Yes, Oakley discontinued Straight Jacket sunglasses from their main website in 2015. But they are still available for sale through Oakley Standard Issue, their exclusive military outlet.

Plus, you can still find Straight Jacket sunglasses for sale online. Scroll down to find out where to buy these sunglasses.

Original Colorways Listing

Across the three straight jacket models, Oakley released a ton of colorways. We’ve included a list of the original variations below for reference:

Are Straight Jacket Replacement Lenses Available?

Yes, Oakley Straight Jacket replacement lenses are available directly through Oakley’s website. But since this frame has been discontinued from Oakley’s site, we don’t expect these lenses to stick around.

Typically after a frame is discontinued, Oakley will only sell the remaining replacement parts and lenses until their inventory is gone.

But you’re not out of luck. You can still buy Straight Jacket replacement lenses from aftermarket lens suppliers. Plus, these aftermarket lenses are typically 30-40% cheaper than Oakley lenses. Check out our Best Oakley Replacement Lenses guide for more information.

Where to Buy Straight Jacket Sunglasses?

You can buy new matte black Straight Jacket sunglasses on the Oakley SI site if you qualify for the exclusive discount program. And with a quick Google search, you can find plenty of non-SI retailers selling the same Straight Jacket sunglasses.

But if you’re looking for original Straight Jacket sunglasses or want to save on new ones, you’ll want to check out aftermarket sites. We’d recommend searching the Oakley Forum Exchange areas where you can buy, sell and trade with members.

Have A Question?

Are you a fan of the Oakley Straight Jacket 1 or 2? Join the largest online Oakley community and let us know in the comments below!

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