MXA PRODUCT TEST: OAKLEY CROWBAR GOGGLE

On Jun 23, 2006

WHAT IS IT? A completely new goggle from Oakley.

WHAT’S IT COST? $60.00(800) 431-1439.

www.oakley.com

WHAT’S IT DO?

Oakley does not come out with new goggles very often; the last time was in 2001 when the original Oakley design was updated with a slightly larger frame, new lens shape, wilder color combos and Attack Mask vent system. For first-time Oakley wearers, the 2001 redesign was a job well done, but for old-school Oakley wearers (pre-2001), the new O-Frame didn’t have the charm of the smaller, tighter fitting original. There is always the danger, when redesigning a much loved product, of alienating your loyal customer base, but it is offset by the potential to attract converts from the other brands.

The all-new Oakley Crowbar isn’t a redesign of the existing O-Frame. It is a kick-out-the-jams, tabula rasa, no-holds-barred effort to build a totally new goggle. The Crowbar will not offend old-schoolers, because it isn’t designed for them. This a cutting-edge goggle that owes no allegiance to the past. It is so new that the MXA wrecking crew was chomping at the bit to race in it.

WHAT STANDS OUT?

ÿHere’s a list of things that stand out with Oakley’s Crowbar goggle.

(1) Winglets. The Crowbar strap attaches to center-pull, goggle-strap winglets. By attaching the strap to the outrigger-like winglets, more pressure is applied to the center of the goggle, while the strap clears the edges of the helmet better. We liked this system when Smith introduced it on the Warp in 1999, and we still like it today.

(2) Size. The original O-Frame was eight-inches wide. The 2001 remake was 8-1/2 inches wide. The Crowbar is nine-inches wide (to the end of the winglets). The lens of the Crowbar is very similar to the current O-Frame lens, but just different enough that the two Oakley lenses are not interchangeable.

(2) Foam. The Crowbar uses a three-layer foam system. The layer closest to your face is felt. The next layer is standard large-cell absorptive foam. The third layer is a dense small-cell foam. Oakley isn’t breaking new ground here; this foam combo has been on every one of their goggles for years.

(3) Strap. The Crowbar’s solid woven strap has three beads of silicone and a classy looking textured pattern. Oakley was the first goggle manufacturers to offer a high-elasticity strapand they still have a great strap.

(4) Tear-offs. Oakley uses a two-post tear-off system, but, best of all, they offer a laminated tear-off pack that bonds seven super-thin tearoffs together for an amazingly clear view.

(4) Lens. Oakley has an awesome selection of lenses that includes clear, no-fog, Iridium coated and 12 listed colors.

(5) Place of Manufacture. Oakley goggles are made in the USA.

WHAT’S THE SQUAWK?

Two minor quibbles: (1) The lens is harder to put in the frame than on previous Oakleys. (2) The removable nose guard hit against our Arai helmets.