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Oakley Underspin Review
March 15, 2013The Good
- Solid performance paired with a retro, urban style
- High-quality polarized optics
- Gripping plastic on nosepads and temples
- A full-coverage design that boasts light weight
- Great package for an affordable price
The Bad
- The larger, full-coverage frame design delivered some visual disturbance
The Oakley Underspin is an excellent sunglass for women looking for a sunglass that can go seamlessly from trail running or mountain biking to a sunny breakfast patio in a swank part of town.
The Design
Part of Oakley’s relatively new women’s performance-lifestyle collection, the Underspin has a design that is one part retro and one part ultra-modern. The frame has a larger, retro, driving-style look that also provides fuller coverage against the elements. With an 8.75 base curve on the larger lenses, it also provides a wide, open field of vision and excellent peripheral vision.
Lens Clarity
The Underspin’s polarized lens option cut glare well when we needed it and Oakley’s Plutonite lenses provided a crisp platform for viewing, plus top-notch UVA/UVB/UVC/blue light protection. They also offer a comforting amount of impact resistance.
Wind Resistance
The full-coverage design of the Underspin kept the wind out sufficiently, even cycling during Colorado’s blustery monsoon season.
Fit & Comfort
Oakley touts its Three-Point Fit system on this frame and we found it to actually make a difference. For a style-honed sunglass, the Underspin stayed put surprisingly well even during more jarring activities such as trail running and mountain biking. This feature is also due, in part, to proper placement of hydrophilic (i.e. moisture-absorbing) nosepads and earpads, which are placed at the ends of the temples. This sunglass also slid easily under a cycling helmet.
Style Points
You’d be hard-pressed to find a hipper women’s sunglass that delivers the goods on performance. The styling is retro-modern but it is still a highly wearable sunglass that can fit a variety of face shapes.